I bought a Thing.

"Zach Campbell" (zach-campbell)
10/24/2014 at 21:05 • Filed to: BMW, E30, NewCar

The Thing in question is a 1986 BMW E30 325e.

White exterior, red leather interior, 5 speed manual, sunroof, power windows/mirrors, straight body, electrics work, A/C works, power steering works, it goes and it stops.

It had been listed for a whole 2 hours when I contacted the seller. 4 hours later, and many many many other people attempting to buy it, the keys were in my hand. And I even got the seller to budge on the price. It has been in the same family for over 10 years and they took great care of it. It needs some TLC, but nothing major.

I'm so happy!

DISCUSSION (41)

jkm7680 > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:05

Awesome, those seats look niiiice.

Zach Campbell > jkm7680
10/24/2014 at 21:07

Thanks! They do look great. Sadly, the rears aren't in near in the shape of the fronts, but that's easily fixable :)

signintoburnerlol > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:10

That must of been a good price for it being sold in mere hours.

Grats!

Let's get modding...

bob and john > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:13

325 E?

you know what this means....327 build!

Zach Campbell > signintoburnerlol
10/24/2014 at 21:14

Thanks! Saying I stole it would probably be an understatement... Let's just say I bought an Apple iPad that has a BMW badge.

jkm7680 > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:18

Still, nice haha. And still an awesome looking car man :) Any modifications in mind?

Money Hustard > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:19

Classy ride!

Alex from Toronto > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:21

Kinja'd!!!

Birddog > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:22

Nice find! The "e" cars don't get much love.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:27

Hate to tell you this but you were lied to. See what you bought is BMW, not a Thing.
This is a Thing

Kinja'd!!!

Zach Campbell > jkm7680
10/24/2014 at 21:27

Other than putting in a short shift kit as the throws are as long as an Olympic size pool, all I have in mind now is getting it back to stock. I don't really have any sort of idea what sort of maintenance has been preformed other than it "was done and always done on time" according to the seller as the previous owner has moved on. So, I'm having a once over done on it next week and I'm going to go from there.

I'd like to lower it, put a new set of wheels on, and maybe do a slight tune to gain back some of that hp lost in "e" form.

Anything I should be looking into for mods?

Zach Campbell > Money Hustard
10/24/2014 at 21:28

Thanks! It's going to go beside my two Volvo's: an XC70, and an 850.

Speaking of which, I need to sell that 850...

Zach Campbell > Alex from Toronto
10/24/2014 at 21:32

Finally, approval!!! Hahahah

Zach Campbell > Birddog
10/24/2014 at 21:32

That's what I hear... I hope to change that. :)

jkm7680 > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:33

Good plans, good plans! My only input is don't stance it, Haha.

It looks super clean though, maybe remove that pinstripe thing that I think might be a pinstripe?

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:36

Shorter euro bumpers are a deal maker. If you want to fiddle with the engine, there's the 2.7 stroker. It involves putting in the top end and ecu from an "i" engine while retaining the longer stroke of the "e" engine, with custom pistons in between. The supposed end result is more torque than an i, and more power than an e.

Fantastic car! Really looks super duper clean. How many miles may I ask?

Zach Campbell > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
10/24/2014 at 21:36

Hahaha, I just lol'ed. My dad actually had one of those things when he was younger. Take or leave the pun. Your choice.

Zach Campbell > jkm7680
10/24/2014 at 21:39

Haha, yeah, I promise I wont.

I want to remove what's left of the pinstriping. In some places it's intact, in others it isn't. Either way, it doesn't add to the look of the car at all.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:40

I just thought this would be funny. Nice car though. Wish I could find a nice clean E30 like that.

jkm7680 > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:42

Haha, Nice :)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 21:45

Now you need an i head to make a SUPER ETA!!!!!!!!!!

Zach Campbell > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
10/24/2014 at 21:46

How difficult of a job is something like the 2.7 stroker?

Miles? Well, the body has 276K, and the motor has 120K. I believe the guy that owned it had the transplant done as he owned for 10 plus years. The seller was the guy's x wife, I believe, and while she knew a good amount about the car she couldn't give me exact dates on some things.

