Yet another car!

[deutschman]

Looks like you guys may be dealing with me for a bit longer after all. One of my mothers rich clients just offered me their '84 325i 2 door 5 speed. I would rather have an e30 right now than a 2002 so if this works out I think I will have to tell the guy I was going to get the '74 from that the deal is off. I really want an m20. I am really ready to move on from m10's and m42's! I hope this works out! If it does it will be time to start looking for a plastic bumper swap parts in the pick-and-pull yards around my area and the forum.
The car has been in the family sins it was bought, and has recently had a new motor installed and has always had regular maintenance. I think this car will = win. I think I will be taking a look at it on Friday. I will post some pictures then.

[red325]

Nice. E30>2002

[deutschman]

here is a copy of the email i just got from the owner. sound like a really nice car for her age.




I plan to go and pick her up on Wednesday, I'll let you know how that
goes. The battery is probably dead or too low to start.

She is a grey ("Delphin") two door E30 with approximately 275K miles
overall but the engine is newly rebuilt as of 260K miles. She was last
driven a few months ago and is current on smog and registration.

Because of the newly rebuilt engine, there may be some extra hoops to
pass the smog inspection; for the last few years I had been going to the
Bureau of Automotive Repair test station at Skyline College. They have
since given me the special sticker (in the driver side door well) that
allows a regular test only station to test the car. I believe that my
last smog was done at a station around the corner from me.

Many of the components that wear down in a car this age have been
replaced, the hardy disk is new; I believe the transmission and clutch
have been recently serviced as part of the engine tear down but I will
have to check. My family has maintained possession of the car since she
was new and to the extent that my sisters and I can pass files back and
forth for 25 years, I have the entire service history.

The catalytic converter was replaced with an OEM, non-BMW part and she
sounds a little different than you might expect.

She has no major structural or mechanical defects that I can verify, but
there is an outstanding issue with the driver side rear. I believe she
needs a new strut, shock tower or ... something, but I have not looked
into what that is yet. There is a dent from when she was parked on the
street, but I do not know if there is underlying body damage.

The front spoiler is missing. I believe it was torn off in a snow bank.
Adding back the front spoiler makes a difference of about 1-2 MPG.

A common problem with the early E30's is that the trunk accumulates
water. I recently drilled a small hole in a plug in the bottom of the
battery compartment and the trunk has stayed dry after that.

For a time, I had a problem with the speedometer sensor dropping to 0
while driving. I have since narrowed this problem down to the solder
connections on the Service Indicator Board. I went through and
re-soldered the major contacts and the problem went away. The battery
on the SIB died and I replaced it with a battery holder and NiCds, which
have since also died. You will need to get a reset tool to reset the
service indicator lights, but they will stay correct unless the battery
dies.

The engine thermostat gauge works intermittently. I believe it is the
temperature sender but I am not sure. As for thermostat function, the
engine feels like she is operating at the correct temperature.

We are on our third radio. The antenna drive has been rebuilt by me,
and she probably needs a new antenna mast to get full range of motion.

There is a car alarm wired up, but it was not very reliable and the fuse
has been pulled from it. I am not sure where the remote control is at
this time.

I added two cigarette lighter plugs, one in the well behind the parking
brake and one under the passenger seat. These are for charging mobile
phones or what have you. For a while I had an inverter plugged in so
that I could plug in a laptop.

One of the seats does not flip forward properly to allow access to the
back seat. It feels like the cable needs to be re-attached to either
the release lever or the seat. A small fix, but I have not looked into it.

The glove compartment does not open. The handle is broken so it does
not pull the release mechanism. If you get it open, I would like the
contents of the glove compartment. I believe that there is at least one
pair of sunglasses trapped in there.

I installed new door and sunroof seals so she is much quieter now on the
highway than a typical 25 year old E30.

I believe that she has two new tires, although I may have replaced all
four, I do not recall.

I will pass along my Bentley manual unless you already have one (I have
a friend looking for a copy), and a copy of the Mobile Traditions CD
once I find it again in my mountain of boxes.

She is a great car that is aging gracefully. I have many fond memories
with her. She followed me to college and back and has very reliably
taken me on many trips to the mountains. She has outlived a new BMW
that had recurring transmission problems and a new VW that was returned
under the lemon law.

She has her quirks, and so I do not feel comfortable passing her on to
just anyone. She will tell you everything you need to know, but you do
have to listen to her.

[daniel]

M42>m20

[Jean]

I didn't think they had 325i model in 84? Didn't it come out in 86?

Are you sure it's not a 325e? Those were out in early 84. Or is it an E with an I engine?

[Wh33lhop]

I didn't think they had 325i model in 84? Didn't it come out in 86?

Are you sure it's not a 325e? Those were out in early 84. Or is it an E with an I engine?

That was my first thought. There were no genuine 325i's before the '87 model year, unless it was imported (IIRC).

M42>m20

Ultimate lies! :p

[Alkasquawlik]

M42>m20

Go crawl back into your hole.

[Danny]

I liked my M42 better than my M20.

[jflip2002]

Yeah, 84 was just a 325.

[tg318is]

I liked my M42 better than my M20.

meee toooo

[naplesE30]

m42 FTW TIMMING CHAIN need I say more!

[Ben Carufel]

I have a set of front and rear plastic bumpers if you need some. Just about mint condition, brilliantrot. With brackets, shocks, etc.

[deutschman]

M42>m20

i actualy realy liked my m42 but in have never owned a 6er so i wont to have one. enough said.

I didn't think they had 325i model in 84? Didn't it come out in 86?
Are you sure it's not a 325e? Those were out in early 84. Or is it an E with an I engine?

i think he put an i engine in it when he replaced the motor. but thanks for pointing that out! that little fact never realy crossed my mind. ill check for that.

I have a set of front and rear plastic bumpers if you need some. Just about mint condition, brilliantrot. With brackets, shocks, etc.

i'd love them but i dont have the extra money right now. thanks for offering them and good luck selling them man.

[Edev]

Pics.

[deutschman]

pics coming this week some time.