Buying my 3rd e30...opinions?

[marklandphoto]

Hey guys,

After stepping out of the e30 world, for an e39 m5...and then a Rover(WHY?!?!) I am happy to announce, I'm headed back into another e30.

I've been searching the entire north east, and have only found a few that peak my interest. I'm shopping with a 5k budget, and willing to drive upwards of 150 miles in any direction. Must be 2 door, and manual, no bronzit, or that light blue.

So I came across this on CL, spoke to the guy in detail, he seems to know what he's talking about. Slightly negotiable on the price. Doesn't know when WP/TB was done last, and will need clutch in the next 1-2 years.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4892522966.html

Asking $4500.

Thoughts?

[tak7]

Welcome back!
I assume a mostly rust free example in your area carries a premium, would like to see under it though.
A fair bit of upkeep but no TB scares me a little, but it looks pretty clean.
I'm assuming you can buy it for about $4k which would be decent I think.

[marklandphoto]

I've just found out the car was repainted a month ago, by a local maaco.
Maaco prepped it, and painted it. I figure he spent under $1000 on the job. Owner says it's a decent job.

[Stanley Rockafella]

meh, I'd pass.

For an 89 325i that's a pretty BASIC car. I mean, most of the things missing are things I thought were standard on 325i's (Missing obc/computer, crank sunroof, no prem sound system, missing took kit...and that's just what I noticed from the pics).

IMHO, I'd pass. 4500USbucks can buy you a far nicer e30 once the weather gets better

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Car looks pretty good. I would of fixed the rust before repainting it. If you can get it for 4k and under I would.

[Bearmw]

Once you said "no bronzit" I lost respect

[marklandphoto]

Once you said "no bronzit" I lost respect

Haha, respect. That's alright. I've had a few e30's in the past. I can totally respect the color, but I'm just not a fan of it personally.

[rturbo 930]

FYI, the owner is on here. It's posted in the classifieds somewhere.

I don't really follow the market too closely, but I don't think $4500 is too out of line, maybe a little high, if it's truly rust free. My E30 is the first rust free car I've owned, and I gotta say, it's really nice not having to worry about rust, or having to reach for the PB blaster every time you want to unbolt something. Worth the price premium IMO.

[Dirty325ix]

Maco paint job has to be pretty shitty to have rust poke through after a month right

I would wait and keep looking
for 5k I feel like the car has to be all original and dealer maintained or swapped/"stanced"

[mr2peak]

Once you said "no bronzit" I lost respect

I'm sorry you have a bronzit. I hope the lack of speeding tickets is worth it

[flyboyx]

yes, if the rust is coming through new paint after a month, you are buying a dirty pig dressed up with lipstick.

can you imagine how shitty that car will look in a year or two?

do yourself a favor and pass. search the south/south east for a good solid rust free car. fly down and drive it home(or have it shipped to you for 600 bucks). you will be far and away better off.

[arams325]

you can find a better deal, the macco job will not hold up and i agree with others on rust already coming through. just find a car down south or look for something around here that has not been re sprayed i look on CL all the time and find nice stuff in CT,NY,MA and for some reason NH usually has some good cars but i do search for months sometimes to find the right car. Id say keep looking