Need help b4 craigslist test drive

[nevetsi]

Hey all, Just registered my account here. I have been on the lookout for e30s for about a month, from out of the country. I have read quite a few guides on what to look for when buying an e30. My knowledge of mechanics and car repair is very limited. I've preformed general maintenance on my Japanese cars and trucks, but that is where it ends. I'm coming from a 2007 Civic Si that I sold a few months ago. Fantastic car. Right now I have a 2000 Tacoma to get me around, and will have it as a second car until the end of April when my wife gets back. I test drove a Miata, but was not impressed, and the space may be an issue, as well as the cool factor. I've always wanted a German car, and I've always wanted a light weight RWD coupe.

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4227682527.html

I just found this e30 in my area, and it is the first opportunity I have to test drive one. I am hoping to use my phone and key the serial number into RealOEM.com to get the specs. It has no "i" after the 325 badge, but the tach goes past 6,000 so I am hoping it is the 2.5 with 169 hp (M20B25). I thought that the 87's had an "i" in the badge? Also, as you can see, the dash is cracked above the speedo. I hear this is a daunting task, and I don't really think I am up for it. What is so bad about having a cracked dash other than the ugly looks? I've been known to walk around wearing stained shirts so I don't think I'll give a flip. Does the cracked dash tend to creak and bounce around or is it purely aesthetic damage?

Sorry for all of the questions on my first post, but I'd really like to test drive this tonight and take my checkbook with me. Is $4700 a bit high with the cracked dash? Supposedly he has maintenance history and just changed the engine mounts, radiator and air flow meter.

Thanks a ton,
A hopeful new member of the forum.

[ST1G]

Its a 1987 so it's most likely an eta with a different cluster. So it's got the 2.7l

The dash cracks are common and purely cosmetic.

$4700 seems about $1700 too high in my book.

[TurboJake]

$4700 seems about $2700, if not $3200 too high in my book. Other people will tell you very differently.

Learn up the easy way to tell the differences between an E and an I engine. (Intake manifolds, Sensor placement, etc.). The I's did have the i badge on them. The 325's typically came with ETA and SETA engines, but I have seen a couple unswapped 325's with an i engine.

Cracked dashes are aesthetic, but they do creak more.

[nevetsi]

Its a 1987 so it's most likely an eta with a different cluster. So it's got the 2.7l

The dash cracks are common and purely cosmetic.

$4700 seems about $1700 too high in my book.

So the vin would tell me it is an eta? Why would they replace the cluster?

[TurboJake]

So the vin would tell me it is an eta? Why would they replace the cluster?

Common for the SI board batteries to go out which causes an erratic or non-functioning cluster or section of it. People just use a cluster from any E30 they can find so that they work again. Not knowing that they can just replace the batteries.

Also, yes it will.

[Poorboyz]

I personally wouldn't pay more than $1500 for that car.

[nevetsi]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. Looks like a no go, as I doubt he is willing to come down $3,000!

edit: is it worth a test drive? I've never driven an e30...

[ST1G]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it. Looks like a no go, as I doubt he is willing to come down $3,000!

edit: is it worth a test drive? I've never driven an e30...

Probably not. He will just think you're wasting his time anyway. He thinks he has a gem; even though he states he has no idea.

[joncrz]

When are you test driving the car? I am in the houston area on the weekends and i live 10 min around westheimer. I can help you evaluate the car if i have time. Have you checked out the other e30s on CL? I feel alot of the other ones have nice little upgraded tidbits. I thinkthe only one thing the one you posted has over the others on CL is it COULD possibly be a one owner car.

[nevetsi]

When are you test driving the car? I am in the houston area on the weekends and i live 10 min around westheimer. I can help you evaluate the car if i have time. Have you checked out the other e30s on CL? I feel alot of the other ones have nice little upgraded tidbits. I thinkthe only one thing the one you posted has over the others on CL is it COULD possibly be a one owner car.

I haven't been looking since late December, but got the itch. I never really found any great examples, but I may not be searching the right thing. I usually search for "e30" "325" "bmw 325" (separate searches).

I see there is a white 4 door on this forum's FS adds in Beaumont. It has some rust and he wants $3500 with a spare set of wheels, but there are so many mods I would not be able to keep track of them.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=300624

[ST1G]

A lot of those "mods" are just replacement maintenance parts.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

$4700 is way to much that car is $2700 on a good day.

[nevetsi]

A lot of those "mods" are just replacement maintenance parts.

Yes, bad vocab there. I'm not completely daft, I promise.

[joncrz]

This r3v user was selling his very clean and tastefully modded vert in houston not to long ago:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/member.php?u=44897

you should hit him up and see if he still has it for sale. I cant remember what he was listing it for but I remember it was an extremely good price for what he invested in the car ... Those wheels alone were $$$

Found his build thread:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=300055

another way to search on CL would be

bmw and filter it by newest & set to tiles so you can see the first image nice and large. Also choose the feature "by owner" because if you just search bmw you will get alot of shitty dealerships.

[ST1G]

Long story short. Be patient. $4500 can get you a nice e30.