Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition
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M20B25 swapped 320i
Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: M20B25-Powered Euro 1988 BMW 320i 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #179,912.
1989 325 I Convertible
Bid for the chance to own a 1989 BMW 325i Convertible 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #180,359.
S50 swapped M3
Last edited by 2mAn; 02-09-2025, 10:45 AM.Simon
Current Cars:
-1966 Lotus Elan
-1986 German Car
-2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Make R3V Great Again -2020Comment
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1987 325iS
Bid for the chance to own a 40k-Mile 1987 BMW 325is 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #180,737.
S52 swapped 325e
Simon
Current Cars:
-1966 Lotus Elan
-1986 German Car
-2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Make R3V Great Again -2020Comment
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When I see cars like the S52 swap sell after a couple of years, I immediately think the current owner did no maintenance and is dumping it all off onto the next person. Especially when the this car basically did this twice on BaT. So now it is twice removed from the original builder, and looks the same. Alas, I'm a pessimist and don't trust people.1987 325iS
Bid for the chance to own a 40k-Mile 1987 BMW 325is 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #180,737.
S52 swapped 325e
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-bmw-325-2/1990 332I Thread
2009 Honda Element (Daily/Beater)Comment
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I hear ya, but the S52 usually are relatively troublefree. At the very least it would’ve needed oil changes but depending on what was done during the swap in 2020 it might not need much.
When I see cars like the S52 swap sell after a couple of years, I immediately think the current owner did no maintenance and is dumping it all off onto the next person. Especially when the this car basically did this twice on BaT. So now it is twice removed from the original builder, and looks the same. Alas, I'm a pessimist and don't trust people.Simon
Current Cars:
-1966 Lotus Elan
-1986 German Car
-2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Make R3V Great Again -2020Comment
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Seller on the S52 e30 commented they put 500 miles on since 2021. Probably did do no work but probably also wasn't needed. My preference as someone with no money to buy, I wouldn't buy someone else's swapped car, mainly as if something needed replacing, I wouldn't know the direct part number.
Instagram: Reichart12Comment
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Yeah, it's fine line to walk when buying someone else's project car. Basically 95% of E30s have been someone's project car now, and it always makes it interesting finding those weird fixes people do to avoid the correct repairs (typically due to expense). Everyone on here who is buying one knows this though, and take on the risk based on initial inspections and records POs have of the car. Swaps makeit all the more difficult, by as you said, not knowing all the direct parts they used... unless they have a full list of everything swapped (which rarely happens, and only the original builder typically ever has that if they are detail oriented enough). Build sheets and maintenance records get lost after that one certain type of owner in my personal experience checking out cars on craiglist/marketplace.Seller on the S52 e30 commented they put 500 miles on since 2021. Probably did do no work but probably also wasn't needed. My preference as someone with no money to buy, I wouldn't buy someone else's swapped car, mainly as if something needed replacing, I wouldn't know the direct part number.1990 332I Thread
2009 Honda Element (Daily/Beater)Comment
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Simon
Current Cars:
-1966 Lotus Elan
-1986 German Car
-2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Make R3V Great Again -2020Comment
-
Comments are saying this went for $39k on Cars and Bids. With the visible rot on it, that seems steep still. Would love to spring for a drivers (read: beat up) M3 but not for that price. I think getting a cleaner example for $50-60k would make way more sense.
Editing for more questions: Why do the rear wheels look so off on this? Non M3 set with a different offset? The lead photo makes that rear wheel look way too sunk in.
Instagram: Reichart12Comment

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