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E30 Build

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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
I've been considering restoring an old BMW E30. This would not be my daily driver but it would be something fun to have. It would also be an extreme budget build because I don't really want to spend that much money on something that I'm fairly new to. Any advice? I also don't currently have one and live south of Boston so if you know of anyone wanting to unload one, shoot me a PM. Thanks.
Mar 16 2016 1:22PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7472 - Karma: 11,411
elcornholioI've been considering restoring an old BMW E30. This would not be my daily driver but it would be something fun to have. It would also be an extreme budget build because I don't really want to spend that much money on something that I'm fairly new to. Any advice? I also don't currently have one and live south of Boston so if you know of anyone wanting to unload one, shoot me a PM. Thanks.


I live in the Boston area and live around a bunch of people that have them, I'll keep my eyes pealed for you.
Mar 16 2016 2:01PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
Click this: autotrader

The deal will come to you, just be patient
Mar 16 2016 2:35PM
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penguiin
Posts: 1444 - Karma: 561
^^ lol don't use autotrader. Your best bet is craigslist and forums. There are a couple great e30 specific forums with R3vlimited being the best. They will be able to answer any question you could ever have.
Mar 16 2016 11:03PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
.MASSHOLE.I live in the Boston area and live around a bunch of people that have them, I'll keep my eyes pealed for you.


DeezyClick this: autotrader

The deal will come to you, just be patient


penguiin^^ lol don't use autotrader. Your best bet is craigslist and forums. There are a couple great e30 specific forums with R3vlimited being the best. They will be able to answer any question you could ever have.


Thanks, I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Mar 17 2016 8:47AM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
I think E30 and budget build might be mutually exclusive terms.
Mar 17 2016 12:26PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
tBattI think E30 and budget build might be mutually exclusive terms.


By budget build I sort of meant to do it over time and not put a ton of time and money into it at once.
Mar 17 2016 1:30PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 3,909
If you don't even know how to find a car to buy, then you have no idea how to build one.

Also, pick a real car to put money into...
Mar 17 2016 2:42PM
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boppin
Posts: 111 - Karma: 308
Do a 944 instead.
Mar 17 2016 5:10PM
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HAMNATION
Posts: 814 - Karma: 1,720
E30 Ie gods chariot are great but getting over priced due to popularity. You are probaly going to find ones that are A over priced or B beat to fuck worth doing tho just keep your eye out and remember there is nothing more expensive then a cheep benz... or bmw

that being said here is my daily driver E39 540 6speed
Mar 17 2016 7:03PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9329 - Karma: 17,816
SkiBum.If you don't even know how to find a car to buy, then you have no idea how to build one.

Also, pick a real car to put money into...



BS, e30s are a good car to learn to work on, theyre just a simple drivers car with little techincal bullshit to get in the way.
Mar 17 2016 8:03PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
SkiBum.If you don't even know how to find a car to buy, then you have no idea how to build one.

Also, pick a real car to put money into...


I have an audi that I've done some work on but I want a drivers car with an automatic transmission. I was also asking more for specific sites where I could find cars like this. A 2010 A4 is easier to find a good price on than a 80's-90's BMW that's been kept in good condition.
Mar 17 2016 9:28PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9329 - Karma: 17,816
elcornholioI have an audi that I've done some work on but I want a drivers car with an automatic transmission. I was also asking more for specific sites where I could find cars like this. A 2010 A4 is easier to find a good price on than a 80's-90's BMW that's been kept in good condition.




Not to sure about it but maybe check some e30 specific forums for classified ads, Id imagine enthusiast websites might be your best shot at finding a clean project car.
Mar 17 2016 9:39PM
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Duncan*
Posts: 1270 - Karma: 164
Over the past months I've been swapping an M30 into my 86. Tough to find a clean one that won't be expensive but they're great cars and super easy to work on. There are many websites that have great communities, my go-to one being r3vlimited
Mar 17 2016 10:22PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
elcornholioI have an audi that I've done some work on but I want a drivers car with an automatic transmission. I was also asking more for specific sites where I could find cars like this. A 2010 A4 is easier to find a good price on than a 80's-90's BMW that's been kept in good condition.


I want a manual, not automatic...
Mar 18 2016 10:06AM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
The referenced post has been removed.


I'm telling quin ;)
Mar 18 2016 2:30PM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
just a warning, trying to diagnose engine problems on the obd1 in those cars is a huge pain in the ass. It took forever to find in the tiniest problems in my friends e36
Mar 19 2016 10:34AM
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daannnnieel
Posts: 5163 - Karma: 4,293
Well that depends on what you want to do with it.
Mar 19 2016 12:59PM
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Cambrewski
Posts: 320 - Karma: 3,136
The e30 mission is a missiony mission. I've got a homie in Cali who is VERY into the auto culture and spends TONS of time on his project cars including his e30. BMW's are super tight if you have 1the know-how 2the resources and 3 the time.

But to help answer your question, I would search on craigslist daily, as well as what other people said about forums. Stay away from dealers bc you dont want to add all of that bs to your already complicated build process.

Good luck though man! I hope you stick with and end with a fly whip
Mar 20 2016 5:04PM
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,557
CambrewskiThe e30 mission is a missiony mission. I've got a homie in Cali who is VERY into the auto culture and spends TONS of time on his project cars including his e30. BMW's are super tight if you have 1the know-how 2the resources and 3 the time.

But to help answer your question, I would search on craigslist daily, as well as what other people said about forums. Stay away from dealers bc you dont want to add all of that bs to your already complicated build process.

Good luck though man! I hope you stick with and end with a fly whip


Thanks. I have a friend that lives and breathes BMW's and is gonna help me through the build.
Mar 21 2016 1:31PM
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CameraWiz
Posts: 735 - Karma: 2,112
Main thing is, find one without rust. Rust repair is an absolute bitch (gutting a subaru 2.5rs wagon and fulling fixing the rust and turning it into a track car) Know what you are looking at it. Have a plan.

e30's are cheap and easy to work on. Look up problems for you year though and make sure most of the stuff is mechanically sound.


Accept that you will never get your money out of it.
Mar 21 2016 5:22PM
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