How high-mileage an eta would you buy?

[Kristuphir]

Hey eta guys - the title says it all.

I'm seriously thinking about switching back into E30s after a year's absence. I had an IS before, but I'm thinking E this time because I basically need a reliable commuter at the moment and not another go-fast, good-looking sporty thing like my '89 IS was. I want in-city torque and low-revving freeway speed and comfort, coupled with good fuel economy for this car, and low purchase price is good to as all the funds that were previously going into car projects are now going into the down payment for a house. Seems an eta is the way to go for now, even though the big bumpers are hard to deal with for me.

I know with the low compression and low redline these things are good for higher than average miles, but how high would you go? For instance, at 225K is there a lot of good service still left in a well-maintained eta? What'd be a fair price for a clean one with 225K or thereabouts?

And anyone got one for sale? I'll ask in the classifieds section too, of course.

Chris

[backtrail69]

I have seen well maintained etas over 300k miles easy. Mine is just a baby at 180k... I get 25 mpg city/light freeway and 30 mpg freeway with a dinan chip.

[DaveSmed]

I know with the low compression....

ETAs have higher compression than your iS did. Anyway, I wouldn't think twice about picking one up in good running order up to 350k. If you look around, I know locally I can pick up decent running (but often times fugly) etas around 270k for a couple hundred. Excellent beater material.

[MikeE30325i]

my eta has around 300k on it, and i still pull almost 30 mpg mixed. never had a serious problem with it, running wise, and the front end is uber-fucked up.

[Hick]

sister 86 es has around 280k and running strong.

[Mike325]

Mine has 270k on it and still runs like a champ.

[e30_325es]

I bought mine w/ about 300k on it. Now it's for sale for about 320k.

[CleanAzzE30z]

A well maintained eta (like mine) 200K is nothing. Mine has 214K and does not burn oil, still idles at a purr, and accelerates smoothly albeit slowly.


Mariano

[Kristuphir]

A well maintained eta (like mine) 200K is nothing. Mine has 214K and does not burn oil, still idles at a purr, and accelerates smoothly albeit slowly.


Mariano

Yeah, slowly...my current commuter is a cherry (but really slow) '79 Accord so I think the eta would even be a step up. I'm hoping the low-down city torque and the relaxed freeway RPMs make up the difference for me. That, and I've ridden in an eta with a JC chip and found that to be really, really enjoyable.

Wanna sell it? :)

[CleanAzzE30z]

NEVAH!!! hah


Mariano

[Kristuphir]

NEVAH!!! hah


Mariano

yeah i thought not. just spotted some pics of it in another thread and that's a fuckin' hot eta right there...:)

Know anyone who's got one they don't need?

[SteveDVS]

Excuse my metric.

I bought my '86 325 with 302,000km on it, and now it's sitting at just under 320,000km 9 months later. It still accelerates smoothly, has good torque, burns no oil, etc. etc. Lifters are clicking but it's been like that since I bought it. I put 1,800km on it in two days in the summer and will be doing the same thing again this summer.

[Kristuphir]

Excuse my metric.

I bought my '86 325 with 302,000km on it, and now it's sitting at just under 320,000km 9 months later. It still accelerates smoothly, has good torque, burns no oil, etc. etc. Lifters are clicking but it's been like that since I bought it. I put 1,800km on it in two days in the summer and will be doing the same thing again this summer.

So you're another 200,000-miler (excuse my arbitrary American measurement system). Cool, cool, good to know...

[AdironRider]

You can come up with as many excuses as you want, but a 200k car is going to be shittier compared to a low milage one. I used to tell myself stuff all the time when I was driving 200k cars (all I could afford), but shit still broke, the car felt tired, yadda yadda yadda. Try and find a low milage car like I did, and you can thank me later.

[Kristuphir]

You can come up with as many excuses as you want, but a 200k car is going to be shittier compared to a low milage one. I used to tell myself stuff all the time when I was driving 200k cars (all I could afford), but shit still broke, the car felt tired, yadda yadda yadda. Try and find a low milage car like I did, and you can thank me later.

Well no shit, I'm just trying to get a sense of how "beater" my beater can be. I'll of course be looking for the lowest miles possible, but at the same time my shopping days will be limited, I can fix stuff, and I can get parts for reasonable prices locally. So if the basic package is known to be exceptionally durable and has good service records, that gives me a bit more leeway.