Talk me into/out of buying this... *V8*

[JamesE30]

So I've allways wanted several e30's ...obviously.
A V8 e30 is a dream for me, however I do not have the skill's, resources, or money to build one myself.

I've been looking for an average condition bodied e30 on the cheap for track/thrash purposes since i got my license.

Recently I came across an ad for a 325e tuned 4L lexus v8 for a very reasonable price.
(I'd rather not say the price, it won't mean much to you anyway, e30's hold an entirely different value over here)

The car seems perfect for me.


(see ad below)


My plan,

I would transfer the entire black leather interior to my 323i.
Put my "race" bucket seats from the 323i, in this car with the gutted interior.
Put the new A/C in my 323i,
Put the smilies in my 323i
Put body pretty much back to stock
Sell the stereo
Sell the mirrors and replace with stock,
Sell the rims and replace with e36 stockers with good rubber.
Either keep the bronzit (sleeper) or opt for shit house backyard paint job (I really am not interested in paint condition for this car)
Drop on coil overs.

Basically take all the Good Condition practical bits and put them on my 323i,
Leave this car a gutted e30 v8 with two buckets and a straight out exhaust...


NOW,
I will need to take out a student loan to buy this car,
Which i am dangerously close to doing so

Basically I'm looking for someone to tell me I'd be nuts to pass it up, or that im looking at a lemon.

[JamesE30]

Here is the ad:

BMW E30 325 WITH A LEXUS 4 LITRE 32 Valve V8

FULLY ENGINEERED

COMPLETE CONVERSION DONE PROFESSIONALLY

6 MONTHS TO BUILD

THIS CAR IS A USED DAILY

Welcome to my auction for my BMW E30 V8 ,this is my PRIDE AND JOY and serious effort has been put into this car for it to reach to what it is now,

1987 325E 2 Door Coupe

REGO

B&M SHIFTER AUTOMATIC

I am a BMW CLUB MEMBER

Full Engine conversion using a Lexus V8 with 210KW + with a pod Air Filter

Lexus Automatic 4 Speed Gearbox with OVERDRIVE Button

E36 Front end and E36 rear end (with Bigger brakes then standard 325)

BRAND NEW 17INCH 5 STUD WHEELS WITH TYRES (with lock nuts)

60klms are for the Engine the original klms are 212klms

INTERIOR LOOKS BRAND NEW (EXCEPT A FEW CRACKS ON DASH (NEW DASH MAT COVERS CRACKS)

New Hoses

Black Leather style trim

Tinted Windows

Sports Steering Wheel

Full New Custom Exhaust System (Sounds FANTASTIC)

Full Sound System Including Kenwood Headunit,with 4 Channel and 2 Channel Amplifier with Sub!

Custom Side Mirrors

Clear Side Repeaters

Black Eyebrows

Security Alarm

Electric Ariel

New Washer and wipers

Custom New Tail Shaft

New Commodore Radiator

Custom NEW very cold Air Conditioner

NEW A/C Condenser

2 X THERMO FANS

Custom Carbon look Dash

New Carpet

New ,Second hand HeadLights

New Master Brake Cylinder

As you can see ALOT of time & effort has been put into this,everything on the car works from every interior light,etc etc,YOU WILL STRUGGLE TO FIND ONE LIKE THIS!

RECENT FULL SERVICE

I have a FOLDER of receipts of work carried out on this car

Winning bidder will obviously get the car along with ALL DOCUMENTATION,2 x KEYS with 2 x ALARM KEY FOBS!

The only things that need to be done is a

• few touch ups on front right gaurd and few minor dings the size of 5 cents and boot lid to be resprayed to make it look fantastic
• Springs need to be changed

___________________

I will upload the pics


I know it seems ricey, but all the glitz bitz will go.

I'm sure the owner is a cheque book racer, but he seems pretty passionate.

There is a full 5lug e36 conversion, so front wheels are now not centered, which is sort of an issue

[drifty340i]

Sounds close to home ;) you will love it. Trust me,great engine. Im givin you the thumbs up !