Zach Campbell > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
10/24/2014 at 21:47

So I've been told! I am going to have to look into that!!

Zach Campbell > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
10/24/2014 at 21:55

It was funny! Hahah!

I hope you're able to find one, too. I just happened to come across this one while browsing CList. Something just told me to search BMW and boom. There it was at the top of the page. Next thing I know I'm on the phone talking to the seller.

Zach Campbell > bob and john
10/24/2014 at 21:56

I'm going to look into it!

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 22:03

It's been a while since I've read up on it, but more details can be found here:

http://strictlyeta.net/technical/328i…

As it's an extensive engine mod, I imagine it's a pretty difficult job, but doable depending on your desire/time/budget/masochism. What I like about it is that it uses pretty much all OEM parts, so you sort of get a "greatest hits" version of the M20 engine. When looking for an E30 I specifically sought out an "i" model, which I'm not planning to extensively modify. I understand the "2.7 stroker" is also very conducive to turbo applications.

Zach Campbell > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
10/24/2014 at 22:19

Yeah, I bought the "e" because it was in such good shape for a such good deal.

Power isn't everything, I guess. Even though my Volvo wagon has 80 more horsepowers and 30 more torques than the "e", I'm sure the BMW handles much better.

Dunnik > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 22:25

Score, looks very clean. Red leather on white is a pretty rare combo, as is finding one in this good condition. The car gods smile upon thee. Huge grats!

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Zach Campbell
10/24/2014 at 22:26

That thing is guaranteed to be fun. The stock "i" isn't exactly a powerhouse either, but the light weight, good handling, and large greenhouse make them very fun.

Zach Campbell > Dunnik
10/24/2014 at 23:05

Thanks!! I'm super excited and I believe I got a great deal. When I saw the red interior I almost jumped with joy. I hope the car gods stay with me as I go to get it inspected and no major problems arise.

Zach Campbell > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
10/24/2014 at 23:06

That's what I like to hear!! I can't wait to get her road worthy, and take her to the mountains!

Tohru > Zach Campbell
10/25/2014 at 10:03

Obligatory Photoshop encouraging you to simplify the front of your car.

Kinja'd!!!

Autofixation > Zach Campbell
10/25/2014 at 12:16

You didn't happen to buy this from an old lady that has had it as her daily driver for the last twenty years?

Zach Campbell > Autofixation
10/25/2014 at 21:00

I bought it from a girl that used it as a daily for the past couple years. Before that it was her dad's daily. They both babied it and I have a pretty good list of service records for the vehicle dating all the way back to when it was bought. It was bought at the (then) local BMW dealer new and has stayed local all of its life. I think I really lucked out on this one. I'm just hoping and praying the inspection comes back clean.

Zach Campbell > Tohru
10/25/2014 at 21:02

By simplify, I am sensing that you mean get euro bumpers and a lip spoiler.

If so, I agree.

Autofixation > Zach Campbell
10/25/2014 at 22:05

Ok, I was just wondering, because I tried to buy an E30 325e from a lady in Virginia five years ago, but she said that it was her daily driver and she loved it. But then the transmission went bad in it and she called me and said that since I was so interested in it initially that she would just give it to me as long as I fix it and drive it.

I am up here in NH right now so all I have to do is go get it.

Zach Campbell > Autofixation
10/25/2014 at 23:06

Awesome, man! I say do it! I mean, yeah, it'll probably cost you a couple hundred to get it shipped up to NH, but throw a tranny in it and you've got a great, well taken care of car!

Does it look just like mine?

Tohru > Zach Campbell
10/26/2014 at 03:12

Eliminating the kidneys would improve cooling to the radiator.

Debadging cleans up the exterior appearance of the car.

Autofixation > Zach Campbell
10/26/2014 at 10:10

I actually forget what color it was.

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalls > Zach Campbell
10/28/2014 at 19:23

Kinja'd!!!

TheHondaBro > Zach Campbell
10/29/2014 at 10:58

Kinja'd!!!

God that thing is pretty. I sure love old Bimmers.