E30 minus 9

[Sykohtic]

So I'm just wandering around the interwebs of the Craigslist, like I'm sure we all occasionally do, and I just look for an E21 at random. So after a bit of looking, I rally kind of want one. Not enough that I'd give up my E30 for it, but maybe as a daily driver and then relegate the E30 for the weekends? Or even just change which car I drive between weeks, even out the load. Plus I guess if I got my hands on a 5-speed M10 E21, well it would drink quite a bit less gas than the "big" 2.5 liter in the 325is (AND NO STUPID TIMING BELT. TIMING CHAIN FTW ;D). ORRRRRR if I found a I-6 model with the M20B23, I could just make a cool little 2.5L stroker car using a E30 sport model head. That with some lowering, fender flares, and some downsized bumpers, and a lip spoiler, and I think it'd be a cool little car to cruise to the local meets with. Certainly not many of them around where I am here in NC, so it'd be pretty unique for the area.

So my question is, what's your opinion on the E21? I mean is this just stupid talk or maybe actually not a bad concept? Parts seem to have at least a decent availability, and I mean M20 and M10 parts are pretty common these days, right? So maintaining it isn't too much of a big deal, and the aftermarket looks kinda classic racer, and I like that.

[Chessmaster]

why e21? if I were to getting that older slanted front end look I would go with a e24, which are mega hot with simple mods. and most can be had for under 2k very easily when they pop up. imo
ps..

[fiveightandten]

I've always kind of viewed the E21 as an inferior version of the E30, which I suppose it is. They get no love though, and maybe they should.

[brbahner]

why e21? if I were to getting that older slanted front end look I would go with a e24, which are mega hot with simple mods. and most can be had for under 2k very easily when they pop up. imo
ps..

that 2k seams all great till you realize you bought a car that needs some work and e24 parts are no where to be had. that being said, e24 is one of my all time favorites. how can you go wrong with a cooler in a car?

[Sykohtic]

why e21? if I were to getting that older slanted front end look I would go with a e24, which are mega hot with simple mods. and most can be had for under 2k very easily when they pop up. imo
ps..

Is that more of an area thing?? Around here, an e24 is usually 4 grand plus for one that has like 160k and interior in need of a good sowing needle... Given, I love the look of the e24, one of my favorite BMW designs of all time. I just haven't seen any pop up in North Carolina that are like 2 grand cars that seem worth buying for me. Now if I had a more steady job and could afford the time and money to go through one, then things would be different.

I really like the e21 for some reason. Like was just said, they get no love. And while a lot of people say they're an inferior version of the e30, a e21 with an M20 is like 200 lbs less than an M20 e30, right? and the M10 version is at least marginally lighter than the 318i, the 320i is only like 2250-2300 lbs (which actually is about even with a manual 318i i suppose).

As compared to the other option I looked at, a 2002, e21s seem a bit easier to come by in decent shape for a decent price, mostly thanks to the demand for the 2002 for obvious reasons. There's actually a e21 thats sort of close to me thats got a refreshed M10 with only 103k thats been freshly swapped in. It has the 5 spd and he's only asking 3 grand. AND its red . Lets just say if I had 3 grand, my e30 would have a sister lol

[Chessmaster]

ive seen a few extremely good shape e24's at junkyards. and e24's use m30s don't they?, the only parts I can think that are harder to get in rear seats and body panels In good shape. and guess e24s get no love down here. I've had quite a few e24 owners wanting to trade for the e30s i've had. guess its just a big car with not all that great power to weight. and just like 90% of e30 for sale in various price ranges in the wild, you are more than likely going to put at least 1k in them.

[Sea Aych]

I really like the look of E21s, especially with the single headlights (per side...) swap and euro bumpers!
E24s are amazing too, but at least up where i'm at, it's been pretty hard to find one that hasn't been donked or totally neglected, sadly.

[Sykohtic]

ive seen a few extremely good shape e24's at junkyards. and e24's use m30s don't they?, the only parts I can think that are harder to get in rear seats and body panels In good shape. and guess e24s get no love down here. I've had quite a few e24 owners wanting to trade for the e30s i've had. guess its just a big car with not all that great power to weight. and just like 90% of e30 for sale in various price ranges in the wild, you are more than likely going to put at least 1k in them.

