zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
For $5,200, Does This Old E30 Two Door Have You Feeling Blue?
For $5,200, Does This Old E30 Two Door Have You Feeling Blue?-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:10

As of this year's Detroit Auto Show the 3-series coupe is effectively no more in the US. Today's E30 represents one of the most beloved 3-series coupes, but is its price a coup de grâce?

Holy cat sqeezin' Jebus, the vote on yesterday's old school couldn't have been closer. In the end, perhaps this week's debut of the new ‘Vette added a little shine to the old, as that past imperfect walked away with a narrow 52.80% Nice Price win.

So, do you like the new 2014 Corvette Stingray? Or, do you miss round tail lights and the rest of…

Along with the new and wildly divergent Corvette's arrival this week, the North American International Auto Show was the scene of a passing, that of the BMW 3-series coupe. Here in the US, BMW's 3-series has been the company's bread and butter model for decades, and for all of that time it has offered a two door option.

The original Neue Klasse small-ish Bimmers came in both 2 and 4-door editions, but by the early '70s the latter versions were phased out here in the US. The E21 was only available with two doors, while each succeeding model took the Burger King approach by letting you have it your way, depending on whether you wanted two or four portals for all your ingress/egress needs.

That all stopped this week with the which we all know presages the replacement for the two door 3 here in the States. The iconic 3-series coupe, which provided the basis for the original M3, will be no more. Pour out a 40 on the curb in its honor.

Today BMW officially unveiled the car formerly known as the 3-Series coupe, and it looks even…

Of course at the moment there are still plenty of two-door 3s to be had,on the used car circuit. One of the most beloved of the series is the E30, of which today's is an example. Let's see if this E30 two door will salve the wounds of no more 3 coupes, or if it suffers a fatal flaw.

Painted Laguna Seca blue and dropped on Eibach springs, this E30 also has seen all of its brightwork - what little there was - converted to dark matter. They say once you go black you can never go back, but I'd still prefer the double kidney up front to be shiny silver. Of course, here there's gold in them thar wheel wells, in the form of a set of BBS basketweaves seemingly free from curb encounters, and with their center caps.

As far as the interior goes, well there's not much to go on other than the seller explaining what leatherette really is and that the headliner is dropping like the bass. There's also some yada, yada about the stereo, but who really gives a crap?

Mechanically, there also doesn't seem to be much ado about mutton here, the 170-horse M20 barely warranting a mention in the ad, other than the fact that it has at least 194K on the clock as that's when the odometer broke, as these things inevitably do. Sporting far fewer miles is the transmission, which the ad claims was replaced just 5,000 back. That's all well and good, but then you come to the part about that transmission being an automatic. Yep, that's right, just like Grandma's car, or that awful piece of crap you might have taken your driving lessons in from a place like Dootson.

Oh noes!

Okay, now that we've had our buzzkill, let's get on with the hanging, er, I mean voting. The seller of this clean and two-dooriffic 325is is asking $5,200 for the honor of keeping the 3-series coupe dream alive. What do you think about that, based on the pictures and his description, is it a worthy torch bearer? Or, does that price and lack of row-yer-owness make this a 3-series you'd as soon just torch?

You decide!

or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to xsnowpig for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
At $22,000, Could This 1983 Cadillac Eldorado Have You Putting On Biarritz?
At $22,000, Could This 1983 Cadillac Eldorado Have You Putting On Biarritz?
I’ve never been in a bordello, but I’ve been told that they are typically furnished in a manner reminiscent of today’s Cadillac Eldorado. Let’s see if this classic Caddy is priced to ensure a happy ending. The seller of yesterday’s described it as a four-door Corvette. At $8,900, it...
Aug 31, 2026
The E-Tourneo Courier Continues Ford's Long Tradition of Saving Its Coolest Cars for Europe
The E-Tourneo Courier Continues Ford's Long Tradition of Saving Its Coolest Cars for Europe
I think we can all agree Ford makes some fun cars. The seems like a rip. Everyone, even my car-ambivalent friends and family, notices a when one drives by. And the is all the Raptor anyone really needs. But there’s an entire other side of Ford that exists across...
Aug 31, 2026
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Wears the Luxury Performance SUV Crown
The 2024 Porsche Cayenne Wears the Luxury Performance SUV Crown
I’ve never really understood why some Porsche fans look down at the Cayenne. Sure, in the beginning, it was a big departure for the sports car maker, but has always been and technically brilliant ride. Fast forward 20 years, and it’s better than it’s ever been. Porsche wanted me...
Aug 31, 2026
Tesla's Price Cuts Might Actually Be Working
Tesla's Price Cuts Might Actually Be Working
Since the beginning of the year Tesla its … well, Tesla has changed its prices quite a few times, so if you’re struggling to keep track, you’re not alone. Back in mid April, for instance, the company cut prices for . And while it hasn’t been clear whether or...
Aug 31, 2026
At $8,900, Is This 2011 Chevy Caprice PPV an Arresting Deal?
At $8,900, Is This 2011 Chevy Caprice PPV an Arresting Deal?
It’s a common trope for a cop to meet their demise right after announcing an impending retirement. Today’s Chevy is retired from some sort of service but seems to have plenty of life left. Let’s see what it might just be worth. Art of any type is a form...
Aug 31, 2026
This Is Why Toyota Isn't Rushing to Sell You an Electric Vehicle
This Is Why Toyota Isn't Rushing to Sell You an Electric Vehicle
, so you would think the automaker would be quick to embrace full electrification like some of its competitors. , and a leaked dealer document about the brand’s electrification strategy lays out exactly why. A Toyota dealer contact sent me this PDF that was sent directly by Toyota corporate...
Aug 31, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved