Opinions on a purchase, please.

[BS87]

Sorry if this is more fit for the community section, move it if you please Rob.

Right now i'm currently looking at a 1990 325i Cabrio owned by a SCCA member. The chassis has 191~k on it and the engine, transimission, suspension and soft top all have less than 17k since replacement/rebuild. The paint looks good from what i see in the pictures, though you can never be too sure. The car overall looks to be in good shape, but, the only problem is, it's an automagic. Now, i really want a 5spd, for obvious reasons, but finding a good condition E30 within 100 miles of me, let alone a 5 speed, has been amazingly tough (Searching for 1 1/2 +years). Should i hold out for a 5speed, or go for the cabrio with the automagic, and do a swap down the line?

Thanks.

[OldUser1]

How much is he asking?

-Kenyon

[Mystikal]

An automatic cabrio? What are you, 60?

Start extending your search to bordering States, or even halfway across the country, don't be afraid to travel to get the car. There are a lot of clean E30's out there, you just need to find them.

[george graves]

engine, transimission, suspension and soft top all have less than 17k since replacement/rebuild.

Duhhhh - you don't find that every day...Yea, it's a auto - can you do the 5-speed swap yourself? You could always budget that into the total price....

[318driver]

An automatic cabrio? What are you, 60?

:D hahahahhahaha

[BS87]

I could do the Auto > Manual myself, but i would not be able to blaze through it like Tj or Jordan, it'd take a little bit longer.

[peteM3power]

I could do the Auto > Manual myself, but i would not be able to blaze through it like Tj or Jordan, it'd take a little bit longer.

The car seems very good by the sounds of things so if you can do the swap yourself, I'd say definately go for it (provided you are happy with the price of course),

--Pete :D

[Ryan Stewart]

With cars like these you are buying a chassis if you have any intent on modifying them. I think its been proven time and time again that dam near anything on these cars can be changed if you want to do it bad enough.

I bought my car for the condition, and it was ugly and slow when I got it. The cabs gotta be better.

[reelizmpro]

Nah, i would hold out. It's always better to just buy the car u want instead of doing conversions, unless ur making something unique. Just buy a 5 speed E30. Besides the auto/convertible is going to be heavy and slow. Do you really want a convertible?

[BS87]

I'd love to hold out, and i dont really mind a convertible. However, around here in NY, it is hard to find a good condition E30, especially a 5 speed. the only ones i've seen under 7k are beaten to all hell back back (were talking no front valance, missing rear bumper, etc)

[BS87]

Just a little Update.

I went and looked it over for a while today. Engine bay isn't exactly clean, but not bad. Paint is ok, except for the bottom of the mirrors (orange peel/fading) and the rear bumper looks to be touched up. Also, the rear bumper is fitted wrong, edges stick out from the body (easy fix). The top is brand new, just the rear window is a little scummy from sitting there for a week or so (go windex!). Seats are slightly torn and really worn, but i already knew this. Car has new shocks, and is lowered (orange springs?), and has a nice stance. However, noone was home at the time, so a test drive was a no-go. Definatly have to do that, and soon.

Overall, not bad, needs a little TLC, but what e30 doesn't?

However, i made the mistake of checking the usual cars.com adds, and found this baby, 9 miles from here (as apposed to the 70+ of the origional cabrio) : Here

Looks nice, but you never know.

1991 Cabrio (origional CCA Ad)
Pluses:
<17k on engine, tranny, suspension, and top.
Lowered
Plastic bumpers
Nice red (brilliant i think)
Minuses:
autotragic :(
Minor paint blemishes
shotty seats
Rear bumper, etc.

1990 Cabrio (cars.com)
Pluses:
Relativly low milage
Close
5-speed :D
Good interior
Minuses:
Last Tbelt change is unkown
DIVING BOARDS :evil: :evil:
Burgandy! Even though my eta is burgandy, i incredibly dislike burgandy.


I'm so confused. Atleast there are multiple test drives abound :twisted:

[SykoBMW]

How much is he asking?

[BS87]

The origional cabrio was in the 4500 range, but i would not go over 4000 with the imperfections. Yeah, all the socal boy will say its a ripoff, but you dont live in the E30 desolate NY. :P