Crunching the numbers

[raafhimself]

but it always the little things that end up adding up :-)

well there are definitely a LOT of little things on that spreadsheet that don't need to be there (cup holders for example) and you could probably end up saving a couple hundred bux. Granted I'm crunching numbers for my future project car (hopefully get started by the end of the year), so far the last count was 12k but the new one version will probably be closer to 15k. Over the 22 years I owned my last e30 I probably put 1k a year on average into it. It also lasted 330k miles before it was stolen in january. Everything depends on how much you really are invested in the car. I never plan on selling mine, so money isn't a major issue.

[AC Nico]

I think many of you guys know my old touring... i have a spreadsheed with everything i bought for this car and also one how i sold everything :)

I bought the car for 1250 euro in 2003 i think and i spend around 11.400 euro in this car. Also ca. 200 hours of work.

Here is a pic of the car:

[rThor432]

Oh, another one of these threads? I'll have a quick crack at it..

This is for my '87 325es--

-E30 M3 5-lug suspension+adjustment brackets/eccentrics+bushings+sprints/shocks+etc.-- $4k

-S52B32 engine/trans/flywheel/etc-- $5.5k

-S54B32 engine/trans/electronics/flywheel/etc-- $7.5k

-Sparco Pro2k's/little steering wheel/German stuff I cannot read/Misc interior-- $1k

-Euro bumpers/sport aero lil/M-tech 1 spoiler/misc exterior-- $1k

-Rimmmmmmms (and tires)-- $2k

So $20k-ish. (it helps when you round numbers and don't count up every little part..)

[TexasTerp]

well there are definitely a LOT of little things on that spreadsheet that don't need to be there (cup holders for example) and you could probably end up saving a couple hundred bux. Granted I'm crunching numbers for my future project car (hopefully get started by the end of the year), so far the last count was 12k but the new one version will probably be closer to 15k. Over the 22 years I owned my last e30 I probably put 1k a year on average into it. It also lasted 330k miles before it was stolen in january. Everything depends on how much you really are invested in the car. I never plan on selling mine, so money isn't a major issue.

[txtorquemade]

Well.. I have 3 30's. Total purchase price for all three = 7300.00

One is straight up parts car. No $ put into it.

87 325is Ive put about 400.00.
90 325i about 700.00 and I have it torn down now in my garage. Will put about another 600.00 before its back on the road.

Also have 330i e46 which sucks up a bit of change.

Usually I try to keep 2 e30's on the road and a newer 3 series for the wife.

eh... it costs to drive. Point A to point B... if thats all your interested in, get a Honda. If you want German metal, gotta pay to play.

[dinanm3atl]

Don't even want to know. First E30 just a ton of maintenance. This one I have spent a ton. Enough to buy 4 or 5 E30s.

[ck_taft325is]

I'm into my 318is for roughly $3,350 or so. Including oil changes, etc. I've lucked out in that I have a bunch of spare odds and ends on the shell in the garage.

[Burnera]

Bought the car for $1300
Replaced the suspension for $800 after 'labor' (shop time).

[raafhimself]

same situation....what's made it easier though is going through my private message inbox and referencing it w/ paypal transaction....

Me too. I don't have a lot of the reciepts (bought through CL/R3v/etc) but I'd imagine I'm somewhere in the 12K range, not including current engine swap.

[nando]

tens of thousands. it's not hard when you've had the car for a long time, and it's still cheaper than a car payment.

[10Toes]

I have had mine for a year and I'm around $6000. Its is almost done, only have another ~$800 to go.

[CorvallisBMW]

I think I am around 11-14k on my car right now.

Me too. I don't have a lot of the reciepts (bought through CL/R3v/etc) but I'd imagine I'm somewhere in the 12K range, not including current engine swap.

[ortholithiation]

This is a good exercise and one I constantly battle. It's a little hard to scrimp and save with cars and doing your own work certainly pays off, but if you have the attitude that eventually you want to sell the car and recoup some of the investment it makes the decision a bit easier. I personally have no problem dropping money on good tools because they are forever, I will use them for years to come.
If you do this analysis and buy say a 20K newish car you find that over 4 years you spend 5K per year! That’s why I plan on selling my e30 and purchasing a newish sport bike. I would also consider buying a newish mustang or a 350z or an older well taken care of vette and keeping it stock... for awhile.

I love wrenching and driving but as I get older I find myself loving driving/riding more than wrenching. It is a time and a bang vs. buck thing.

This may be because I have spent the winter prepping the fucking car for paint and fixing a lot of corrosion or because I face upcoming layoffs. I guess I am bitching, but I cannot just justifying dropping 5K into a 3K car to have it worth only 7K in the end.

[raafhimself]

^ yep, shipped from california....e30's are hard to find in s.fl rust free

[yberther]

you spent $333 on a rear valence???