FS: 1987 325 (eta) - Cheap but Drivable in VA

[jthiewes]

Hey there.

Okay, so here's the deal. I bought this E30 in late August with the goal of well, owning a cheap and slightly-busted old Bimmer.

I am succeeding, but may have found a slightly nicer E30 that I want more. So, if I can move this one along for the right price, I'll do it.

It's an 87 with the Eta motor. Previous owner threw the timing belt and destroyed the original M20 Eta that was in it. The motor is apparently from a 528e and was "professionally" installed. It starts and runs/revs so I don't much care where it's from.

5-speed manual with a good clutch. PO says the clutch is new. I just replaced the slave cylinder. It shifts well and has a B&M short shifter installed.

No idea on miles. Like every other E30, the odometer is broken. It stopped at 95k (hah!) and there is likely 150k+ on the car. It leaks a little coolant but nothing more. The idle was bad, but I replaced the air flow meter and it's pretty consistent now.

Other notable things... Stainless steel brake lines, new alternator, new belts, hand-crank (!!) sunroof that works. Power windows work fine. Has a Blaupunkt head unit and some Kenwood speakers that sound good.

The awful part is the paint. It was mostly Delphin Gray, with some peely/nasty spots. I repainted it (poorly) with Rustoleum blue. It's great if you like bad paint. It's a cheap car so I think it "adds character."

Make an offer... I'll go ahead and say $1,000 obo.

It drives reasonably well for a thousand-dollar car but is not a show car at all. I just found this red one that I may like better.

Offers, questions, ridicule?

[ldsbeaker]

Where does the coolant leak from?

[jthiewes]

Where does the coolant leak from?

I'm not entirely sure to be honest. I haven't had tons of time to poke around lately with school getting busy. I do know that the radiator hoses were dry last time I checked. It could be as simple as a cracked expansion tank, or something more. Doesn't overheat though - the check control just nags you every time you start it because the expansion tank isn't very full.

[threlevenguy]

where do you go to school?

[jthiewes]

where do you go to school?

jmu

[drumad]

my guess was going to be blueridge community college... :D

anyways, glws. I'd like another e30 for dd status but the rustoleum kills it for me :(. I was excited when I clicked too :|.

[jthiewes]

my guess was going to be blueridge community college... :D

anyways, glws. I'd like another e30 for dd status but the rustoleum kills it for me :(. I was excited when I clicked too :|.

Aww, hey now... just because we beat you in football a few weeks ago Or does the trashy paint imply a community college kid? Haha.

Honestly, the paint underneath was no better. What it needs - if someone cares that much - is a strip and re-paint.

[drumad]

Lol. No I was just trying to say that 99 times out of 100, any student in Harrisonburg went to JMU. Kind of an obvious answer for most people.

Meh, I'm over the football season already. All good. Reason I don't like the paint, well, its just the fact that its sprayed over the original and the grey will show everywhere else (interior, bay, etc). GLWS regardless.

[jthiewes]

Aha, I see what you did there. Early morning means my sarcasm-o-meter isn't warmed up yet. Herp a derp.

[gofredo50]

There's something really to like about this car....still for sale? Got any other pics? What's the interior like?

[jthiewes]

There's something really to like about this car....still for sale? Got any other pics? What's the interior like?

It's sort of "perpetually for sale" here... i.e. if someone makes the right offer, I could let it go. She has a certain "charm" about her and it's fun to blast around in.

I'll have to take a few more recent pics and post them. The sunroof is duct-taped shut at the moment, because the monsoon-rains from a few weeks ago were not staying out of the car. I think it's just a clogged drain, but tape was the "oh shiiii- it's raining" quick fix. Bonus: the tape is lime green in color!

Interior is pretty good for the age, really. It's black vinyl (really doubt leather would have aged so well) and the driver's seat was torn. I swapped driver and passenger seats laterally, so the good one is where my butt goes. Shift knob was crappy so it's been replaced with a less-crappy stock E36 knob.

I just put my heart, soul and muscles I didn't know I had into replacing the center driveshaft bearing this past Saturday. The old one was beyond destroyed. It drives very well now.

The doors cannot be locked/unlocked from the outside, which the previous owner referred to as "liberating" - I found a guy parting out an 89 ix who should be sending me his door cylinders and keys. Mine are just trashed.

The charm is there, no doubt. I walk away every time I park it, shaking my head and thinking "gahh, that car" - but that's not necessarily a bad thing ;)