What about BMW E9s?

I've long felt that E9s (3.0CS, 3.0CSI) are the best looking cars of the 70s. I always assumed that they were out of my reach price-wise, yet lately I've noticed them under $10K, which makes it potentially doable. Are E9s obscene in terms of parts cost, or comparable to a 2002? I've heard that rust is a common bugaboo. Can anyone give me the lowdown or send me to the best info site?

You might be better off asking over on CM, but from what I remember rust is really a major issue on these, and they're not quite as well supplied aftermarket-wise as a 2002 due to being less popular.

Drivetrain is common BMW stuff so I wouldn't worry too much about engines and gearboxes.

If I ever see one that is less than $10k and not rusted away that is close to home I'd have a hard time passing it up. I think rust is the main enemy. I also think that body parts and maybe some trim pieces are hard to come by. Not sure on either as I've never owned one. Love the looks. I would trade my Mini and 2002 for one in a heartbeat.

Rust is a HUGE problem on these, especially in the complex inner fender/firewall area. Worse, the extent of this corrosion is impossible to gauge until you get the outer fenders off. Body and trim parts are generally quite expensive. Unless I was buying a car that lived its entire life in Arizona or some similar climate, I'd want documented evidence of the inevitable rust repairs.

The 3.0 CS is in my opinion one of the very best looking cars BMW has ever made. The thing that would scare me are the parts that are unique to the 3.0. You might find a rear window cost 1200$ new or that parts are no longer available so either you have to repair yours or luck into a good used part. I'd bet there are many parts unique to that car which can bite you.

You don't see many of the older BMW on the road so you'd definitely be unique. I think BMW and Mercedes didn't figure out about rust proofing until well into the 80s so that is a big issue.

Kreb lives in northern California like me. One of the cool things about living in California is the climate preserves cars so well. With many vehicles, you are more likely to see rust on the outside surface than in fenderwells. If a fairly cheap and rust-free BMW can be found, this is a good place to look.

You weren't looking at the one on Bring a Trailer by any chance? That's a beautiful car, but it sold already.

That one was stunning, but too dear for my pocketbook. I'm thinking more like this:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/2173114927.html

If the rust was only in the fenders, I'm not bothered, but with that much I'd have to wonder if it's gone structural.

These are bucket list cars for me. Something that I thought that I'd screw with when I'm old and grey, but if I could beat that timeline it'd be awesome. Problem is, will it just be an ongoing moneypit (Realizing of course that practically all enthuiast cars are to a certain extent)?

Oh my my, I guess you'd need to budget 1500$ to get some euro bumpers. Those things attached to the car are very ugly and ruin the lines.

Remove them and spend the money on triple Webers for the engine instead?

I've lusted after an E9 since I was 13yrs old. Since becoming an adult, they've always been just out of my reach. When I could afford $4K, good (in any discussion of E9's "good" means less rust) ones were about $5500. Now that I could probably find $10-15K, good ones seem to start at 17-20.

Rust, rust, rust. Those beautiful lines (and 1960s-70s rustproofing technologies) have created almost literally a hundred places for the tinworm to start. They're like E-types..almost any unrestored example is going to need $5-10K in panel repair to be a really solid car. There are a few good drivers out there, but they will continue to rust, and you'll need to do that work a few years down the road. Mechanically, they are very robust cars (although the early big sixes had a problem with cracking heads, that was 40yrs ago so anything other than a barn find should be fixed by now).

Some people speculate (after seeing the MGB/TR-6/Mustang shells) about replacement body shells becoming available one day, but I don't think they realize how expensive it would be to replicate a unibody car. Body condition is everything on an E9. Anything mechanical can be fixed, and so many of them have returned to the Earth that most trim (although expensive) is out there, somewhere..

Good luck. Closest I ever got was my old E3 back in college-and it died from rust as well.

EDIT: forgot to give ya my favorite forum to lurk & daydream..

http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/

MGBs are unibody cars, as are Minis - and you can buy shells for those. But British Heritage is a bit of a unique setup, having access to the original stamping...dies? molds? tools? not sure what the term is. More importantly, there are a LOT of MGBs and Minis.

E9 rust diagram: http://www.e9coupe.com/buyers_guide/index.htm The fenders are welded on, which makes rust repair even more fun.

Interesting that this came up: http://jalopnik.com/5743938/craigslist-bmw-1973-bmw-30-csi

About a year ago I saw one on E-Bay. Perfect Southern body, low miles, 5 speed, only (IIRC) 3000.00. Katrina flood car. Nevermind.

How about this one? FS in Europe right now.

Keith wrote: MGBs are unibody cars, as are Minis - and you can buy shells for those. But British Heritage is a bit of a unique setup, having access to the original stamping...dies? molds? tools? not sure what the term is. More importantly, there are a LOT of MGBs and Minis.

Keith, thanks for addressing my ignorance about MGBs (no flame, man..I really mean it. I'm an old Triumph guy, and still don't know anything about MGs. They were "the enemy" back when I was a kid )The info about British Heritage is interesting as well. And as you said, there are a lot more MGBs and Minis out there than there are E9s. I don't think we'll ever see new shells for these cars, even the "new" 2002 tii BMW Mobile Tradition rebuilt at the factory was based upon an original tub.

http://www.motortrend.com/classic/roadtests/c12_0612_1972_bmw_2002_tii/index.html

Jeez, I didn't realize I missed my BMWs so much until threads like this started coming up. Y'all are gonna get me in an E30 yet..

stuart in mn wrote: E9 rust diagram: http://www.e9coupe.com/buyers_guide/index.htm The fenders are welded on, which makes rust repair even more fun.

Yup, that is a perfect map of every single one I've looked at over the last 25yrs. Does it mean I love them less because I never bought one of them to drive for a few years before it died, or that I love them more because I knew I couldn't save them?

That car on craigslist looks nasty. If you can afford $6500 for a drive it until it breaks in half then part it out beater than maybe, but a $30k restored one would be cheaper that fixing that.