When I returned from New Years break, I found the following email in my inbox.
Hello and Happy New Year Gordon.
I'm not sure if you're still around the Central Coast, but was wondering if you're still interested in my 1988 325is? It's been non-operational in my garage for the last 2 years with a frozen engine and I've come to realize I won't get around to fixing it up like I intended. Other things that are an issue are the transmission (bearings it sounded like), and my son has swapped a few things to his car like the new exhaust I'd bought shortly before the engine went, the new drive shaft I'd replaced, and a few other things. About the only thing good about the car is the body; it's still in good shape. The interior is ok, except for the driver's seat which has the amount of wear you'd expect after 24 years.
If you're interested let me know; I don't want anything for it, I would just like to have the space back in my garage.
Jeff
Jeff is a former coworker and I has always bugged him for years to give me first dibs on his E30 if he decided to sell it. I lost track of Jeff and was kind of surprised to receive his email.
The body is great shape for the age and mileage that this car has no dents, scratches, and no rust (CA car). It alpineweiss with a cardinal red interior and 5 speed. The dash is crack free, the interior is in good condition and I've seen drivers seats that looked much worse than the one in this car. Car has a clean title, registered non-op, is this too good to be true? On the downside, the car has 429K on it. It was used as a daily commuter from Lompoc to Santa Barbara, 100 miles round trip for years. I have a spare M20 from my daughters 89 325i that I totaled four years ago that will go into my new project.
Jeff's son also has a 88 325is and he has been using his dad's E30 as his parts car. I have acquired a Bosal cat back exhaust along with some rear Billies to replace the items his son took for his own car. I just need to find a driveshaft as Jeff's son took that as well.
I have a set of old school Centra 15" 4 lug ET 25 wheels that I will put on the car.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=251101 205/55-15 Kumho's will be on the Centra wheels. I like the fact these wheels are rare and have a big fat lip on them. I'm thinking of painting the center part black, I think that would look awesome on a white car. Anyone have pics of these wheels on a E30?
Also the car was not free, it cost me a case of Jeff's favorite frosty beverage, Dos Equis amber. The car came with a file folder of receipts to include the original window sticker. This E30 was built in 9/87 making it an early 88 325is built for the US market
Here are some pics of the car.
How rare is red carpet with a red interior? I've seen black carpet with a red interior but never red carpet.
Notice that the car has rare factory mud flaps on the car, how cool is that?
As you see by the pics, the diving board bumpers will come off and the white plastic bumpers that will go on the car. I've had this car since Jan and was contemplating what to do with it. The body & interior is way too nice to part this car out. The car is currently in the for sale forum but I have decided to fix it up and not sell it.
Before my spare M20 goes back in the car, it will be refreshed with new timing belt, gaskets and seals, new clutch, radiator, etc. The PO said the gearbox was making noises for the last year he drove it. It could be something easy as a bad throwout bearing or a bad bearing in the gearbox. When my mechanic pulled the gearbox, he found two broken gearbox mounts so that didn't help the gearbox. Bottom line, gearbox is questionable. I may be looking for a good used gearbox.
I'll keep you updated on progress, it's going to a shop in the LA area for the work at the end of the month.
Recommendations are need from high mileage owners on what I should be replacing on this car.
G-Man
Hello and Happy New Year Gordon.
I'm not sure if you're still around the Central Coast, but was wondering if you're still interested in my 1988 325is? It's been non-operational in my garage for the last 2 years with a frozen engine and I've come to realize I won't get around to fixing it up like I intended. Other things that are an issue are the transmission (bearings it sounded like), and my son has swapped a few things to his car like the new exhaust I'd bought shortly before the engine went, the new drive shaft I'd replaced, and a few other things. About the only thing good about the car is the body; it's still in good shape. The interior is ok, except for the driver's seat which has the amount of wear you'd expect after 24 years.
If you're interested let me know; I don't want anything for it, I would just like to have the space back in my garage.
Jeff
Jeff is a former coworker and I has always bugged him for years to give me first dibs on his E30 if he decided to sell it. I lost track of Jeff and was kind of surprised to receive his email.
The body is great shape for the age and mileage that this car has no dents, scratches, and no rust (CA car). It alpineweiss with a cardinal red interior and 5 speed. The dash is crack free, the interior is in good condition and I've seen drivers seats that looked much worse than the one in this car. Car has a clean title, registered non-op, is this too good to be true? On the downside, the car has 429K on it. It was used as a daily commuter from Lompoc to Santa Barbara, 100 miles round trip for years. I have a spare M20 from my daughters 89 325i that I totaled four years ago that will go into my new project.
Jeff's son also has a 88 325is and he has been using his dad's E30 as his parts car. I have acquired a Bosal cat back exhaust along with some rear Billies to replace the items his son took for his own car. I just need to find a driveshaft as Jeff's son took that as well.
I have a set of old school Centra 15" 4 lug ET 25 wheels that I will put on the car.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=251101 205/55-15 Kumho's will be on the Centra wheels. I like the fact these wheels are rare and have a big fat lip on them. I'm thinking of painting the center part black, I think that would look awesome on a white car. Anyone have pics of these wheels on a E30?
Also the car was not free, it cost me a case of Jeff's favorite frosty beverage, Dos Equis amber. The car came with a file folder of receipts to include the original window sticker. This E30 was built in 9/87 making it an early 88 325is built for the US market
Here are some pics of the car.
How rare is red carpet with a red interior? I've seen black carpet with a red interior but never red carpet.
Notice that the car has rare factory mud flaps on the car, how cool is that?
As you see by the pics, the diving board bumpers will come off and the white plastic bumpers that will go on the car. I've had this car since Jan and was contemplating what to do with it. The body & interior is way too nice to part this car out. The car is currently in the for sale forum but I have decided to fix it up and not sell it.
Before my spare M20 goes back in the car, it will be refreshed with new timing belt, gaskets and seals, new clutch, radiator, etc. The PO said the gearbox was making noises for the last year he drove it. It could be something easy as a bad throwout bearing or a bad bearing in the gearbox. When my mechanic pulled the gearbox, he found two broken gearbox mounts so that didn't help the gearbox. Bottom line, gearbox is questionable. I may be looking for a good used gearbox.
I'll keep you updated on progress, it's going to a shop in the LA area for the work at the end of the month.
Recommendations are need from high mileage owners on what I should be replacing on this car.
G-Man
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