BMW E3 Classic

[jam172]

Glad you all like the old girl, she is only 6 years younger than me; anyone going to The Classics at The Castle show in Sherbourne, Dorset can see her in the flesh (in the Zone events callender).

Thanks for all your kind comments, just as well i treat her gently, 2 years ago i took her to Gaydon and saw north of 130 ( on the test track obviously ) there's life in the old girl yet.

[hubble]

Glad you all like the old girl, she is only 6 years younger than me; anyone going to The Classics at The Castle show in Sherbourne, Dorset can see her in the flesh (in the Zone events callender).

Thanks for all your kind comments, just as well i treat her gently, 2 years ago i took her to Gaydon and saw north of 130 ( on the test track obviously ) there's life in the old girl yet.

You're very welcome fella. Cracking car. Would have loved to see it, but unfortunately a little too far down for me

[Speedtouch]

A couple of rough examples in my town, parked on neighbouring driveways:

3.0Si manual

This looks superficially OK but with very poor paint and some rust showing.

3.3Li automatic


This 3.3Lia has steelies with hubcaps apart from a MIM-style alloy out back. Would need some serious bodywork repair and the exhaust is lying on the ground; probably scrap/frag material

[Cloggy Saint]

That poor Li looks in need of rescuing

[Speedtouch]

I imagine it would be a bottomless money-pit to repair properly!

[fozzymandeus]

The 3.3Li there looks to have had it. If the body has rusted that badly, you can bet the innerds will be rotten too - these 70s BMWs rot worse than Alfas of the era. The 3.0Si looks like a good project for the deep of wallet though.

[fozzymandeus]

Jam172, your E3 looks like a really lovely car. I've seen a 2500 E3 at a classic show in the gold colour that BMW did in the 70s. Quite a proud looking thing, and it was a base spec model. I imagine BMW had to try a lot harder in those days to impress its market as it didnt have the badge kudos it later developed. These machines are very stylish things - they have more in common with 70s Lancias than other German offerings I think.

[DieselMeister]

Gorgeous car Jams. Proper toolkit and steering wheel too

Have always loved the 70's mid-size bimmers. Classy.

[Speedtouch]

My August 1987 edition of Practical Classics states that the 3.3Li was only built between October 1976 until end of E3 production in June 1977, with only 1,401 produced out of a total of 198,876 E3s built. They cost £13,000 new! Engine is supposedly good for 197bhp@6000rpm (Bosch L-Jetronic injection).

In comparison, the 3.0Si introduced in autumn 1971 gave 200bhp@5500rpm from a Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection system - must have been one of the very first EFi cars.

[jam172]

That poor Li looks in need of rescuing

You couldn't be more right, unfortunately it would not be an easy restoration as the "L" meaning long wheel base means the rear doors are longer and therefore unique and rare as hens teeth.

If any one fancies taking on that Si, i have 6 rot free door shells and a useable boot lid in my shed. A german based company called Walloth n Nesch still sell new parts for E3, E9, E12, E21 etc. but at a premium

[Speedtouch]

If anyone's interested, I can supply directions to their locations. I have enough rust to sort out on my own turds so shall be steering clear of these

[anothere21323i]

If anyone's interested, I can supply directions to their locations. I have enough rust to sort out on my own turds so shall be steering clear of these

Are these cars still around - I'm interested....

[Speedtouch]

Unfortunately not - they both disappeared some time ago. Something to do with the rise in price of scrap metal, I suspect.

[anothere21323i]

That's a real shame, but thanks for checking

[anothere21323i]

Although having just checked with the DVLA, both are still on their books and are liable for tax late next year....

[Speedtouch]

Interesting; they have probably been resued by an enthusiast then. I imagine they may well have been sold as a pair.

[anothere21323i]

I hope so! I'm a bit jealous though.....

[jam172]

Sold my E3 3.0si a couple of years ago, although I loved it I was frightened to leave it parked amywhere. I got £8500 for it, a wealthy gent from London collected, I've never seen it since

[anothere21323i]

Was that a Fjord Blue one with AU in the numberplate? That was lovely