Who has spent more on fixing an E30 than its purchase price?

[calypso]

Marvin_Hecht: tell me more about that engine temp sensor problem, maybe its similar to whats happeneing to my car where it just cuts out all over

[golde30]

i probably have about 3x the purchase price in aftermarket parts and repairs/maintanence. bought the car for $2k, and im at about $8k...not too bad considering that i have driven the car to LA 2x, and up to the oregon border once, with no problems at all.
I did however get stranded once, but it was b/c my throwout bearing totalled disintigrated, which i knew was gonna happen, i was actually on my way to shop to have it replaced... :roll:

[BS87]

I'm just about near the price i paid. ALthough i paid a little high for hte car, my total isn't bad considering it includes a 5 speed swap.

[A_325i]

i bought my car for 1,700

250 for timing belt, 360 for exhuast, 50 for injectors, 50 for new alternator, new front rear rotors 200 ,brake pads 80, ssk 80 ,new tires 320, new rims (coming soon) 300, new o2 sensor 60, 130 for front and rear swaybar links, 120 for an electrical problem fix(ground wire) plus some more on regular maintenance so ive put a little over 2k into my car it surely is a money pit but i love it :twisted:

[nefarious7907]

Hey who has spent the most in a month? I have spent over $3500 last month and about a 1000 this month. I am planning on spending 1000-1500 over the next 3-4 months. So in less than 6 months I am +5x.

Last spring I went stupid. I bought GC coilovers and RSMs, Koni SAs, Sparco bar, 14" Azenis Sports, pads/rotors, JVC headunit, Kicker amp, Type-R components, iS lip, and 16" BBS RX's w/RE730's. :shock:

Probably $3-4k or so.

Yeah but are you glad that you spent the money on at least some of that stuff. the only thing that was kind of pissed about buying is more bottlecaps, I have bent three.

[Sean]

I've spent about $3600 on mods since I got my car in February of 04. the car was 2 grand when I bought it. So...yea, I won't be selling this anytime soon.

This is before my stroker. :shock:

[B2ThaZiZza]

M-Technic 1 Rearbootlid Spoiler $100
Custom ABS Plastic Front Lip $5
MHW Smoked Tail Lamps $250
Blacked Out Kidney Grill $5
Kamei ABS Plastic Eyelids $25
BMP Rally Pedals $75
Momo Shadow Shiftknob $55
E36 E-Brake Leather Boot $12
Sparco/Sabelt 4-Point Harnesses $94
White Face Gauges $20
B&G Sport Springs $100
Bilstein Heavy Duty Shocks $325
E30 M3 Aluminum Urethane CABs $136
E46 Rear Shock Mounts $100
Sparco Strut Tower Bar $125
17x7.5 Volk Racing TE37 on 205/40 Toyo Proxes 4s $1500
Mintex Street Pads $ 75
Audiobahn AWP312 Subwoofer $200
JL Audio 250w Monoblock Amplifier $200
Two Rockford Fosgate 1.0 Farad Capacitors $100
Monster Cables $65
Kenwood KDCX19 Headunit $500
Polk Audio DB5250 Speakers $325
K&N Conefilter $80
Jim Conforti M42 Performance Chip $125
Bavauto Plasma Ignition Upgrade $350
Bullet Perforamance Exhaust $250
4.10 LSD $500
Z3 1.9 Short Shift Kit$60
Sachs Performance Clutch $350

GRAND TOTAL: 6107
PRICE OF CAR:1500

[M3 Ryan]

I have spent well over $30k on my car in the last 3.5 years... I paid 12k, so I almost triple the cost... I don't even want to add up my reciepts or my countless hours invested in my M3...

[Bimmerfanatik]

I have spent well over $30k on my car in the last 3.5 years... I paid 12k, so I almost triple the cost... I don't even want to add up my reciepts or my countless hours invested in my M3...

Don't bother :) You'll throw up.

But, at least you've got an incredibly clean and sexy M3...

[Erick]

I've crossed that line a year ago. No regrets.

[Marvin_Hecht]

Calypso - regarding your engine stalling problem. Don't know if it is the same or not but about 5 years ago drove away from the mechanic and got 3 miles and car stalled/stopped. Mechanic initially came to tow it but then he was able to drive it part of the way back until it again stalled or stopped. He finally got back to his garage. He was real embarrassed because this was different from whatever normal repair I was having done that day (I spent a lot that year) so he ended up giving me like 5 hours of free time that he spent cracking his head trying to diagnose the problem. Intermittent problems are very hard to diagnose as you know - after all why would an engine work fine, then all of the sudden stall after only driving it a few miles and nothing appears wrong. It turned out to be a faulty engine temp sensor inside the engine. As soon as the engine would warm up the sensor would think that overheating was taking place, and it would either cut the gas (if I recall) or something else in effect stalling the engine. Hope this helps. PM me if you want me to dig up the receipt or the mechanics phone number in Louisiana.

[calypso]

I dont think its my problem, mines completly random. Will run perfectly for 2 months then it will stall 6 times in 1 day, reguardless of speed, temperature or anything. And now I just saw some dodgy looking pink stuff floating in my radiatior water. I hope thats not a bad thing.

[CleanAzzE30z]

This question isnt even fair in my case.

[Digitalwave]

This question isnt even fair in my case.

Haha, Mariano, you have been in this game for way too long!

[ColdAccord]

I finally got on the winning side of the deal. (well no, my touring was one hell of a deal. that is my pride and joy).

I just bought an eta (for winter) that already had all the necessary bullshit. bought it from daN, he's been a friend of mine for about 6 years. it still needs a couple things, but tons of maintenance has been done. I'm lazy so I will post his ebay auction

About 40k miles ago the cylinder head was removed and rebuilt. New valve guides, valves were seated, surface shaved .020" for more compression. New headgasket, timing belt and pulley, water pump, front crank seal, cam seal, both fuel pumps, fuel filter, spark plugs, wires, cap,rotor, radiator, lots of hoses, o2 sensor were replaced. Mobil 1 synthetic 15w50 has been used for the last 30k miles. The 325e throttle body has been upgraded to a larger 325i unit, along with the 325i airbox and K&N filter. A performance chip was also added to the ecu(dme) for a bump in power. The car was dynoed about a year ago, and put down 118hp, 160 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels. Stock figures at the crank are 121hp, 171 torque. Gas mileage is great with about 20-25mpg around town, 30+mpg highway.

The transmission was also removed (40k miles ago) to replace the clutch assembly, and rear main oil seal. The transmission and differential is also filled with a synthetic lubricant. The rear tires have been replaced with new Kuhmo 716's about 1500 miles ago. The front subframe, and drivers door were replaced with rust free pieces from texas. The car has been lowered with bav auto springs.

Inside the car the drivers seat has been replaced with a black seat from a 2003 325i 4 door. I know it doesn't match, I was just worried about comfort. This car has a sony cd player, with 4 infinity reference speakers installed, along with a battery volt gauge in the center console. The a/c works nicely, and was serviced about a year ago, oil changed in compressor, expansion valve, drier, were replaced. Charged with r 12.

i figure it will be due for another t belt in 20k, and i will only put about 4k on it a year (don't drive as much in the winter). so I can go 5 years without having to do the t belt, lol. plus the a/c works, and it has a power sunroof! (my eta had a crank, my touring has nothing)

holla!