Potential new E30 owner (Help)

[Styleprojekt]

Hello everyone my name is Nico and I may be picking up a 91 325ix this weekend/week. Im from the Audi world and always wanted a 325is (coupe) or obviously an 88 M3. Here is my current ride:

Bagged shaved satin black A4 with lots of work into it. Its not always in the rain:


Next is a VR6 swap (fully built and Turbo of course! :nice:) and I need a daily to get around while that ish happens since it will take some time to fit a foreign motor into a newer A4 hehe.

My friend's 91 325ix got vandalized and he does not have the money to fix it/keep it running.
Damage: Front, Rear and Driver windows smashed in. Driver mirror kicked off, some body damage on driver side doors and C-pillar got nicked by the tool they used to smash the windows in.

Here are some pictures:




He is gonna give it to me for $500, which is an ok deal considering the damage and also the following:

Kevin:
"she needs a new suspension. and new tires. the cd player has been stolen. and when that happened the speedometer and tachometer stopped working. I'm sure its just some simple wiring tho. but honestly the body is in great shape. she suns great. the clutch and tranny are great. its just a lot of smaller things. I haven't had any money since I've been going to school so I haven't been able to take care of her."


Now, i know its very hard from just the info I give to give serious advice but what is you guy's first impression?
I will be going through the car, taking it for a spin, checking the CV boots, Control arms, and check for rust as well as listen to engine (see how it behaves during warmup etc)

ANY info you may have, comments or anything, PLEASE let me know. I just need a daily (which I will eventually turn into my project once my current project is done) which will not fail on me in a serious way. I can handle MANY repairs, i do all the work on my car on my own but just dont have experience with BMW's (yet).

Thanks in advance, cheers

[IRON-E]

For the price, I wouldn't even doubt the poor guy.












Welcome

[Sepp]

500 bucks? how could you go wrong...

And a VR6 into an A4?

I'm not an expert on anything other than the 5 cyls,
but I'd say fuck that.

how bout a 2.7tt, with better snails..
Might be easier/cheaper than a VR/turbo.
Unless you already have a good lead on a turbo ready VR?

[Styleprojekt]

Thanks for the response guys. I am pretty set on getting it either way, even if it is to part it out. But I want something to drive that wont cost be an arm and a leg to keep running due to all sorts of parts failing.

@Sepp There has been lots of debate, research and talk going on about the whole 2.7tt vs VRT. The VRT came out on top in just about every way. The VR6 is lighter, timing chain, almost indestructible (push 400hp without even worrying about upgrading anything on internals), 2.7t is TWIN so there is more of everything meaning much more cost and many money parts that can fail. With the 2.7 there is no room to work on any aspect of the engine without having to pull the motor, VR6 is so tiny you could almost bearhug the little devil when in the engine bay.
There are so many more pros to the VRT alongside with availability also because it was used in buttloads of VWs

[agile30]

AUDI is pure sex. More pictures. It sucks to see another e30 vandalized like that. It hurt my heart and sould when the did all my windows and doors on my last e30

[noE30]

For 500 I say pick it up if you have the money to fix it right away so you can daily it.

Got a link to a build thread for the audi, i would love to read up on that when you do the swap.

[Sepp]

I honestly was never a big fan of the 2.7tt. (just blind instinct told me it would be a more feasible "do")
Again, not having any knowledge of Audis built after 1997.

good luck with both.
I'm guessing after you get a chance to drive the BMW, you'll not want to part it out....

[Styleprojekt]

I'm guessing after you get a chance to drive the BMW, you'll not want to part it out....

I would love to keep it, i guess only some in-depth inspection will tell.

I really would like to modify the car too but there is so so little info on what can/shouldnt be done to the IX's :(

[mikeedler]

if you look around those few windows are easy to do yourself and probably wont cost more than 100 dollars to free if you know the right people parting an e30. you can't go wrong for 500 bucks.

[downforce22]

buy it, fix those windows and you've got a sweet small bumpered e30. my ix looks similar to yours (obviously in white) but its a lot of fun :D

Cool audi but you might like the e30 cause it smaller and (arguably) more fun :D

of course i may be biased...

[Chabs]

that is one of the most badass audi's I've ever seen. And any e30 is worth 500 bucks, get it.

[TruEdrty]

A4 Looks DOPE! E30 would be a great car with a little TLC. Good Luck!

[Styleprojekt]

So I wend and looked at the car today. poor thing. My heart ached when I was looking at her. But I decided I will get her, save her from her misery (not part out) and love her like she deserves to be loved.

Things that need to be fixed:
- Windows obviously. The small window from the rear passenger door is busted too :(
- The rear C pillar is of concern to me because the dent is more towards the window side. So I will have to have that bent back out so they can fit a new window in. Pictures will follow
- The hood release from inside the car no longer works. It still works (you can pop the hood) just not from inside the car.
- When the radio got stolen, the Speedo/RPM gauges stopped working, as well as the whole center console electronics. However the Gas and Oil Temp gauges still do work. Anybody have any idea where to start looking for the cause of this?
- Bottom front lip is missing.
- A New Shift knob since it has some gay ass chrome knob the previous owner installed.
- New wheels (Eff those things that are on)
- Fix the dents on the doors

He fired her right up (after 2 weeks of not starting it up), sounded great no problems.

Looks like i have some little projects ahead of me