2002 vs. e30

[blackbullz28]

Im sure that the answers here might be somewhat bias, due to the site. I want to get a old bmw to fix up and use as a dd when I get home from afghanistan, i have been doing allot of research and have been looking at alot of peoples rides on here, and now im stuck between an e30 and a 2002. My wife says eewww to all the old bmw's and says that if it were up to her she would choose the 2002, but i can't really find a good forum of R3V's quality dedicated to the 2002's, anyways what do you guys think, and any cool aspects or benefits of the 2002's i should know about.

[Nic01101011]

e30s are much cheaper and more abundant, fwiw.
2002 if you can find one tho..

[619E30]

e30, but if your really set on it then go for it, you can do some pretty cool stuff with them

[mamzak]

Im sure that the answers here might be somewhat bias, due to the site. I want to get a old bmw to fix up and use as a dd when I get home from afghanistan, i have been doing allot of research and have been looking at alot of peoples rides on here, and now im stuck between an e30 and a 2002. My wife says eewww to all the old bmw's and says that if it were up to her she would choose the 2002, but i can't really find a good forum of R3V's quality dedicated to the 2002's, anyways what do you guys think, and any cool aspects or benefits of the 2002's i should know about.

I was driving around the other day and came upon a fairly good example of a 2002, with minimal rust. I asked if he would want to sell and he said sure, $1500 (canadian) OBO. He claims the car has only 88 000 original km's, but I'm more inclined to believe that since the odometer only has space for 5 digits it's more likely 188. Anyways. PM me if you want contact info for the guy! It's located in Edmonton, Alberta, but might be worth it? meh. I don't know.

EDIT: It's a 76'

[pbr87]

I like both of 'em. e30 is certainly cheaper, though

[pizzaman]

2002! But I am biased... I love my 2002, but with an E30, there are so many more parts available and they are more abundant, as well as much cheaper. But I must say when I get my m20 swap going nothing will be better!.......Other than an s14 swapped 2002...

[mamzak]

I like both of 'em. e30 is certainly cheaper, though

How much does a half decent 2002 (no mods or anything, just stock) go for? Would it be worth my while to buy this 2002 I saw for $1500 and curb it?

[craiggroves91]

Really good 2002 Forum:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/

I love both 2002s and e30s. But if we were choosing i would say e30.
especially a 325is

I have a few buddies who have 2002s. The thing is youll probably pay more for one that wont give you as much as an e30. You can fix the 2002 up REALLY cool and nice, but it will maybe take more money and time. 2002s usually are rusted and have a lot of water coming in. Youll want to change the engine most likely, thatll cost a bit.
Another important thing is smog. I have a buddy who has a mint 2002, and he cant drive it because its a 76 I believe and he cant get it to pass smog, he has all the smog stuff on it, it is just a PAIN. So you have to find one made before 75-76 (not sure which year it is). I forgot that this also may depend on where you live, just throwing it in.
2002s can be awesome, but i think purchasing an e30 gives you more to start with performance wise and cosmetically. You have a great e30 community, lots of parts in yards and online, and a light-semi-modern car haha. e30s handle amazingly.
Im sure you could make yourself happy either way!

[NC325iC]

2k2 easy, more work though

[blackbullz28]

When you say they are cheaper do you mean cheaper as far as initial purchase or cheaper to modify, and maintain?

[pizzaman]

I'd also like to throw in: If you like being cold in the summer and hot in the winter, go E30. Heat and air conditioning are nice..

[blackbullz28]

oh also which is the better handling out of the 2?

[hugh jass]

i would go for the e30. functionally, its just a better car - fuel injection, better climate control, better at highway speeds. i had a 2002 for several years with all the good stuff on it and never connected with it like i did the e30.

[Jean]

2002 = classic, nice to have a pre-smog one so you don't have to deal with that, some parts for them are expensive, and usually no a/c

e30 = lots to choose from, parts are cheap (for the most part), lots more choices in terms of engine swaps / suspensions....usually a/c needs work lol.

[craiggroves91]

When you say they are cheaper do you mean cheaper as far as initial purchase or cheaper to modify, and maintain?

2002-Kinda cheap-sometimes more than an e30 to buy-you get less (smaller engine,dont have all the things e30s have)-more expensive to modify, youll probably want to fix the cosmetics, sometimes rust,bent bumpers,cracked tail lights, faded paint, all that jazz, To modify an 02 you can do turbo m10 or swap so thatll be quite a bit

I'm sure there are affordable ways of doing it. If you have the know how you may be able to do it for less than it would to modify an e30, but then if you have that know how you could do an e30 for cheap haha