WTB: E30 Convertible or Coupe, 5spd, Tri-State

[Monarch Racer]

Hello all,

I have been a long time surfer of these forums and others as I have been procrastinating on picking up my first E30.

I am currently looking for a running E30 in the form of Convertible or Coupe. It must be 5spd. I would prefer to find a convertible over anything else.

My requirements:
Clean or Rebuilt Title
Running and Driving
If convertible, top must be good and fuctional.
Interior must be in all right condition and complete.
Would prefer one that does not have rust spots
Located in the TriState area as I am in Westchester County/NYC.

$2500 OR UNDER!

I have been surfing craigslist for the past week and there was an awesome black Convertible in Highland, NY but it just got sold for $2200.

Please help me out, maybe you know of one locally or one for sale around you as Craigslist has not produced the results I want. I have searched many keywords like: BMW, E30, 325i and so on.

I would prefer to find one this weekend but beggars can't be choosers.

I really appreciate any effort put towards this in advance!

[E30bimmerfreak]

Plastic or metal bumper? And 2500 under is hard to find in good shape

[Monarch Racer]

E30BimmerFreak,

Thanks for replying! I would prefer plastic bumpers (I would think everyone would) but of course I could adjust.

I know of one white convertible on Craigslist in Queens. They want $2000 for it but she says the interior seats are fully torn up and a bit of a moldy smell which I assume they left the windows open for a while.
Anyone have an insight into the average price of both front and rear seats?

Regardless, I know I am very picky for this price range so ALL help is appreciated! I am just itching to get into an e30 as summer is approaching here!

I come from a different car scene of the Jap cars and I wish I knew about e30s before I jumped into that! Too much money, time and effort spent on those.

[dnguyen1963]

Good luck with your search, but at $2500, the selection will not be much for a vert. A decent looking vert is going over $4k right now.

[Monarch Racer]

I do understand it is a tight budget but as I have mentioned, in the past week I have ran across two convertibles, one in amazing shape (but too short notice for me to take the drive on Sunday) and a white one that is alright just torn and slightly moldy interior. Both asking $2000 so its a possibility.

I am searching all craigslists within a 100 mile radius each few hours but you are right, it will be hard to find a good candidate and that is why I am reaching out to anyone in the Tri-State are that might know of one locally or one I might have missed!

[Monarch Racer]

Hey guys,

Still searching for one!

If anyone runs across one please pass forward the info! I am now open to Automatic.

[Cabriolet]

being as that you live in the rust belt, i would suggest you save a lot more $ and get a nicer car. all e30 will cost you 5k+. if you buy one for 2k it will need 3k in work asap. if you buy one for 5k you might be able to drive it w/o issue for a year or so. i've owned a lot of these cars (have 4 right now) and live in CA, and on the rare occasion i see a non-ca car, i cringe. rust on the under side will run you 1000s to fix.

[Monarch Racer]

Thanks for that input and I completely understand that as it is an issue with many cars on the East Coast. This will not be a car that I will hold onto longer than a year or so. That being said, I am not looking to throw too much money into it but focus more on the elbow grease side of things just so I can have a weekend commute car between NYC and 2 hours upstate with occasional local driving so a mint example is not what I need. Getting under the hood and car is something I am very familiar with from my past range of cars.

When the right time comes, I will be upgrading to something much better and that is when the focus will be on a clean example.

[Cabriolet]

you may want a miata or cabriolet, or e36 vert then. trust me, the e30 will drain your pocket book faster than a hairroin addiction.

[Monarch Racer]

I would love an e36 in general but from my friends experiences with them, a lot has gone wrong with them.

If you have opposing views, please do share because an e36 vert is a very sexy affordable car to me. Of course we are still talking in the $3000 and under range.

As for Miata, it was something considered but the size is much too small for my liking.

As always, all input is appreciated!

[downernsp]

being as that you live in the rust belt, i would suggest you save a lot more $ and get a nicer car. all e30 will cost you 5k+. if you buy one for 2k it will need 3k in work asap. if you buy one for 5k you might be able to drive it w/o issue for a year or so. i've owned a lot of these cars (have 4 right now) and live in CA, and on the rare occasion i see a non-ca car, i cringe. rust on the under side will run you 1000s to fix.

Exactly wish there where more people that think like us... people want to play but not pay.. GLWF to the OP.

[E30bimmerfreak]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=290004