Wasn't able to buy the E30 after finding the guy's phone number

"LappingLuke" (lukeohara01)
03/27/2014 at 12:45 • Filed to: None

So you guys may remember a few days ago I posted hoping to find a way to recover this random E30 owner's phone number from my phone. If you missed it, I got his number from my online Tmobile account records easily. Tuesday the guy texted me and said he found a truck he wanted and was willing to sell the car for 2800 instead of 3500 but I would have to fix the few problems. It needed a center support bearing badly, at least one new strut, a gauge cluster battery (right side of cluster was inactive) new shifter bushings and it had no power steering fluid in the system. But the paint was redone (needed buffing) and the interior had been reupholstered and was very nice. ALL the parts it needed were new in baggies in the trunk ready to be installed which was a big bonus. I had my buddy drive it who has had a couple E30s and he told me absolutely buy it because it was one of the cleanest he had seen. I had been told by my step mom I could have a loan for 2800 to be repaid when I fix and sell my mom's 92 Eclipse (it's reaallly clean, want it??). Well after driving the car and wasting this kid's time two hours later my dad says I can't buy it because it doesn't have air bags. And that was it. I missed out on a super rare (around these parts) car that only needed a little work to be mint and my first fun car. So when I graduate from engineering school in December I'll buy whatever I want and it might not have an airbag. Do you think he will take me to court over it?

DISCUSSION (21)

505Turbeaux > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 12:48

Kinja'd!!!

damn man, sorry to hear that. Should have told him you would install one of these

Audi-os, amigos > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 12:48

He who has the money makes the rules, my friend.

awe46m3zcp > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 12:49

Take you to court for not buying it?

offroadkarter > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 12:56

If your dad knows nothing about cars, tell him you'll install one yourself and its really easy to do and all the plugs are there. The late 80's BMW's had an optional airbag, so just get an airbag wheel and plop it in. Just don't tell him that it actually doesn't work.

505Turbeaux > offroadkarter
03/27/2014 at 13:06

Kinja'd!!!

Even if it did have the option, do you even think it would work these days?

offroadkarter > 505Turbeaux
03/27/2014 at 13:14

Well if nothing in the system was broken I don't see why not

But its a BMW after all so no it probably wouldn't. Or it'd explode when you hit the system check button.

System check? Check YOUR FACE *POOF*

505Turbeaux > offroadkarter
03/27/2014 at 13:16

hahahaha yup. I remember having to defeat the seatbelt interlock on my 3.0s from 73. I left it on a switch for when assholes got in my car that didnt want to buckle up. (drivers seat had failed, passenger switches worked fine). It would buzz and make a big red seatbelt sign in the dash when you turned the key

Big Bubba Ray > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 13:23

That sucks as a reason to not be able to buy a car! My parents were wary of me buying my Baja Bug because it doesn't have airbags or seat belts in the back, so I promised to never crash it haha

But there's no way this guy could take you to court over not buying the car. Unless you signed something saying that you'd buy it, there's nothing to worry about.

LappingLuke > Big Bubba Ray
03/27/2014 at 13:31

He's ultra paranoid because my best friend died in high school in a heavy frontal incident with a huge tree. But he had an airbag...

LappingLuke > offroadkarter
03/27/2014 at 13:32

Hahahah sadly he's a fucking genius and I swear literally knows almost everything. He's a mechanical engineer for a global chemical company and has taught me basically everything I know that I didn't learn in electrical engineering school lol

LappingLuke > 505Turbeaux
03/27/2014 at 13:33

That was my point against the airbag! haha

offroadkarter > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 13:33

Calculate the tensile strength of the E30 chassis and tell him its equal to or greater than any small car with airbags and you'll plow right through them.

Big Bubba Ray > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 13:34

Ah, that makes sense. I'm sorry to hear that. I can understand why he'd be concerned about a lack of airbags.

Well hopefully when you're done with school you'll be able to find another E30!

LappingLuke > Audi-os, amigos
03/27/2014 at 13:34

Yeah...he pays a good 10k a year for me to go to college so in comparison I have nothing and no leverage...

LappingLuke > offroadkarter
03/27/2014 at 13:35

LOL I'm trying to tell him I'll buy some DOT approved 4 point harnesses. I talked to Schroth earlier today and the guy told me he would rather have the DOT 4pt on the street than no air bag.

Audi-os, amigos > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 13:36

That's how it goes mate. You've got your whole life, though, to get you some sweet cars you enjoy having. If that time isn't RIGHT NOW, IMMEDIATELY, it's all good, don't sweat it.

Buying your car with your money is even sweeter, anyway.

offroadkarter > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 13:38

my 85 E23 has no airbag and IIRC that car was in 2 accidents (one was a small rear side swipe). Nobody who has owned it is dead... that I know of.

Just do what I always do, every day, and you'll be 100% safe. Don't crash.

LappingLuke > offroadkarter
03/27/2014 at 14:01

Precisely. I think of my friend every time I get in the car to this day 5 years later. I think about how I cried like a baby and how I had to watch his parents and family suffer. I drive like other cars have land mines attached to 10' poles all around them.

LappingLuke > Audi-os, amigos
03/27/2014 at 14:02

Yeah I know...it's just having waited 22 years and having the carrot dangled in my face only to be yanked away multiple times now is making me a little unstable haha.

Audi-os, amigos > LappingLuke
03/27/2014 at 14:06

Fair enough. An E30 does funny things to people. Loses ships to the deep. Men come back babbling incoherently. Women scream and gnash their teeth. Cats chase dogs and black is white.

LappingLuke > Audi-os, amigos
03/27/2014 at 14:18

That sounds about right!