E21 help (or should that be do i need help?)

[HairyScreech]

Popped home for the weekend and was offered an early 78 e21 320.

Story is the car was bought, tidied up and put through an mot and then for some reason the owner just let it sit.

It has had new front calipers, both quarters done under the windows, has a webber carb conversion and seems fairly tidy.
The guy who has the car at the moment (dealer friend of a friend) picked it up with a view to track it but can't bring himself to trash it.

I had a good poke around and it doesn't seem too frilly, the passenger door is the worst bit, the boot floor seems ok with only one half inch hole next to the drivers inner arch, the sills are not great and have been done at some point but seem solid, the bonnet is a bit crusty and i found 1 soft spot on the valance.
However that seems to be the worst of it without getting it up on a ramp.

It also comes with a full set of e30 15" bbs and the tool kit is all there.

Worst things seem to be that its jewish racing gold and the interior is aweful.

If i was to pick it up it would be gone over as a second car to use while the e30 gets some love and then would go to the mrs, (who is quite taken with the idea)

The guy has said he expects its worth around £750 but he really isn't sure.

So, any mileage in it?
any ideas what kind of offer i should make?
do i need help?
is this, along with the 24v scrap i was molesting yesterday just another step on the path to cleaning wheel arches with a tooth brush and touching kids?

[cecotto479]

It doesn't look like £750's worth to me. Assuming it needs nothing else done at all, it needs a complete respray. That takes it well over £2000 and you've done nothing else. Does it run and drive? The E30 wheels don't fit without spacers.

[suchy]

I love the shape of the E21's if it's not too rotten and some haggling can be done on the price then why not. Is deffo another project though

[pacerpete]

According to Andyboy, To touch kids , you need to get them in the back of your car, no kid is going to get in that. On that basis, as well as the fact it is foooked, its a scrapper .

[HairyScreech]

In terms of paint yes it would need a respray, however that can be done at work for nothing more than the cost of materials, so the most that could ever run me to is £500.
Pretty much provided i prep it then our paint guy will shoot it any colour i fancy and work doesn't mind the booth being used out of hours.
When it comes to paint i'm just not worried, i expect any e21 i looked at would need some rust work somewhere and then i wouldn't be able to live with just a blow over.

I'm far more concerned about the structure of the thing and it not needing major metal cancer repairs.

It runs and drives, in fact it drove 50 miles with trade plates on to its current location.

Forgot to say, all around the tail lights is fine for rust as well.

Yes e30 wheel clip the track rod ends don't they?

As far as price the guy is flexible, How flexible i don't know, I spoke to a mate of mine yesterday and in his opinion its only ~£350 worth as it stands, however that was not accounting for the e30 bbs and the heckblende, both of which make any price nicer.

I'm not thinking of it in terms of making profit its more about acquiring a solid e21 for not a lot of money to use rather than polish and take to shows.

(It's also £158 a year fully comp to insure as a second car so that's a distinct plus!)

[HairyScreech]

According to Andyboy, To touch kids , you need to get them in the back of your car, no kid is going to get in that. On that basis, as well as the fact it is foooked, its a scrapper .

Well on that basis i'm sold, i don't want to end up like the British Leyland/Ford Granada sickos just yet.

[anothere21323i]

In terms of paint yes it would need a respray, however that can be done at work for nothing more than the cost of materials, so the most that could ever run me to is £500.
Pretty much provided i prep it then our paint guy will shoot it any colour i fancy and work doesn't mind the booth being used out of hours.
When it comes to paint i'm just not worried, i expect any e21 i looked at would need some rust work somewhere and then i wouldn't be able to live with just a blow over.

I'm far more concerned about the structure of the thing and it not needing major metal cancer repairs.

It runs and drives, in fact it drove 50 miles with trade plates on to its current location.

Forgot to say, all around the tail lights is fine for rust as well.

Yes e30 wheel clip the track rod ends don't they?

