How much would you pay for an 88' 325is w/ non-running???

[Nicademus]

I'm looking at a 1988 325is. It has a "BLOWN" engine, whatever that means?
Some things to consider:

- Half the engine is in the trunk.
- Black 2 door with decent interior, paint and body.
- Supposedly has the differential out of an M3 and some sort of chip
- Ugly aftermarket wheels, but tires are 90% which is nice

Let me know if there's anything I should know at all or I should be considering. I've got my mind made up that I'm getting an E30 BMW, but I come for a world of Lexus IS300's (my current daily driver) and the 2jz-ge engine (which is shared by the IS300, Supra, SC300 and GS300). Anyways, I fell in love with the 2 door E30 and from what I've read the m20 engine is great. I'm being such a newb right now :)

[Jall]

2jz-gte swap, best of both worlds. :D

.....srsly.

[StereoInstaller1]

$300 to $500, unless the exterior was absolutely tits, then maybe $750, assuming the seats were correct Sport seats and in decent shape, with an uncracked dash.

Consider this:

Seat re upholstery: $800, unless you know the right guy, and then that is front only.

Carpet cleaning: Major pain in the butt, but cheap

Cracked dash: Pain again, plus a $125 part

Door panels, center console, floor mats, wiring all adds up.

Engine repair/replacement, likely clutch and tranny work, likely brakes too if a blown motor is cause to sell a car, the thing was not likely maintained well.

I am not even gonna touch what paint costs...even at wholesale it STILL takes 3 or 4 days of full time work to do a decent job of it, plus a few hundred bucks worth of bondo/sandpaper/primer/sealer/paint/reducer/catalyst/tape etc...

The moral is you need to decide what the priorities and skills are. It might be cheaper to buy a $2500 car.

[Nicademus]

2jz-gte swap, best of both worlds. :D

.....srsly.

Has anyone ever done that? That's what I'd like to do to me IS300, but I'm going for an E30 instead. :)

$300 to $500, unless the exterior was absolutely tits, then maybe $750, assuming the seats were correct Sport seats and in decent shape, with an uncracked dash.

Consider this:

Seat re upholstery: $800, unless you know the right guy, and then that is front only.

Carpet cleaning: Major pain in the butt, but cheap

Cracked dash: Pain again, plus a $125 part

Door panels, center console, floor mats, wiring all adds up.

Engine repair/replacement, likely clutch and tranny work, likely brakes too if a blown motor is cause to sell a car, the thing was not likely maintained well.

I am not even gonna touch what paint costs...even at wholesale it STILL takes 3 or 4 days of full time work to do a decent job of it, plus a few hundred bucks worth of bondo/sandpaper/primer/sealer/paint/reducer/catalyst/tape etc...

The moral is you need to decide what the priorities and skills are. It might be cheaper to buy a $2500 car.

I worked at a body shop so I am aware of how much things ad up and ad up real quick ;) I know I can do a majority of the work myself and that is what I'd like to do. I'm looking for a project and something to learn on. This car will be something to keep me occupied and be a learning experience. I completely agree with all the info you gave me and appreciate it a lot though. The car only cost about $200.

[Jall]

Has anyone ever done that? That's what I'd like to do to me IS300, but I'm going for an E30 instead. :)

Yes, I know of atleast one in Australia and another one underway.

[Hallen]

"Half the engine in the trunk" is the scary part. Having to put something back together that somebody else took apart is usually not good.

But, for a project car, $200 is OK assuming the block and the crank are OK and the head can be reconditioned. It will be a project, for sure. The engine is generally easy to work on. Do yourself a favor though and replace all the stuff in the shift linkage that is a wear part when you go to put the engine back in (or while you have the transmission lowered down). There are some parts that are a royal pain to get off or replace if you don't have the room.

Depending on the miles, the subframe bushings might need replacing. That is quite a job, but again, doable.

Chances are, the "blown engine" was a broken timing belt. Bent valves, dinged pistons are probable.

The Puget Sound BMWCCA site has some very knowledgeable E30 guys on it too. Many of them race PRO3 around here (which is a E30 race class).

[Nicademus]

"Half the engine in the trunk" is the scary part. Having to put something back together that somebody else took apart is usually not good.

But, for a project car, $200 is OK assuming the block and the crank are OK and the head can be reconditioned. It will be a project, for sure. The engine is generally easy to work on. Do yourself a favor though and replace all the stuff in the shift linkage that is a wear part when you go to put the engine back in (or while you have the transmission lowered down). There are some parts that are a royal pain to get off or replace if you don't have the room.

Depending on the miles, the subframe bushings might need replacing. That is quite a job, but again, doable.

Chances are, the "blown engine" was a broken timing belt. Bent valves, dinged pistons are probable.

Yeah I wish he hadn't begun taking the engine apart because I like to be the one who does that because it leave an imprint in my mind of how it once was, plus I can take pictures, mark things and put them in bags/boxes to remember how they go and what is what....

I'm considering just buying another engine all together.

Also what order would you put E30 in? By that I mean most to least desirable of the 2 doors. M3 at the top and then down from there obviously. Just curious about what people favor (I tried finding a thread on it).

[Hallen]

Desirability is subjective. I don't know about how difficult to find they are but it would probably go like this:
M3
325is (88-90) (Plastic Bumper)
325i (88-90) (Plastic Bumper)
325is (87) (Diving board bumper)
Then the 318's and eta models would follow.
(it's just my opinion guys, I am not knocking anybodies car) :)

[Nicademus]

Thats how I figured it would go, but I'm new to the scene or is it a cult?? ;)

Here's some pics of the car in question: 88' 325is







Yes I know the wheels are hideous. I hope none of you try to buy it out from under me :(

[Jean]

Wtf, is that a euro front bumper?? For $200 it's a no brainer even w/o an engine.

Seriously, buy some weaves $200, get plastic bumpers $200. Make sure brakes/suspension is up to par or replace with new if needed (0 to 2000) and get a good used m20 (300-500) or 24v (650-4k) and you'll still be ahead most likely if you can do work yourself.

[aworthybrother]

is that an mtech I valance?

[Nicademus]

OK.........sooooo who bought it out from under me? I just got back from Formula D and noticed the listing was gone....so I called and someone bought it out from under me :(

This really sucks because I've been talking to the guy for about a week....I'm so depressed now :(

*edit*

I really can't get over this.......:curse:

[Jean]

That sucks, but if he was asking only $200 I am surprised it even stayed up for sale that long. Look for another one, you'll find it.

[Nicademus]

It ending up selling for $750..... just bummed out. I really wanted it. I was looking forward to having it to poke at :)

I could get a 318 that runs for $1000

[devonjordan]

Dude, you shouldnt have posted that here... at least not till you bought it.