About to buy an e30 need advice, deciding between these two.

[FunfGan]

definitely get the 89, that second car looks like a junker on the inside, and it looks like a bunch of junkyard panels on the outside. Obviously the drivers seat broke or became torn and was replaced with that bucket seat. the red car is clean and looks to be much more original and less likely to be macgyver-ed. and i'm not a fan of the 4.10LSD unless it has a motor swap. the head gasket is actually quite easy, its about a hundred bucks for the machine shop to mill the head (at least where i went). i ran across a local BMW guy that helped me do it for a very reasonable rate to make sure i didnt monkey anything up.

Oh yes, I'm sure thats the reason people buy racing seats :roll eyes:

But seriously, red car. That second car looks... Like something I would build.

[Dj Buttchug]

for real? i would be real afraid to screw it up, i was thinking about looking for info on youtube tho

its cake man. we can help you here. troll around and you will find plenty of pictures of timing for m20 ect. ect. Use the resources here and post in general if you have to.

red car hands down. that other one is clapped out and is going to be a headache to make it right.

Do not, I repeat Do Not do this

Put an ad in craigslist offering 100$ for a mobile mechanic to replace the headgasket.

you end up with some dbag fucktard that knows nothing and ruins the car.

[stamar]

if you can interview halfway successfully it will be easy.

Only accept people currently employed as mechanics, do it on their own time.

the person that might ruin the car is you lol. Listening to forum posters.

Someone who has done it a lot will pull it off in no time.

The important thing though is not to take it to a shop they will rob you blind. You want one of the people who work in the shop.

offer someone 20 an hour, 5 hours cake cake cake. There are people who have services offered on craigslist usually, begin by interviewing them.

more than most mechanics are making in the shop and let them do it on their own time.

This is not a difficult headgasket job either.

100 bucks well spent really.

[graveshaker]

As most already said, the red one is the better choice for many reasons. Once sorted out, it will be nicer than many on this forum.
I'd say grab a trailer gas up and get her now. Plastic bumpers FTW!

[stamar]

i would not call changing a head gasket easy.

It is my opinion that you will have to invest about 100$ just in tools to do it yourself.

there are quite a few parts that if you break them it because a very expensive operation. and losing the timing of the vehicle will put you in the shi#house for certain.

I am positive I gave you the smartest route to take.

[JasonC]

That Dodge is pretty bad ass! needs a set of stacks and less ebay headlights though....

[Ninz30]

Go with the monster truck. Treat it right and it will do the same for you

[N2MYE30]

Red for sure! Get up with your local euro crew and even some of the BMWCCA meets. Ask around if they are willing to help you out. Offer pizza (wrenchers currency) and get you hands dirty too. I have never done the job but now a handful of bimmer heads that are willing to help if I needed it.

Also, goto the southeast section here on r3v and ask around. You might just might find someone right across the street.

BTW...$1000 max for a non runnung car.

[Ninz30]

^ agree. My e30 needed work when I got her, but now I drive her 240 miles twice a week. Just treat it right don't cut corners. Those m20's last a while

[325ix]

Between the two, the red one. However, I would keep looking. The red one looks like the engine bay was painted with dirt.

[mtechnic]

Keep looking or red one.

[mikeedler]

the red car. the other car is a piece of crap.

save up until you can pay someone or find someone that will do it for you cheaper.

that red car is def. worth the money.
plus, I have never seen a headgasket on an M20 leak oil to where it isn't drivable. it might be something alot simpler, or he isn't telling 100% the truth.

[Pac1373]

The red one.

I wouldn't touch the "Because Racecar" unit in a million years. what a Pile of shit.

[Brandon12V]

Red one. Head gasket job is easy as hell man. Just make sure you machine the head when you do it. Search my name if you want to see what's involved in the rebuild. I added some extra goodies but it's a straight forward repair.

[The Volta]

Door number 1, hands down. With the money you would be spending on the other car you can put it into the red one.