Starter e30 help - anyone

[DaWildBeast]

Hi I am looking into buying my first e30 soon but u would like some advice from already experienced car people. I'm 17 and I don't really have any car experience except for changing fluids in a car and changing wheels.

Anyways I already have an e46 330i w/ 280k miles and I'm looking into buying an e30 to modify and start working on cars myself. My main issue is I don't know where to start. Should I buy a e30 (325) that already runs and is in great condition or should I get a good running car with a not so good look I was thinking 1989+ because someone said those are the best to modify and I don't want the plastic bumpers from the later years.

Any advice on where to start in the e30 world would really help me out a lot. Start budget would probably be max about $4500 then from there I would go from paycheck from there.

[Swanny]

Depends if you're mechanically savvy or not. There's plenty on the site as far as buying guides and what to look for when searching for an e30. Really comes to what are your goals in owning one? Keep in mind they have next to nothing in the creature comforts of your e46.

[agent]

I was thinking 1989+ because someone said those are the best to modify and I don't want the plastic bumpers from the later years.

Saying one generation is "best to modify" over another is a matter of opinion.

You contradicted yourself when you said 1989+ and that you don't want plastic bumpers. If you want metal bumpers, tnen you need to look for a 1988 or earlier. If you also want a car with the higher horsepower "i" engine your choices are now narrowed to 1987 or 1988.

As Swanny said, there's a lot of info on the forums. Take some time to read and research the various differences between the model years and what was offered. That should give you a good foundation of knowledge on which to make an assessment.

[DaWildBeast]

Saying one generation is "best to modify" over another is a matter of opinion.

You contradicted yourself when you said 1989+ and that you don't want plastic bumpers. If you want metal bumpers, tnen you need to look for a 1988 or earlier. If you also want a car with the higher horsepower "i" engine your choices are now narrowed to 1987 or 1988.

As Swanny said, there's a lot of info on the forums. Take some time to read and research the various differences between the model years and what was offered. That should give you a good foundation of knowledge on which to make an assessment.

Woops I meant I do want plastic bumpers thanks for your help

[Reubenjd]

Keep in mind that bumper swaps from dB to plastics are easy on 88s as well, keeps more years open to you. If you want to learn to modify one but with limited budget, buying a clean shell that needs maintenance done would probably be the easiest way to learn the basics.

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