WTB help to get out of this rock bottom.

[veritas.smit]

Hey everyone,
I've been on this site for a while but just registered. I never did thinking I would when I actually got an e30. Now there is my problem. I've been looking for an e30 here in miami for about 3 months, but can't seem to get my hands on one. I need some advice, help, whatever you guys can provide me with. Ive looked everyone, craigslist, autotrader, searchtempest, on these forums you name it. I check every morning, afternoon and before bed because ive had the bad experience one to many times of there being one and its sold by the time I call. It's not only my "bad luck" but since I'm 16 and it would be my first car my dad will only buy the 91 with airbags, I don't blame him my safety is first but it makes the search that much harder. For me I prefer manual as most of us do i think. So I just need some help. I want to join the e30 community and be able to walk out everymorning to drive that e30. So i was wondering if some help wouldn't be to much to ask, advice anything you can offer i would appreciate. Thanks alot everyone even if you dont post thanks for reading my life story :P.

btw- my dad wont buy a convertible either
Ive already checked out e30gangstas car down hear in southflorida but its to expensive for my budget (only 16 D: ) and its auto :/.
Heres another one

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/1218670428.html

but i called the guy and texted him 100 times and nothing he seems super fishy he texts me back 5 hours later telling me hed let me know when he got to his house in a bit but he never got home cuz i texted him again 3 hours later and he sent the same exact text. :/

Anyways, Id appreciate the help
Thanks alot
-Edward :D

[bataangpinoy]

dude dont rush finding an e30. take your time and find one that was garage kept and well maintained cuz it will have way less problems than a beat one.

i didnt take my own advice and ive spent 50 times the amount ive paid for it, excluding paint.(i only paind one hundred dollars).

since your in fla, garage kept means nice paint and nice interior.

auto is a good thing, you will have a virgin m10, m20 or m42 and it gives you time to save money to do the swap, which can be had for under 600. i took about three months to source up my used parts to ensure good stuff at low prices.

[veritas.smit]

hey thanks for the reply, well honestly i dont mind auto at all as long as i have the option to do a swap you know? But my dads a mechanic and even so he doesnt want to do the swap he said it would be to much "trouble" even tho i heard it was pretty simple.
In taking my time, i think ill take you advice as hard as it is. Its summer and ive got nothing to do its hard to find a job as a 16 year old so id like to have my car you know to fix up and wash. Its just ive waited so long already i dont want to wait another 3 months . id be a bummer if i got it after summer ended..:/

['90 325is]

I was in the same spot as you last last november and after waiting for a VERY long time I found a good one. Oh and btw airbags aren't only on 91 cars, they are also on some 90 cars.

[veritas.smit]

woot! on some 90 cars i will take a look! thanks for the tip! i havent seen one 90 e30 tho now that i think of it, but i always check for them anyways. Now ill keep lookin
Thanks for the reply :D

[bataangpinoy]

hey thanks for the reply, well honestly i dont mind auto at all as long as i have the option to do a swap you know? But my dads a mechanic and even so he doesnt want to do the swap he said it would be to much "trouble" even tho i heard it was pretty simple.
In taking my time, i think ill take you advice as hard as it is. Its summer and ive got nothing to do its hard to find a job as a 16 year old so id like to have my car you know to fix up and wash. Its just ive waited so long already i dont want to wait another 3 months . id be a bummer if i got it after summer ended..:/

i just turned sixteen this past november and ive done two swaps on jackstands in my garage. the hardest parts in takng out the auto, and with the right extentions, it takes about 3-4 hours to pull it.

and the wiring is so simple too.

[veritas.smit]

He has his own shop and everything so the fact that he doesnt want to do it really confuses me. Im easing up on auto or manual now because maybe eventually hell give in if i show him how easy it is. Maybe make a post asking for each step, but first i gota get myself the car first or even find one you know? But thanks, maybe i can do it by myself even tho ive never handled the wiring of cars or anything like that after learning a bit more of course. So he wont have the headache and id prolly be pretty fun too.

[veritas.smit]

My budget is 4.5k for the car so im looking to buying a nice clean one for 3k and if its auto use around 600 if i cant get one at the junkyard to pull the swap. And the rest to make it nice and do anything fixes it needs.

[bataangpinoy]

hold it. i would not pull the tranny out of the junkyard car, mainly because it has been sitting. but you can do it, just make sure you drain its oil first and check for metal shards. if none, procedd to take the flywheel as well. i got one from someone parting out an e30, as the trans will be guaranteed in better shape. just harvest pedals and driveshaft from the junkyard car if its trans is toast. from a pick and pull, the pedals and shaft would be + or - 200 depending on condition. trans is anywhere from 150-250 from someone here.

but at u pull it, trans, shaft and pedals im thinking are 300? now you have 300 for a shifter if needed or desired, and a better clutch.


heres my pricing for my recent swap.

255 for trans and drive shaft.
60 for single mass flywheel
sachs clutch kit 220 from rmeuropean.com
new flywheel and pressure plate bolts less than 10
new slave and master(just for peace of mind) 50 because i have good buddies in the area.
clutch hard line, -40 iirc
b&m knock off short shifter, 60
new guibos free to me because i got lucky on a football game

[Asbradley21]

since I'm 16 and it would be my first car my dad will only buy the 91 with airbags,
btw- my dad wont buy a convertible either

Hahahah, the airbags on these cars are probably more dangerous than anything else. IIRC, you have to smash the damn thing up to the top of the fender wells for them to go off. If they actually work that is.

btw- my dad wont buy a convertible either

He's either a douche or has really bad taste, verts are awesome.

[veritas.smit]

lol yea he is a very stubborn man, hes a mechanic that doesnt want to do anything to cars, its his job not his passion. But w.e. the swap seems pretty cool id like to do it since i would put a short shift kit to a manual car and things like that anyways. Id also help if anyone knew of someone down here in southflorida that might be selling one? Anything like that would be awsome.

[OrganicMechanic]

if your serious, I have 90 airbag equiped E30 that I am building to flip. New head gasket timing belt, ect. My Wife and I have friends in FL and would be willing to drive down and fly back.

[veritas.smit]

yes man! very serious can you send me some pics?!! Heres my email if its easier for u smttyxc92@yahoo.com can u give me the specs and so on???

[OrganicMechanic]

working on it today sending e-mail today.

[veritas.smit]

thanks alot organic!