Ultimate e30.....Spec E30 candidate?

#1

Spec E30 candidate is out of the question but I thought you guys would enjoy seeing this car. Maybe one of the cleanest in existance

#2

that’s what my car looked like before I gutted it.

and by before… I mean 19 years ago.

#3

those people are crazy.

even if it had 1,000 miles, you’d have to be insane to pay $13k for a 325.

#4

Han wrote:

[quote]those people are crazy.

even if it had 1,000 miles, you’d have to be insane to pay $13k for a 325.[/quote]
Disagree. I saw your post on bf.c and, IMO, I think it’s hypocritical to justify the ridiculous prices people pay for E30 M3s with 200K on the clock, and then to say an all-original 325is "isn’t worth it" and that "crack" is involved. The 325is does 95% of the things an E30 M3 can do, and it does them with less drama, higher reliability, and lower cost. It’s even arguable to say the 325is was a better all-around car than the M3 when those facts are considered. Ever wonder why BMW killed the 325is before model-year 1991? Remember, they had a ton of left-over 1990 M3s to sell as '91 models.

#5

siding with Han, there were something like 2.4 million e30’s made, but only 15000 e30 M3’s… and the 325 wasn’t the most successful race car in BMW history.
cheers,
bruce

mrussell wrote:

[quote]Han wrote:

[quote]those people are crazy.

even if it had 1,000 miles, you’d have to be insane to pay $13k for a 325.[/quote]
Disagree. I saw your post on bf.c and, IMO, I think it’s hypocritical to justify the ridiculous prices people pay for E30 M3s with 200K on the clock, and then to say an all-original 325is "isn’t worth it" and that "crack" is involved. The 325is does 95% of the things an E30 M3 can do, and it does them with less drama, higher reliability, and lower cost. It’s even arguable to say the 325is was a better all-around car than the M3 when those facts are considered. Ever wonder why BMW killed the 325is before model-year 1991? Remember, they had a ton of left-over 1990 M3s to sell as '91 models.[/quote]

#6

leggwork wrote:

[quote]siding with Han, there were something like 2.4 million e30’s made, but only 15000 e30 M3’s… and the 325 wasn’t the most successful race car in BMW history.
cheers,
bruce
[/quote]
OK, since you want to speak in terms of "volume of cars available," ask yourself this question: How many E30 M3s are currently available for purchase with less than 20K miles on the clock? Likewise, this question can be asked for the 325iS model. The answer, in both cases, regardless of production volume and formal racing success, is "very very few," and it releases the true value of the car to be whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Not a new concept, and I don’t think someone is "smoking crack" if they pay market value for what has become a very unique car.

You do make me wonder one thing: how many of the 2.4mm (if you’re correct about that) E30s were built to 325is specification? Obviously more than M3s, but I wonder how many.

Post edited by: mrussell, at: 2006/08/16 12:06

#7

Matt,

There were actually 2,339,251 e30’s manufactured from 1983 to Jan. 1994.
Of those cars there were 113,906 e30 two door 325i(s) built from 1985 to 1991. The total e30 cars built 1988 was 269,074. Just wanted to give you some actual numbers. The total number of e30 M3’s built from 1986 to 1990 was 17,184 not including cabs.

Here is a good example of a high priced e30 M3 Overpriced in my opinion but for the right buyer, probably not.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=581988&highlight=M3+1988

Post edited by: screwynewy, at: 2006/08/16 12:42

#8

screwynewy wrote:

[quote]Matt,

There were actually 2,339,251 e30’s manufactured from 1983 to Jan. 1994.
Of those cars there were 113,906 e30 two door 325i(s) built from 1985 to 1991. The total e30 cars built 1988 was 269,074. Just wanted to give you some actual numbers. The total number of e30 M3’s built from 1986 to 1990 was 17,184 not including cabs.[/quote]
Awesome! Thanks for the precise numbers.

screwynewy wrote:

Doesn’t that say it all? :slight_smile:

#9

mrussell wrote:

[quote]Han wrote:

[quote]those people are crazy.

even if it had 1,000 miles, you’d have to be insane to pay $13k for a 325.[/quote]
Disagree. I saw your post on bf.c and, IMO, I think it’s hypocritical to justify the ridiculous prices people pay for E30 M3s with 200K on the clock, and then to say an all-original 325is "isn’t worth it" and that "crack" is involved. The 325is does 95% of the things an E30 M3 can do, and it does them with less drama, higher reliability, and lower cost. It’s even arguable to say the 325is was a better all-around car than the M3 when those facts are considered. Ever wonder why BMW killed the 325is before model-year 1991? Remember, they had a ton of left-over 1990 M3s to sell as '91 models.[/quote]

Matt,

It has nothing to do with performance/value etc. Yes, a 325 is more reliable, less expensice, and ALMOST as fast as an M3. The reason M3s fetch more money than 325s is that the M3 has a cult following and the 325 does not.

I agree, the M3 did NOT sell well in the US. In 1986, it cost $34k, which is something like $70k in todays dollar. I heard the 944 Turbo went for the same price, and was much faster. The M3 was built solely for homologation purposes, whereas the 325 was built to shuttle millions of people from point A to point B. The M3 was never built to make money for BMW. It was built to race in touring car championships.

I own both an E30 M3 and a Spec E30. While the Spec E30 turns out laps within a second or two of the M3, I can tell you that the M3 is a million times more fun to drive.

Han

#10

[quote]Han wrote:
Matt,

It has nothing to do with performance/value etc. Yes, a 325 is more reliable, less expensice, and ALMOST as fast as an M3. The reason M3s fetch more money than 325s is that the M3 has a cult following and the 325 does not.[/quote] Han, thanks. I would call myself a one-man cult, but I simply believe there’s more than one of me out there.

[quote]Han wrote:It was built to race in touring car championships.[/quote] Yeah, I know. :slight_smile:

[quote]Han wrote:I own both an E30 M3 and a Spec E30. While the Spec E30 turns out laps within a second or two of the M3, I can tell you that the M3 is a million times more fun to drive.[/quote] I’ve had them both over the years, and also a Euro-spec E36 M3. While your point is understood, I’d say a "million times more fun" is still a gross exagerration, especially when dollar signs are put into the equation. Just IMO, of course.