15 year old thinking of buying 1984 bmw 633csi
Posted by LazyRip5045@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 162 comments
Hey yall I am looking into this BMW on Facebook marketplace and I was wondering if this is a worthwhile/good purchase financially. I do not need this car to be a daily driver anytime soon, this would obviously be a project car. I have roughly $3000 in savings that I saved up for this intended purpose of buying and fixing a car. I am not worried about the no title thing because getting a new title where I live is fairly easy as long as the owner cooperates. Should I buy this car?
Half-Elite@reddit
Saving this thread for my brother, who is wanting to buy a Pontiac fiero from my grandpa that has not moved for at least 20 years and sat outside the whole time.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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smoothselling@reddit
"A sucker is born every minute"
sercommander@reddit
You need PERMANENT enclosed space to store it, repair and protect from elements.
You will have to live near that place for some years. Hauling that car would be extra trouble and expense.
It is a pre-2000s car so expect plenty of rust. Bodywork is the most expe sive and time consuming. I had to order custom-made body parts to replace rusted mefal - it is VERY expensive.
You absolutely need to constantly have a good amount of money to burn, decent mechanical and problem solving skills.
Engine would come up in a dilemma - finding original parts may be futile. You'd either end up Frankeinsteining it or replacing with whatever works.
Do not expect anyone to help you. I, like many others, have foolishly thought that. Guess people did not share my enthusiasm. Your father/uncle/grandpa are the most likely to refuse help
MMRATHER@reddit
You are willing to spend more than 50% of your saved money for that? Someone with 10X saved would not buy that.
LackingFunction@reddit
No, absolutely not, this is a terrible decision, do you know anything about cars? Does it run and drive? Does it have brakes? How bad is the rust, or is there any?
Its a little too old for a project car if you know nothing about cars, BUT!, if you know stuff or have someone willing to help you, there is no rust, thats a huge part, then maybe. If the shell is rust free then who cares, it can be sold again, or you can take however long you need.
I started working on cars knowing nothing at 16. It was rough, first car was what I learned on. Toyota Camry, basic, and reliable. A BMW is a little complicated for a first car. Then I started working at a shop and it went from there, now I work on construction equipment, to cars, to handheld equipment, diesel, gas, carbureted, you name it. But you have to start somewhere more simple for a car. Try working on a lawn mower if your really into learning about engines
Jermaul_m_w@reddit
If you don’t like having money, I’d 100% buy this
sparks_to_flames_@reddit
There’s going to be a lot of work to do on it which means lots of time and money. If you’re concerned about a project car being a good decision financially, then it’s not for you I’m not going to lie, because project cars are money pits. If you still want it and don’t care about the money and time going into it then yeah buy it, otherwise it’s probably not the best idea. Hope this helps with your decision.
vegasvinny@reddit
I’m 45 & owned several BMWS. They are fucking junk cars…. Even the warranty is a joke. Every thing breaks EXCEPT what’s covered…. … the thing is i got the $$$ … I own a pre pandemic Toyota…. Never one problem… May not be as pretty but it starts everyday…. Oh & I got the $$$ to buy whatever I want. I own a few vehicles & a new Shelby .. I’d never daily though
Junipie1252@reddit
At 15 years-old, for the love of god, no.
louielouayyyyy@reddit
A 15 year old with $3000 should be looking at 2003 Corollas and Pontiac Vibes. Maybe a Buick
reallybadpennystocks@reddit
“Is buying a no title non running 1980s project car that has sat for several decades a good financial decision”
What do you think bro?
Reaperfox7@reddit
Well he doesn't know does he? Thats why he's asking us. Even you started somewhere, you condescending arsehole.
Complete-Painter00@reddit
This is 20k+ worth in an eu country 😂
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
Yeah I’m aware of that I was simply asking if for the price that was worth it but peoples responses in other subs have opened my eyes to some problems I hadn’t thought of. (I realize I was probably blinded by the fact that it’s a cheap cool car, and didn’t think much about how extensive fixing it would be)
reallybadpennystocks@reddit
You will spend much more than the 1200 you left over to get this thing in a drivable state, I understand it’s a cool car but this is an absolutely not something you should take on.
FondantWeary@reddit
I don’t think you understand the depths of the parents’ wallets…..
reallybadpennystocks@reddit
I’m speaking to OP as an adult and not a child.
