How much have u guys spend on ur E30? [updated with pic]

[slammin.e28]

1989 325is w/M60 6sp.

I think I'm at about $2.5k in my "free" shell. That's all engine/trans etc (V8 stuff).

Suspension was refreshed before the trans blew and it hit a deer, but everything is fine besides one fender and a headlight assembly.

I'm cheap though. I find deals and have great friends who give me deals on parts. I also work in parts, so I get shit cheap.

[89AlpineM3]

89 M3 $18.5k for the car three years ago, $25k so far into the rest/mod

[F34R]

I feel better now after reading this thread. Including the car I have $3700 in it. But last week the motor shredded the conrod bearing. So the engine is coming out. It was just a lowly 2.7 with an auto. Most of the money spent was on the suspension, then seats, and lots of little stuff.

I cant decide what im going to do next. I would be ok with a stock 2.5l and a manual, but a 2.8 24v is tempting.

Want some advice? save the money and swap something you know you would be happy with. m20s are great but lack power in every way. The 24v is a great upgrade but it is costly to do it right. Honestly for the money now you can get a nice s52 complete for around 2,5-3k. The m50 is shit slow imo, might as well save a bit and get something worth swapping.

I went from m50 swap to a complete b27i cam'd turbo prepped engine to my current m30 build. I wish I did the m30 years ago, so much money would be saved.

[lowsodium]

I feel better now after reading this thread. Including the car I have $3700 in it. But last week the motor shredded the conrod bearing. So the engine is coming out. It was just a lowly 2.7 with an auto. Most of the money spent was on the suspension, then seats, and lots of little stuff.

I cant decide what im going to do next. I would be ok with a stock 2.5l and a manual, but a 2.8 24v is tempting.

[ohthejosh]

OT but those pics are near Jtown in the Filmore huh LOL. Near the Safeway :)

[matthugie]

I quit adding to my spreadsheet about a year ago, I was starting to get depressed. Even then it was pushing 12k, and since then I've done new heater core, Sparco seat, harness, roll bar, set of track wheels...

[hkloverinus]

15k from when i got the car in 2010 to the s50 swap now.

Just wondering, is the swap for S50 pass smog in Cal, since u are located in North Cal. I am very new to this car.

[e30shmobberr]

Yeah I know it grows fast. I have over $400 in a set of headlights... Yes Headlights

i got $650 plus in on startecs from germany. yes tailights.

[e30shmobberr]

15k from when i got the car in 2010 to the s50 swap now.

[bangn]

so far Ive spent 4.5K in 6 months.. That was what was required in order to clean it up to something respectable.. Now im building a serious engine for it.. Im prepared for the thing to owe me 25K once its done.

[LSM3]

25k from April `12 to April `13 not including cost of car...I was pretty surprised when I totalled up the receipts.

[F34R]

Spending money on my e30 is a no brainer, I never even think twice when buying parts. But little things like a drink or dinner out, movies etc. All little meaningless things just eat me up. That is a chunk of these parts I need, or that is a bit in the turbo fund jar. I have been throwing any and all spare cash at this car since late 2010. I am on my third engine path and 3rd set of wheels and 3rd redesign of suspension.

Each and every step was respectable and great, but not perfect.

Things I have left before I can call my e30 perfect to myself:
4" GC special order rear spring(lose that 1/2")
20mm spacer in the rear to lose that 5mm of offset
IE WILWOOD 310MM front and 290mm rear(Not 100% sure on 310mm as I am mulling over 6UL 15x10 wheels for SCCA)
Wilwood triple underdash mount booster W/ pedals
6pt cage
fuel cell with all new SS fuel lines (255 pump)

Comp CT43 turbo
MS2/MS3x
dual tail 38mm WG
and all other needed bits for turbo action.

That above is easy in the range of 6-10k

Long term is to follow Boomer and do a C4 rear conversion on the suspension.

[mrcheezle19]

My wheels alone cost more than most e30s on here. I mean...I have more in my two front inserts than JinormusJ up there with the 700.00 e30.

You can build it cheap and right, but to build it for other reasons really adds up fast. I do all my own labor, right down to custom fabrication. You learn as you go and it is wise to listen to sage members that have been there and done that.

I am now going another route and selling off my UUC BBK and Massive booster delete kit. Full under dash triple MC wilwood setup with IE BBK that is better suited to my planned 550hp goal.

I spent 250 on the rolling shell.

I'd love to grab a wilwood pedal setup, those look fuckin nice. Too bad the turbo build is taking all my money. No matter what whenever you say I'm done there is always 1 more thing. I must digress.

[e30trooper]

Yeah I know it grows fast. I have over $400 in a set of headlights... Yes Headlights

When I first built them 2 years ago. For the first time since them I took them off the 327i because I thought I was going to sell the car their now sitting in a box lol.



$150 Bosch smileys
$100 fx-r's
$100 new pair of philps bulbs
$50 on used bulbs
$60 on ballast
$30 in parts and tabs to make the retro fit work
and it keeps growing. They need a over haul lol

[F34R]

You guys are crazy.

My wheels alone cost more than most e30s on here. I mean...I have more in my two front inserts than JinormusJ or my sister(same price) up there with the 700.00 e30.
You can build it cheap and right, but to build it for other reasons really adds up fast. I do all my own labor, right down to custom fabrication. You learn as you go and it is wise to listen to sage members that have been there and done that. I did not listen when I did my first coilover kit and bought Bilstein sports, just total shit of a insert and shock(same design since the 80s).

I am now going another route and selling off my UUC BBK and Massive booster delete kit. Full under dash triple MC wilwood setup with IE BBK F/R that is better suited to my planned 550hp goal.

I spent 250 on the rolling shell.