RE: BMW 323i (E21): Spotted

[W124]

Lovely things. Bloody, bloody tricky though. A friend of mine had one - many years ago when I had a Fiat 128 3P. Such lovely delicate cars but absolute deathtraps both.

[exgtt]

g3org3y said:

raceboy said:

I remember my Dad having one of these about 30 years ago, lovely car, silver with Gold BBS's and the Hella 323i rear panel, think it started a loyalty to BMW that he, and I, have had to this day.

Very similar story here except my dad had a 320 (six cyl). Metallic Polaris Silver, BBS Mahle cross spokes, M Technic go faster stripes. Ended up with 150k+ miles, however rust was the killer.

Same here, dad had one about 20 years ago, like a thistle green metallic colour, with 13inch bbs wheels & a rubber rear spoiler! Adoured that car as a kid! Remember valve stems needing doing at about 80k as used to fill the street with blue smoke at start up. Very reliable car mind.

dub 18y where are you!!

Edit remember i was passenger and the old man had just got past a Renault 19 16v st the top of Garrowby hill where it used to merge into one - was pouring with rain and he had a bit of a moment

Edited by exgtt on Tuesday 15th April 15:18

[Schermerhorn]

These old E21s and E30s have been going up and up in value these last two years. I'm wondering if I've seriously missed out on something here.

[pjksutherland]

This makes me miss my 323i!! My first car, back in 1994, was a 1981 e21 316i. Years later I had a hankering for another e21 after owning an e30 325i as I wanted something a bit more classic looking, so I bought this 1981 323i



I sourced the 15" Mahles (rare ones with no centre caps and exposed bolts), and added some original black leather recaros, but engine and exhaust wise it was all stock. I loved the sound of the straight six, so much more of a mechanical whir than my e30 325i. I sold it about 3 years ago, as although from a few feet it looked great, almost every panel had either a bit of rust (blisters on the arches, boot, around the sunroof, bonnet edge), or a small dent, and I didn't fancy getting into doing a complete re-spray.

I bought a triumph stag - I know, great idea, it lasted 6 months! Shortly after I moved to Canada and got myself just about the only decent classic BMW I could find, this '87 635csi



I love the look of it, but a) it's an auto and b)it's heavy. Consequently I'm regretting selling my e21 - it was so much more poised and involving to drive. There are also worth a fortune over here as the 323i never made it to North America - as a gauge, there is a 320 for sale near me for $8500, about 4500 quid, and it's nothing special. I saw one e21 323i for sale in the US last year. For $15000!!

Maybe I should be thinking of setting up a classic European car import business!

[g3org3y]

exgtt said:

g3org3y said:

raceboy said:

I remember my Dad having one of these about 30 years ago, lovely car, silver with Gold BBS's and the Hella 323i rear panel, think it started a loyalty to BMW that he, and I, have had to this day.

Very similar story here except my dad had a 320 (six cyl). Metallic Polaris Silver, BBS Mahle cross spokes, M Technic go faster stripes. Ended up with 150k+ miles, however rust was the killer.

Same here, dad had one about 20 years ago, like a thistle green metallic colour, with 13inch bbs wheels & a rubber rear spoiler! Adoured that car as a kid! Remember valve stems needing doing at about 80k as used to fill the street with blue smoke at start up. Very reliable car mind.

dub 18y where are you!!
[/footnote]

CYT488V

[jamespink]

J4CKO said:

Six and a half grand seems a bit strong, still, quite a nice car from when most BMW's were fairly austere, a chap at work had a base model, in a flat medium blue that he kept like new, strangely appealing.

These guys always ask gulp inducing prices, straight enough cars but silly money...

[Vladimir]

Dad had one from new; metallic grey I think with stripes and BBS wheels.
Awesome car which he reckons my M135i is a sort of descendent of.

Sadly the engine blew up after 18 months; BMW sorted it but it took the shine off.

[crostonian]

My uncle had one and I vividly remember riding shotgun following my father in an Alfetta 2 litre on a fast, wet B Road somewhere in the Trough of Bowland. My old man gradually disappeared into the distance while the BMW was sliding all over the place struggling to keep up, my uncle going paler and paler!

[Tricky226]

My E21 320 BAUR Cabriolet

A rash EBAY purchase nearly 9 years ago as spares or repairs that I ended up falling in love with.

Photo is a couple of years old and we've added a few further modifications since then, but shes covered 170,000 and taken me all over Europe including completing 4 Staples2Naples rallies.

Took a trip down to the factory in Munich for her 30th birthday in 2012.

I can/will never be able to part with this car.

E21's dont handle very well, have poor brakes and rot in lots of places, but with the roof down, the sun shining and that glorious straight 6 burbling away and popping on the overrun its a fantastic car to own and enjoy.

[newdogg06]

It's one of these that helped get me into cars back in '82 when I was 10 on a school trip to Yorkshire. We were in a sleepy village somewhere in N. Yorks doing a village study when a silver 323 on cross-spokes cruised past us all then laid a pair of smoky black lines on the street, seemingly for our benefit. I can still smell the burning rubber and see the look on the teachers face as he disappeared around the corner. Enduring image, wasn't it? Mmm.

[Dannbodge]

I was given an E21 320 with 87k on by a friend of one of our family friends.

It had been sitting in a barn for 14 years and started after a new battery was put on it.

Only problem was when we jacked it up the car didn't go up, but the jack certainly did.

Ended up selling it on eBay for £500

Wish I had kept it now. It was an awesome little car. If it was a 323i I wouldn't have sold it.

[Escort3500]

Lovely car, but for £6.5k and 144,000k miles I'd expect the "tiny amount of surface (not structural) rust starting in a couple of places that will need attending to at some point to prevent it getting any worse" to be sorted before purchase

[3DP]

I used to love seeing these on the road as a kid - the only BM with twin pipes at either side IIRC. They used to do a nice orangey red colour too. Good spot PH!

[ArmaghMan]

nightflight said:

Seems like a lot of money. It would have to be in exceptional condition for that much.

This. My E39 M5 would be that sort of money with 100k miles and FSH, and much as I like the 3 series I know which I'd rather have.

[JaseB]

My Dad had one too 28 years ago, I bought it off him 18 years ago, beautiful little car, very happy memories. Was a mistake selling it, like the M3s, 205, 944 etc, I need more space...

[FRA53R]

My dad had two E21's and an E30. He adored them and some of the stories he tells about racing his mates made me yearn to get one.

I came within a hairs breadth of getting one three years back. Wish I had thrown caution to the wind as I loved the test drive. The main thing I remember is a slight wobble from the steering at approx 55mph (They all do that sir) and the unservoed brakes needing a hefty push. The sound of the engine though was awesome!

[VinceM]

Neighbour had two of these many years ago, sounded lovely. A green one that rusted away and then an orange one that did the same. He now has an E30 318iS which I'd like to get my hands on one day.

[Dale487]

Looks very nice.

And good to see at 323 with a 2.3 litre engine in.

[PomBstard]

About a year ago I looked at a one owner from new, 1984 E30 323i. Was in exceptional condition with fully stamped history. Went and handled well. It was only when I unfolded myself from the car and realised I really didn't fit that I chose not to buy it. Silly really as for AU$8500 it was never going to lose any money and Aus delivered meant rust wasn't too much of an issue.

[Leins]

Spotted this one hanging out last year where they know a thing or two about performance saloons: