Any other dumbasses on here?

[TurboJake]

Absolutely.

Mine's:
Very rusty
Looks broken as hell from hitting the deer
Loud
Squats in the rear because I don't empty my trunk.
Gets better gas mileage than it should, but still shitty.
Full of imperfections cosmetically inside.
Has the usual temperamental electrical bits inside


But I still drive her every day. I have kept her in PERFECT mechanical condition. Runs perfect, drives perfect, and gives me a smile every time I drive it, perfectly. It drives as crisp as she drove off the lot.

I may look like I'm a dumbass. But this car cannot be replaced. I've put a good chunk of money and time into a car that looks like a shitbox.

[swolfe]

Not quite the same situation but it bears a little resemblance. I bought my E30 last summer. It's actually my first car -- I'm 24, but in the past I've always had a sport bike and my truck, no car. Quickly fell in love with the little car.

I bought it with the intentions of turning it into a Spec E30 when I finish grad school, and just DDing it to then, doing maintenance or SE30-legal upgrades as OEM parts wore out. Well, I sprang a coolant leak and needed a new ball joint.

I sold my R1 and dumped the money into go-fast parts (which made my girlfriend really happy -- apparently racing is OK 'cause ya got a cage). Now I'm doing engine maintenance (tbelt, tstat, valves, water pump, oil, etc.), SE30 suspension all around (already had the Billy sports), S/S brake/clutch lines, UUC shifter+DSSR, replacing ALL bushings/mounts with UHMWPE from Condor, ATE calipers up front, PFC pads, Spec exhaust, and so on. One thing holding me back slightly is that I can't find a set of IE posi-lock style rear camber/toe adjusters. They're out of stock and currently retooling...

Like I said, it's my first car, so every time I do a job it's my 'first' time. The car has been parked since January (?) and I'm only about 35% done.

[Solarian]

Not quite the same situation but it bears a little resemblance. I bought my E30 last summer. It's actually my first car -- I'm 24, but in the past I've always had a sport bike and my truck, no car. Quickly fell in love with the little car.

I bought it with the intentions of turning it into a Spec E30 when I finish grad school, and just DDing it to then, doing maintenance or SE30-legal upgrades as OEM parts wore out. Well, I sprang a coolant leak and needed a new ball joint.

I sold my R1 and dumped the money into go-fast parts (which made my girlfriend really happy -- apparently racing is OK 'cause ya got a cage). Now I'm doing engine maintenance (tbelt, tstat, valves, water pump, oil, etc.), SE30 suspension all around (already had the Billy sports), S/S brake/clutch lines, UUC shifter+DSSR, replacing ALL bushings/mounts with UHMWPE from Condor, ATE calipers up front, PFC pads, Spec exhaust, and so on. One thing holding me back slightly is that I can't find a set of IE posi-lock style rear camber/toe adjusters. They're out of stock and currently retooling...

Like I said, it's my first car, so every time I do a job it's my 'first' time. The car has been parked since January (?) and I'm only about 35% done.

What are you taking in grad school? I'm doing an MASc in Mechanical Engineering myself, part of the reason why I'm so broke :D

[MikeLenoch5]

Well I've just put $20k into my S54-E30 swap that was never even finished. And I'm letting it go for less than half that!

Here it is: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=277037

[TobyB]

This thread makes me feel better.

yuh, me too. $100 E30 shell, $250 parts car,>> 9 months,>> a roll cage>>, something north of $10k:
Bekuz racekar.

Now, the stupid FJ60 with the piston slap? That's just me being an idiot all over again.

t

[Nick_S]

I spent $2k on a fairly beat 318is but it had zero rust at the time. It had a rough PO that neglected and beat on it but it already had some goodies (bilstein/H&R's, UUC ssk) and very clean sport seats. About a week after buying it and really digging into it I started to regret selling my beloved Cherokee in what was basically a split second decision to buy an E30. It's never sat for more than a month. I drove it instantly despite it's flaws and need of mechanical maintenance. Every time I upgrade or replace something I can feel the difference in how much better the car drives and that has been what has kept me motivated to keep putting money into the car. I'm about $2000 into maintenance and upgrades at this point...still a ways to go to be where I really want it.

[evandael]

dumbass checking in. i bought my car for $1000, knowing it had an engine-bay fire. but it ran! and drove! so i took it home and started tearing into it, realizing that i ought to just buy an entire chassis harness.

by the time i took out the harness i realized that i had a bare shell sitting in the driveway, and every little problem manifested itself to me.. my obsessive nature and do-it-once, do-it-right approach means i'll likely never finish this project with my current income.


and so the car sits, as the parts pile up around it. i drove it 150 miles. i've owned it nearly a year.

[karzrtoyz]

Well lets see,

Bought a E30 M3 from the Junk yard,

Had it restored from the ground up.

Rebuilt the s14.

New Full body paint job.

Poured Thousands!! into this car...

Owned it for 4 years and put only 1500 miles on it...

Never again

[coolflow]

y'all didn't know cars age and deteriorate ?

[F34R]

Depends on what you spent that 3k on...labor and parts or just parts and DIY?

[poopin04]

Dude, be happy you don't have the luck I got. Every single time it seems that I go to do something with the car I always end up making the problem worst or find another issue and walk away with no finish the initial issue and having three more added on. But then again I'm not a mechanic at all and I have tons of local E30 buddies who always help me out in a bind. I wish I had the opportunity and the monies to drop 3k in my car in one shot, I'm sure I have already, but it;s taken a lot of time to get there.

If it's done right and you didn't cut corners u will have one badass car and it'll be your best investment ever. :-)

[rickycricketts]

ive never met a person that said "i don't like the way an e30 drives" so i think you're good. i've owned a few and some of them are so neglected you never get to do the cool things that you want to them because they keep breaking down... now that my e30 is a reliable daily i would love to get a shell or a project to fix up.