Major Dilemma!! Need advice!

[Kcaps]

Ok, I'm trying to find the perfect e30 and I've run into a snag...

I've already bought an 89 325i with only 110,000 miles. It's an automatic with a busted tranny. The seller included all the parts for a 5 speed swap. It's paint is just ok, with a few rust spots, so it will require so body work, maybe a full respray. Interior is good condition tan leather.

Here's the problem. Tonight I went and looked at an 86 325e. The mileage is unknown since the odometer stopped working over 6 years ago. The speedo doesn't work either. The difference is the paint is nicer on the e, and although will need touch up, it won't likely require a full respray. It has plastic bumpers swapped in. The front sport seats were professionally recovered a few years ago. The interior is really clean aside from the crack in he dash. The engine runs smooth and it feels decent. The current owner bought it from a BMW specialist mechanic and she always maintained it at the Indy specialist shop, so I'm not too worried about the mechanical condition. Oh ya, it's already a 5 speed too.

Here's the dilemma. Should I buy the e and sell the i I already bought? Should I buy the e and swap in the clean i motor? Should I just keep the i and do the trang swap, repaint and enjoy?

The e30 options around here are so slim finding the right one is tough.

Oh ya, the i is a sedan, which I prefer and it is alpine white which I also prefer. The e is a silver coupe.

Any advice would be appreciated. I've never done an engine or tranny swap, so it's all new to me, but I'm eager to learn.

[PeteD]

If no budget...buy both.

A plastic bumper swapped e can look awesome. Do you have any pictures of the work done to it?

They are really two different cars. I think the tranny swap and respray will be easiest for you, however, if it was me, I would buy the e.

[smerfs]

^+1, if budget isn't an issue, have both.

I would choose the 86 though, simply because a running driving car is always better than a non running example. Unless you have plans to do some restoration work then i would say save yourself some headaches and pick up the 86. the 325e also sounds like it would be a better candidate for a motor swap and some suspension work, but i'm biased towards coupes.

Rust and calgary also go hand in hand, so I would take the least rusted example and be happy.

[Kcaps]

This will be a project for me either way and I don't need anything running. I have a DD, so this will be something fun for the summer. Budget isn't a huge issue, but I don't really NEED both, and my wife may kill if I bring home two 25+ year old cars...

I'm mostly concerned how the e will drive compared to the i. I have already purchased a miller MAF, WAR chip, 19# injectors and a KA Motirs CAI, all for an i.

Here are a couple pics of the e:





Here are a couple of the i:

[Jon]

Hey, here is my two cents. I've owned both these vehicles and from what I see and hear, I would put the I motor in the E- The El ooks good- sell the E-motor- enjoy and be grateful. Jon

[lambo]

Put i motor in e and part out the i.

[Stanley Rockafella]

those plastic bumpers on the e look funny, that thing needs Euro metals!

but yeah, tough call!

[Crippled Crip]

Ugh, i hate when people do a plastic bumper swap on early models and dont put on the late model valence. looks worth that DBs IMO. I say early model still though, looks in nicer condition, plus e motors are fun ^.^

[mikeedler]

Put i motor in e and part out the i.

this. also take the facelift valance from the i if it isn't bent and stick it on the e.

[vert_this]

just go nuts, swap out the i motor put in the e then buy urself a s5x motor for it.

[Kcaps]

Put i motor in e and part out the i.

I read your entire build thread the other day. Ballin on a budget, I like it!

I should say I AM on a budget. The only reason I am considering both cars is because the i was only $700, with the 5 speed tranny, drive shaft, master and slave, etc. I've offered $2200 on the e and I will see what happens.

[Vtec?lol]

I would put diving boards or euro bumpers on the eta and use it.. take the motor from the i and sell the rest of it off.

[RLGDiesel]

No reason to pull the engine and part out a perfectly good E30 4 dr.

Swap the trans and enjoy the sedan you just bought. Buy the coupe too if funds allow.

Scrapping a good shell reduces the number of unmolested, unsalvaged E30s on the road today.

My alpine paint was extremely faded but was brought back to life with a cut and polish using Meguiars M205/M105. Single stage is very resilient because no clear coat to fail.

Good luck!

[TwoJ's]

So you prefer everything about the 4 door b25 car, you've bought a bunch of parts for it, but you have to do the tranny swap and it might need paint? The 5 speed swap isn't really difficult, and you said you got it as a project right? Well... there's your project. Swap in the 5 speed, install the parts you've bought for it and have fun driving it. Like above poster said -- you would be amazed what a good cut/polish can do for paint.

The plastic bumper swap on the ETA is incomplete/improperly done. Do you notice how the rear bumper is too long? Whoever did the swap didn't shorten the sides of the bumper so it fits like shit. Also, if you put plastics on an early model, it really needs to have both the front and rear valences from a late model. You can bolt up the front one, but the rear will have to be cut off of a parts car and welded in (or you can rivet it on like some people do, but I'd say if its worth doing, its worth doing right.

Only thing the eta car has over the other one is the seats. I'm not really a fan of cloth seats, but those ones are cool.

[cabriodster87]

Buy the "e", swap the "i" head, take all best parts for your stroked coupe, and part the rest.