Is this E21 a good deal?

[funcrew]

I'm going to look at this tomorrow with a pocket full of cash. Seller is an older guy (even than me) who got the car as swag in a school bus deal. He has no use for the BMW so is dumping it. No service records. Clean title.

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/911903880.html

Any advice?

[Japandrew73]

I say go for it! looks good

[Kilomph]

The only thing I know about E21s is that they're fucking bad ass looking and they're hard to find in good shape, especially out here. I'd have bought that if it was closer, looks like a clean car!

Mileage? Records? More pictures!

[funcrew]

The only thing I know about E21s is that they're fucking bad ass looking and they're hard to find in good shape, especially out here. I'd have bought that if it was closer, looks like a clean car!

Mileage? Records? More pictures!

155K, no records.

[der affe]

if it needs a steering wheel, i have a nice sport 3 spoke i will sell cheap!

[ZM Blue Devil]

do it

[shmutzigE30]

that looks great. interesting color

[VacMan]

Looks like a decent car, but that's not a very good deal. You can find a 320is for the same price or close to it and have real Recaros, LSD, swaybars, etc. I'd keep looking or get him down around $1k.

[funcrew]

Thanks to all for the advice.

So I show up and it's this old guy with a really nice house and a new Benz. He tells me "This is in perfect condition - a show car." Keep in mind that the car fell in his lap and he knows nothing about them. He felt that the un-used ORIGINAL PIRELLI spare tire (on a badly corroded 'weave) was testament to the car's mint-ness.

What I saw was a car with
GOOD: Nice paint & not much obvious rust (one hole under the spare tire rusted through). AC blew cold. New Michelins on OEM 13-inch weaves.
BAD: Block heater - not a good sign for a rust-free-desert-car-liking guy like myself. Appeared to be never maintained at all. Everything grimy & greasy, no evidence of any new parts anywhere. Driver's seat busted. Oil coming out of everywhere that has it. Test drive - clutch is shot. Slower than death (but that may be normal for a 320i). Lots of funny noises.

I wished the guy well & went on my way.

[VacMan]

Thanks to all for the advice.

So I show up and it's this old guy with a really nice house and a new Benz. He tells me "This is in perfect condition - a show car." Keep in mind that the car fell in his lap and he knows nothing about them. He felt that the un-used ORIGINAL PIRELLI spare tire (on a badly corroded 'weave) was testament to the car's mint-ness.

What I saw was a car with
GOOD: Nice paint & not much obvious rust (one hole under the spare tire rusted through). AC blew cold. New Michelins on OEM 13-inch weaves.
BAD: Block heater - not a good sign for a rust-free-desert-car-liking guy like myself. Appeared to be never maintained at all. Everything grimy & greasy, no evidence of any new parts anywhere. Driver's seat busted. Oil coming out of everywhere that has it. Test drive - clutch is shot. Slower than death (but that may be normal for a 320i). Lots of funny noises.

I wished the guy well & went on my way.

Sounds like the average private owner's E21. They're tough to find in good condition.

FWIW, the stock E21 isn't that slow, so it was probably having major issues. One in good condition isn't going to give you whiplash or anything, but get the revs up and they're pretty fun to drive.

[MIZTERIO]

do ettttttttttttttttt

[jmarch]

Sounds like the average private owner's E21. They're tough to find in good condition.

FWIW, the stock E21 isn't that slow, so it was probably having major issues. One in good condition isn't going to give you whiplash or anything, but get the revs up and they're pretty fun to drive.

As a longtime 320is owner, I'm gonna have to disagree. The 4 cylinder E21 are pathetically slow. I remember having a hard time beating a friend in an old Tercel. With the (low) prices of E30s, I see no reason to waste time on an E21. And I can't think of one thing an E21 does better than an E30.

[Justin B]

They rust faster. :)

[Charlie]

And I can't think of one thing an E21 does better than an E30.

It sacrifices parts a lot better for an '02. I've always thought the e21s looked better than e30s, but that's about it.

-Charlie

[Greekstyles]

2 much $