Discussion
NickCQ said:
Can't see much potential for appreciation though (M3 aside) given how many of the things they made.
I'm sure people said that about mk1 escorts at some point, I don't think there are that many E30s left now, I'm sure the bigger engined models will start going up in value, if they haven't already.G600 said:
NickCQ said:
Can't see much potential for appreciation though (M3 aside) given how many of the things they made.
I'm sure people said that about mk1 escorts at some point, I don't think there are that many E30s left now, I'm sure the bigger engined models will start going up in value, if they haven't already.
Actually, I'm not sure about that - given that I'm unlikely to sell mine unless I get into in a tight spot financially it would just make me nervous and probably I'd enjoy it less.
NickCQ said:
I am biased but certainly think they are cool. Can't see much potential for appreciation though (M3 aside) given how many of the things they made.
How often do you see one on the roads today? - Not that often!Added to that, have you seen the price that good condition, unmolested E30's goes for today? - They have already appreciated from the £500~£2000 bargain basement cars that they once were.
The more everyday models may never make the mega-money that is being asked for the E30 M3's, but as they are getting rarer and rarer, their value is slowly going up.
Agreed. 
Back in the day, they always seemed to be a "step up" from the hot hatches of the time.
If you wanted something after your mk2 GTI or 205 GTI, you would consider a 325 Sport.
I've had a few, and I'm happy I still have my Hartge H26.
I still think this was my coolest, and wish I still had it!
Back in the day, they always seemed to be a "step up" from the hot hatches of the time.
If you wanted something after your mk2 GTI or 205 GTI, you would consider a 325 Sport.
I've had a few, and I'm happy I still have my Hartge H26.
I still think this was my coolest, and wish I still had it!
sim16v said:
Agreed.
Back in the day, they always seemed to be a "step up" from the hot hatches of the time.
If you wanted something after your mk2 GTI or 205 GTI, you would consider a 325 Sport.
I've had a few, and I'm happy I still have my Hartge H26.
I still think this was my coolest, and wish I still had it!
A 320Si? oooooh. nice. Worth a few quid now!Back in the day, they always seemed to be a "step up" from the hot hatches of the time.
If you wanted something after your mk2 GTI or 205 GTI, you would consider a 325 Sport.
I've had a few, and I'm happy I still have my Hartge H26.
I still think this was my coolest, and wish I still had it!
http://oldcolonelcars.co.uk/listing/bmw-e30-3-seri...
Some low mileage examples about,if it's worth the asking price is another matter.
Cool or not? I'd love one, but not in silver.
Some low mileage examples about,if it's worth the asking price is another matter.
Cool or not? I'd love one, but not in silver.
I had a 320i 4-door about 17 years ago, a 1988 model in tomato red.
On the positive side, it was quite nicely styled, it didn’t go rusty (quite well made) and had a useful sized boot.
It didn’t break down and nothing fell off.
Unfortunately the gearbox was a bit clunky (I would have preferred an auto), the pedals seemed a bit offset and the seats were uncomfortable.
Overall it was OK – but not really a car that appealed to me.
I sold it to a local chap who seemed very excited by it – especially as I only wanted pennies for it. (He owned it for years and absolutely loved it).
I think they will increase in popularity – even the less-sporting versions.
They are good cars (though not to my taste) and should be appreciated as they get older (and rarer).
On the positive side, it was quite nicely styled, it didn’t go rusty (quite well made) and had a useful sized boot.
It didn’t break down and nothing fell off.
Unfortunately the gearbox was a bit clunky (I would have preferred an auto), the pedals seemed a bit offset and the seats were uncomfortable.
Overall it was OK – but not really a car that appealed to me.
I sold it to a local chap who seemed very excited by it – especially as I only wanted pennies for it. (He owned it for years and absolutely loved it).
I think they will increase in popularity – even the less-sporting versions.
They are good cars (though not to my taste) and should be appreciated as they get older (and rarer).
Near where my parents live an old guy had a bright red 3 Series 2 door which I sometimes noticed on my paper round if he had left the garage door open. This made want a 3 Series as my first car but that never actually happened and I followed the crowd and got a Saxo VTR but that’s another story.
Skip forwards 20 years (that makes me feel old) to just before Christmas last year and I saw the same (even older) guy coming out of his drive in his absolutely mint looking H reg 318is which I now know to be quite a rare car. This got me looking at the classifieds but having looked at prices of E30’s in general I think I might have missed the boat for a cheap useable one.
Skip forwards 20 years (that makes me feel old) to just before Christmas last year and I saw the same (even older) guy coming out of his drive in his absolutely mint looking H reg 318is which I now know to be quite a rare car. This got me looking at the classifieds but having looked at prices of E30’s in general I think I might have missed the boat for a cheap useable one.
I had a 2 door '86 Schwarz Black manual 325i in 1999, at the age of 21. I've posted on here before about how the 4.25 turns lock to lock caught me out at least once when pressing on 
I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).
I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).JBT said:
I had a 2 door '86 Schwarz Black manual 325i in 1999, at the age of 21. I've posted on here before about how the 4.25 turns lock to lock caught me out at least once when pressing on I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).
Any pics ? Research innit. :-) I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).JBT said:
I had a 2 door '86 Schwarz Black manual 325i in 1999, at the age of 21. I've posted on here before about how the 4.25 turns lock to lock caught me out at least once when pressing on I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).
My first E30 was in 2002 and was also a Schwartz black chrome bumper 2dr 325i manual but a year newer being an 87 car. I loved it, but had to keep it outside and it was slowly starting to disintegrate over the 7 years I had it. I gave it back to the mate I bought it from when I bought an Elise S1, and he slowly started to restore it, with a seized engine along the way necessitating a 2.7 eta block mated to the original 2.5 head. We took it to the BMW day at Gaydon a couple of years ago and I was transported right back to 1999 when he let me drive it home, still an fantastic car. I would buy it back off him one day but I'm not sure I could afford it now, given he knows which way E30 prices are going! I haven't seen a chrome bumper manual 'box 2 door 325i in years (that isn't a Sport).It was an odd spec car in that it had the usual e/window and e/sunroof, bilstein M technic suspension, rare recaro LS seats (not to be confused with the sports seats!), 14" bottle top alloy wheels and no LSD or PAS.
It was a high mileage car at circa 170k miles and quite rough round the edges but went well and never missed a beat!
I only had it for six months as I always changed my car a lot back then but the bug bit and have owned many E30's (and other BMW's) since and still own a pair of E30's, an '89 325i sport and an '86 M3.
Agreed, chrome bumper 325i's, infact any non sport 2dr 325i is a rare thing and has been for quite some time now sadly.
Edited by BSSBMW on Wednesday 1st April 01:17
Edited by BSSBMW on Wednesday 1st April 01:20
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