E21 LHD 320i coupe - Desirable?

[tinovittee]

Hi Peeps! My cousin-in-law has an opportunity to get his hands on a bit of barnfind.

As the title suggests, It's an E21 LHD 320i coupe (pictured)
(not this exact car - this is from wikipedia)

It's been standing in the owner's garage for years, so it will need a full major service. It might also need some engine work :fencelook:

Some questions that I'd like your input on regarding whether he should take it, or pass:

1. Is it worth cleaning it up and getting it going? or will he end up pouring money into a car that he can't sell, if he needed to

2. Are parts (mostly mechanical and service items) going to be difficult to source? Goes without saying that they'll be a bit pricey because #BMW

3. If worst comes to worst, would it be viable to swap in an E30 motor?


Thanks in advance for the input!!

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Duplicate. Mods please Lock/delete??

 

[rodga]

always liked these

 

[Jeremy.d]

1. It all depends on how much he wants to restore it. He will probably spend more than resale value, so it's gonna come down to whether he's willing to do that. I personally don't think these cars are highly valuable.
2. I don't know too much about parts, but it should all be doable.
3. This car would already have an m10 engine (Possibly m20, depending on which exact version this car is.) M10's were used in e30's, as were m20's, so I don't see a reason why another e30 engine wont work.

 

[evnmopwr]

Hi Peeps! My cousin-in-law has an opportunity to get his hands on a bit of barnfind.

As the title suggests, It's an E21 LHD 320 coupe (pictured)
(not this exact car - this is from wikipedia)

It's been standing in the owner's garage for years, so it will need a full major service. It might also need some engine work :fencelook:

Some questions that I'd like your input on regarding whether he should take it, or pass:

1. Is it worth cleaning it up and getting it going? or will he end up pouring money into a car that he can't sell, if he needed to

2. Are parts (mostly mechanical and service items) going to be difficult to source? Goes without saying that they'll be a bit pricey because #BMW

3. If worst comes to worst, would it be viable to swap in an E30 motor?


Thanks in advance for the input!!

My uncle had one of these. But his was Pretty decently specked
Left hand drive. was bought from a german Dr at the hospital in my Area
Manual sunroof, Elec windows and all those nice things

Solid Cars.

My cousin inherited it from his dad.
Few years after, Cousin was on way home from Campus, Drunk driver Jumped stop and Cousin drove into him.

That 323 mazda looked like it was knocked by a train.
the E21 had front damage But getting replacement parts was the issue so insirance wrote it off..

I would go for it if it has All the Extras like the manual Synroof especially and if it is left hand drive

Unique find

 

[MikeR]

:fencelook: Also depends what he i going to pay for it. and what else is wrong.
what is the drive train like also?
I agree not a very big collectors piece but one can make a very desirable toy for personal use.

 

[SubLoaded]

This is a personal choice that he needs to make for himself. If the project is worth it to him then go for it :smilebounce:

 

[Yuben]

Duplicate. Mods please Lock/delete??

Sorted:thumbs:

 

[tinovittee]

Thanks for the input so far gents!

Seems it's the 320/6 produced after 1977... so it's got the carb-fed M20B20 motor (grandaddy to the e30 325i motor..). Should be sweet little 6-cyl coupe to play with. The intention isn't to take it back to concourse... just usable, with some aesthetic mods. This thread should be motivation for the man to sign up to the forum... esp if he goes ahead and buys it. Will keep this updated... or he will :smilebounce: