Is it my imagination or are E30s 325i cars getting harder to find. I use to find them for $1000 or less, but they seem to be getting scarce and going up in value. Is there any reason not to use a 1986 and convert it to 325i specs?
E30s for Sale?
Ranger
#2
I see E30’s in CL all the time. I got my parts car for $400. Come to Savannah with $400 and you can have it.
Sure, you could use an '86. Of course you’d have to do an engine swap. And then there’s the issue of ABS. My perception is that many '86’s didn’t come with ABS. You’d be required to install the components, which wouldn’t be too hard, but I don’t think that there is a requirement that the ABS actually works. So you could theoreticaly install the pump, and likely no one would care whether or not you had it plumbed in, had the ABS harness or computer.
My ABS didn’t work for a while. I didn’t think that it would be a big deal because I’d be able to rely on my highly developed driver skills to modulate braking just fine. After my high developed driver skills flatspotted my 4th tire, I got serious about fixing the ABS.
Fish Bratton figured out a lot re. getting ABS working. I bet there’s enough in that thread to get the wiring right.
greydog
#3
Didn’t think of the ABS, it wouldn’t be worth the time to swap. Maybe it is living in Greenville, SC, supply not as plentiful. I will widen my search area, but in today’s gas pricing, you really can’t drive far and still get a car cheap enough.
Ranger
#4
Building a car from scratch would be an ass-load of work and probably cost $15k once you were done, assuming you did the labor yourself and you went the extra length to do all of the things that really need doing. In that context, a couple hundred extra $$ in gas for the tow rig to go fetch the car from the next state is meaningless.
King_Tut
#5
I have found that non automatic non convertible 325i/is cars are becoming more and more rare.
TrackRat
#6
I drove 12 1/2 hours to NC from South Florida to buy my car. Since I was buying a built car, I wanted to know that it was a solid car, so for me, driving wasn’t the issue - picking the right car for me was.
greydog
#7
15k and doing the labor yourself? I have built turn-key cars in the shop that are very, very nice for customers for 15k. I think if you did it yourself, and paid for a quality cage, you could be under 10k, assuming the engine/trans was good in your donor project. I bet there are several good SpecE30 racers that built thier cars for under 10k.
Ranger
#8
There was a thread a couple yrs ago re. the cost of building a “good” car. IIRC we seemed to come up with $14-15k. It inevitably comes down to differences in what people think need to be replaced, seat type, quick disconnect steering, cage quality, fire extinguisher or suppression, etc.
OTH TC Motorsports sells a kit that has a lot of the parts necessary and it’s <$6k.
ctbimmer
#9
Far as I know, all the '86 cars have the later-style (round connector) engine harness connector (which you really want) and come with ABS.
If you want a car with ABS, unless you are incredibly handy and like building ships in bottles, hold out for a car that already has it. Even if it doesn’t work, it’s easier to make it work than install it from scratch; especially in a chassis that wasn’t built to accept it.
With all the track rat cars, E36 motor swap cars, and owners of bone-stock old ones figuring out they have value, I’m not surprised it is getting harder to find one, depending on what you are looking for.
ohiobimmer
#10
I dare say that it would be almost impossible to build a SpecE30 racer for less than I have mine listed for 
My car came from Charlotte area…It might like to be back down in that area 
It’s posted in the classified section…hit me up if interested.
J
cheapthrills
#11
I’m going to agree. The prices seemed to start rising just as I was looking. 
The cheapest route will be to buy a built car, or buy an auto and do the manual swap (much less work than an engine swap & ABS headaches).
thornton
#12
Considering the prices of built cars these days, you would be crazy to build one on your own. There are some very nice cars for CHEAP!
BTW, can we please start raising the prices on the ones for sale??? I may be selling mine soon and was really hoping for more!!! :blink:
ohiobimmer
#13
[quote=“thornton” post=58742]Considering the prices of built cars these days, you would be crazy to build one on your own. There are some very nice cars for CHEAP!
BTW, can we please start raising the prices on the ones for sale??? I may be selling mine soon and was really hoping for more!!! :blink:[/quote]
lol…sorry bro. Mine is modestly priced for a quick sale.
Just imagine…someone could buy my SE30 and my 20’ enclosed trailer with tires, spares, etc and go racing this weekend for just over $10K!!!
Z3SpdDmn
#14
[quote=“ohiobimmer” post=58745][quote=“thornton” post=58742]Considering the prices of built cars these days, you would be crazy to build one on your own. There are some very nice cars for CHEAP!
BTW, can we please start raising the prices on the ones for sale??? I may be selling mine soon and was really hoping for more!!! :blink:[/quote]
lol…sorry bro. Mine is modestly priced for a quick sale.
Just imagine…someone could buy my SE30 and my 20’ enclosed trailer with tires, spares, etc and go racing this weekend for just over $10K!!![/quote]
I heard it’s sold already 
Sorry to hear you leaving us so soon, Jamie! Hopefully that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing any more of you!
ohiobimmer
#15
Thanks A…yes, tentatively sold. I hope to still kick tires with everyone when I am in town.
dgorman
#16
We’ve been only looking at 89’s and it takes us about a year per car to find one for less than $1K. Knowing that, we’re always looking because of the long lead times. We do see 2-3 86-88’s 2dr/5spd a month in the bay area generally around $1,500-$2,000. (IMHO over priced).
I know the lemons races pulls the general E30 availability down.
dgorman
#17
[quote=“Z3SpdDmn” post=58757][quote=“ohiobimmer” post=58745][quote=“thornton” post=58742]Considering the prices of built cars these days, you would be crazy to build one on your own. There are some very nice cars for CHEAP!
BTW, can we please start raising the prices on the ones for sale??? I may be selling mine soon and was really hoping for more!!! :blink:[/quote]
lol…sorry bro. Mine is modestly priced for a quick sale.
Just imagine…someone could buy my SE30 and my 20’ enclosed trailer with tires, spares, etc and go racing this weekend for just over $10K!!![/quote]
I heard it’s sold already
Sorry to hear you leaving us so soon, Jamie! Hopefully that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing any more of you![/quote]
That’s a screaming deal…
ukrbmw
#18
Yep - seeing all the cars for sale for 8K is certainly interesting. I really doubt you can build one for less. Plus it all depends on how far you want to go with the car - throw in a built engine and suddenly you’re at 12-13K. But, some of these cars are pretty awesome - look at Travis’s car that Shawn bought - really good deal.