As far as price the guy is flexible, How flexible i don't know, I spoke to a mate of mine yesterday and in his opinion its only ~£350 worth as it stands, however that was not accounting for the e30 bbs and the heckblende, both of which make any price nicer.

I'm not thinking of it in terms of making profit its more about acquiring a solid e21 for not a lot of money to use rather than polish and take to shows.

(It's also £158 a year fully comp to insure as a second car so that's a distinct plus!)

Given that you've got the capability to do the paint etc, then that puts you in a stronger position but I honestly don't think it's worth much more than £250 as it is. On the face of it, it does seem very original if that's your thing but there is a lot of work there - more work than the car will ever be worth. Having said that, a nice paint job in Kashmir gold (I think that's what it looks like), set off with some polished 15in Mahle BBS cross spokes and that car will look great. I'm a real sucker for E21s!

[Andyboy]

It's worth a little more than scrap value, but it's possibly worth saving. Apart from the Weber carb (and RH306 on here wants one) I don't see anything worth taking off and selling - ropey panels, ropey interior, ropey chrome and old 2.0 M60 engine, 4 speed box and running gear.
I'd say it's worth £300 in order to get it MOT'd, serviced, a bit of welding, spoon the door up with P40 and a quick blow over to tidy it up. Even at 300 quid, that could soon become a £1500 car though.

[e21Jason]

That car is only worth some thing to somebody who wants an e21 project, how much do you want an e21 project. The only advantage in being a 6 pot rather than 4 pot it is easier to drop in a e30 325 engine and box.

[pacerpete]

That car is only worth some thing to somebody who wants an e21 project, how much do you want an e21 project. The only advantage in being a 6 pot rather than 4 pot it is easier to drop in a e30 325 engine and box.

I always preferred the 6 pots because they WEIGHED more !

[anothere21323i]

That car is only worth some thing to somebody who wants an e21 project, how much do you want an e21 project. The only advantage in being a 6 pot rather than 4 pot it is easier to drop in a e30 325 engine and box.

I always preferred the 6 pots because they WEIGHED more !

[MattTheHat325]

We don't understand the concept of buying a worthless car and spending loads of time and money on it, only to be not worth any more, we all spend our lives basking in the glory of owning such depreciation proof, maintenance free classic like the e30

If you can do a lot of it yourself and you will enjoy the project then go for it! At least there will be another solid 21 knocking around. Their day will come!

Overload his brain with figures of how much it would cost to make roadworthy and offer him 250, it's a starting point!

[HairyScreech]

Are values for these really that low?

I have had a search about and can't find much for less than £800, even looking at projects.
All i see in terms of ones with an mot are cars over £1200, a lot of which have sold.
(~ignoring car and classic as the prices on there are a joke)

[ajay]

They are cool cars,one of my favourite bmw,s even the most basic model on steel wheels has a classic style i just luv. I would worry a bit about the mrs/e21 in the wet though, they are lairy enough in the dry! If your serious about getting an reasonable e21 for under a grand i may be able to help,i have a black 323i baur in my garage and i doubt ill get round to getting to use it. My brother wants it and iv,e said he can have it but he lives abroad and its still in one of my garages which i rent (3years later). Drop me a pm if interested and ill phone him and tell him whoever turns up to collect it first,because it could be there for many years to come with me paying the rent,or worse i start a 24v engine conversion on it. LoL

[TouringTash]

I think they are shockers, every last one I have come across.
Find yourself one of these



Not too desireable at present but now BMW have dropped the prices on trim and bling they will be big money soon. E21 just never hit the mark imo.

Did someone mention about putting kids into an E21?
Would anyone risk their spare organ parts in anything less than 5 star NCAP?
It's all the other bastards out there.

[aimlessrock]

you go for it mate, you clear have the means and the knowledge to make this a nice motor. A show E21 would be a joy.

Go for it.

[Hoobs]

Go for it.