why my mother should get an E30....

[Calypso Moor]

...Instead of a newer model BMW.

My mom is currently driving an E24 but the transmission has developed a terrible habit of throwing up it's fluid all over the road and tail pipe while being drive, which causes an embarrassing smoking issue once the engine warms up. So she was to get rid off it and now that tax refunds are gonna be coming in she's been looking on craigslist. Now initially it was all E30 (like a 318e for the great mileage) talk, but recently she's be thinking of something newer like an E36 or some other bullshit. so what can I tell her to get back on the right (Claus Luthe) path?

So far my arguing points consist of, 'I can work with an E30 at home!' and, 'They look way better!'

[naplesE30]

If it were my mom I would say get a Honda or Toyota period, maybe even a new vw, budget depending.

[rturbo 930]

I would never buy my mother an E30. +1 Honda or Toyota. Don't think I'd get a VW though.

[Andy.B]

Why not just fix the car she has?

[Calypso Moor]

Why not just fix the car she has?

A few reasons, she's pissed that this happened less than a year after getting it she thinks it'll be to expensive to take to a shop (and she's probably right), and I don't know anything about transmissions, so all I could do is R&R with a new transmission, she wants a manual, she wants something with a little better mileage.

[Calypso Moor]

I would never buy my mother an E30. +1 Honda or Toyota. Don't think I'd get a VW though.

I can't remember a time she didn't have a BMW, except about 5 years ago when she had some 60's jaguar, but even then she had an E23. BMW's run in the family. and she's still not interested in anything else honestly.

[rturbo 930]

Maybe an E30 would work for your mom then since it sounds like she likes older BMWs. You know her better than we do, and you probably know E30s better than most other cars...

As for why she should get an E30 over an E36, E36s are shitboxes, and E30s are the last non-computer engineered BMW (I think I have that right?), which basically means there's no flimsy shit that just falls or tears apart, ie, subframe mounts, gloveboxes, door panels, etc.

A 318 or 325e would probably be a good choice.

[Reichart12]

Get her an e30 wagon, moms like wagons.

[Mr. Burns]

I love my mom.
therefore, I wouldn't get her an e30.

[Chessmaster]

My mom currently drives a e30 I have bought for her. Since I have multiple e30s, so I take care of all maintence related parts. But I might just sell it, and get her a e39 wagon instead.

[Ether-D]

When I read the comments about how it's a terrible idea for ones mom to get an e30, or the dudes that just bitch and moan about e30s breaking all the time, I just feel bad that you guys have had bad experiences. Unless you're like those people that "hate" cats (e30's), but when you think nobody's looking, you be petting them and loving on them.

If she needed a commuter and likes BMW style, I would put my Mom in an e30 100 times before I suggested anything else. The car is fricking perfect. Good milage, very nice looking, peppy, nimble, stone reliable, what more could you want? I mean, if she's having a hard time getting in and out of low(ish) cars, there are better choices. But for an all around winner, e30.

[BobombETA]

My mom is on a 914 kick, so at least you got this going for you.

[rturbo 930]

If she needed a commuter and likes BMW style, I would put my Mom in an e30 100 times before I suggested anything else. The car is fricking perfect. Good milage, very nice looking, peppy, nimble, stone reliable, what more could you want?

Something quieter, and more refined? My moms cars, which is only 12 years newer than my E30, is WAY more refined. It is much quieter, and generally easier to live with, which is a big deal if you're the sort of person that doesn't give a shit about cars. I like my E30 because I'm a car enthusiast, but I would never recommend one to someone who isn't. Not to mention that most E30s are 25+ years old, and more likely than not, it's going to need work, and quite a bit of it compared to a newer car. E30s are good cars, but you have to love them, or they'll drive you mad.

[Mr. Burns]

When I read the comments about how it's a terrible idea for ones mom to get an e30, or the dudes that just bitch and moan about e30s breaking all the time, I just feel bad that you guys have had bad experiences. Unless you're like those people that "hate" cats (e30's), but when you think nobody's looking, you be petting them and loving on them.

If she needed a commuter and likes BMW style, I would put my Mom in an e30 100 times before I suggested anything else. The car is fricking perfect. Good milage, very nice looking, peppy, nimble, stone reliable, what more could you want? I mean, if she's having a hard time getting in and out of low(ish) cars, there are better choices. But for an all around winner, e30.

I understand and see your point.

however, if the unthinkable where to happen, I'd want my mother protected with srs airbags, and all the other types of safety technologies that are now available in cars built and offered in this millennium.

I'd simply want her in a safe car...yes, we can argue that the e30 is "safe"...but there are much safer vehicles available today, including BMW.

[Ether-D]

I must just love these things irrationally. First step is admitting that I have a problem…