So how did u find your E30??

[DarkWing6]

My story is rather boring, found the M3 on Autotrader out of Seattle, guy was selling it because he wanted a White on Black M3 and didn't need two. Haggled on the price and picked it up the following week.

And now you own the nicest e30 I have ever ridden in and one of the nicest I have seen.

BTW - I saw your car at the BMW Concours this year, but no you. Where were you?

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, so I broke up with my GF of 12 years and basically, she kept everything. My Dad gave me a '96 Ford Escort wagon...fuck, I hated that thing. I had been driving my Nova...at 12MPG.

I took a job about an hour south of Portland in Corvallis. My new Boss's wife LOVED her Escort wagon...offered to buy mine.

I told her I hated it (it was a fine condition little POS) but as soon as I found a replacement, it was hers.

I have been a longtime GM man. Novas, Astros, 140MPH Turbocharged (to hell and back) Sunbirds, GrandAms, all kinds of GM shite.

Was kind of sick of GM.

I have been working on BMW since the days of old. I started installing car stereo professionally in 1980, so I was not new when E30's were introduced.

I have always loved them, but could never afford them AND my drug habit, so no BMW for me. I guess having kids was kinda expensive, too.

So, here I am, single, broke, 39 years old. I said "I am gonna find me a 325is"

The next day I started looking. I found a run down '84 318i in horrible condition. Drove it, unimpressed. Needed everthing.

Another installer at work had a nice '89 (?) 325ic. He had a buddy with a beat down '87 325is. Ball joints so bad it wobbled while parked!

To make a very long story shorter, The other installer bought that 318, we fixed it up and traded it straight across for the beater 325is.

I paid the other installer about $1000 for it. Before I ever even sat in it, I did ball joints, timing belt, water pump, basic tuneup and changed all the fluids. New battery too. What a pile!

Many hours and even a few dollars later, it is finally becoming a decent looking car. More work than money, but since I pay $850 a month in child support, that works for me.

I guess this damn E30 is my new habit.

Luke

[Jonathan M3]

I love this story:D

Alright, one day after class back in '01, I went with some friends to go eat at Subway. As we're walking out the Subway, I see a stand with one of those auto classifieds magazines that are free and I pick it up.


This one, to be exact:




I've been trying to find a good 325i/is or porsche 944 for months to replace my '87 325 with no luck, and I always look through these ads just in case.
So after we all go home, I take the mag. and a pen with me to the toilet for a little bathroom reading. While sitting there, I start flipping through the ads, not seeing much. Until I turn one page and am shocked at what I see!


In an ad for a small used car lot in Gonzales, LA I find this:





After just about falling off the toilet, I finish up and run to the phone to go call the number in the ad.

me: "Hello, is the '90 bmw m3 still for sale?"
dealer: "Yes it is."
me: "Can you tell me how many miles are on it?"
dealer: "70k miles."
me: "How much is it?"
dealer: "$9,000"
me: *slight pause* "thank you!"

The next day I drive out to Gonzales to go check this L&G Auto Sales out. It turns out to be one of those old gas stations thats been turned into a side-of-the-road used car lot. The M3 stands out on this lot like a sore thumb. Its all stock, with the exception of tinted windows and a cell phone(both installed in 1991). It was one of those cases where I just knew the dealer didn't know what kind of car they had on their hands.
The salesman comes out and tells me that he thinks the clutch master cylinder went out because recently the pedal just goes to the floor. I get him to get the keys so I can start it and look around inside. I expected the worst, but the s14 fired right up and idled like a champ. I let it run for about 30min. checking the a/c, and other stuff. Everything worked. It revved smoothly and never hiccuped, I just couldn't drive it due to the clutch. The salesman goes on to tell me that its a local 1-owner car, which I later verified. He tells me that the man who owned it had been trying to sell it for the past year, but couldn't find anyone who was interested in the car for that kind of money(Kelly Blue Book Value).
Satisfied that the engine wasn't about to blow and that the other mechanicals at least "appeared" ok, I left to do some thinking and research. I looked up the price for an M3 clutch master cylinder, $50. $9k was more than I was wanting to pay for my next car, but it was just too much of a good deal to pass up.
I went back and asked the salesman if he would be willing to replace the master cylinder so I could drive it. He said he did not want to put any money into the car and it is to be sold as-is. I said OK, but I'm not paying $9k for an 11 year old car that I can't even drive. I'll give you $7k for it, as-is. Sold.

Bought the car, and put it on a trailer to take home. Overnighted a new master cylinder for it, put it in with a friend, and the clutch came back to life. I then took off out of the driveway and had, to this day, the happiest drive of my life.:mrgreen:

[h0lmes]

I love this story:D

Alright, one day after class back in '01, I went with some friends to go eat at Subway. As we're walking out the Subway, I see a stand with one of those auto classifieds magazines that are free and I pick it up.