Dark_Knight2000@reddit
I respect the approach you’ve taken. Someone that age will only listen if they feel like they’re not being talked down to and you’ve made excellent points.
reallybadpennystocks@reddit
The Porsche 924 that rotted in my driveway as a teenager has given me some insight into this situation. I feel for OP, he wants something cool but it will take more work than he realizes to get that car in a good spot.
Playful-Scar3681@reddit
This is a lot of work, even disregarding the title. You will definitely sink all that and more to maaaybe get it going. Age, neglect, german, all working against you here.
the_lamou@reddit
To put things into perspective, about two and a half years ago, I bought a 1979 Honda Prelude project. It was running, at the time, minimal rust, about as easy a project as you can have, compared to a complex German luxury sedan that hasn't ran in possibly decades.
I've put about $7k into it so far, and it's still very very very far from being finished.
ThePandaKingdom@reddit
I 100 percent get where you are at and what you are thinking. It’s easy to get caught up in the dream.
I have been into cars since high-school, and i have plenty of friends and family that have as well.
Ive had friends pick up a cool project as their first car, and it was really cool to sit in it and think about us cruising in a 70 GTO… while we killed time before we got into my jeep Cherokee to go meet up with some other friends.
Cars are stupid expensive and time consuming. Basically do you want to have a car you can actually use or do you want to have a project you wont have the money to get running before you graduate.
If by some chance you already have a reliable daily, and then stumble across this and have te money to pick up and chip away at it, it can be very rewarding but beware it may take years. I picked up a 2nd gen eclipse in like 2020 that needed some work, it took me almost a year to get it inspected and running right and that car wasn’t in too terrible of shape to begin with, and had cheap and available parts.
I would never discourage somebody from learning but sometimes ya gotta real.
sdam87@reddit
You just threw every project car under a bus..
fish94@reddit
Buying a project car is never a good idea financially speaking. I daily 2, an e30 and e36, and they cost a lot to keep running. This 15 year old is gonna be staring at this e24 for years before he actually gets it running. During that entire time he's gonna be broke buying parts and tools.
sdam87@reddit
I’ve owned a 635, this looks like a base one. So no ac lines running everywhere. Only thing that sucks is bav auto is no more, but fcp still is.
He has this posted on the project car sub too. It’s a project. P r o j e c t. They take a bit. Tf lol
HubertJW_24@reddit
Can we ask you how much you've spent on your 635, how long you worked on it, and what condition it was in before and after?
sdam87@reddit
Traded a 1300 dollar Plymouth valiant for it. It got dragged out of a barn by another buddy. Plopped a battery in it and replaced the heater core and ran it for 6 months before something with the tcu went wack, then I sold it for 3500. Other than a battery and heater core, basic maintenance. I don’t mind project cars though. And I know what I’m getting myself into and understand it’s a project. Lotta check book mechanics in here lol
Idk how much I paid for the heater core, whatever it is on fcp euro. Same with the spark plugs and the rest of the tune up goods. Like 300ish or so.
Then I spent about 7 hours in the paint correcting what I could.
Ac didn’t work, that was the other issue, and I didn’t care. It was all the lines going to the cooler in the back seat. And I had 0 intentions on using it for cooling drinks, was a decent storage spot.
Also, each car is different. And if op goes and checks it out in person and uses his better judgment, vs looking at pics on fb. He might have a change of heart. Idk. Looks rough, but all projects cars at first.
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Maybe every non running non desirable project car.
sdam87@reddit
That’s undesirable to you. Shh.
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Where talking about financial decisions not happiness you dolt.
sdam87@reddit
No, you’re hucking your opinions around and thinking everyone will agree with them. Sorry, I don’t agree with your opinion you dolt.
Rimworldjobs@reddit
You're a proper child. Truly.
sdam87@reddit
Stay on point.
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Son, I believe your mom and dad are siblings and that you aren't worth anyone's time.
sdam87@reddit
Your parents should have never taught you to speak your opinions, because they never knew how much of an idiot you’d turn out to be.
Back to the subject at hand, dolt.
What’s a project car mean to you?
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Lul, you think you deserve my answer when what you really deserve is loneliness. Judging by your social aptitude, I'd assume you're already lonely.
sdam87@reddit
You just answered tho…
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Did I get put on the reddit short bus because everyone who wants to argue with me is so stupid it hurts.
sdam87@reddit
You put yourself there lol
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Just so we're clear, the original post is asking if the car is a good financial decision. That's the topic at hand you're too retarded to know what that means apparently. You're parents must be disappointed in you.
sdam87@reddit
I said it was undesirable to you, then this happened.
