Mint 1988 325 "Super ETA", should I buy?

[joecrouton]

Well, the 318i I was going to buy fell through due to profile gasket leakage. I just found this 325 Super ETA near me. The body is cinnobar red, freakin minty. Best one I've seen, no rust. Motor has 130k, runs great. Guy has most records, original sticker, manual, etc. Clean Carfax. No record of t-belt, needs that. Needs some interior work, driver seat ripped, check panel cracked, hood release broken. Other than that, subframe bushings. I drove it, seems awesome, I love the torque. Originally he wanted $3300, I talked him down to $2800. Is this car worth it? I have cash in hand.

[nando]

dual valve springs, i cam, i intake, i computer = budget stroker.

[joecrouton]

That is a very nice option...I'm assuming thats a "go for it!"

[SpecM]

-I love my s-eta, but it wasn't perfect and had 200k on he clock. Picked it up for $1700.

-$1100 (2800-1700) is a resonable premium for a clean e30.

[Matt86es]

To me it's worth it to pay a little more like that to have a really clean, well maintained car in the long run. If there was anyway to talk him down to 2500, i would definately go for it. Add up the costs of what you know that you are going to have to do and use that as a bargaining tool. I would do the t-belt before even driving home.

[wastedincome]

I hope its a 5 speed ;) Atleast w/ the 88' they came w/ the updated lower valance & fogs and Plastic bumpers are a bolt on.

[joecrouton]

The car is nice, but it needs some work. It is a 5 spd, I wouldnt have it any other way, and the bushings are nice and the shifting smooth. The body is rather amazing, the interior just needs work as stated above. He wont take less than 2800 unfortunately. I am having a prepurchase inspection done tommorow, well see where it goes from there.

[Digitalwave]

Price seems pretty high for a super eta that needs work.

[Axxe]

Price seems pretty high for a super eta that needs work.

A couple interior pieces and a t-belt is "work?"

Pick it up, it's always cheaper to start with a clean chassis than try to make a crap chassis clean. Interior is easy to change, t-belt is a given, no big deal. Go for it.

[rwh11385]

everyone wants a cheap car that's perfect... doesn't happen.

I agree with Axxe, better to buy a clean car that needs a few things than a royal piece of shit that's really affordable.


but oh well, it's the forum mentality to buy pieces of shit and spend what they save on euro grills and ie stage 3 springs

[Digitalwave]

iTS CALLED A PROJEKT CAR HEETER GET IT RIGHT

[rwh11385]

oh yeah. forum mentality. don't call it a piece of shit it is, call it a work in progress or a project


or better yet! a "budget beater" mission from God / plan / testimonial....

[Jarvis]

Replacing timing belts and bushings, and finding good condition used interior pieces is way easier than worrying about rust and the accompanying body/paint work.

Go for it.

If the body is *mint* and it runs and drives fine, then it's definitely worth $2800. At least to me. Add the fact that it's a super eta and that might be a strong selling point for something wanting/willing to go the stroker route.

[rwh11385]

precisely. go for it. super etas are great cars to start out with. bumper swap easy and so is a budget stroker. if it looks good, you can keep it for a long time and won't have an ugly car in the end

[AdironRider]

My 318is is truely mint and trust me it was worth it. I paid 4200, mint paint, 77k, pristine interior. Its well worth the extra cash. Buy the car, youll be happy.