This one, to be exact:




I've been trying to find a good 325i/is or porsche 944 for months to replace my '87 325 with no luck, and I always look through these ads just in case.
So after we all go home, I take the mag. and a pen with me to the toilet for a little bathroom reading. While sitting there, I start flipping through the ads, not seeing much. Until I turn one page and am shocked at what I see!


In an ad for a small used car lot in Gonzales, LA I find this:





After just about falling off the toilet, I finish up and run to the phone to go call the number in the ad.

me: "Hello, is the '90 bmw m3 still for sale?"
dealer: "Yes it is."
me: "Can you tell me how many miles are on it?"
dealer: "70k miles."
me: "How much is it?"
dealer: "$9,000"
me: *slight pause* "thank you!"

The next day I drive out to Gonzales to go check this L&G Auto Sales out. It turns out to be one of those old gas stations thats been turned into a side-of-the-road used car lot. The M3 stands out on this lot like a sore thumb. Its all stock, with the exception of tinted windows and a cell phone(both installed in 1991). It was one of those cases where I just knew the dealer didn't know what kind of car they had on their hands.
The salesman comes out and tells me that he thinks the clutch master cylinder went out because recently the pedal just goes to the floor. I get him to get the keys so I can start it and look around inside. I expected the worst, but the s14 fired right up and idled like a champ. I let it run for about 30min. checking the a/c, and other stuff. Everything worked. It revved smoothly and never hiccuped, I just couldn't drive it due to the clutch. The salesman goes on to tell me that its a local 1-owner car, which I later verified. He tells me that the man who owned it had been trying to sell it for the past year, but couldn't find anyone who was interested in the car for that kind of money(Kelly Blue Book Value).
Satisfied that the engine wasn't about to blow and that the other mechanicals at least "appeared" ok, I left to do some thinking and research. I looked up the price for an M3 clutch master cylinder, $50. $9k was more than I was wanting to pay for my next car, but it was just too much of a good deal to pass up.
I went back and asked the salesman if he would be willing to replace the master cylinder so I could drive it. He said he did not want to put any money into the car and it is to be sold as-is. I said OK, but I'm not paying $9k for an 11 year old car that I can't even drive. I'll give you $7k for it, as-is. Sold.

Bought the car, and put it on a trailer to take home. Overnighted a new master cylinder for it, put it in with a friend, and the clutch came back to life. I then took off out of the driveway and had, to this day, the happiest drive of my life.:mrgreen:

Thats a very romantic story.

[reelizmpro]

Great story!!! It was meant to be.

[ldsbeaker]

I'm hoping to have a story VERY similar to that someday very soon.
A lot better than my story of my wife finding my car for me.

[E30isGIRL]

aw! I like that story and it rocks you still have the original ad for it! :D

[M42Technik]

Definitely the best story.

[wagonizzle]

You know the dealer doesn't have a clue when they list both a '90 M3 and Sentra Se-R as 'auto'. No such things.

[chuckybob]

jc posted a craigslist link for a non-running 318i beater with no paint and i called dibbs.

[wagonizzle]

My kinda long story

I registered for this forum after reading your these stories so I could tell mine. I had been looking at e30's for about a year and a half, never with any money to actually buy one. I was delivering pizza one night in May when I saw a lady get out of a zinno 325i at a house I went to for delivery (not her house). I promptly asked her if she was going to call me when she was ready to sell it. She laughed and said she was actually thinking about getting something with more doors, but that she loved the BMW so much, it would be hard to get rid of it. When I asked what she might want for it, she said, "I don't know, two?" I left her my number and hatched a plan.
Two weeks later I knocked on her door to see if she as serious (she lived a mile from where I first met her). We talked for about 30 minutes and she said she would start looking for something else. I asked her to let me know when the last time the timing belt had been changed was. We communicated a bit over the next couple months, me trying to help her decide what to buy next. During one conversation, she explained that although it was perfect when she bought it in 1996 with 60k, she hit a rock that fell off a truck on the highway 2 weeks later. It put a hole in the block and she had over $9k in work done including a rebuilt engine and steering rack. She hoped I wouldn't be deterred by this. Oh, she checked and the timing belt and water pump were changed 5k ago. The car had 113,500 miles at this point and had gotten over $5k in work in the last 5k miles. Tires were good. Exhaust good. AC cold. Radiator and cat replaced. recent full tune up. Black interior was great. Mtech 1 wheel and rear spoiler.
While I was on vacation in NC, she called me to tell me she found a car and would be buying it on August 17th. A week before this day, I drove the car for the first time. I had noticed that it seemed to to sit low, so I wondered about the condition of the suspension. It was fine. Car ran great and had been serviced by my friend's shop, so we knew maintenance was up to date. I told her that KBB online says the car is worth $1850, but if it all checked out, I would give her the asking price of "I don't know, two?". She mulled it over and decided that since the stereo was busted and it had a goofy temp gauge, she was going to sell it to me for $1800. And tell the state that the purchase price is $200 so I can save tax. I decide that I am ok with that.
The day she bought her new used CR-V, I met her at the tag place and got the BMW at the same time. Along with the keys (and a hug), she gave me some paperwork from the previous owner. "Something about a suspension chip, I don't know what that's for," the newest previous owner tells me. I read a letter explaining that there are Bilstien shocks, springs, sway bars and bushings on the car, as well as a Dinan chip. Oh joy. You know what's funny? She was pretty little, kinda old, and I don't know if she only took it to church on sundays, but at 5k miles in the last 2 years, it's possible. Every time I drive this car I am more impressed. I look forward to many years with it. Hope you enjoyed my story.