Rimworldjobs@reddit
Still not what's important. Your autism has led you down a path of stupidity. Project cars are only bad decisions if they don't run and are undesirable. IF you like the car, it's not that important so long as you can afford it. In the end, ANY project car is a bad financial decision unless it can sell for a million bucks. You really need to broaden your understanding of everything. You're and idiot and child and deserve nothing. God gave you a nose so you can shut your mouth and still breathe.
sdam87@reddit
🙄
sdam87@reddit
You need to try harder with your insults, and stay on point while being a troll.
How’s your seat? Warm? Comphy? Lololol
sdam87@reddit
Aye yo rim job, go tongue punch a fart box lolol
sdam87@reddit
D o l t
sdam87@reddit
Sir, get off your high horse, this is Reddit. Shut the f(hard f)uck up
sdam87@reddit
Do you understand how project cars work??? Like, what does that mean to you, the word project car?
bright_clrd_garlin2@reddit
Dude how rude of you bro obviously doesn't know how to think that's why he's here on Reddit /s
xftwitch@reddit
It's the perfect car for someone that would rather work on their car instead of drive it. So...
Dark_Knight2000@reddit
Yeah, for a single 22-30 year old earning good money with a bit of disposable income, good mechanical skills plus familiarity with the specific brand of car, online and after market support, extra parking spot, and a working daily car on the side, it’s a fantastic little side project.
I was that 22 year old and even still it was a challenge with a far newer and far more reliable (usually) running project car.
At 15 it’s suicide. You will hate yourself for making such a stupid decision almost immediately. Unless you’re rich, and your parents don’t mind an old car on their lawn that you possibly might never finish.
Don’t do it. At 15 you need at least 7 years of building up your driving and mechanical skills just to work on this thing and steward it, not to mention having money and a career.
The thing to do is buy a cheap, running, mostly reliable car that you can practice on. This is a third or fourth working project car, it shouldn’t be the first one but especially not at 15.
reallybadpennystocks@reddit
Not really. This is a low production old luxury car, it’s going to take a lot to get it going. This is likely his first car at 15 and he probably needs something reliable. I’m all for diving into to the passion that is cars but if OP saved up 3k for his first car, I’d hate to see him get stuck with something that’s way over his skill set and budget.
karmannsport@reddit
Oh it's even worse than that. It's a 40 year old, low production, luxury car with limited parts availability and a steep learning curve. I get it...I absolutely love the E24 and almost bought a basket case M6 many years ago for practically nothing but sanity got the better part of me. (car was in overall rough shape and the engine was literally in pieces all over the engine bay and in the trunk). For a first time buyer though? OMFG no. Unless you have continuous access to a full garage and someone knowledgeable that's going to cosign this type of project...that's gonna be a no from me, dawg. Unfortunately it's getting to the point that 80's cars are starting to get very scarce. Honestly, cost wise, if you're looking for a project car, probably something from 2005-2010. You're looking at 15 to 20 years old, typically a wealth of information on common problem areas, and they're in the sweet spot of cheap and still being available.
Hot-Upstairs2960@reddit
Run.
eventualist@reddit
Only if they give you the title and $5k.
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
The parents that allow kids to make such poor financial decisions, should get spayed/neutered.
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
What bro
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
Did I st-st-studder?
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
I’m not the wrinkly 50 year old man with purple hair 😵💫
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
Oh, is the wee baby upset? 🤣🤣
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
Go do somehting productive with your life instead of arguing with a 15 year old on Reddit, this shits sad
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
Oh, honey. There is no arguing here! I'm making fun of you. Lil baby gonna cry? 🤣🤣😭
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
Exactly you are trying to make fun of me. You, a wrinkly old prune sitting on Reddit, typing away and laughing to yourself while you try to insult me by calling me a baby cuz I’m not a pile of dust like you. Get a life 🙏
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
🤣 I'm not trying 🤣 oh my sweet summer child, you barely hit puberty and your brain isn't going to finish developing for another 10 years, if it even gets there. The fact that you're assuming my age and targeting my hair, shows how little intelligence you got 🤣🤣 Does baby need his binky?
