New to the E30

[Enrique]

I am currently 15 and i am planning on buying my first E30 ( 1990 325i ) i was wondering if you guys could give me some tips on what to look for or what would be best. And also if you guys know any books that would help me gain more knowledge on the car that would be great THANK YOU!
:???:

[stonea]

Get an E30 Bentley Manual, it will tell you everything you need to know and how to do it.

Here's a decent buyers guy for the e30.

Check for rust spots, bottom of the front fender, bottom door seam, back up lights, and battery box.

Also its important to focus on maintenance first than performance or mods.

[Enrique]

Re:

Get an E30 Bentley Manual, it will tell you everything you need to know and how to do it.

Here's a decent buyers guy for the e30.

Check for rust spots, bottom of the front fender, bottom door seam, back up lights, and battery box.

Also its important to focus on maintenance first than performance or mods.

Thank you so much I am going to study this!! Also one last question.. Should i look for manual transmission or Automatic?
:)

[estoguy]

Thank you so much I am going to study this!! Also one last question.. Should i look for manual transmission or Automatic?
:)

Seriously?

There are two types of transmission for the E30, and one of them is wrong.

*IF* you can find a killer deal on an automatic, start shopping around for a 5-speed swap.

[stonea]

Thank you so much I am going to study this!! Also one last question.. Should i look for manual transmission or Automatic?
:)

Most people are going to say manual, but I say its up to a personal opinion. I used to say the automatic transmission was the devils work and anyone who owned an auto and didn't swap it right away wasn't a real car guy. Well then I bought one, and honestly I don't hate one more or less than the other, both are really fun cars. I will say down here in the city I drive them both about equally, but back home in the country and back roads I rarely take the auto out. Its really what the car is going to be used for. I'll eventually swap my auto, but not because I hate it, because I just prefer the feel of a manual more.

[Doggernaut]

Totally same as above. I would've preferred a manual but found an e30 that was really solid and checked off most other things on my list but just happened to be an automatic. Maybe someday, but for now, I have a list of other things...

On another note, congrats to you for getting into the game at your age. I still remember being 15 and wanting a neighbor's 318i to be my first car. It only took me (I don't even want to say how many years) to make good on finally owning an E30.

[Enrique]

Totally same as above. I would've preferred a manual but found an e30 that was really solid and checked off most other things on my list but just happened to be an automatic. Maybe someday, but for now, I have a list of other things...

On another note, congrats to you for getting into the game at your age. I still remember being 15 and wanting a neighbor's 318i to be my first car. It only took me (I don't even want to say how many years) to make good on finally owning an E30.

Thanks man i Appreciate it and yea i found my love for the E30 when i saw my friends 325is and i just literally fell in love i couldnt stop asking him questions,
But anyways thank you guys for all the help really appreciate it!!!;)

[mr.]

Transmission is really up to personal preference as mentioned above. I have a manual but when you daily a manual all day it gets old but it doesn't bother me too much. Just something you may want to think about.

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[Kershaw]

I love the automatic transmission in my gf's civic, you never have to worry about anything in that car. Everything is simple, easy, gentle, it's a great commuter.

For an e30 though, it's so much more of a raw experience that requires so much more energy that you may as well have a manual, it's not going to be a relaxing ride. It might as well be a fun and sporty one.

[itsonlygeorge]

This is also a great buyers guide as it gives some pictures of what/where to look for issues. It's a good "general technical guide" to the E30 platform. Welcome to the addiction.

http://www.rtsauto.com/e30-bmw-buying-guide-translated-from-german/

Buy a manual if you can find one in good shape and learn to drive it. An E30 is one of the best cars to learn on as it is very forgiving and the transmission is pretty much bulletproof. The only reason to buy an automatic is because the rest of the car is so clean that you just can't pass it up. Budget $1000-1500 for a manual swap if you plan to do it yourself.

Autos are typically less abused, but trust me you will want a manual. Once you learn to drive it properly you are really in control of the car and able to truly appreciate the E30 as a drivers car.

Also, look for a 325i if you can, those are more desirable and the m20b25 motor is way more fun. The 325e with the m20b27 motor is torque-y but not as quick. That said, I love my 325e, but I am longing for more power and higher r3vs. An m30 swap is in my cars future...

As for maintenance items:

1. Timing Belt and Water Pump - if has not been done in the last 60k miles or 4 years, or the car has been sitting for a long-ass time DO IT IMMEDIATELY or risk trashing the engine. Everything else is secondary.

[stonea]

That seems really high for a DIY 5 speed. Theres a shop in Gaithersburg, MD that will do it for you for $1,200. That includes everything and labor and labor for my clutch was $500 so I bet it would be similar for an auto to 5 speed swap.

[long tall eta]

you could probably get a much better deal on a stock auto over a manual if you search. they pop up from elderly owners who usually take relatively good car of them and really don't beat them if they even drive them much at all. but the sticks are way more fun.