You can never go back again.... or can you?

[RicardoD]

I like to think I am a unique individual but then you read some smart marketing report or one of @Jlaa astute observations about automotive nostalgia (below) and realize you are part of the herd

From Jlaa

Around 40+ years of age is when some people are fortunate enough not only to look at one’s own teenager years with rose tinted glasses, but also be able to enjoy a station in life where one can start to act out one’s dreams that have been recurring through one’s “entire adult life.”

When I was 19, in 1989, my Dad purchased a used 1981 BMW 320i. I loved this car and I tried my best to maintain it but I just did not yet have the skills I now possess. It basically kicked my ass where I took it to the dealer of all places for repair several times. This hollowed out my wallet every time but I had a great well paying engineering internship at the time and was living large.



I am just pissed in retrospect that I was never able to "master" this car and make it run like a Swiss watch. So I keep toying with the idea of buying one, dropping a more modern early 90s 4 cylinder in the thing, and putting the BBS wheels on it, and living like a teenager again. I want to dominate this car as I regret how it toyed with me in my early years of wrenching. These cars are still relatively cheap as the unloved successor to the 2002 model. Basically doing what this guy did in his perfect restoration.

My worry is the car was great with rose colored nostalgia glasses on. Hence the need for more power. What I love about my E500 is I bought it with nostalgia in my heart based upon loving my Dad's 1987 300D, but then the car exceeding my expectations in so many ways. The E500 ending up being better than I imagined.

 

[alabbasi]

The E21 323i was a fantastic car. I remember a neighbor having one when I was a kid. Perfect for two adults in the front and two boxing Helena's in the back.

 

[Jlaa]

Love those things!!!! That e21 323i, @RicardoD, though, is significantly cooler than your old e21 320i because:

a) Euro slim bumpers
b) 2.3 liter six, instead of 4 cyl
c) awesomesauce BBS wheels that also are not oversized-a-la-modern-style

I could totally see getting one of these and rocking it out:





I vaguely remember seeing one in pristine condition @ Legends the other year!

 

[RicardoD]

I was also looking forward to Legends, prior to Cancellation, to hopefully run into some E21 guys and ask questions.

Love that car in the YouTube video, I would do a similar thing, but stick with a lightweight more modern BMW 4 cylinder engine.

 

[skikrazey]

Ricardo I had an 1989 325ix coupe back in the day. Car was a lemon, long story. My uncle had a 320es the car was a dog IMHO. I did get to test drive a 318is, which in my mind is the spiritual successor to the 2002ti! I would seek one of those out. While the E30 M3, got to drive a few of those over the years, is a wicked fast ride, I actually liked the 318is better not as fast, but so much more usable in daily driving! Just my 2 cents.

To answer your question-sometimes you can and sometimes you can't it all depends! lol

 

[alabbasi]

You should probably try a 323i. I expect that you'd be impressed with it. This was a pretty darn quick car for 1981 money.
80's BMW's are a delight to drive. I bought a non running E12 81 BMW 528i 5 speed a few years back got it running. Hands down, it was the most fun car I've owned. Does anyone know what those big orange squares are on the side of the fenders? the car sat for 10 years when I bought it, but those things looked like they were never used.

 

[RicardoD]

I don’t think they sold E21 323i in the USA. There are some nice drop in engine swap solutions from later 3 series

Skikrazey, I don’t want an any old 3 series or 2002. I want the car of my youth, with my present day bank roll and skills to make the car I wanted to in 1990 when I was in college. That car is the perfect E21 with more power, cool seats, wheels, a fun stereo and running to perfection.

 

[RicardoD]

I bought a non running E12 81 BMW 528i 5 speed a few years back got it running. Hands down, it was the most fun car I've owned.

What a nice car. Do you still own it or did you flop hard with it?

 

[alabbasi]

I don’t think they sold E21 323i in the USA. There are some nice drop in engine swap solutions from later 3 series

Nope, but I've seen a few here in Texas so you can find them if you look around as they were from the gray market era and a few were privately imported

What a nice car. Do you still own it or did you flop hard with it?

Sadly I sold it. I bought this car from a Jamaican fella who got it in an estate sale and never got it running. Where I went to school in London, there was a pretty big Caribbean community and you'd see a lot of Jamaican guys driving BMW's. talking to him made me home sick and I ended up visiting London for the first time in about 13 years not long after.

The car was much easier to get going than it ever should have been. The gas smelled like it had been in the tank for 20 years but we drained it and cranked the car and it ran on about 3 cylinders. A quick tap on the injectors with a screw driver and the rest fired up. I had to replace all the brake hoses, fuel hoses, belts and tires. The a/c still had a charge which needed topping up to blow ice cold. In looking through the paperwork, it had about $6000 worth of head work from the main BMW dealer here in Dallas about 1000 miles and 10 years before I bought it.

I ended up selling it in 2015 because I bought an E28 M5 (which I still own) and an E23 745i turbo (which I just sold). The M5 needs for the head to come off before I can put it back on the road.

Here's the actual video of when I got it running:

and here's a video a few minutes later with the engine running quite well:

I hadn't even gotten the car off the trailer

 

[ace10]

No Reserve: M20-Powered 1982 BMW 320i

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: M20-Powered 1982 BMW 320i at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,704.

bringatrailer.com

 

[gsxr]

At first I read that as "M120-Powered".

Darn.

 

[RicardoD]

No Reserve: M20-Powered 1982 BMW 320i

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: M20-Powered 1982 BMW 320i at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #32,704.

bringatrailer.com

Wow that is the opposite of what I want in that car.

 

[alabbasi]

Weren't we talking about 323i's?

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[RicardoD]

323i! In the USA. Cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ace10]

A 320is E21 being auctioned on Barn Finds?
Of all the places one could list such a car...

BF AUCTION: 1980 BMW 320is With Rare Sport Package!

This stunning 1980 BMW 320is is my own personal car and it’s being sold to make room for another purchase. This BMW came from the factory with the rare and desirable sport package. This car has been well cared... more»

barnfinds.com

 

[Bogeyman]

Bought one of those new for my wife. Same colors with 5 speed.
She loved it.

 

[duuder]

I have an 83 e21 with a dogleg transmission, dual 45 webbers and a few other goodies on it. its about as fast as my friend's e30 m3 so its pretty quick for something from the 80's. its nostalgic, analog, and i can use all of the power while rowing thru all the gears. i essentially sold my 996 Porsche and used it as my daily for a little while.

 

[RicardoD]

Please share a photo duuder

 

[duuder]

this is the only pic i have at the moment

 

[Jlaa]

\\

I have an 83 e21 with a dogleg transmission, dual 45 webbers and a few other goodies on it. its about as fast as my friend's e30 m3 so its pretty quick for something from the 80's. its nostalgic, analog, and i can use all of the power while rowing thru all the gears. i essentially sold my 996 Porsche and used it as my daily for a little while.

There is something to be said about being able to use all available power through the gears without killing yourself. I like this kind of experience. A lot of modern cars are much, much, much more powerful but IMHO the inability to use all available power through the gears makes for a less satisfying experience.