What is the best year/model for e30 3-series

[not_a_kiwi]

Yea I'm confused... Why's everyone calling out air bagged cars? Is there something I'm missing?

Personally 1) an airbag that old is likely to due more damage than good And 2) i prefer my steering wheel to sit lower. The non-bagged cars like my 88 are easy to modify to sit lower while the air bagged cars can not be adjusted. Also the steering wheel yeah.

[not_a_kiwi]

I'd say the SETA '88 325e. There's a lot you can do with it as far as swaps go that cost practically nothing. You can buy them cheaper than an IS but you can do the bumper swap and e-i swap for easily less than a grand. After that you have the higher hp output of the I/IS model but have the nice beefy torque rating of the E which makes it awesome driving around town.

I have to agree here i owned a 1990 325i and now own an 88 325 (seta) with the full head swapped, sssquid chip and 19lb injectors. Did most of the work myself (outsourced machining) and i love it. Plus you can have any style you want. Diveboards, tucked Diveboards, or go ahead and install plastic bumpers easy. All around epicness

[4x4_e30]

Can't believe no one has suggested an ix yet. Specifically a 1988 325ix. Hands down the most valuable car (if you live anywhere that has snow/seasons), and it came with all the options. Don't forget those sweet sweet ix flares and basketweaves

'88 325ix

iX!!! Just bought me an Alpine '88 cardinal red interior for $1000

[Panici]

I like the '87 325is. (I'm also biased).
I assume we are excluding the E30 M3 from our choices? Because obviously it would win.

Metal bumpers, high rear arches, small taillights and the iS got the early factory airdam.

Mine needs some TLC before I can mount it. Previous owner hit a cat.

[stonea]

'88 325ix

[Hooffenstein HD]

Another one would be the South African spec 325iS. Evo 1, or Evo 2.

Full M Tech 2 325iS 2 door cars with all the usual iS options like LSD, Sports Seats, M Tech steering wheel etc but they've also got a lot more goodies local to their market.
High comp 2.7 bottom end, 276 cam, larger valves, M30 AFM. Aluminium bonnet and boot lid. M3 5 lug and euro weaves.

[animal]

love my 91's but there's just something so cool about the really early euro models... thats why I bought the 84 323i within hours of it popping up on craigslist! even though I have no room for them all lol.

[BLACKCHARM88]

Early 88 325is, was a pretty good car to me

[HennaE30]

What is the best year/model for e30 3-series

Personally, 83/84 323i/325e, because that's what started it all.. Although I may be biased.. Also 87 iS (best of both worlds) and 89 iS (90/91s just don't have quite the appeal to me)

[bmw325_num99]

My favorite would be, in order:

1989 325i or 325is
1990-1991 325i or 325is
1988 325 (super eta)
1986 325es
1987 325i or 325is

[AntiScope]

So swap it.

To me the most important thing is condition, not a handful of parts that can easily be changed.

I don't have an airbag. I was adding to list of reasons why an airbag is unfavorable. Obviously it's not hard to swap one out.

[nando]

Also, maybe it's just because I've been hit by one before but...all that potential energy staring me in the face can be unsettling.

So swap it.

To me the most important thing is condition, not a handful of parts that can easily be changed.

[meengreene30]

89is fully loaded. Glad i got mine for what i did just over 2 years ago.

[AntiScope]

the steering wheel looks horrible, more complicated, no added bonus.

Also, maybe it's just because I've been hit by one before but...all that potential energy staring me in the face can be unsettling.

[Schnitzer318is]

Just a standard "actual cash value" policy. Basically 3 craigslist ads. I pay about 650 a year.

That's not too bad at all, what firm are you using? I pay ~$30/mo per e30 for liability so your only $25 above that monthly.