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
I’m gonna stop responding to you and maybe that will give you the pause to get yourself in check
MrAlcoholic420@reddit
Yeah here you are, responding to say you're stopping responding 🤣🤣 My lunch break is over anyways, I've got to go back to work. I'm sure you don't know what that's like, real work.
EddieDollar@reddit
He better be paying you $1800 to take the car
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
From what I’ve been told so far in these comments, even that wouldn’t be worth it
roblubi@reddit
I've done this. £1500 E24 628CSI sits on my driveway two years now, there is literally everything that needs to be done.
Leave it. Trust me.
CloudMerlin@reddit
Typically when you get your first car you want to be able to drive it. My first car in 2002 was a 1986 Honda Prelude 2.0 Si that was cherry and ran like a top and got me through 3 years of HS and 4 years of college with only oil, tires, brakes, gas and cheap full coverage insurance.
lordfartquar@reddit
No.
DrWatson90@reddit
Check out “collector car feed soon cars”
Don’t fall into this trap
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
Love collector car feed, yeah they would shit on this thing
Suby06@reddit
I hope you are rich, and good luck
the_DARSH@reddit
$3k won't get this anywhere near being nice maybe not even enough to make it drivable.
For reference I owned 2 E30s and sold the last one just a year ago. I experienced a ridiculously hard time finding quality parts that were affordable. Examples:
-Idle air control valve was around $400 -Button for fog lights $400 installed -Belts and hoses were all reasonable around $30....BUT good luck finding one that doesn't cost $85 to import from Turkey -Timing belt $600 installed -Power steering rack replacement $2k installed -New shocks $800 -New weatherstripping $120 just for the rear windshield
Not including the tires you'll need, another $500-$800. And it's not even in good physical shape what are you thinking haha. Don't buy
natek11@reddit
At those prices and the car being only $1800 it might be worth OP buying the car and parting out.
far_beyond_driven_@reddit
This has to be the most stupid thing I have heard or read today.
Even for someone with the finances to restore this machine, it’s DEFINITELY not a daily. Too many NLA parts.
Mr_IsLand@reddit
well, as long as you're serious about it being a project and not needing to be road worthy anytime soon then yeah go for it - just understand it may never be right again - I had an 87 325i that I loved dearly but it developed a weird engine idle issue that I was never able to fix, then it developed a bad misfire - then I had a period of unemployment and had lots of time but zero money to put into it, so away it went as I just couldn't trust it to get me where I needed to be.
fucktheworld1977@reddit
Horrible financial decision that will possibly lead to Good life experience. Especially if you plan on working on it yourself. You will learn.
lksd@reddit
These cars can have serious cascading failures in various systems that can require full rebuilds of large parts of the car. I would not learn to work on this car. It will be at best difficult and confusing and at worst impossible. That is to say, if you can throw significant money at it it’ll be INCREDIBLE. But if that’s not the case, realistically, and with how long it’s sat, not a good plan.
KamakaziDemiGod@reddit
I've been working on cars for most of my life, and while I'm not an expert or professional, I know a fair bit and could at least get this road worthy buuuuuut I would be spending hundreds of hours making it very custom and expensive build because I'd use as little of the original systems as possible to simplify the process
And at the end of it, it would probably be worth significantly less than any other road worthy example
Dark_Knight2000@reddit
Yeah, there are definitely difficulty tiers of project cars and this one requires fairly advanced skills to get running right and running well. It’s probably a good third or fourth project car provided you worked on an (easier) older BMW before.
dainegleesac690@reddit
I mean if you treat is as an $1800 craft project that will take 5 years, sure. I'd just make sure you have all the necessary tools and equipment you'll need to get this running again.
somecrazydude13@reddit
No absolutely not. Look for something fuel efficient and reliable. If you find something you like and it checks then other two boxes as well then awesome! But take it from me.., at 16 I was dead set on an Acura integra. I got it, and then it crapped out on me 3 months later..,didn’t help I was dogging it the fuck out… I didn’t get my next car until 2 years later… boy that sucked. Also helps tremendously if you learn how to wrench. That will save you so much money and heart ache! Look for a Honda or a Toyota. Subaru if you got money to blow!
caitsithx@reddit
This car will require $30k, not $3k.
