CAR RARR New situ - United Bimmer Community

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 02:05 AM

as you guys know, i have been searching for a car lately..

some guy keeps saying that he is really interested in my car, yadda yadda yadda

if he is, and buys it soon, i think might buy this '99 e36 323is silver on black,... it has like 85k on the clock and is asking for 8.5k.
if it is still for sale by then, i will probably pick that up, then get m3 exhaust (dual exhaust instead of the single...bmw constricted it like crazy to make the 328 numbers look better, thus making the 323s power go down quite a bit..)

if not that car, i have been thinking about buying my friends e30 325
its white with tan interior
he rebuilt the engine, but wants to just replace the engine because he isnt sure of one thing he did when putting the engine back together... he doesnt drive it because he just got an e30 m3
i was going to probably pick it up off from him for about 4k, then have the mechanic put in the engine that he found, probably wouldnt be too pricey...
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3933
i think i would have to get some smaller wheels, they look a little too big... then take out the handr cup kit that he put in and put some bilsteins and IE3 springs...

what do you guys think of the 2?

**Dudesky** · 08-11-2005, 06:15 AM

Could it be you finally found something good?? That 323 sounds fair as far as price vs mileage. But that E30 looks sweet, too, as long as you know you have work to do on it. I'd say it's a toss up, and will come down to your own personal choice . . didn't you originally want an E30?

DEATH2000 · 08-11-2005, 10:50 AM

the 99 sounds like a good deal. but what engine is he putting into the E30?

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 02:15 PM

well, he isnt having it put in yet... he persoanlly wants to sell it aas is.... his mechanic found an m20 engine that is good, but isnt going to put it in until he finds a buyer
i really want to have an e30 with an e36 engine such as an m50, but i think it will be too costly... the engine wont cost a lot, i think it will be everything else...

i was really into e30s, yes, but like e36 is so damn beautiful... i dont know, i guess its whatever i find. the nice thing about getting an e30 is that i will be able to do stuff such as suspension, is lip, ect, right away... plus if i get my friends, i would sell his HandR cup kit that he just put onto it not too long ago. and the Alpina Kopis for something else.

the e30 has great paint, though it is white, and the interior is near perfect

**bex325** · 08-11-2005, 02:17 PM

if you get the e30 and you must change the wheels, i will buy them off you!!! Alpinas/kopis are hawt!

Also $4000 for a car that might need the engine swapped seems a bit much. And if you do end up swapping the engine, go for a M50.

DEATH2000 · 08-11-2005, 02:20 PM

what car did the M20 come in? (shut up, i cant remeber). id go with the E36 but thats cause i have em. I wouldnt mind a E30 like hamman's cause his is sick.

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 02:31 PM

m20 engine = e30 325

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 02:32 PM

if i got with the m50, how much work has to be done? dont i have to replace a lot of shit? cooling system? tranny? clutch? ect ect ect

**catalyst** · 08-11-2005, 03:22 PM

I wouldnt buy a 323, your just paying extra because its a newer car.

Also, lets not make this an obd1 >/< 0bd2 thread, but honestly odb1 is lest costly in terms of maintenance, theres only one 02 sensor vs three in obd2, and you will end up having to replace them, thats like 500 in gay 02 sensors right there.

I would say go with the e30 325is, or e36 325i/is.. whichever you find first.

4000 is the most i would pay for an e30, and it would have to be MINT.

5 grand will get you a decently sorted m50 e30 if you can find one.. theyre not exactly common.

Im not sure what your looking for brien.. but i know your not going to be happy with a 323, besides 8.5 grand will get you a 328 easy.

Or a higher mileage M3. I dont want to hear this ohh its been abused if its going for that price BS, not all of them have been, and one with 120-150k on it thats been maintained will sell for that much. Insurance is to much on an M though.

**bex325** · 08-11-2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brien4787

if i got with the m50, how much work has to be done? dont i have to replace a lot of shit? cooling system? tranny? clutch? ect ect ect

To swap an m50, you can use the stock getrag 260, but if you can find an m50 with tranny then use that. i dont really feel like typing out a lot of details, so check out this site: http://r3vlimited.com/phpBB2/viewtop...f958cbdc8bf227

**RealBmw 02** · 08-11-2005, 04:08 PM

I would go with the E30... The E36 would be nice but IMO is overpriced for just a 323.

The E30 you posted pics of looks like it is in great condition. If you can get the price to go down some becuase you will have to put some sort of new engine in, then I would look into the M50 swap. I am sure you could drive the E30 around with the engine that is in there for a little but while you shop around for the M50 and save your money.

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 04:25 PM

i really just want a car with a little more power than my 318 and something that will last me thru college.

**hamann318is** · 08-11-2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brien4787

i really just want a car with a little more power than my 318 and something that will last me thru college.

The 325e has lots o' torque and is a great beater mobile.

I'd probably go for the E30. What's wrong with the M20 that requires a swap?

The M20 was also in the early E34 525i. FYI.

**brien4787** · 08-11-2005, 07:12 PM

325e? nooo thanks.. hahaa
ya, i already knew that they shared the same engine

they found an engine from a car that was hit from behind... i tugess it has about or under 100k (m20)

**Beelzibub** · 08-12-2005, 07:21 AM

Flip a coin!!!

Seriously, the E30 looks great - Personally I think the Alpinas look good on it. But if you want something a bit more modern go for the 323, they're not exactly slow and you haven't got the hassle of having a new engine fitted.

Good luck which ever way you go.