eta -- will I be disappointed?

[recall]

I've been searching for a decent 325is in the area for a good while now and haven't been very successful. I found a guy who is a few hours away and appears to have an 85 e series (with sports seats, sports package maybe?) that is in pretty good shape.

So the question is... is it worth the drive to check out the car? Am I going to be disappointed in the speed of an E30 with an eta (especially for a car over $2k...)?

[Danny]

Yep

[SamE30e]

If it's in really good condition it's worth it. It's basically the same car just makes more torque and like 35 less hp. A chip realllllly wakes them up.

You shouldn't be dissapointed, if you plan on doing a swap it should be alright, if not throw in a 3.xx diff and spin em lol

[TDE30]

I've been searching for a decent 325is in the area for a good while now and haven't been very successful. I found a guy who is a few hours away and appears to have an 85 e series (with sports seats, sports package maybe?) that is in pretty good shape.

So the question is... is it worth the drive to check out the car? Am I going to be disappointed in the speed of an E30 with an eta (especially for a car over $2k...)?

IIRC, MY84 and MY85 325e cars all had sport seats, so it isn't exactly a sport package car in any sense other than the front seats (as far as I am aware.) I'd say a 325e is a perfectly reasonable entrance into E30's, if you ever want more power, a 2.7i is a tried and true method for that. Add on an LSD, Mark D chip, exhaust, and you'd have a very fun E30. Out of the box, they've got plenty of torque and I noticed significant fuel consumption savings before my current 325i motor (that sort of fell in my lap) was swapped in. If it hadn't had been for that motor working out the way it did, I would have performed the aforementioned modifications. Bottom line, give it a try, go for a test drive and see if it's something you want to go after.

Best of luck.

[iwantspeed]

Ya I have a 325e and have driven most models
325i auto
325i manual
325ic auto
325ic manual
325is manual (favorite)
e30 m3 manual

after driving several e30 im only disappointed with mine when i want to just floor it in every gear and tool around town.

during normal driving its great.
fuel economy is also a bonus.

[tcheb]

more torque, better MPG and much better reliability. What's there to be disappointed about?

[StereoInstaller1]

more torque, better MPG and much better reliability. What's there to be disappointed about?

When a bone stock B25 runs away from you!

Seriously though, a B27 with a chip and a 3.73 is LOTS of fun.

[SamE30e]

When a bone stock B25 runs away from you!

Seriously though, a B27 with a chip and a 3.73 is LOTS of fun.

My B27 kept up with a stock B25, Mark D chip, "CAI" and a catback. So it's not THAAAAAT bad.

[StereoInstaller1]

My buddies (e30idea) car kept up with mine until about 50 MPH, then I walked him.

He had the proverbial 3.73 and chip.

[87e30]

I dunno, I'm dissapointed in mine. But I'm going 24v here soon. :D

It's fine for cruising around but the freeway is just death. And it's sad knowing every single car around you is faster. And it's sad not being able to rev high.

But the tq is nice. :/

Keep in mind that mine is bone stock. I've been thinking about the above mods but the 24v just seems like a better option to me.

[vr2jetta]

It's basically the same car just makes more torque and like 35 less hp.

It makes more torque but more like 50 less hp.

http://www.e30world.com/specifications/BMW-E30-specs-table

If its in good shape you could always put an "I" top end on it and have a budget stroker.

[Stephen]

I dunno, I'm dissapointed in mine. But I'm going 24v here soon. :D

It's fine for cruising around but the freeway is just death. And it's sad knowing every single car around you is faster. And it's sad not being able to rev high.

But the tq is nice. :/

Yes but you're unchipped coming from a honda background. Not saying eta's are fast, but a lot of it is frame of reference.

An Eta is probably fine, stock e30s are slow. You may or may not be dissapointed, drive it.

And chip it.

[balooshinakus]

Neither car is fast. The 325i is faster, but it's not by any means a fast car. The eta has a lot of low end power which is really nice for driving around town, but it runs out of steam once you shift into 3rd gear.. Not much of an issue for me as redlining 2nd gear means I'm going 60.. If you want something fast buy an eta and do an engine swap.

Also, try to get the eta for cheaper then 2k.. Mine was $570 with little shit to sort out, an interior in great shape minus the driver seat, and ok paint.

[SamE30e]

It makes more torque but more like 50 less hp.

http://www.e30world.com/specifications/BMW-E30-specs-table

If its in good shape you could always put an "I" top end on it and have a budget stroker.

Tomato Tomato..

I've owned one of each model pretty much aside from M3 and verts.

[87e30]

Yes but you're unchipped coming from a honda background. Not saying eta's are fast, but a lot of it is frame of reference.

An Eta is probably fine, stock e30s are slow. You may or may not be dissapointed, drive it.

And chip it.

This is true. Something about it just doesn't feel right to me. Hopefully the 24v fixes that.

You being disappointed all depends on your background and your expectations.