7D4Y_WEEKENDS@reddit
You know what they say, if you french fry when you were supposed to pizza…
Ry7re@reddit
You can’t be serious
MulberryMonk@reddit
Yes.
tegho@reddit
These cars have earned the jokes about:
Break My Wallet
Biggest Mistake on Wheels
FilipKoks04@reddit
Why are you asking this on multiple subs ? Everyone is telling you this is a BAD idea. However I see you are stubborn and don’t listen and will end up buying it most likely so why ask for opinion in the first place ? You will regret this.
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
I have literally replied to multiple comments thanking them for their input and telling them that due to everyone’s input i will not be buying the car.
FilipKoks04@reddit
Good bro better save up a bit more and get a reliable car for now. You still have time for project cars.
greatwhiteslark@reddit
Generally, no, this is a really bad idea. Keeping an 80's BMW running is a labor of love and very deep pockets.
That said, I'm 39 and want this thing.
EverlastingBastard@reddit
I've seen worse ideas.
But they involved a guy taping bird feathers to himself and jumping off a building.
Come to think of it... this might be a tie.
CaptainK718@reddit
Hey bud, I get it. You’re 15, got 3k and excited about cool cars. But this “project” will become not-so-fun in very short order. It will be expensive, complicated and unlikely to ever be what you’re imagining. The car is cheap cause the seller already knows this. Go with a simpler car instead, buy a dirt bike or some Bitcoin, but this BMW will crush your soul and bank account. Good luck.
Ok_Cryptographer1465@reddit
That money pit in the picture look so deep to me i cant even see the bottom brutha!! But in all seriousness project car or not. Get a running car brother ❤️. The bs, stress, and reality of it all is not worth it. At least for me.
Biggulp711@reddit
Run away and do not look back.
imjustheretohangout@reddit
My first car was an 84’ 7 series. It was in better condition than this one and it still wasn’t worth it and I got it for 1,300.
wheelsmatsjall@reddit
The problem is it is a low production car And it has a lot of pollution stuff on it. If you want it for a collector's car that's fine but if you want it for a daily driver that is a really bad idea cuz you might be waiting a month to get some part that broke. If you wanted a 1950 Chevy truck for everyday then hell you can get that parts all the day long and you can have them to your house the next day. I have to parts for that truck are in stock at the auto dealers cuz they use the same parts for years. So low production obscure cars are not good for daily drivers they are great for collectors cars
D3adSalesman@reddit
I had one that worked and I didn’t pay a huge amount more than this, probably three times more. I’d buy one that works, mate, with the inevitable huge cash you’re going to have to throw at this.
That said it’s one of my favourite BMW body shapes. It’s an AutobahnSturmPanzer.
I got rid a few years ago and have an S53 Z3 M Coupe now, which is also very cool.
Erdnuss-117@reddit
3k isnt gonna get you anywhere buddy. Sry to burst your bubblé
flavorjunction@reddit
Nah man. This is just like me thinking of buying a Porsche 944 while still in high school with zero auto knowledge. Just get something that works and if need be, is easier to work on (YT repair and DIY vids).
Rocketkt69@reddit
Honestly if you're 15 I think this is a really safe investment, it'll keep you off the road for many more years to come.
gonja_@reddit
if you’re the type who prefers to learn from their own mistakes instead of everyone else’s, go for it.
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
I like to learn things personally but I’m not gonna discredit the barrage of advice telling me not to get this car, so I decided against it
gonja_@reddit
real
🤝
virtualracer@reddit
I had one of these in high school, 15 years ago. Parts were rare THEN, what do you think about now? As tempting as it is to want to start a project with something like this, you gotta be reasonable. Also, what's left parts-wise is quite expensive. A friend of mine is restoring one and things like door seals are hundreds of dollars... each.
If you really need to do the old school BMW thing, consider an E36.
TheDutchTexan@reddit
“Let’s go Gambling”
🎰 ah dangit…
DOOM_INTENSIFIES@reddit
It's an ungodly awful decision the kind that no one will take, but everyone will call those who took "lucky". You will probably spend at least 10 to 20 times that to make it ok. With that said, you are in the perfect age for making dumb stuff. What you think you gonna regret the most 15 years from now? The 1800$ + lets assume the same value each year that tou gonna sink on it, or passing on the "opportunity"?
Whatever you do you should bring the price down.
Capable-Chicken-2348@reddit
Find something newer or a bit less fucked up, but it's your call
BaboTron@reddit
This is a very bad idea. If you set fire to your $3000, it will wind up costing you way less than buying this car.
therealphee@reddit
Are your parents rich? If so, buy it bro. That’s their problem now. If they aren’t rich, stick to a Japanese car for your first one.
