Zytek_Fan's car search continues!

[The_Canuck]

Haha, same reason a black charger is so attractive now

[Zytek_Fan]

Damn, my parents don't like the Police Interceptor. Oh well, it wasn't a favourite of mine either.

Found a local 1993 BMW 325i for $1200. Needs a new transmission (lost 2nd gear), but I've tracked down some and the NWBMWClub can hook me up with a good deal to have the service done. It does have a new clutch though...and new exhaust.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

Damn, my parents don't like the Police Interceptor. Oh well, it wasn't a favourite of mine either.

Found a local 1993 BMW 325i for $1200. Needs a new transmission (lost 2nd gear), but I've tracked down some and the NWBMWClub can hook me up with a good deal to have the service done. It does have a new clutch though...and new exhaust.

So basically you'd need another car for parts...

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

So basically you'd need another car for parts...

I found a 99 M3 transmission with 87,000 miles on it for $450 shipped, so I'm just waiting on an estimate from the garage the NWBMWClub recommends.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

I found a 99 M3 transmission with 87,000 miles on it for $450 shipped, so I'm just waiting on an estimate from the garage the NWBMWClub recommends.

Aren't the gear ratios going to be all wrong?

And by the way, for a first car wouldn't you be better off with something easier?

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Aren't the gear ratios going to be all wrong?

And by the way, for a first car wouldn't you be better off with something easier?

There's also a 325i transmission for $250, but I would have to pick it up I'd assume...

edit: Or I can get an E36 M3 engine and transmission for $2000

[Zytek_Fan]

Found a 1984 Mercedes 190E 2.3 with 132,000 miles on it in pretty good nick for $1200.
I'll upload pics when I get back on my own computer

[70cuda88]

its old, and german. be careful...

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by 70cuda88

its old, and german. be careful...

I was looking at Subaru's for a while, but the market for them in the area is gone.
Actually, it's not gone, it's just every good Subaru is sold by the time you get the chance to call on it

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by 70cuda88

its old, and german. be careful...

But it's from a time when they knew how to put cars together.

Who knows go and check it.

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

But it's from a time when they knew how to put cars together.

Who knows go and check it.

Also, there's a local 1979 300CD. Sounds like it's in pretty good nick...but 1979 is a wee bit old, not that it matters much, since it's a classic Merc.

[Zytek_Fan]

I did a bit of reading...and the 1979 300CD actually doesn't too bad for a nice car.
Excellent fuel economy. Not exactly fast, but it gets around fine. And the insurance company probably would be happier with me in a slower car anyway...

I read that you can run filtered used cooking oil, but you must add a solvent in it...

[Sauc3]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

I'd definitely consider it, but the mileage is way too high. The car may be cheap, but parts are not. Ask Sauc3, he'll tell you (if he ever get Internet back)

I got the internet back! (admittedly a while ago, but I only just saw this now)

I'd advise strongly against an old BMW as your first with limited funds, unless it's in perfect nick with 1-2 owners and immaculate service history. I've sunk multiple bucketloads into mine ('88 535i Exec 5spd).
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the damned thing, but it's very very expensive. Currently there's at least 5 things that either aren't working altogether, aren't working on one side (passenger wiper blade) or is only intermittently working (gauges have a tendency to flicker on and off occasionally. Not very useful for when you're running low on petrol and the gauge needle goes off and you have no idea how much is left.
All these things would not surprise me if they were in the $300 range to fix. Each. At least.
Worst of all, I'm not surprised by this anymore...

On the flipside, a friend also has a Liberty 2.5 Heritage (Legacy, whatever), which isn't doing the greatest for him either. Within the past 2 weeks he's had to call for help 3 times because the car just keeps breaking down, and he got the thing with a very good history.

My recommendation would be to look for something with less than 100k miles, and THEN within your budget. Be prepared to settle for something japanese. Only if you have a less restrictive budget even begin to think about taking on a project car. If you decide to go for a 3 series which you need to swap a tranny into to get it to work you're NEVER going to stop throwing money at it.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Just buy a ****ing car already.

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen

Just buy a ****ing car already.

x2, you'll only crash it anyway so it doesn't matter what you get