I want a BMW for under $1000'ishUSD

  • Thread starter Thread starter kensei
  • 26 comments
  • 2,164 views
kensei

kensei

Messages
1,481
Messages
Tetradic
I've got it in my head that I want a BMW for under $1000USD, preferably under $500USD. Why? How? What?

See I want to learn to drive stick. I figure buying an old car with many many miles on it is a better way to learn than a brand new one.

At most I'd use the car for a few months as a daily driver and learning how to drive stick...then buy a new car. I have it in my head too that i want an old BMW form the 70s or 80s...nothing that is a classic and beaing a beater is no issue.

My question is what BMW model(s) should I be looking for that could possibly be under $1000 for a 4 or 5 speed stick with a solid clutch that I can burn? What issues should I be aware of with older BMWs?

Wher eon the web would be a good place to start looking? Or what sites should i be reading to get my knowledge base up about older BMWs, or BMWs in general for that matter?

Or is this just a stupid idea?
 
Why BMW? What the hell? Get a Subaru Justy.

(actually just get anything cheap. Old Civic? Geo Metro?)
 
M5Power
Why BMW? What the hell? Get a Subaru Justy.

(actually just get anything cheap. Old Civic? Geo Metro?)
Click to expand...

Well I could do that, considered it and looked around on ebay motors at some - but I figured if I could find a car I actually want for under $1000, even $1500 I'd just assume go for that.

I highly doubt I'd find an old porsche for that, beyond the FR ones.


....but...I want a BMW because if the body and car are sound enough I might just keep it and put some money back into it just for kicks....

Plus I've always liked older BMWs.
 
You can probably pick up an early E30 (1984-1991) for a grand. Look for a '85 or '86 318i or 325e with 180,000+ miles. It will probably even still be running. Chances are good though you won't want to drive it on a daily basis, however.

You might have a better experience with an old Civic or Neon. But maybe not. Chances are that any car you can pick up for a grand will be something that's rusting on someone's lawn.


M
 
You can always get a BMW later. I don't think you'll find one for under $1000 without major problems. Seriously - get a Civic, learn stick, sell the Civic. I was thinking about this this very morning when I saw a Justy in the paper for $500 with a nice sound system. I figure, get the Justy for $5, learn stick, sell it for $3 - that's probably cheaper than a class, and you wouldn't get to drive something as cool as a Justy.
 
There is one advantage of learning a stick-shift on an old car: When you get a new one, it'll be a hell of a lot easier.. hehe. I've driven some old stick-shifts before, and they can be right jerky old beasts.. old transmission, old clutch, stiff shifter.. Driving a new car with a stick is a breeze by comparison. :)
 
Well then if $1000 is too low of a number for an older BMW to learn to drive stick AND be a daily driver (I don't drive to work, I take trains here in NYC, so daily driver meaning it would be used on the weekends and to go to the store on weeknights, some highway driving too) AND be in semi decent mechanical shape then what is a decent price? I just made the $1000 up...should i be thinking more like 2-3k?

Basically I want a price that I can just flat out buy easily.

I would like something semi decent (what I am defining as decent here means running and in decent mechanical shape) as I would like to keep it too.....

miata13B
This sounds like one of those Medula Badidea thread to me. . .
Click to expand...

haha, took me a bit to figure that out...

Jedi2016
There is one advantage of learning a stick-shift on an old car: When you get a new one, it'll be a hell of a lot easier.. hehe. I've driven some old stick-shifts before, and they can be right jerky old beasts.. old transmission, old clutch, stiff shifter.. Driving a new car with a stick is a breeze by comparison. :)
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing.

///M-Spec
You might have a better experience with an old Civic or Neon. But maybe not. Chances are that any car you can pick up for a grand will be something that's rusting on someone's lawn.


M
Click to expand...

I actually own and drive a old Neon right now. It is automatic though. 130k on it, 9 years old, ugly as hell, no one wants it...but it runs well and I've never had an problems with it in the 7 years I've owned it.

I was thinking I could find a BMW in someones lawn, barn or garage.

M5Power
You can always get a BMW later. I don't think you'll find one for under $1000 without major problems. Seriously - get a Civic, learn stick, sell the Civic. I was thinking about this this very morning when I saw a Justy in the paper for $500 with a nice sound system. I figure, get the Justy for $5, learn stick, sell it for $3 - that's probably cheaper than a class, and you wouldn't get to drive something as cool as a Justy.
Click to expand...

I have a friend with a Justy, she bought it from her exBF for $150 when they broke up. She hates the car....
 
I was kidding about the Justy. Just get a Civic, or an instructor to learn to drive stick. If you want to get an old BMW then and fix it up, go for it.
 
M5Power
I was kidding about the Justy. Just get a Civic, or an instructor to learn to drive stick. If you want to get an old BMW then and fix it up, go for it.
Click to expand...

See I've driven stick before, but it was over 12 years ago and it was more of 2 month thing when I had no other choice. Plus when I lived in Norway I had to drive my friends Citreon...that wasn't nice. I can drive a tractor too (hey I'm from upstate NY)....but I am not good at either and it's been 12 years!

