has anyone owned an e21?

[domkolo]

thinking about swapping one of my e30s for one just to have a bit of a change, it's in quite a rare colour "safari beige" which for some reason i really like,

thoughts please

[Duke137]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-316-1800c ... 46002c9915

Is this it?

[Tom_Maverick]

I had one up until last year! lots of fun, and somehow less rustable than an E30.. very light on the back end.. but as it's quite light the 316 is actually quite nippy.. although watch for a buggered auto choke as it'll run pants.. the heater in them is crap too, I had no end of grief with the blower.. it was a 30 yr old car though so I can't really complain! I've been tempted back to E21's a couple of times.. and if the E30 comes off the road I'll probably get another as a daily!

[eire30]

Had a henna red 82' 316 for about a year (sold last summer) Bought off a elderly chap in Chester...he kept it in a carpeted garage all it's life, took it to the local BMW dealer for absolutely everything...so the folder of history/invoices it came with was staggering (totalling around 12k in 20 odd years...incluing a brand new engine after he overheated it!)

It was in lovely order, no rust, everything worked, interior like new etc etc (even had rear headrests and a rev counter!)

I loved it but it was a 3 speed auto which not only meant it was boring as hell to drive but also drank petrol like it was going out of fashion!

I'll defo get one again...but it will be a 6 pot and manual...but only when I have a bigger garage so I don't need to get rid of the e30!

They tend to rot in the same areas as e30s...sills, inner arches, scuttle....so just do the usual checks

Rich

[Tom_Maverick]

aaah, luckily mine was a manwell.. fun little cars though!

[domkolo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-316-1800c ... 46002c9915

Is this it?

that's the one,

I love the beige,

might buy it as a third car instead an keep both the 30's.

my lass is gonna have a heart attack though if i do that

[domkolo]

appreciate the comments guys, it's in my home town which is very small and i've never seen it on the road,

you would definitely notice an e21 in beige if it's someones daily,

[pacerpete]

appreciate the comments guys, it's in my home town which is very small and i've never seen it on the road,

you would definitely notice an e21 in beige if it's someones daily,

Not if it has spent most of its time broken down !


That's proper paedo spec , you will have all sorts of dodgy old blokes offering you Werthers if you start cruising in that bad boy !

[e21Jason]

Had several e21's most need a decent suspension refurb by now even if the body is sound.

bmwe21.net for all the info you need

Jason

[domkolo]

Pete, I'll be the one offering the werthers mate!!!

That's probably why i haven't seen it, i've been too busy hanging around outside primary schools to notice it driving past.

in all seriousness though pete, what's it worth in your opinion as i'm gonna try and have a deal with him before the auction ends.

a bag of sand?

[Duke137]

At the minute I would try your luck, not much is selling

[pacerpete]

Pete, I'll be the one offering the werthers mate!!!

That's probably why i haven't seen it, i've been too busy hanging around outside primary schools to notice it driving past.

in all seriousness though pete, what's it worth in your opinion as i'm gonna try and have a deal with him before the auction ends.

a bag of sand?

E21s for some reason are now quite sought after If the shell is really clean it is a bag all day long.
Looking at the pics it does not appear to have power steering so be sure to have a drive first to see if you can live with it.
Parts for these can be tricky as Euros stock virtually nothing and there is not a huge amount of GOOD used parts out there as most of these were scrap ten years ago.

A well sorted one is a pleasant enough curiosity to smoke about in BUT most are sorry hateful sh1tters that need weighing.

[suedenim]

I need to sell one of my cars to make way for something small for my commute, and have to say that I would choose my E21 over my E30, both cars are stock poverty spec models 316 and 318i.
The E30 is a much nicer place to be, out of the box it handles better, more fun, comfortable (those horse hair comfort seats will be hateful by now), lighter, quicker and has better visability. If I sorted out the suspension and fitted something like an M42 it would be a much harder prospect to have to choose between the two.

That said, the E21 is a nice usable classic, it will keep up with modern traffic and put a smile on your face when not driven as a daily. You turn so many heads in an E21 (if that's important to you?) and despite prices rising, try finding something Ford, VW, etc from the same era for the same money.

[assassin]

woodym3evo has an absolutely blinding example.