You'd Have to Love Cars to Do It.

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
10/27/2015 at 13:34 • Filed to: None

I am very excited for my Step cousin-in law, who is also one of my best friends. He’s 17 years old and yesterday he bought his first car. A manual, 1985 325e, 2 door.

random pic, not his car.

If you ask me that’s a pretty freaking awesome first car, especially considering it’s now what 12 years older than him. He had looked at other cars, including a 94 Taurus SHO, and a couple Civics, and a Golf or two, but the E30 was the one that one him over. And I can certainly understand why, infact I’m a little jealous.

So here’s to a young man making a bold decision, and taking a risk, buying an old BMW, for no other reason than the love of cars. May we all wish him good luck.

Also I think I’m going to order him one of these stickers. although he’s no the kind of person to have something like this visible on his car.

DISCUSSION (17)

Rico > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 13:49

Congrats to him. Lol just call him your cousin. Step Cousin-in-law is a mouthful.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Rico
10/27/2015 at 13:50

It is indeed, it’s a running joke tho. I mean I know him better than any of my actual cousins.

Bytemite > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 13:54

That sticker hits the nail pretty well. Fwd cars are like tricycles, you ride them when you need safe, reliable, slow, easy to ride transportation. Then you get Rwd cars and bicycles for actual performance and handling. I might get that sticker if I get a beater.

RPM esq. > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 13:55

My first car was an ‘87 manual E30 325 with 172,000 miles when I bought it in 2000...great first car. I still miss it. The crazy thing is that it would probably be worth about the same today.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RPM esq.
10/27/2015 at 13:59

Or more, he paid 1800 for this 325e, the seller was asking 2400. it does seem really clean tho. I haven’t seen first hand yet tho.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Bytemite
10/27/2015 at 14:02

I’m not going to say I can’t have fun in a FWD car, or that I’ll never have one again, but yeah RWD, and AWD are just plain more fun. I still need to own something RWD myself tho.

Mattbob > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:07

he needs to read this http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/328i…

RPM esq. > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:11

Where does he live? If it’s a clean manual with fairly low miles, it’s easily a $2500 car where I am. If it wasn’t an “e” model, make that close to $4000. Which is about what my then-clean E30 cost more than 15 years ago.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Mattbob
10/27/2015 at 14:11

yes! I’ve been researching this head swap since he bought it. But I’m also going to urge him to leave the engine stock until he’s got the suspension sorted out. I mean yeah it’s a bit “slow” by today’s standards but it’s also his first car. It’s still going to be quick enough to have fun, and learn to drive in.

Bytemite > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:15

Isn’t the 325e the 2.7 stroked motor? If so, that thing will climb revs like an old dog. He should have kept looking for a 325i...not much price difference at this point.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RPM esq.
10/27/2015 at 14:17

Minnesota near Minneapolis. I’m pretty sure it has about 170,000 miles on it, but yeah he got a good deal.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Bytemite
10/27/2015 at 14:19

yeah it’s the lower reving 2.7l engine, so yeah less power, but if you ask me for a kid having a clean chassis is more important than a few extra horses.

Mattbob > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:24

definitely do suspension first! Its not a muscle car.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Mattbob
10/27/2015 at 14:29

and as I understand the e model is also pretty soft and squishy to begin with. an LSD is also priority.

Bytemite > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:35

It isn’t even about the horses but the overall sluggishness and responsiveness. It will be harder to rev match, or at least take longer. But anyways, nitpicking aside, it is an E30. Great chassis and suspension but again, the 325e’s bench seats and huge boat wheel steering wheel won’t be doing him any favors of extracting the capabilities of the car.

Mattbob > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/27/2015 at 14:36

really though, with that much power, I doubt you will notice an LSD. My 325i has an LSD, and I honestly don’t know if it would have made a difference if it didn’t. Put some decent tires on it, and it will not be able to break the one wheel loose. To be fair, I have not driven one without it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Mattbob
10/27/2015 at 14:41

The ting is it’s only got 120hp, but it’s actually putting out more torque than a 325i(on paper). Also we like our dirt road and snow driving, a lot, and in those low traction conditions I think an LSD will be a lot more noticeable.