I'm damn good at Gran Turismo too...hahaha

:-P
 
A kilobuck BMW is going to be a total rat. A $1500 Neon, however, should have plenty of life in it. And except for RWD, it's not going to give up much to a comparably-priced Bimmer.
 
neon_duke
A kilobuck BMW is going to be a total rat. A $1500 Neon, however, should have plenty of life in it. And except for RWD, it's not going to give up much to a comparably-priced Bimmer.
Click to expand...

Right - Civic, Neon, whatever. A BMW of this price is going to be so old and have so many miles it will be an absurd, unintelligent purchase. Just get something cheap and common to learn on then go for a BMW later if you still so desire.

The only BMW I'd recommend you is a 1985-1986 524td and even then I don't even think one comes close to your price range. And I'd only recommend it because it's so cool. I saw my first one this weekend (along with a Buick Reatta convertible - still debating which is better).
 
I don't know much about the BMW scene, but maybe you should ask BMW M-Lover. He owns a E36 M3 Sedan that was just scrap and is being rebuilt.

He bought his for just $3,200.
 
get a Nova or something. . . for a grand you can have the best of both worlds. . . manual and RWD. . . plus you'll become a chevy mechanic in no time with having to tinker with it every weekend, so total bonus there : )
 
Kensai, if you stretch your budget a little, for $2,000 you can probably get something like this: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...d&advanced=&start_year=1981&isp=y&cardist=536

Not quite a rat. Everything probably does work, like the guys says. But will probably be a needy car the entire time you own it.

I'd say at this price range, what you buy is not nearly as important as what condition the car is in. The same money will probably buy a nice Civic, Integra, Cavalier or <GASP> even a 944.


M
 
...though a 2 kilobuck 944 is likely to be a money pit as well. They're great cars but they are not something for the inexperienced to try wrenching on.
 
How could you not want a Justy? Just look at how sweet they are. Actually this guy's was exceptionally clean.

416551_79_full.jpg


You can usally pick up a old 80's Mustang for about 1500 bucks and they usally work pretty well. I had one I got for next to nothing at a fire station. It ran for a couple of months then completly blew up. But it had a 5.0 in it.
 
There is an early 80's Toyota Tercel Hatchback near me for sale, $400obo. The guy says that it only needs a battery and will run great. He's just selling it so cheap to get rid of it... :sly:
 
I don't think you really need to buy a separate car to learn to drive a manual... if you are going to buy a new car just buy and learn on it. You aren't going to hurt it slipping the clutch a bit or stalling it a few times.
 
A BMW selling for $1000 is going to be a money pit. If you're able to go up to $2000, you might find something, but the E30s tend to be money hungry if not taken care of. If the owner follows the maintenence schedule, an E30 can run forever, but an E30 selling for $1000 isn't likely to have had an owner who followed the schedule. Also, it is easy to get addicted to these cars and continue to spend money on it in the hopes that the problems will get better rather than realizing that the car's time is up. If you have a $1000 budget, a Civic would be a much better deal.
 
Any BMW for under 1000 is probably going to break down within the first 100 miles, especially if you're learning and practicing manual. A civic sounds like a much better idea, but I'd suggest something domestic, as you'll get more for cheaper. I'd say to go for a neon or escort, which you'll be able to pick up for well under 1000. If you want the rwd, look for a mustang.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Since I currently drive a Neon, have for 7 years i know the car very well. The idea of learning to drive stick in a car I know when makes sense.

Still I'd prefer a BMW....haha
 
551-1.jpg


How about a BMW Isetta 300 (read: urkle car). Im sure no one in their right mind would pay more than a grand for it.

A kid in my school bought an old Golf GTI for $300 beat up on the thing for a year or two, neglected repairs, lost the hood, and sold it for $500.
 
retsmah
I don't think you really need to buy a separate car to learn to drive a manual... if you are going to buy a new car just buy and learn on it. You aren't going to hurt it slipping the clutch a bit or stalling it a few times.
Click to expand...
yup i agree. but its better if u get something with a smaller engine so u can have many opportunities to change gears up and down at city speeds. maybe a bmw e30 316 or 318? if u get a 540i with manual, u could never get out of 1st and 2nd gear lol...
 
xcsti
A kid in my school bought an old Golf GTI for $300 beat up on the thing for a year or two, neglected repairs, lost the hood, and sold it for $500.
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Funniest thing I've ever heard ...... This and a friend of mine who tuned a E30 M3 to DTM (or Group-A ) spec and discovered that the cup mirrors gave him 5 kmh (3 mph) more top-end speed :lol:
 
Hmm I like BMWs too I bought my 1984 323i (grey market import) for $1500 bucks, but needs lots of work though. A E30 BMW is a good car to learn to drive a stick shift on. Parts are cheap on the E30s cars, and you can put newer BMW drivelines in them too. Never pay more than $2k for them cause that is all they're worth, unless it's a E30 M3. If you keep the car running well if will last for more than 300,000 miles with a manual transmisssion. I have links for more information.

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=b390
http://www.bmwcca.org
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e30/
http://www.bmwe30.net/
http://www.autotrader.com/

I hope this helps you out, if you need anymore information about BMWs just email me at frestkd@yahoo.com

Kristof


kensei
Thanks for all the info guys. Since I currently drive a Neon, have for 7 years i know the car very well. The idea of learning to drive stick in a car I know when makes sense.

Still I'd prefer a BMW....haha
Click to expand...
 

Latest Posts

Back