Yesterday was the first time I was allowed to drive it. I begged on my knees to drive it. Dad purchased it about a week ago. Granted it is automatic tranny, but you should see the heads turning. I felt special. Pretty loud too.

I'm probably never gonna drive it again...but yesterday was awesome. [race]

Paid $8,000 for it in cash. Guy was asking $9,000, but we talked him into giving it for $8,000 if we paid in cash.

The only grudge I have is the interior. Could use some good cleaning.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2441/motoslika0016tr7.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motoslika0016tr7.jpg)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7111/motoslika0017nz6.th.jpg (http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=motoslika0017nz6.jpg)

can u fill me in why it was kinda pricey.

Very nice machine...A friend of mine had a rare IX (all wheel drive) version
about 10 years ago and it was a dream to drive.

why was a diving board e30 so expensive?

before buying my miata, i was seriously considering an e30. there are tons of good late model(no diving boards) cars out there for less than six grand.

looks like it is excelent condition

What the heck is a "diving board" E30? I know E30 is the platform but the rest of that term is foreign to me... is that a reference to the big U.S. crash bumpers? [dunno]

As for the price, sometimes the right buyer finds the right car. From the pics it does appear to have been exceptionally well-maintained, especially for a 3 series. Here in CA you pretty much never see one of that vintage that isn't a beater a few months away from it's last drive.

Correct me if i'm wrong but i think the motor has the same power as the SVT.

I know because one guy has tried to eat me but we had equally accelerate.
Don't blame me to do speed on that one,it was the last ligth before a straigth highway. [hihi]

At 60 miles per hour,i decided i had enough of him.[wave]

[clap]

Yeah, the M20 six that's in the e28 528e's and e30 325's pumps out 170 ish hp. Pretty decent power, the e30's are pretty light. A nice quick, tight handling rwd car that doesn't weigh much. Pity that there aren't many cars like that out anymore.

I had the M30 big six in my 88 e38 535i. Put out close to 200hp. Pretty great pickup (with an automatic that had sport, economy, and winter modes). Pretty great stuff. One day, I'll have a BMW to play with. (I'm shooting for an 80's vintage 3 or 5 series).

What the heck is a "diving board" E30? I know E30 is the platform but the rest of that term is foreign to me... is that a reference to the big U.S. crash bumpers? [dunno]


bmw folks refer to the 84-87 models as having diving board bumpers due to the way they stick out so far from the car. in 88 they shortened the metal bumpers and in 89 they received plastic bumpers.

double post

actually this appears to have the 2.7 liter m20 which only made 122hp(i say this because of the "es" badge on the back of the car).

i know it seems like i am ragging on this car, but im really not. i love all old BMWs, but i just think that your father overpaid by a few thousand dollars.

can u fill me in why it was kinda pricey.
because the guy re-did the whole body. painted, coated, protected etc...everything. engine isn't in a bad shape either. could use some more work, but for now it runs without any probs.

Yesterday I begged on my knees to drive it.

I don't see what the big deal is....[confused]

nice ride i hope you and your dad take care of it but it does seem a lil pricey

My grandfather has an E30 325 convertible. I need to work back from memory, I drove it before I knew a damn about BMWs, but I'm reasonably certain it was the same drivetrain as underpinned the 325is. the 176hp (as I recall) I-6 with the transmission, I think, by ZF. It also had the optional interior with the leather Recaros. Very nice cockpit, very good ergonomics, I'd pay good money for an E30 325is. The ES is said to be a real good commuter, the engine is supposed to be a lean-burn getup with good low end power and, as I recall, wider and deeper gearing. Good economy.

yeah not to rag on the car...but i think youre dad paid too much for it, but if it is exactly what he wanted then price really doesnt matter. I had an 88' 528e. Ran and handled amazing, I loved that car. Only thing was it was an auto and ugly as hell and the body and interior wasnt in the best shape. If only it were a 3 series and then i coulda done alot more to it and actually make it look good. But anyway, those cars handle awesome and are alot of fun to drive around.

I don't see what the big deal is....[confused]
Nobody has this kind of BMW in town. So you could say its an "antique". Its our first BMW ever. We are mostly VW guys, so its a change.


yeah not to rag on the car...but i think youre dad paid too much for it, but if it is exactly what he wanted then price really doesnt matter. I had an 88' 528e. Ran and handled amazing, I loved that car. Only thing was it was an auto and ugly as hell and the body and interior wasnt in the best shape. If only it were a 3 series and then i coulda done alot more to it and actually make it look good. But anyway, those cars handle awesome and are alot of fun to drive around.

If my dad paid like some guys said here 3000 to 5000 dollars, I think we would have to do some work on it. This way its all done for us, and thats why he paid that much. Plus, i think the seller was looking at that "antique" "nobody has it here" type of thing. Dad really wanted it, and so did I, even tho he said that I wouldn't be driving it. Ahh I don't giv rats ass. I'm pretty sure that my Foci can eat it anyway..[:D]

I'm yet to read up on it and inform my self about it, but I've been so busy with work that I don't have time to eat, let alone read shit about BMW.

nice nice niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Paint looks real nice!

lol..diving board eh? My first car was an '82 BMW 3-something...the rear bumper became a skateboard grind rail lol...it actually grinded nicely too. Nice looking bimmer dude! Your dad must be stoked. It looks like it's in killer condition too. I am a huge fan of the e30 M3. 190HP or something? I'de rock it!

Just classic. Veeery nice.

^^^
Exactly. And in few years, we could get that money back, even more.

I've always been fond of the e30. Even with the big bumpers, still a pretty good looking car. I like some of the shark nose cars, but not all (the e24 6 series and e28 5 series, but not the e21 3 series). The look of the older BMW's takes some getting used to. I remember thinking my 535i was ugly when I first bought it, but after a few weeks, it really grew on me. I miss that car. It has the honor of being the only car with an automatic that didn't drive me insane. (of course it was the ZF 4HP22 with the winter, sport, and economy modes)

The M20 eta engine is a pretty nice motor. Good power, good economy, and fairly well balanced. It performs better with a manual than an automatic, and better in a 3 series than a 5. (the M20 was used up until about 1992 (when the 3 series saw a redesign and went to the M50 series, and the 5 series jumped to the M50 series as well). Only thing to watch out for with an M20 is the timing belt. The M20 is an interference engine, so most of the e28 and e30's with this motor in junk yards have had timing belts snap destroying the engine.

In retrospect, I should have bought that $100 528e (with five speed) that was in mint condition, save for the blown motor thanks to a timing belt snap. An M20 from an 325is, or an M30 would have made that a really fun car. Oh well, I was young and didn't have a place to mess around with it at the time.