MDDeGrande1994@reddit
I bet it still works like new lol
Plane-Ring-6057@reddit
As a 23yo who was gifted an ‘80 633csi @ 15yo who also had major ambitions to bring the car back to life, i drove it for one summer before putting it back into storage and i haven’t touched the car since. By best advice would be; save your money and find another, newer option with more readily available parts.
-Z_3_r_0-@reddit
Add another zero to the end of your savings and then maybe.
BigFootEnergy@reddit
Do you even have 1500?
LazyRip5045@reddit (OP)
Thank you all for the feedback I now realize how extensive the repair process would be (labor wise, how long it would take, and how expensive it would be) and I acknowledge that I was definitely a little blinded by “cool car, low buying price” and didn’t do much research into its problems.
pillionaire@reddit
Hey good on you for asking around before taking the leap. A less wise teenager would have jumped in and been saddled with this thing.
ZannX@reddit
Put it this way - I wouldn't take it for free.
KamakaziDemiGod@reddit
I disagree, to the right person with the right expertise and knowledge, who wants to rebuild one, that's a fair price, but it's going to cost tens of thousands of money (basing that on £/$/€ rates) and thousands of hours of labour
I'd absolutely take this for free and make the most cobbled together BMW rat rod but it wouldn't go up in value
Historical-Wing-7687@reddit
Wise decision, but also don't talk yourself out of everything. The only way to learn cars is to get a project.
transcendanttermite@reddit
I totally understand the impulse - I bought a “project vehicle” at age 16 and it totally consumed me, and all of my money, for the next 3 years. Looking back, it was a great/awful idea on my part. My dad tried to talk me out of it but in the end told me “it’s your money.”
I had a hard time finding good used parts, impossible time affording new parts, and of course we lived in town so I didn’t really have a place to work on it. The first year, until I got it fixed-up enough to drive, was a huge ordeal. And it wasn’t even a “rare” or “unique” vehicle, just an everyday-regular Plymouth.
I’d continue saving your money. Regardless of what vehicle you buy, if you like working on cars, you’ll be working on it anyway. But trust me, doing mods and upgrades and maintenance that you want to do is much more fun than spending time & money on repairs that you have to do…just to get it closer to drivable.
ButtDonaldsHappyMeal@reddit
Many of us have been there. It is a rad car, and I’d love to see it restored, but yeah, I’d worry you’d grow to hate it and run out of funds before you’d get to enjoy it.
I’ve owned a handful of vintage BMWs, and the parts are more available than people might lead you to believe, but it’s not cheap and they can be finicky to learn on
scahote@reddit
Full send bro!!!! Should be a fun build can’t wait to follow along, what an absolute gem you have found!
Skobiak@reddit
That's a cool car, however I don't think its a good first car for a teenager. If you're in a position to buy it as a long-term project now, and get yourself a more practical daily when you start driving, that might be better. It will take a lot of time and money to get it back to its former glory.
DPileatus@reddit
Run.
SlyBeanx@reddit
Great car, just not for a broke 15 YO.
If you’ve got parents support financially, this is still a dumb idea. I’ve rebuilt the M30, it wasn’t exactly fun or cheap. Go on rockauto and look and basic repairs, is that affordable to you?
I bought an E30 at 19, it was a great car. It ran and drove perfectly fine.
_rollzzz_Royce_@reddit
🏃 run
XSC@reddit
NO, this isn’t just a find new parts project. Plus it’s an automatic from the 80s.
lauris652@reddit
whats wrong with it being automatic?
XSC@reddit
If you are spending all that money on restoring this vehicle then it’s a better investment if it’s a manual since it will be more “desirable” when you sell it off.
lauris652@reddit
oh, okay. that makes sense. thanks
syu425@reddit
Owner bought it as a project car and realize how much it will cost to fix it up and decided to nope out of it. He probably got it for way less than what he is asking for
mini4x@reddit
Nothing more expensive than a cheap German car.
fabiosicuro@reddit
Jamiroquai did the same at pretty the same age…
sdam87@reddit
Go check it out in person first. See what’s up with it.
Mythrilfan@reddit
That would be useful if they had an understanding of how this specific model works and what it takes to fix it up.
sdam87@reddit
Shhh. Flaunt your b.s to someone else.