SOME e24's use m30s, a good many use m20s as well if I remember my research well enough. And it depends on which year you get as to whether or not you get a good m30. It seems like you really have to get a late model e24 to get a true M30B35, which is the engine you really want and the engine that's the prime M30 E30 swap choice thanks to the fact that it makes enough torque to twist a building in two (figurative language people). A lot of them had the M30B34s which is a meh engine. Its tough, but produces considerably less twist and power than the B35. Unfortunately, these desirable late models see higher premiums. Yeah you can probably pick up a cheap e24 with an M20 or B34, but the power to weight is so poor, its more of a fun cruiser that you probably shouldn't use to challenge the local hot head's Integra...

That isn't to say they arent fantastic cars or that you can MAKE them fast, but they dont nearly have the bang for the buck of a 3-series car like an e21 or e30. I really wanted a 635i for a long time, but a late model was impossible to grab in running order without a 6 grand price tag. I guess I haven't looked at them recently, but honestly, if I'm going to have to buy a p.o.s. to get a M30B35, then screw that, I'll just M30 swap my e30 lol

[Sykohtic]

I really like the look of E21s, especially with the single headlights (per side...) swap and euro bumpers!
E24s are amazing too, but at least up where i'm at, it's been pretty hard to find one that hasn't been donked or totally neglected, sadly.

Yeah and thats a reason why I like the e21. You can just do really simple things to it like removing a couple head-lights and lowering it down to have a little wheel tuck, then just removing the bumpers and bolting on the appropriate front valence, and stuff like that to really make it look race-like. It's still enough in the 2002-esq look to be really classic racer and doesn't have the pricing of the 2002, plus it has easy to work with underpinnings lol

[Shangsta]

SOME e24's use m30s, a good many use m20s as well if I remember my research well enough. And it depends on which year you get as to whether or not you get a good m30. It seems like you really have to get a late model e24 to get a true M30B35, which is the engine you really want and the engine that's the prime M30 E30 swap choice thanks to the fact that it makes enough torque to twist a building in two (figurative language people). A lot of them had the M30B34s which is a meh engine. Its tough, but produces considerably less twist and power than the B35. Unfortunately, these desirable late models see higher premiums. Yeah you can probably pick up a cheap e24 with an M20 or B34, but the power to weight is so poor, its more of a fun cruiser that you probably shouldn't use to challenge the local hot head's Integra...

That isn't to say they arent fantastic cars or that you can MAKE them fast, but they dont nearly have the bang for the buck of a 3-series car like an e21 or e30. I really wanted a 635i for a long time, but a late model was impossible to grab in running order without a 6 grand price tag. I guess I haven't looked at them recently, but honestly, if I'm going to have to buy a p.o.s. to get a M30B35, then screw that, I'll just M30 swap my e30 lol

No e24's came wth m20's, they were all m30 based motors

[Sykohtic]

No e24's came wth m20's, they were all m30 based motors

Yeah, my bad. I looked it up after I posted that and realized my fault, just didn't have the time to come back and edit it out. Thanks for the input!

[jesse_e30]

I had 2 e21's before I got my e30... I love them, I want another one someday. The e30 is a better car for sure but the e21 is just as good to drive IMO

[Sea Aych]

Yeah and thats a reason why I like the e21. You can just do really simple things to it like removing a couple head-lights and lowering it down to have a little wheel tuck, then just removing the bumpers and bolting on the appropriate front valence, and stuff like that to really make it look race-like. It's still enough in the 2002-esq look to be really classic racer and doesn't have the pricing of the 2002, plus it has easy to work with underpinnings lol

yeah, like this!!:

[Sykohtic]

yeah, like this!!:

I know how anti-BMW religion this might sound, so the great Bovarians forgive me... but if I could have THAT car on like 16s or 17s with coilovers lovered to have just a little wheel tuck and some positive camber (yes something resembling stance, but less extreme) with the bumpers removed and the Alpina valence up front, and maybe even a little lip spoiler if I get adventurous, I would maybe have a Beamergasm...

[mr2peak]

I know how anti-BMW religion this might sound, so the great Bovarians forgive me... but if I could have THAT car on like 16s or 17s with coilovers lovered to have just a little wheel tuck and some positive camber (yes something resembling stance, but less extreme) with the bumpers removed and the Alpina valence up front, and maybe even a little lip spoiler if I get adventurous, I would maybe have a Beamergasm...

What you are describing is an '02 on 16's… Think about it. The '02 is basically a slightly smaller version of an E21...