Is this a good deal?

[RobertK]

I found another E30. This one is going to be for my girlfriend and she's looking for a cheap reliable car car and I though this might be a good deal. The guy wants $500 cash for the car and I'm going this Sunday to possibly buy it.

Here's the specs:

1987 325e 4dr
Bronzit
163k miles

The Good:

A/C Still Works OMG!
Body and Paint is Good
Interior is Good
10k on new timing belt and water pump
50k on rebuilt head / gasket replaced
Performance Chip already installed (not sure of the brand)

The Bad:

Driveshaft CSB need to be replaced (noisy)
Medium sized crack in windshield on passenger side
It's an automatic.

What do you guys think? I don't know a whole lot about the "E" series cars or how reliable they are so if there is anything I need to know or look for then let me know.

[Dave]

Sounds like it could be a decent deal. If the mechanicals check out ok, and the paint and interior are as good as decribed, $500 is a deal. Windshield is easy to replace and CSB isn't too bad of a job if you are mechanically inclined.

Make sure the tranny seems good. I understand those are weak points on autos.

[DoriftuEvo]

Sounds like a good deal. Take reliable out of the paragraph and it's perfect. If reliability is a priority, she should get a Toyota or Honda. A cheap E30 will turn into an expensive one pretty quickly. It's probably cheap because the seller knows that every aspect is what people don't want (ie. eta, 4dr, auto, bronzit).

[Digitalwave]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that a $500 E30 is not a reliable car. Cheap, yes. Reliable, doubtful.

[Dave]

If the mechanicals check out ok, . . . $500 is a deal.

[e9nine]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that a $500 E30 is not a reliable car. Cheap, yes. Reliable, doubtful.

I humbly disagree ;)

[The Fast One!]

for 500 dollars i'll buy it if it runs and go drive through a bunch of fields like my buddy and i did with an eagle wagon we got for free.

[RobertK]

I'll be sure to check the mechanical condition.. that should be no problem. I can replace the CSB on my own since I've already replaced 2 in the past.

I'm more concerned with the overall reliability of an ETA I can do the rest of the upkeep myself. Though the person selling the car claims to have all the maintenance records since it's been 1 family owned.

[Rob]

$500, if it runs I'd get it.

[The Fast One!]

I'll be sure to check the mechanical condition.. that should be no problem. I can replace the CSB on my own since I've already replaced 2 in the past.

I'm more concerned with the overall reliability of an ETA I can do the rest of the upkeep myself. Though the person selling the car claims to have all the maintenance records since it's been 1 family owned.

haha! eta's you CAN'T kill them. take etasport on here his has 400, 000miles on it. BUY THE CAR!!!!

and make a cool video whenever you want to trash it at let us see.

[AdironRider]

Sounds like a decent deal to me but check and see if that trannys ever been replaced. Ten bucks says it goes within 15k

[RobertK]

If it does I have an extra automatic and 5 speed transmission in my garage. This will be my girlfriends car so if it does start to go I'll let her choose which one she wants.

I'm more or less concerned about the reliability of the ETA's engines but as posted before 400,000 miles speaks for itself.

[bimmerlover]

I myself.. wouldn't pay $500 for an 87 325e auto that was in MINT condition.
It really doesn't get much slower than that.

[AdironRider]

If thats the case you should buy that bad boy for 500 bones. If the interior is as good as you say it is youll easily be able to make your money parting the car out if something ever happened.

[RobertK]

It really doesn't get much slower than that.

The car is for my girlfriend... regardless.. how fast of a car do you think you're gonna get for $500?

Fuckin' A.. the main point of this car is so she can sell her 03 Corolla to get rid of her car payment and have something to drive for a year to save for a slightly better car. No more car payment.. Car payments are the mantra of the middle class.