I’m thinking of exiting E30 life

[Albie325]

If it were me, I'd keep the ETA and sell the other. Be a little patient and save up the difference you would have sold the ETA for to purchase your newer car. I have a newer performance minded BMW, and love it. But I still love driving my E30 more and get way more compliments driving that than I ever do in my new one. I also have an e46 and an e92, and while nice commuters they are both starting to have some minor problems that are becoming annoying to keep up with.

Am in a similar situation as I have a baby soon to come and will be trying to parlay the E46 and E92 into a pickup truck. I dont care so much about the E92, but the E46 was my first BMW and I'll miss it for sure.

[500ke30]

I read and appreciate all of the comments here. I've talked to several family members, friends and co-workers. I decided that I'm definitely going to sell the supercharged car. I'm not 100% certain that I'm going to sell my e30 track car, since it's a lot of fun and relatively cheap.

I'll post the Bring A Trailer link when it goes up for sale.

[McGyver]

Damn, not the way I expected this to turn out. Good luck with all of it!

[500ke30]

My car is officially for sale.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-bmw-325es-33/

[IS300E30]

I am back and forth with a similar situation. Similar situation that the e30 that I have (1987 325i Convertible) was my Dad's car which he bought brand new, and he loved this car so much. If this car did not have so much sentimental value I would have sold it many years ago. It provides me so much stress (I am a perfectionist and want everything working like it is supposed to) and so much money. Everytime I turn around I am putting more and more money into it, to keep it in tip top shape. I keep it stock and healthy just like I want it, but when something is not "right" or I perceive it is not "right" as it is supposed to be, then it stresses me out as I cannot enjoy driving it and I pay money to someone to fix it (I am not a mechanic by any means).

Yes, when it drives like it is supposed to without any issues, it is a fun and enjoyable car and it brings back memories of my youth and my Dad. But even if I notice the windshield wipers are stuttering I pay someone to take out the windshield motor and regrease it, highbeams turns off the headlights completely time to spend over $400 to get a new headlight/turn signal light switch). Tires have plenty of thread but they are 13 years old, time to pay up for the Michelin tires in stock size and pay $900 or more, A/C not cooling well, time to spend $2k to get the AC Solution conversion kit.
Tape Deck not working, time to spend $150 to get the tape deck belt replaced. Convertible top is starting to get worn, yup looks like $1,500 or more to get this replaced. ETC, ETC, ETC, and so on.

Little things I have been stressing out and paying out for the past 20 years keeping this car in tip top shape. I don't think the enjoyable times is even close to the stressful times of taking care of this car. Again, if it was not for the sentimental value that i have within the car, I would have sold it many many years ago.

[Jordan]

I haven't owned an E30 for several years now, and until recently I've had them consistently with small breaks between cars for about 20 years straight. At the end of the day I really enjoy driving them, but I'm getting older and wider and I want something more comfortable for a daily driver. I still play with and work on them for a living, and I have no doubt I'll have one again in the future when I have the space to keep extra cars, but right now I simply don't. These cars are great, but they aren't everything. You'll be OK, and... can always buy another if seasons in your life change.

[mr2peak]

E30's were so much more fun when they cost a few days pay in decent condition and parts were literally free.

It's really hard to love them the same now. I'm not saying E30's aren't worth what they change hands for now, it's just... different

[rturbo 930]

I am back and forth with a similar situation. Similar situation that the e30 that I have (1987 325i Convertible) was my Dad's car which he bought brand new, and he loved this car so much. If this car did not have so much sentimental value I would have sold it many years ago. It provides me so much stress (I am a perfectionist and want everything working like it is supposed to) and so much money. Everytime I turn around I am putting more and more money into it, to keep it in tip top shape. I keep it stock and healthy just like I want it, but when something is not "right" or I perceive it is not "right" as it is supposed to be, then it stresses me out as I cannot enjoy driving it and I pay money to someone to fix it (I am not a mechanic by any means).

Yes, when it drives like it is supposed to without any issues, it is a fun and enjoyable car and it brings back memories of my youth and my Dad. But even if I notice the windshield wipers are stuttering I pay someone to take out the windshield motor and regrease it, highbeams turns off the headlights completely time to spend over $400 to get a new headlight/turn signal light switch). Tires have plenty of thread but they are 13 years old, time to pay up for the Michelin tires in stock size and pay $900 or more, A/C not cooling well, time to spend $2k to get the AC Solution conversion kit.
Tape Deck not working, time to spend $150 to get the tape deck belt replaced. Convertible top is starting to get worn, yup looks like $1,500 or more to get this replaced. ETC, ETC, ETC, and so on.

Little things I have been stressing out and paying out for the past 20 years keeping this car in tip top shape. I don't think the enjoyable times is even close to the stressful times of taking care of this car. Again, if it was not for the sentimental value that i have within the car, I would have sold it many many years ago.

Sell it. If you don't enjoy it, why have it? I bet your dad would tell you to sell it too.

[500ke30]

Sell it. It took me two years to pull the trigger to put my car on the market. I do all repairs myself. The expense for me is not bad, but the stress was there.

[Maybe Magpie]

Maybe it's just me but as someone with a late father I dearly miss who passed a few years ago whose E30 was claimed by a deer in the 00s and whose E28s and E24s were sold off well before he passed, I would do horrendous things to have one of his cars we spent time in together. Naturally it is just stuff, and stuff can be replaced and is no substitute for the people we love, but even if my E30 was never my dad's it's the next best thing because whenever I drive it or work on it it feels like he's riding shotgun with me or looking on with a smile at me learning how to work on it still. With how much I miss him every day it brings me a lot of solace to feel that and I couldn't have as much any other way I can think of, the headaches be damned. I know I'd regret selling mine. That said, everybody's different.

[82eye]

Maybe it's just me but as someone with a late father I dearly miss who passed a few years ago whose E30 was claimed by a deer in the 00s and whose E28s and E24s were sold off well before he passed, I would do horrendous things to have one of his cars we spent time in together. Naturally it is just stuff, and stuff can be replaced and is no substitute for the people we love, but even if my E30 was never my dad's it's the next best thing because whenever I drive it or work on it it feels like he's riding shotgun with me or looking on with a smile at me learning how to work on it still. With how much I miss him every day it brings me a lot of solace to feel that and I couldn't have as much any other way I can think of, the headaches be damned. I know I'd regret selling mine. That said, everybody's different.

my dad and i worked on my e30. he won't be here very much longer. it's the last car we'll ever put together. it would kill me to lose it.

[Maybe Magpie]

my dad and i worked on my e30. he won't be here very much longer. it's the last car we'll ever put together. it would kill me to lose it.

Yeah, I'd do damn near anything even to just have the steering wheel or shift knob from his 325iX or one of his other bimmers, let alone the whole damn thing.

OP, I respect you gotta do what you gotta, but I'd say whoever off BAT ends up with it, ask them to let you know if they ever want to sell it again in turn - might be you'd want it back, might not. GLWS!

[strickland]

Congrats on the result north of $20K

[500ke30]

Congrats on the result north of $20K

Thanks. It's a little short of what I was hoping/expecting, but still good final price.

[strickland]

I hear you. Prices have been down, but this was very respectable given the market. I hope the prices for a really well-sorted, well-loved E30 continue to rise over the long term.