there are tons of E30 guys in the northwest.. go join groups.yahoo.com and sign up for the "bmwe30nw" mailing list. you'll gain a lot of very valuable knowledge, and there is bound to be somebody who would be willing to check out the car (they might even know the owner).
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I''m in Tacoma if you want a second opinion when you look at it.
just a heads up...
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those guys are talking about the same car for someone else haha. I guess I better get on it.sigpicComment
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Good luck on the car...but definately try to work the price down. I'm looking a '90 325iS with only 117k miles, one owner, very well maintained, always garaged...for 3500+200 for recharged AC and a new battery. I'm 18 too, poor like you also, looking for my first car, so I feel your pain. It takes a lot of work, but make sure that you don't rush into anything. You can learn a lot from this site very easily. The guys are very helpful. Check out Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com). Maybe suggest to the sellers that they look at that too...
Best of luck,
GusComment
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I just saw the picture, looks very sweet. Extremely clean considering that it is black. The wheels are clean as ffffffffff too! I believe that is a 325iS. It is the sport version of the regular 325i and has better options/more of them... Get that price lower though!
GusComment
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they didn't say is but i saw the spoiler and everything. does the spoiler come on the is?sigpicComment
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dude the car looks sweet the m20 will last u a lon long time and as for the price if u say its in excelent shape then go for itComment
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Finding a clean e30 is not the easiest thing in the world. My advice is:
a.) Take a e30 nut with you if you don't know alot about e30s.
b.) Don't mess around - if you find a clean e30 jump on it
c.) 5k for a e30 is a bit much in my opinion, unless it has some mods.
Here what I got recently:
I knew the car was not perfect when I got it - but I went ahead and got it anyways, mostly cause the price was right. I'll end up throwing more money at it then I'll ever get out of it - but who cares about that.
GeorgeOriginally posted by Matt-BComment
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Here's an exhaustive list of stuff to check. The engine is different, but everything else is pretty much the same on any E30.
The basketweave wheels and trunk lip are iS features, but they could have been added on. A full iS will also have sport seats, a limited slip differential, and a deeper lip on the front air dam, which appears to be missing in the picture(- $200 right there.) The basketweaves are nice, but they are only 14", same size as stock. Most guys upgrade to 15" or 16".
If this seller is the original owner and the car has been garaged for it's entire life, the paint is probably in nice shape, which would make this car worth more than one with a peeling clear coat, but $5200 is WAY high for an E30. I'd offer $4k at most, and only if it's super nice . . . nice leather w/o big cracks, nice glossy paint, cold AC, recent timing belt, stack of service records ~1/2" thick, runs + drives like a champ.
Maybe this seller wants to keep his car on the market for 8 months trying to get $5k for it, and maybe he'll get that eventually, but it's not very likely. What will probably happen is that several BMW nuts will go and look a this car, and he'll get a bunch of offers ranging $2500-$3500, and he'll take the next offer he gets that's $3500+. Joe Average is not going to buy a 14-year-old car for $5k, and anyone into BMW's is not going to pay $5k for this one unless it's in show car condition, like the seats look untouched by ass.
Prices vary a bit by region, but 325i's in good driving condition start at ~$2k. If you don't get this one, you will be able to find another one for <$4k, probably something nice for $3k once you know what to look for. The worst thing you could do would be to get in a hurry or get hot for a particular car and pay too much. It'd be nice if you could pay this seller $5k and drive happily ever after, but it is extremely unlikely that you will ever find a car that needs nothing. During your first year with it, you will have to put a cat on it for $400, or a clutch, etc, etc. . .there's always something, usually more than 1 thing, that he previous owner didn't have replaced in the last 14 years.
Take your time, get a good idea of the going rate for E30's in your area, look at several cars, and make reasonable offers.Comment
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I'm going to be honest and say most E30 owners are cheap bastards.
If that car is really clean and there are 3-4 people interested in it, you'll get beat out if you give a lowball offer. I don't really think 5k is too much for an E30, at least a clean, stock example. mods do not make a car more valuable!Comment
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SOLD!
unfortunately not to me...they told me to call back on the weekend and when I called they told me it was sold.sigpicComment
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Sorry dude, but dont let that deter you from getting an E30, these cars are so cool. Most 80's cars are just plain UGLY, but with a few changes these cars look sweet. Good luck.
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that sucks about it being sold! best of luck finding another e30...hopefully I'll beat you to it, as I'm still looking and as my car has recently become slightly unavailable.......
GusComment
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So if anyone finds a good E30 here in Washington let me know. I would prefer a 2 door but 4 is cool too.sigpicComment
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just wondering what places you're looking at, nother washintonian here :)Originally posted by DarkWing6Comment
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