WWHSD?

[Bob Vila]

So, my buddy here at work has an '87 BMW 325i Sedan that he really doesn't use anymore. He is willing to sell it for $750, here's the specs:

Straight 6
Rear Wheel Drive
5 Speed
Engine/Tranny replaced 25k ago
somewhere around 270,000 miles on the chassis/body
Sunroof
Power locks,windows,mirrors
A/C
Quarter Sized Rust spot

So, I'm really tempted to pick it up for Auto'xing, RWD, all I would really do is some suspension work and tires. I could have a decent X'er for 1200...

Should I do it?

 

[reckedracing]

NO

maint will KILL you...

check the price of a basic tune up...

 

[Bob Vila]

I do all my own work to my vehicles, and plus its an 87 lol.

 

[posol]

i'd say go for it, but you'll never be competitive with it...

you'll be in d-stock off the bat, add suspension and you'll be in dsp.

bill runs in dsp.

but hey, if you don't care, and just want to have fun, by all means. it will be great to see you do some driving with us this year...

http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/2005/stockm.html#BMW

 

[Bob Vila]

Competitive with a snail on it?

 

[reckedracing]

I do all my own work to my vehicles, and plus its an 87 lol.

yea, thats what i meant, price just the parts...

bosch wires run for 250 at auto zone

but the fresh motor and trans seem to help...
that alone should be worth 750
pull a compression test to make sure the head is ok...

 

[nfn15037]

E30s are relatively easy to maintain, and being a non-M car you should have no trouble affordng it. You could run it in STS if you wanted, or DSP like B said, or go to SM if you waned to bump the power. The car could be competitive in DSP, seeing as how it is a good bit lighter than the E36 chassis and has comparable handling. Just be prepared to buy sticky tires.

As for reliability, my dad has an '89 E30 M3 with 260k on the clock. He is a BMW CCA driving school instructor so the car probably has 20-30k track miles on it, plus daily driving. The motor didn't need a rebuild until about 230k miles. The most expensive parts were things like M-specific forged control arms ($800 a pop) but the non-M vehicles are fairly reasonable to maintain. The lack of tons of electronics helps too. One area to check for rust is the shock towers in the trunk and the bottoms of the rocker panels. These are notorious places for rust on E30s, so keep a sharp eye out.

 

[Bob Vila]

Originally posted by nfn15037@Mar 9 2005, 12:24 PM
E30s are relatively easy to maintain, and being a non-M car you should have no trouble affordng it. You could run it in STS if you wanted, or DSP like B said, or go to SM if you waned to bump the power. The car could be competitive in DSP, seeing as how it is a good bit lighter than the E36 chassis and has comparable handling. Just be prepared to buy sticky tires.

As for reliability, my dad has an '89 E30 M3 with 260k on the clock. He is a BMW CCA driving school instructor so the car probably has 20-30k track miles on it, plus daily driving. The motor didn't need a rebuild until about 230k miles. The most expensive parts were things like M-specific forged control arms ($800 a pop) but the non-M vehicles are fairly reasonable to maintain. The lack of tons of electronics helps too. One area to check for rust is the shock towers in the trunk and the bottoms of the rocker panels. These are notorious places for rust on E30s, so keep a sharp eye out.

[post=471155]Quoted post[/post]​

Thanks man. Good info here.

As for affording it, its 750 bucks, I don't plan on making it a big project, just something to have fun in, and for 750 bucks why the hell not. Some suspension work, and some azenis' should make it stick to the corners pretty decently...

 

[phunky.buddha]

Yeah man- grab it, gut it, change out all the bushings... you'll be good to go

 

[FFCiv]

what would my b16a'd coupe run in?... it has nuespeed sprinds and kyb struts and ebay front and rear sways bars

 

[posol]

you have a swap.. you're fucked

street mod.

consult the manuals:

http://www.scca.org/_filelibrary/File/2005SoloRules.pdf

http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/index.html

 

[FFCiv]

what is autocross even like... Ive never been to one or anything. is streetmod a hard class? what kinda cars are in it? they'll know that I'm swapped?

 

[ScrapinSi]

Street mod in your car would probably mean you'd be up against STi's, other nasty Suby's, turbo audi's and VW's, and pretty much any other balls out 4 cylinder...

 

[DarkHand]

Originally posted by FFCiv@Mar 9 2005, 02:40 PM
what is autocross even like... Ive never been to one or anything.

This is a really great description and primer for beginners.

 

[reckedracing]

very good read...

this is catching my attention

how many people here race?

 

[asmallsol]

its even worse if you have a 2 seater and you do a swap (aka del Sol or CRX) because then your in SM2, which also includes porsches, vettes, supercharged miatas and a shit load of other crazy cars.

 

[Airjockie]

RWD+Snail=Drifting yoooo....

crappy tires for sliding in NJ....

Sticky tires for AutoX in Bristol...

just stiffen up the chassis as much as possible...and it's a good car for both types of events... And for $750...it sounds like a good deal...just depends on how much rush it has...


just get out and get er done...

 

[Bob Vila]

Just a quarter size rust on the trunk

I think I'm goiing to pick it up

 

[Airjockie]

do it

 

[ScrapinSi]

DO IT JOEY.

DO IT.

DO IT.