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

[Sykohtic]

1987 325is.

The arches are where they always should have stayed. The taillights are the proper size. And I <3 my 3.73 LSD, even with a slushbox in the tunnel. A set of basic lowering springs, and it'll handle for days over my E36 328is, and it still has the stock struts and shocks from the factory as far as I know.

[reelizmpro]

Source? I didn't know this.

I'm not sure what he's talking about, all 325iS were fully optioned from the factory.

[einstein57]

airbags cars = no map light, no projectors, pain in the ass to remove cluster, and 50/50 if it has pop outs

I also have a theory that the paint recipe may have changed in 89 or 90 as from my personal experience they seem more prone to rust.

[Bmwdayz]

1987 325is is my first choice and second would be 318is slicktop although I hate the rear arches and tail lights and steering wheel. Yeah 87 all the way

[Hooffenstein HD]

Late Alpina B6 3.5 :)

/thread

um, well....that isn't exactly a stock factory car. i think everyone realizes this is beyond the scope of the thread. notice that no one has mentioned m3? but since you are playing that card, you really need to google b6 3.5s.

now....Boom!

/thread.


carry on folks.

Yeah, if we were mentioning special models I'd say Hartge H27SP, or Hartge H35-24.

[mr2peak]

H35-24S ...the one with the S38

[e30austin]

Source? I didn't know this.

Almost every '88 325is I've seen came with map light mirror, ski-pass rear seat, etc, but most '89 325is that i've seen didn't.

[Matt341]

Most likely the only one here to put this...... 325es I just love eta's

or... 320is

[unloadedak]

anything that doesn't have plastic bumpers or those big ugly tail lights.

[rturbo 930]

Almost every '88 325is I've seen came with map light mirror, ski-pass rear seat, etc, but most '89 325is that i've seen didn't.

Mine is an '88 IS with no ski pass

[nando]

airbags cars = no map light, no projectors, pain in the ass to remove cluster, and 50/50 if it has pop outs

I also have a theory that the paint recipe may have changed in 89 or 90 as from my personal experience they seem more prone to rust.

by now the value of map lights and 30 year old projectors is pretty low. I got my map light out of my parts car, and I sold the pitted, rusty, foggy headlights to somebody who didn't mind that they were so old.

it's like arguing over the 325i vs the 325is. most of the valuable parts are nearly worthless now, or completely worn out anyway.

[reelizmpro]

Yeah, it's not a big deal but if it were one or the other....it's obviously better to have it from the factory. The value of clean tweeter sails, map light mirrors, etc has gone up though thanks to those who want to upgrade.

[einstein57]

Its nice to not have to cut and splice. Also unlike most of the people on this forum i fully insure my cars. I've received over $20k in insurance claims in the last 5 years. Would have been 25-30% less if i had regular 325i models.

[Schnitzer318is]

Its nice to not have to cut and splice. Also unlike most of the people on this forum i fully insure my cars. I've received over $20k in insurance claims in the last 5 years. Would have been 25-30% less if i had regular 325i models.

How much are you paying to do that (if you don't mind)? I've been considering it... but don't want the insurance company to tell me my 91 318is turbo is worth $2000... or my 92 vert, or 87 eta for that matter. Are you doing agreed value?

[325ISNOOB]

Loooooooove my 87is. 3.73 lsd. 5 speed. Can't go wrong