RE: SOTW: E21 BMW 316 / MX-5 sold

[Beirut Taxi]

Garlick, why is there no PH Meter?

[matchmaker]

pSyCoSiS said:

matchmaker said:

nav p said:

willE36 said:

I was under the impression that E21s over 2L / 6 cyls received twin headlamps?
An E21 showed up at Uni this term in the same colour, but single headlamps. Really wanted one, but figured maintenance costs would be prohibitive, me being a student and all... Love mine to bits though
And for the record, great SOTW. Was bound to be, being a BMW and all, but being an E21, in pretty good nick, is even better.

= )

6 Cylinders all got Quad lights...4 Cylinder two.

Wrong! 316 & 318 two headlights. All others quad.

So he's right then???!!! 316 and 318 are 4 pots? And the 'others' are 6 pots, with quad lamps, therefore, how is he wrong??!

He is wrong because the original E21's were all 4-pot. The 320 and 320i had 4 pot motors and quad lights. The 6-pot 320 and 323i came later.

Trust me - I owned a 320i and know how many cylinders it had!

[pSyCoSiS]

matchmaker said:

pSyCoSiS said:

matchmaker said:

nav p said:

willE36 said:

I was under the impression that E21s over 2L / 6 cyls received twin headlamps?
An E21 showed up at Uni this term in the same colour, but single headlamps. Really wanted one, but figured maintenance costs would be prohibitive, me being a student and all... Love mine to bits though
And for the record, great SOTW. Was bound to be, being a BMW and all, but being an E21, in pretty good nick, is even better.

= )

6 Cylinders all got Quad lights...4 Cylinder two.

Wrong! 316 & 318 two headlights. All others quad.

So he's right then???!!! 316 and 318 are 4 pots? And the 'others' are 6 pots, with quad lamps, therefore, how is he wrong??!

He is wrong because the original E21's were all 4-pot. The 320 and 320i had 4 pot motors and quad lights. The 6-pot 320 and 323i came later.

Trust me - I owned a 320i and know how many cylinders it had!

I stand corrected - my apologies !

[pSyCoSiS]

This has just popped up on Car and Classic:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C116146/

Seems like a nice, genuine car, albeit requiring some TLC to bodywork....

[matbat]

BrabusMog said:

Crikey, SOTW always seems to bring a lurker out of the woodwork!

Hehe,

Yeah, I really should be more active on PH, it's a fantastic website!

I guess in my defence I've spent most of my free time out driving though ;-)

[tHeLoCuSt]

pSyCoSiS said:

You bought this actual one? Nice one mate and congratulations!

That's one kool looking bit of kit !

yeh that actual one!

Edited by tHeLoCuSt on Sunday 4th October 22:46

[CDP]

I forgot just how good the shark-nosed BMWs looked. BMWs used to be sleek, elegant cars; they gradually transformed into sit up and beg with fussy surfaces.

It's a pity they can't get rid of Bangle and return to form. The current Mustang demonstrates the shape can still be compatible with legislation.

[nav p]

matchmaker said:

nav p said:

willE36 said:

I was under the impression that E21s over 2L / 6 cyls received twin headlamps?
An E21 showed up at Uni this term in the same colour, but single headlamps. Really wanted one, but figured maintenance costs would be prohibitive, me being a student and all... Love mine to bits though
And for the record, great SOTW. Was bound to be, being a BMW and all, but being an E21, in pretty good nick, is even better.

= )

6 Cylinders all got Quad lights...4 Cylinder two.

Wrong! 316 & 318 two headlights. All others quad.

318 was 4 cylinder...i said 6 cylinder cars had quad!
In fact...early 320i(4 cylinder had quad lamps too)

[astrsxi77]

We had an E21 318 when I was born.

Didn't BMWs used to look handsome...

[Moggsie74]

I had the pleasure of driving the family 323i until I had a bit of an incident whilst reversing. Long story...
Fond memories of driving home from dropping my dad off at work and taking the scenic route home.
These were taken off of the car before it was taken to the scrap yard.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1283086.htm

[Marquis_Rex]

ureile said:

pSyCoSiS said:

I do like the E21s - yet to own one.

Would love a 323i, those twin pipes do it for me!

True what people have said, they're not really classics in the same way, say, an E30 is.

But, they do have a good following, and are very rare sights on the roads, therefore, deserve a good amount of respect.

Well done SOTW

The 323i was exepionally fun to drive. But let me give you one advice. The first series of them suffered under heat related cracks in the cylinderhead. So make an intensive inspection of your desired car and check the head for tightness.

Uwe

Time has shown that cylinder head cracks exhibit themselves just as much (some say even more) on the E30 M20 325i cylinder heads (commonly known as the '885 cylinder head) just as much. The crack is or was due to porous castings and materialises near cylinder 5 and 6 below the cam longitudinally along the bottom of the cylinder heads.

[Marquis_Rex]

OllieWinchester said:

pSyCoSiS said:

I do like the E21s -
True what people have said, they're not really classics in the same way, say, an E30 is.

How can an E21 be less of a classic than an E30?

I've been an E21 enthusiast for years now. I've waited and waited- and seen people covett Dolomite sprints, MGBs and Escorts while E21s languished, rusted away and used to fetch 300 pounds. The E30 was always for the trendys and rudeboys around London for a while, while the 4 cylinder 2002s had their own dyed in the wool 'numbers matching' classic car enthusiasts.

It's been a long time coming but the E21 has finally achieved covetted status, as evidenced by this poll

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... late '70s Sports saloon/coupe?&mid=33503

And the prices- it's finally being appreiciated. Due to the long period of time the E21 spent in bangerdom status there aren't that many around now.