I know this is dangerous, but...(E30 content)

So,

Over the weekend I had resigned myself to finding a reliable yet cheap appliance that got better fuel economy than my 740 turbowagon. Top of the list was second generation escort wagon with a 5 speed.

However, whilst perusing craigslist...OF COURSE...I come across an '85 BMW 325e with an asking price of $750. Needs a clutch. Has some rust. Does a funny thing trying to shift into second (works good upshifting from first, but pretty much won't downshift into second...)

The odometer quit working at 220,000 miles. The silver paint is faded and the driver recaro is gone and has been replaced by a vinyl seat.

The body has a couple of dents, but for the price, it's what I'd expect.

What worries me most is the shifting. What's that about?

My plan would be to get this, fix the clutch, start driving it and sell the volvo.

The reason to sell the volvo is because it's not much "fun" to drive and it gets mediocre fuel mileage. If I'm going to have something slow and boring to drive...it had better get 30+ mpg (ergo, Escort Wagon). If I am going to have something that gets 20mpg...it had better be fun (P71, 9C1 Caprice, or something else fun). Plus the volvo needs more work than I have desire to put into it.

I know it's dangerous to ask here if I should go with the E30 ("Of COURSE you should").

Even though it's rusty, I think it will make a better daily driver for me than the 740. But the real reason I was looking to get out of the volvo was to get something that was reliable like gravity. I don't think a 220K mile E30 is going to be that.

I DO want an E30 someday...but an eta was never really on my list. It looks like it could fit the bill for now though...

Clem

The shift issue could be a combination of needing a new clutch plus needing a rebuild of the shifter linkage (bushinges, etc.) However, $750 may be generous for an eta car with all those issues.

I don't see a P71 being more fun to drive then the Turbowagon. I thought the P71 was a generally boring car and I hated every minute of driving it. And wait the Turbo wagon isn't reliable enough!!!! Every Volvo turbo wagon I have been around was unkillable.

Sentra SER Sedan

/thread

You're looking at a 220K, needs a clutch, possible trans problems, and rusty BMW to be "reliable as gravity" for your DD; ah, well, ah, might want to look around a bit more before plunking down your cash on this one.

sometimes you get lucky.. but your $750 BMW seems like it has more issues than my $300 saab

If you're the one doing all the work, and can get it down to $500 or so, it might be worth it. Once you have the trans out to do the clutch, the shift linkage is really easy to do; my guess is that it's the linkage, or possibly the hydraulics. The mechanicals are pretty easy to get into acceptable DD reliability; the rust is the major worry IMHO.

It's a crap-shoot, to be sure, but I'd take a long, hard look at it before deciding.

triumph5 wrote: You're looking at a 220K, needs a clutch, possible trans problems, and rusty BMW to be "reliable as gravity" for your DD; ah, well, ah, might want to look around a bit more before plunking down your cash on this one.

No...

I may not have been clear. I said I started a search for a reliable car, but came across this one that I want...but isn't going to be dead reliable.

Clem

The original post got posted before I was ready...

I hadn't mentioned yet that I could get it for $600.

The rockers are rusty, and the rear corners of the doors are rusty. It doesn't matter how much...it's there.

This won't be a forever car or a nice car. Just a driver. I drove a $200 rusty corolla wagon for over 3 years...I could rock a faded/rusty BMW for quite a while.

I should just keep the volvo and wait to save up some money and get something nicer...but the volvo has issues that need fixed that I don't have the desire to complete.

Actually...it's really nice that I haven't heard a resounding "BUY IT...Buy it NOW!" from y'alls.

Clem

96DXCivic wrote: I don't see a P71 being more fun to drive then the Turbowagon. I thought the P71 was a generally boring car and I hated every minute of driving it. And wait the Turbo wagon isn't reliable enough!!!! Every Volvo turbo wagon I have been around was unkillable.

Fun is relative...

I've slalomed a Grand Marquis...and I giggled like a child.

Not saying my volvo isn't reliable...it could be with work (that I don't want to do). but it gets poor fuel economy and isn't fun to drive. A ford escort will get 30 mpg driving it like a rental. A full size, rear drive, V8 car will get comparable fuel economy to the volvo, but has some torque to it and parts are cheap and plentiful.

I'm not dogging on the Volvo...but it's not what I'd hoped it would be. I realize that and don't plan to spend any more time or money fixing its issues...just to have a car that is a little bit better at not being what I want.

A little over a year ago i bought an 86 eta 325 for $500. it was flat black, interior smelled like a wet dog puked in it. the rear springs were garbage and the front struts were shot. it had 155K on the clock and the speedo hadnt worked as long a the PO had it.

since then i changed the struts and propped up the back springs with $5 worth of spacers. changed the belts/hoses etc and gutted the interior. i have now flogged the wee out of it at the 2009 challenge, 2 hpde events. 2 autocrosses and the thing is still ticking for another hpde this weekend! granted i dont have automatic lock, a radio, or air conditioning, but the car seems to be able to take quite a beating........ for a beater!

i have to admit that this wasnt very rusty though so that may change the game a little.

Pelican Parts has shifter bushings for ~$90. These aren't top loader transmissions, but the linkage is much shorter than what you're used to seeing on American cars.

I've bought what turned out to be crappier e30's for more, and nicer ones for less. I dunno. If you're volvo's healthy I'd stay in it until something more compelling came along. You're in no hurry right?

belteshazzar wrote: I've bought what turned out to be crappier e30's for more, and nicer ones for less. I dunno. If you're volvo's healthy I'd stay in it until something more compelling came along. You're in no hurry right?

You're right and this is kid of where I'm at (just ride out the volvo until other possibilities present themselves).

I don't think I need to take on a junky BMW for a DD right now. I've got a Junky euro car for a DD already ;).

It is tempting...but then I hear shifter bushings are ninety freakin' dollars. So yeah...please folks, don't try to tell this guy who was raised on small block chevies that BMWs parrts are cheap . I know they're not that bad...but I'm a serious cheapskate...lol.

The thing is...I'll still buy it if the guy comes back and says he'll sell it for less ;). But I bet he'll get it sold for at least what he offered it to me for.

Clem

I just sold my V70 T5 and got an E30 to replace it. Best move ever.

Buy an LS1 for the Volvo.

I was a BMW guy when the E30 came out. We hated the eta (you said it's a 325e, right?) motor, because it didn't "rev like a BMW" (IIRC, they redline at 4500 or so-we made a lot of "diesel BMW" jokes back then). But I gotta admit..as far as fuel mileage goes, it worked. The engineers decided to improve fuel economy by restricting the operating range of the engine. I've heard of people getting 25-35mpg out of them.

The thing that would put me off is the rust, but I'm a Southern Boy. YMMV.

Oh, and if you pull the trigger on this one, replace the timing belt immediately. The M20's an interference engine. If you don't like the shifter bushing prices, you don't wanna know about valves.

Only reason I don't have an E30 is because I'm an E21 snob (and yeah, I admit that's about as stupid as the last two people in BMW club who argue over round vs. square taillights on 2002s). I'm still looking for another grey market E21 323i..but they seem to be the only damn grey market car that's actually held a little value. Maybe I should go look for a grey market E24 instead.

ClemSparks wrote: The thing is...I'll still buy it if the guy comes back and says he'll sell it for less ;). But I bet he'll get it sold for at least what he offered it to me for. Clem

Um...yeah.

Seller called back and said "$500."

I countered at $400.

This morning he called and said, "how about $450?"

I'm picking it up tonight.

[I felt OK with this because I learned the timing belt/water pump was done recently]

Here we go.

At $450 I don't think you have much to lose.

Not bad. I was going to say go for it, its not too bad a shape it sounds like.

Plus apparently if you stick your fingers in your ears and dance around going "la la la la" and track the snot out of it like itsarebuild Then it'll be plenty reliable and fun.

Sounds like my nissans. Beat em like a red headed step child and they will awesome.

~Alex

I know this sounds terrible, but I think I'm going to see if I can just find a good, used clutch disk to throw in it. I bet if I'm patient I could find someone on a message board classified section somewhere who's upgrading a clutch in an E30 and has a perfectly good used one to pass on down the line .

Yeah...I should put a whole $200-$300 kit in there, but the appeal of a $20-$50 known good disk is pretty...well, I suppose...appealing.

What I think I know the car needs:
A clutch
A clutch Master cylinder (maybe just a $14 rebuild kit?!)
Possibly some shifter bushing love

It's what I don't know it needs that worries me ;). Seriously, though, it drove nice and smooth and tight.

Clem

Browse the e30tech classifieds... or r3vlimited... I think I saw a used clutch/FW set-up on one of them.

gigolojoe wrote: At $450 I don't think you have much to lose.

x2! Let us know how it goes with the clutch..

I'll have to check out those sites when I'm not at work...but I'll get on it!

Thanks!

Clem

I think the 2nd gear synchro is worn and tired. It upshifts fine because the rpms are lining up naturally. Downshifting, where you're forcing the synchro to bring up the input shaft rpm, it fails to garner the friction and doesn't engage. It'll double clutch just fine though, I bet.