WTB: Clean, rust-free 325i vert under $5,000

[dwells]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a clean, rust-free 325i vert. I've wanted an E30 for the past decade and never owned one. I plan on using it as a summer cruiser, and I want it to be pretty. It doesn't have to be completely flawless, but it should have minimal dings/dents and imperfections and what's there should be correctable without harming the original paint.

Buyer must be willing to ship, as I doubt I'll find this here in the Northeast. Suggestions from forum members who have dealt with buying an shipping cars would be really appreciated, as I'm new to this.

Must haves:

• NO RUST
• Clean body
• Original paint
• No accidents and clean title
• Stock or relatively close
• Alpine white or red
• Leak-free top

Strongly prefer:

• Late model with plastic bumpers
• Manual transmission
• Uncracked dash
• Well-sorted mechanically with records

Let me know what's out there, thanks!

[dnguyen1963]

Boys...you are looking for a perfect vert for under $5k. It is going to be tough. For this price, you are going to have to accept a few defects.

[NeverEnough02]

Agreed, particularly up here in New England. Deals can be found but it may take a year or two.

[SAS Parts]

Look at polish market - allegro.pl or olx.pl

We have a lot of e30. for 5000$ You can buy very very good e30. With new paint, with m-tech body, m50 and 5 lug swap.

But shipping isn't cheap :)

For some 2000 - 3000$ are few 100% original pre lift with original paint and no rost.

Car's with m50b25 and to some rust repair cost some 2000 - 3000 $ too.

[dwells]

Boys...you are looking for a perfect vert for under $5k. It is going to be tough. For this price, you are going to have to accept a few defects.

I can deal with it needing some work mechanical work, having cracked seats, having some dings that can be fixed with paintless dent removal, paint chips on the valence, that sort of stuff. My wrenching experience is limited to brakes and spark plugs, but I've heard that E30s are decent cars to learn on with a Hayne's/Bentley manual. I'm not expecting it to be Concours material, but something with original paint and a straight unrusted body that also runs well enough to be a summer car.

There was one on here in NoVA recently that checked all the boxes and was about $6,000, but it was converted to manual steering and converting it back to power steering is something a little out of my league, so I didn't go for it. Otherwise I'd probably have flown there to drive it back.

Agreed, particularly up here in New England. Deals can be found but it may take a year or two.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to have to ship or fly out somewhere, I get that. People around here don't seem to get that older cars and salt is a bad mixture.

Look at polish market - allegro.pl or olx.pl

We have a lot of e30. for 5000$ You can buy very very good e30. With new paint, with m-tech body, m50 and 5 lug swap.

But shipping isn't cheap :)

For some 2000 - 3000$ are few 100% original pre lift with original paint and no rost.

Car's with m50b25 and to some rust repair cost some 2000 - 3000 $ too.

I'll take a look, thanks for the tip!

[e30lyf]

i have 1992 vert with Hardtop black/black and matic (under 5k). if ever you consider lmk. thanks

[motorhabbit]

1988 325i convertible - automatic

Posted this car last weekend - price is negotiable