Anyone owned a E21 323i?

[greentouring]

Just been looking at them on the net and wondered how they compared to an E30 with regards to build quality, performance, etc. I used to see a fair few of them as a kid but they're a rare animal these days.

[Alex]

well there faster than the e30 323i

[greentouring]

Damn, just noticed the thread below........

[Blitz]

I would like to get one, but there too rare and expensive.

[BMWAlpinaC2]

I see one every morning on the way to work, red baur cabriolet? It's looking like its in total original condition and nice spanking shiny paint.

Did they ever make a cabriolet?

[Ollie_bwoii]

I see one every morning on the way to work, red baur cabriolet? It's looking like its in total original condition and nice spanking shiny paint.

Did they ever make a cabriolet?

As in full cabriolet, no dont think so! but there has been conversions i think!

[BMWAlpinaC2]

That's it, it must be a conversoin then, because it definately a E21 323 and its definitely got a black soft top on a red body, must be a conversoin, mind you, it doesn't look too bad actaully.

I always stare at it when I see it.

[Ollie_bwoii]

Does it still have the chrome window surrounds?

[BMWAlpinaC2]

Can't remember, I think so maybe yeah, it definitely still has the chrome bumpers though! You know the car?

[Ollie_bwoii]

No was just working out if it was a BAUR!

[BMWAlpinaC2]

It definitely had some metal bits on the roof section though!

[Ollie_bwoii]

Baur then I think!

[Ollie_bwoii]

Does it look like this then?

[Andyboy]

Very rot prone. Abysmal traction in the wet without an LSD, awful handling on the standard suspension. Quite pokey but a 318Ti Compact is just as fast. Horrid old K Jet injection. As standard they were a car with ludicrously low limits of grip. I had two back in the day and can say that the E30 really was a massive step forward.

[zaust]

I had one in silver back in 93, And it was rotton then. Do love them but would not have one again...

[daimlerman]

Not quite the same thing,that was my first BMW,an E21 320,photo taken about '91, that was an 1882 car and it was very rusty around the rear arches and boot floor area then.That's Rubber Duck 89 stood proudly by daddy's car,BTW.. and the area the E21 is stood in is now a garage housing my project E30 M50 touring.

[robbo86]

heh heh heh, this picture has surfaced before hasnt it, you just look for any excuse dont you

just as well my old man is an e36 deviant.....

[duracel79]

I've got one as a race car now, which is road legal as well. Handles just as good as my E30 with the sorted suspension. Not much slower either.

My E30 is a high comp 2.7 as well!!

Duracel79

[anothere21323i]

Very rot prone. Abysmal traction in the wet without an LSD, awful handling on the standard suspension. Quite pokey but a 318Ti Compact is just as fast. Horrid old K Jet injection. As standard they were a car with ludicrously low limits of grip. I had two back in the day and can say that the E30 really was a massive step forward.

What he said. Driving one hard in the wet is possibly the scariest experience you could imagine this side of being stuck in a small room with some caravan enthusiasts.

I had a 1981 e21 323i with 189k on the clock and although it was uber reliable, I nearly got my arse handed to me on a plate several times. Doing a 180 (unintentionally!) degree powerslide on a busy dual carriageway still haunts me today...

[ah]

If you want to see plenty of E21s have a look on www.bmwe21.net/forum you have register but its exactly the same as the zone.

[drjim]

Or come to Oulton park next Wednesday and watch my little blue 316 with non standard suspension and no LSD handle nicely in the wet.

Less weight at the front makes for a nicer car, even if it isn't as powerful