Thinking of buying a 733i....thoughts?

[george graves]

Yea, BMW's from the '80 will break and magically fix themselves. Something will stop working for a year, then it will work again for 2 or 3 years. It's kinda cool.

You guys recomending e28 - I know where you are coming from. It sounds like the OP wants something turn-key. All the cars I posted are about $5000 more into them to get them to that point. But it could be fun.

[iamsam]

here is a good winter/trip car: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ctd/2009312210.html

this E36 looks pretty mint, and it is manual, 4-door, nice soft suspension, will make a great highway car/grocery getter, and the price isn't bad

[gearheadE30]

You guys recomending e28 - I know where you are coming from. It sounds like the OP wants something turn-key. All the cars I posted are about $5000 more into them to get them to that point. But it could be fun.

I really couldn't care less about it being turn-key, so long as the mechanicals are sound. From what I'm seeing of the circuit boards online, I bet I could fix most of the issues with a multimeter and a soldering iron if I felt the need. The way the HVAC was described in this thread, though, might be making it sound worse than it really is? For me, the absolute most important thing is little or no rust. Anything else I can fix.

Yeah, that e36 looks nice, but it's too...normal hah. For that money I could have that e23 looking and driving darn well...

If it makes any difference to your suggestions, I would be going through the engine bay and getting rid of EGR and thermal reactor system and get all the electronics working and go from there. Believe me, I have no false illusions about the unreliable electricals of these cars, heh.