[wagonizzle]

My kinda long story

dbl post

[rede30]

Nothing to special but i did get lucky with my first car. I was planning on staying in Carmel with my Aunt and Uncle to work for them and try to find a car during the summer of 2003. I had just under two weeks to find a car while i was at there house: I was wanting to find it up there because my uncle was someone i trusted to help me find a good car since i didnt know anything during this time. We had been checking every online classifieds and anything else we could think of to try and find a car but we couldnt find anything close to what i wanted. It came time when i only had two days before i left the area and i would miss out having my uncle help me find a clean car. We were checking autotrader pretty very often but after we checked one time we were desperate so we up'ed the radius way more than we had been searching with just to see what was out there. We were going through all the cars when we see a perfect car, we assume it would be really far away since we were looking way outside of our driving radius but it just so happens that we notice it was only 5 miles away. We couldnt believe it since just 5 min earlier we had searched close by and saw nothing so we get on the phone and then got in the car and went to look at it. It was perfect and the guy had just posted it on autotrader somthing like 30 min before we called and it was suposed to take a few hours to show up. We were the first call and we bought the car for 3000 around an hour after he posted it up. It did only take me under 2 weeks to find a perfect car but it still felt like it would never happen. I bought my 2nd car from my brother so there really isnt a story there and i am working on getting my 3rd...

[loonibab325i]

I registered for this forum after reading your these stories so I could tell mine. I had been looking at e30's for about a year and a half, never with any money to actually buy one. I was delivering pizza one night in May when I saw a lady get out of a zinno 325i at a house I went to for delivery (not her house). I promptly asked her if she was going to call me when she was ready to sell it. She laughed and said she was actually thinking about getting something with more doors, but that she loved the BMW so much, it would be hard to get rid of it. When I asked what she might want for it, she said, "I don't know, two?" I left her my number and hatched a plan.
Two weeks later I knocked on her door to see if she as serious (she lived a mile from where I first met her). We talked for about 30 minutes and she said she would start looking for something else. I asked her to let me know when the last time the timing belt had been changed was. We communicated a bit over the next couple months, me trying to help her decide what to buy next. During one conversation, she explained that although it was perfect when she bought it in 1996 with 60k, she hit a rock that fell off a truck on the highway 2 weeks later. It put a hole in the block and she had over $9k in work done including a rebuilt engine and steering rack. She hoped I wouldn't be deterred by this. Oh, she checked and the timing belt and water pump were changed 5k ago. The car had 113,500 miles at this point and had gotten over $5k in work in the last 5k miles. Tires were good. Exhaust good. AC cold. Radiator and cat replaced. recent full tune up. Black interior was great. Mtech 1 wheel and rear spoiler.
While I was on vacation in NC, she called me to tell me she found a car and would be buying it on August 17th. A week before this day, I drove the car for the first time. I had noticed that it seemed to to sit low, so I wondered about the condition of the suspension. It was fine. Car ran great and had been serviced by my friend's shop, so we knew maintenance was up to date. I told her that KBB online says the car is worth $1850, but if it all checked out, I would give her the asking price of "I don't know, two?". She mulled it over and decided that since the stereo was busted and it had a goofy temp gauge, she was going to sell it to me for $1800. And tell the state that the purchase price is $200 so I can save tax. I decide that I am ok with that.
The day she bought her new used CR-V, I met her at the tag place and got the BMW at the same time. Along with the keys (and a hug), she gave me some paperwork from the previous owner. "Something about a suspension chip, I don't know what that's for," the newest previous owner tells me. I read a letter explaining that there are Bilstien shocks, springs, sway bars and bushings on the car, as well as a Dinan chip. Oh joy. You know what's funny? She was pretty little, kinda old, and I don't know if she only took it to church on sundays, but at 5k miles in the last 2 years, it's possible. Every time I drive this car I am more impressed. I look forward to many years with it. Hope you enjoyed my story.

Good story, pm me some pics of your car I'm interisted to see. If you post them here i'm sure i'll forget to read this thread again lol..

I found mine on the local newspapers, well not me jajou318 did, anyways.. my story isn't all that interisting.. I was just so excited about getting my first car I knew this car was the one.. he was asking about 4k worked him all the way down to 2700!

[neighborhood]

I was talking to an employee at slick motorsports in cleveland about possibly trading my Audi for his E30 plus cash about two months ago. Last week, the Audi was T-boned and totaled. Well, hell! I want an E30, so I got ahold of the guy and bought the 87 325is from him yesterday.