A super clean E30 325i with an automatic, worth the trouble?

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 03/18/2014 at 15:39 • Filed to: None

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After about 25 years E30s aren't the most common cars anymore. Especially clean rust free unmolested 325i's. What if you were to spot the perfect one with one downside: an automatic gearbox. Would you walk away? Are the autoboxes in these cars any good?

Brian Silvestro > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 15:44

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Super clean E30's are getting harder to find, and the automatics are awful from what I've heard.

But manual swaps are common and a lot of people do them.

Reigntastic > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 15:44

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I'd walk away. I know it's put me off a lot of E30s and E36s to find them with an auto. Sure, they can be swapped, but I lack the tools and garage necessary to even attempt it myself, let alone succeed. I'd much prefer to just buy it with a manual, instead of possibly end up with an automatic that I hate and end up selling.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 15:48

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I've driven an E30 with an auto, it's not as bad as you might suspect it to be.

duurtlang > Reigntastic 03/18/2014 at 15:48

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:(

Not the answer I had hoped for. Just look at it, it's so perfect.

Reigntastic > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 15:52

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Well, that's different though. E30 wagons are rare, and almost extinct in manual trim, so if you're ok with sinking some money into a car, that would be worth the extra effort in my book. Reminds me of a gorgeous purple E36 M3 with only 50k miles on it but equipped with an auto, so close yet so far.

505Turbeaux > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 15:58

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the autobox is ok reliability wise. They actually pull pretty good with the 2.49 l engine too.

BKRM3 > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:04

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E30 manual swaps are common. Call up a local independent BMW shop and ask if they've ever done one, and how much they cost. If you really find the right E30 it's absolutely worth it to do the swap. As you said, nice ones are getting harder and harder to find. And a wagon? Dang.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:21

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For a 25 year old car the autobox isn't horrible...but that's not saying much. Manual swaps are pretty common though if you're willing to spend the money to do it.

Also, given that this is a super clean WAGON I would buy it in a heartbeat. Buy it, drive it, save up to do the swap after a little time if you must - I know I would regret not having gotten it.

What's the knob right next to the handbrake? My E30 definitely does not have that (or those gorgeous fabric sports seats that came on so many euro spec cars).

Bonhomme7h > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:23

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If it's THE model that you lust after and do not expect to find a similar one in a while, why not enduring this transmission for a year or two while you save for a swap?

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:24

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May I ask where your current lust for E30 wagons comes from? Do you want one for yourself, ship it to the US, or is it another project like the Alpine rally?

heliochrome85 > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:30

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GO FOR IT.

duurtlang > 505Turbeaux 03/18/2014 at 16:31

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So it might be worth it. I think Ill check it out. It is supposedly a barn find and hasn't been road legal for four years but it did have its brakes and timing chain replaced recently. We'll see.

TotallyThatStupid > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 16:33

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Not a deal-breaker, given the car it's in and the other options (cloth sport seats and analog clock = creamy jeans). Swaps on these are not hard. Love the power front / manual rear windows, too. So Euro.

TotallyThatStupid > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/18/2014 at 16:36

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It's a mode switch for the automatic transmission, like in the 5ers, 6ers, and 7ers from the late 80s. The regular 4-speed automatic (not computer controlled) in an E30 is fine to live with and fairly hearty. These switchable ones... don't know. It was a Euro only thing. The switchable autos in the 5, 6 and 7 US-market cars were junk.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 03/18/2014 at 16:38

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All of the above? If I were to buy this it would definitely end up in the US eventually. But due to its age (24 years and 10 months) I'd have to keep it here for a few months at least. Which, if it's as good as it seems, might result in me driving it around for a while. You know, to test if everything is in working order and most certainly not because I'd like to drive it. At all. Sarcasm doesn't really work on the internet, does it? Anyway, I wouldn't commute in it, with my Peugeot being so much cheaper to run and probably more comfortable as well.

duurtlang > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/18/2014 at 16:46

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I have no idea what that knob is for. 'My' car doesn't have it either, this is a picture I found with a GIS. 'My' car does have the cloth sport seats, power front manual rear windows and analog clock like this car though.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > duurtlang 03/18/2014 at 17:04

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depends on the price, but I'd own that. Auto and all.

I'd leave it stock though, maybe put a modern sound system in it and then use it as a DD

Reigntastic > duurtlang 03/19/2014 at 14:26

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One of my friends just bought himself a very clean E30 325, fresh black paint and the M3 bumper, with the MT. Gawd. So much lust now.

Broke30 > duurtlang 03/19/2014 at 18:56

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I'd jump on that in a heart beat. If you bring it back to the us and decide the swap is too much I'd gladly trade you for my manual e30 and all my monies.

duurtlang > Broke30 03/19/2014 at 19:29

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Please define 'all' :)

Broke30 > duurtlang 03/19/2014 at 20:51

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1.used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing.

No but really if you're serious about bringing it back to the U.S. and would be interested in parting with it I'd definitely be interested. I'd have to do a bit of research as to getting it legal in Cal (I have a friend who owns several euro cars.) I accepted an offer on my house yesterday so I'm not just dreaming.

Dunnik > duurtlang 03/20/2014 at 18:38

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I'd say go for it: condition of the car should be your number one priority, not the tranny, which you can always swap, yes? And as you say, mint E30's don't grow on trees.

JJJenningsIII > duurtlang 03/21/2014 at 10:10

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I speak with experience when it comes to auto e30s. I searched high and low for a clean one, and the search was far from easy. I ended up finding a very nice, and well maintained automatic that I jumped on. I drove it with the auto for about a year before swapping in a 5 speed.

The 5 speed is certainly preferable, but finding a nice auto is much easier. My advise is to go with the best maintained example you can, and then make it your own