If you go and check it out in the flesh, you’ll get a better judgment vs Facebook pics.
Mythrilfan@reddit
Wow, was that called for?
sdam87@reddit
Wow, was yours? Look
Drunken_Hamster@reddit
Not for that price you ain't. That's a $400-$600 car in a sane economy, at best. Even accounting for the 24% inflation and the additional 26% from various costs of living (total about 50% since 2019 pricing) and that still only works out to $600-$900, which is 1/3 to 1/2 of what the owner wants and will likely trigger some "don't lowball me, I know what I've got" bullshit.
If you really want it, and I mean REALLY REALLY want it, do all your research first on all the parts and work you'd need to restore it, price that out, watch videos on how to do the work, price out tools, then add 50% to that amount and double the amount of time any repair vids/manuals say it'll take, then realize you only have a couple hours after school and however much time you're willing to spend on the weekends fixing it up, so divide all those working hours into days/weeks/months.
If, and ONLY IF, after ALL of that you decide it's still a good idea, then save up your money (if you haven't already) and start at $400, working toward an ABSOLUTE MAX of $1200. Send a pic to the owner of the cash in your hand, and if he gives you ANY shit or doesn't settle on $1200, W A L K A W A Y F R O M T H I S T E R R I B L E I D E A.
MotoJoker@reddit
I think this would be a fantastic long term project, but I would not buy it with the intentions of a quick and cheap fix. This is a car that you put in the garage and work on it for a few years.
Get a cheap 90s - early 2000s japanese beater, preferably a Honda or Toyota, and put money away for a project car to work on.
I say this as someone with a love of German cars, and as someone who dailied 80s german cars in high school. It was cool 70% of the time. The other 30% was spent fixing small dumb issues that would down the car for a few days to a few weeks at a time.
TLDR: Wait until you have more money and can afford losing a car for a period of time.
markcorrigans_boiler@reddit
Man those US spec bumpers are a travesty. If you buy it, you simply have to get some European ones back on there. It's an insult.
artniSintra@reddit
Stick them on an etf keep doing that an retire at 40
tokhar@reddit
Think of it this way. These cars when fully restored go for far less than the time and money spent restoring them. This a deceptive money pit of unknown depths, hiding under a sexy but very thin veneer… ;)
Plenty-Industries@reddit
That car belongs in the junkyard.
Hell No. Save your money and buy something built this decade thats ACTUALLY reliable.
WaRRioRz0rz@reddit
Buy an old Honda and fix it up. Start with something you can actually fix, find information online about, and easily get parts for. It'll be much more satisfying because the project will be much more successful.
free-4-good@reddit
I think it’s a great idea. You can learn to fix it up and that will be invaluable experience.
Douchehelm@reddit
No, you don't have the money, skill or perseverance to fix this car.
heavensteeth@reddit
As a bmw tech of almost 20 years who dropped $12k into a “cheap” 323i project car during his apprenticeship you have been warned lol
Rd6-vt@reddit
that thing will not be a reliable daily for under 10k
Jdtdtauto@reddit
If they give it to you, you’re getting ripped off!!
JHS_DT@reddit
Get a used pre 2010 Toyota, my ‘05 has lasted me almost 20 years with no major problems, just a couple parts needing to be replaced over time
Thud@reddit
I think you'd better plan on buying a 2nd one, just to have enough parts to fix the 1st one.
Oberst_Reziik@reddit
Fuck a good decision, it's 1800$ classic BMW, ofc it's not a good decision,but if you clean it and get it fixe you will have a wonderful car that you will likely keep for many years
Mythrilfan@reddit
Financially? No way. Viable? Depending on your perseverance. Fun? Depending on your definition of it :)
dial_m_for_me@reddit
The best outcome is getting it into a decent condition visually and using it as decor for a car-themed coffee shop. If you want that thing to run, you'll need to remove 40 buckets of rust from the body and replace every single component. Then there's a 30/70 chance that it will run for a bit.
pillionaire@reddit
Even if it was free, there’s a really good chance it will take more than 3k to make this project minimally functional.
Threather19@reddit
Terrible decision. That car is cool and worth restoring to save it, but you are not this car’s savior
djq_@reddit
1800 car that leaves 3000 to make it run. This car is going to need more than your initial 3k to be able to drive it. I would personally not go near this thing.