Thoughts on buying an e21?

[gearheadE30]

I don't expect to find much love for these cars here, but I do like them and have always wanted a black one. This one is a 1983 320i Sport. Cloth recaros with a tear on the driver's bolster, LSD, rear swaybar, 3-spoke wheel, BBS 13x5.5 rims. The car is black, and the paint is really bad on it. Bumpers are tucked, but most of the bumper trim is missing. It is essentially stock, but has an e30 premium audio system installed. 127k original miles, and owned by a BMW mechanic.

the bad: windshield gasket leaks badly. A few cracks in the dash. Rear quarters are beginning to rust, and there is some rust on the rear of the car. At this point, there is minor surface rust under the rear of the car, but it doesn't seem to be bad yet. The car runs, but the clutch and brake are both nonworking. My guess is a leak somewhere. Tranny swap car, and some of the wiring has been hacked in. May need a new alternator.

This car would be a project car and would recieve some subtle mods, but may become a daily. Eventually, the puny M10 would see boost, but most of the internals would remain stock.

My offer on the car would be $600 if I can get the brakes and clutch to work well enough to get it home.

Opinions? Ideas? Snide remarks? I do have a few crappy pics that I may post up later.

[blunttech]

600 is too much if you ask me. sounds like a parts car. . if the clutch and brake systems worked and it was drivable maybe 600

[jimsill]

if it is the "is" model, then you can get your money back in parts. I left the e30 scene (sigh) for the e21 scene, and LSD's to us are like VHS porn to a 14 yr old, awesome and hard to come by.

[gearheadE30]

It is the is model. And I will only offer 600 if I can drive it home.

[gearheadE30]

bump.

[george graves]

I really don't like the suspension design that the e21 has. It makes it a hand full to drive when you are pushing it hard - but with a m10, that kinda hard to do anyways.

[ethirdy]

I am starting to love the e21's more and more - there's a reaaaaall nice black one near me, stunning car. I have e21 recaros in my e30 and LOVE them.

Leaking windshield gasket=hidden water/rust. I wouldn't do it unless you were tearing it down and making sure all rust issues were addressed.

[DCColegrove]

E21...

Not the best BMW ever did.

[StereoInstaller1]

Every time I talk to an E21 driver, they say they wish they had an E30.

[thornado327i]

Every time I talk to an E21 driver, they say they wish they had an E30.

Same here... but YEARS ago. Right now there are three categories of E21 here:
1. pristine, restored car - you can see one once a year
2. regular ol car - usually parked in someones driveway, broken and posted for sale
3. garbage - some of that on junkyards

None of these are easy to spot nowdays. Seems like the last moment to buy one cheap for restoration. Thinking of it seriously too.

They are very nice cars indeed.

[2002maniac]

Sounds like an awesome parts car for a 2002. I'd yank the LSD, 5-speed, recaros, and sport steering wheel and then crush it.

e21's are worthless.

[Turf1600]

when I bought my first car I had to decide between a 2002 and an e21. The e21 had AC and some other nice stuff - but the first time I saw the 02 on the road I made up my mind.

However, I would like to have a nice 320is someday. Now that they are emissions exempt you could put a pretty gnarly motor in.

[Motorsports]

If your into E21s id say go for it, But if this one is going t be too much of a hassle. Find one in better condition. For $1500 you could find one in better condition. Your going to waste more than that one that one.

[scabzzzz]

Repeat what blunt said over and over in your head and then stick with that..

[eurohick.]

just thought id throw that out there. I thought e21s were utter crap til i saw what they were supposed to look like when i first saw a 323i.