It's officially a money pit.

[warmseth]

Good responses. Thanks guys. I love this car. I've owned 35 cara and this one is my favorite to drive of all the ones ive owned. I have about $9500 in it total including purchase price. That includes full Ireland engineering suspension, corvette brakes, and a lot of maintenance.

90% of my cars have been old. Chevy IIs bunch of Datsun 510s vintage motorcycles. I like old vehicles. This is why I recently sold the vw r32 and decided to keep my e30 instead. The vw just wasn't as fun to drive.

The only reason I'm tripping on the $ is I'm flat broke, no job, unemployment insurance was just declined for no reason and I spent $2500 on my car today that should have gone to paying rent. So basically I'm scared shitless of my financial state.

Still I've pretty much made up my mind that unless I can find a car that drives better, I'll own this thing for life.

Upcoming things to do:

S5x
Paint
Bbs Wheels
Headliner
Bluetooth stereo
A/c
Cruise control
Proper IS rear seat

In that order.

[gearheadE30]

Cars really are about the worst investment ever. It's the enjoyment that you get out of owning it that's important.

[mikeedler]

I have atleast $30,000 into my M3 including the purchase price. I have driven it a total of about 4000 miles in the last 10 years.-- so yeah, I'm dumb.

I have about $10,000 into my summer M tech II- yeah, I'm dumb.

My Bel Air that has been driven about 400 miles in the last 25 years is at about $30,000, yeah I'm dumb

the car I drive a ton of miles on every day I have about $800 total into it- yeah, kinda odd now that I think about it.

We do it for the love of metal/oil/rubber, gearheads are strange.

[Bearmw]

E30's are not going to be cheap unless you find a deal on an unmolested car without rust and major wiring issues and basically just do all stock type maintenance yourself. Once the modification bug bites it can cost a hell of a lot because as we know just one more mod would make it that much better.

I've got a vert project that started with a purchse price of 2K (had no rust and good intereior) but has many times that into it with a B35 swap but my plan is to never sell it. Also my son has a Schwarz 88is that he got for $1200 (118K very little rust and decent paint and full Hartge exhaust but not running) but has needed a bunch of basic maintenance because it sat for many years. Previous owner totally hacked dash wiring. Now having to replace fuel tank because it sat so long and next spring will need a clutch due to leaking rear main seal and maybe valve seals, etc. We are not going to go crazy modding this car but I have a few upgrades in mind next year. 3.90 small lsd (I already have), shave flywhell, ix rear sway bar, decent 15" rims/tires, replace more bushings.

I also just bought an Burgundrot 85 535iA with 146K and good paint and minimal rust for $1200. This will replace my tin can 01 Saturn as my daily driver. Repaired some wiring hacks and a few other things. Still need replace rusted section in exhaust. I want to do some mild upgrades (H4 lamps, better sways, better 16"rims, new bushings, speakers, budget bbk...and lots more basic maintenance but not this winter)

Probably once I go beyond basic maintenance I won't get my money back but I know that. My thinking now is to go slow on mods, think them out, be creative, wait for a great price on parts, and do all work myself, and hold onto the cars.

I feel lucky to be able to have cars as a hobby and I also know it is a luxury that many can't afford now with job uncertainty and so on. I think that my own car dreams have gotten a bit more modest out of necessity and I like seeing how I can come up with something enjoyable without spending crazy money. Sometimes less is more...and I guess I mean doing more with less... Now maybe my woman will get me that welder for Christmas;)

[Sailor37]

only second to getting married and having kids.

Cars really are about the worst investment ever. It's the enjoyment that you get out of owning it that's important.

[Simon S]

afraid to actually add it up - but my ballpark guess is ~$15K.

I'm fine with that since I'd much rather have that kind of money in a like-new old/cool/fun/enjoyable car - than say a $15K Hyundai..

Bummer about your timing belt.. a little perplexed that you were $7K in without addressing such a vital maintenance item though..

[Holland]

Just remember, adding super unleaded to your eta doubles its value.

[MattAvino]

just remember, adding super unleaded to your eta doubles its value.

haha

[delatlanta1281]

The money I have put into my e30 is fine in my eyes. I don't care how much I have put into it. Like Greg said, it's my hobby, I will never sell it. What chaps my ass is my MK4, and my 4runner have both needed tranny replacements, and a getrag doesn't link up to them. 4k later both cars have cost me @ what I have put into my 25 year old car. And that 25 year old car has proven more reliable and less of a money pit. When you upgrade or customize a car, it isn't considered a "money pit" when you are constantly replacing the same worn parts and broken transmissions, that's when the money pit label should be used.

[ZekeTheSneak]

I have 3gs into my coilovers and wheels alone. I love my money pit it was born the same year as me :)

[TimKninja]

Prolly about 4-5K withing the last couple years...Rebuilt M20, 4-5 months later swapped in an M50.

Sucks too, I need to find a new shell (Car is HellaRusty). And have nowhere to transfer the M50 swap.

Herpderp.

[Jafxod]

With the turbo build I'm well over 10k and im 18 and make all my money myself.

[Stoner Sam23]

I'd rather put money into my car than owe money on newer car. So all my cars are shit

[Anguz]

Many people have spent 10,15 and 20k+ on non m e30s. There r many reasons y. Car lovers do what they love even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else or financially.

:bow:

[N2MYE30]

Im on the tipping end of my coupe. May cabrio is in the black and my MT2 was a flip. So Im averaging ahead of the game. I still have no car payments.