[backtrail69]

Id pass, it's auto.

[JamesE30]

Oh and obviously I'd want to do a Manual swap down the road...
I'm not even sure if thats possible with this engine...


PICS:

[JasonC]

I have that shifter, but never used it in anything yet. And i'd be lying to you if i said i never took out a loan to get a car i wanted. But if you can swing the payments it's up to you.

[T Verdier]

it looks cool but the m power badge is even more ridicules now that it has a Lexus engine lol. its probably a relatively light weight v8 it sounds like fun

[808BMW]

So I've allways wanted several e30's ...obviously.
A V8 e30 is a dream for me, however I do not have the skill's, resources, or money to build one myself.

How long would you be paying off this loan?

I can definately think of a few cons:
Auto
Stock suspension
Cracked dash (I don't like mats)
Wheels aren't my style (I like the color black w/ polished lip, just not that design, something with a bit more dish)
You have no clue about the swap and it's reliability
Bronzit :P




If it's something you really want, and it's not WAY overpriced (As in I would take a stock M3 for 15k in the US vs. a v8 swapped 325e priced the same) and your willing to put in some work (springs+shocks and E36 M3 brakes if it doesn't have them already for some v8 safety's sake, wheels and paint are to your personal taste) then I would go for it.

I'm sure a 5speed swap is doable, http://www.dellowauto.com.au/main.html would probably have adapters for the transmission of your choice, and they're local. I've seen a few lexus V8 swaps into toyota trucks and such, matched to their trannies.

The A/C is probably a lexus compressor and such that wouldn't transfer to your 323i

How much is an M3 there?

[JamesE30]

How long would you be paying off this loan?

I can definately think of a few cons:
Auto
Stock suspension
Cracked dash (I don't like mats)
Wheels aren't my style (I like the color black w/ polished lip, just not that design, something with a bit more dish)
You have no clue about the swap and it's reliability
Bronzit :P

I havn't looked too much into loans at the moment, but I think I'd have the income to pay it back in around a year.

I'd be upgrading suspension anyway,
A cracked dash in a gutted v8 is the least of my concern (but your right it's annoying)
I's sell the wheels,
The swap has a full engineers report (again your right though, I do not know anything about it)
I can live with bronzit (for a few weeks)

The A/C is probably a lexus compressor and such that wouldn't transfer to your 323i

How much is an M3 there?

If true, that sucks about the A/C, I will look into it.

And to give you an idea, the last m3 i saw sell in AUS
went for around $50,000. That's more than 5 times the cost of this car...

[Ray Smoodiver]

Horrid front wheel well placement
Horrid wheels
Horrid shifter

Nice swap, but alot of it looks bodged

[Firestorm]

That thing is still for sale?


Build your own imo.

If you didnt build it, don't cruise it :)

[gearheadE30]

Looks interesting, and probably is a blast, but it is an auto and it seems like there is a lot of stuff that needs to be changed for it to be a good car. From hat it sounds like, it will cost another $5k-$10k to get it where you want it. Some of that price will be offset by selling some of the parts off the car, but it is still a major proposition. drifty340i also has a 4-liter lexus V8, and his is hooked to a manual, so the swap is possible. I don't know how prices are over in Australia, but that car is prbably worth $6k-$8k over here, maybe a little more to the right buyer.

Either way, good luck with it :)

[drifty340i]

Its the same engine as mine mate, well almost its the low comp version but they still make great power.
Its not a cheap swap at all to do,if you can get it for a resonable price and you like it just buy it cause trust me it will cost you alot more to do the coversion yourself ALOT MORE.
Manual conversion is easy,but im guessing its running the factory computer? if it is you will have to get a aftermarket computer to run it as a manual.there are ways around that but im pretty sure the tuners in Ausy havint figured it out yet like they have here

[TwoJ's]

Don't do it. If you could afford to pay it off right away, then I'd say go for it, but I don't think you should take a loan out to do it.

[joshh]

Not a good idea to buy this with a student loan. You can't even get rid of them by filing bankruptcy.