I have been looking at e9 a since long ago and recently decided to get involved with them. I have owned e30s e24s e46s before and mostly interested in the classic year bmws. I hope I can find something good and not too much work I’m not looking for an entire project. Need some good bones and history to start with.
Trying to be a new e9 owner
- Thread starter Bmwnyguy
- Start date
MTYPE
Well-Known Member
Cool
Welcome to the discussion. I suggest you also post a "WTB" or Want to buy in the cars for sale section here.
It is a great time to buy a coupe. Take your time to find one that checks the boxes for you. Make sure you read up (on this site) about the rust prone areas and make sure you do a pre-purchase inspection to see that the car meets the description.
Do a search on this site on the cars for sale section, there are a number of members here that are/were selling their cars recently.
It is a great time to buy a coupe. Take your time to find one that checks the boxes for you. Make sure you read up (on this site) about the rust prone areas and make sure you do a pre-purchase inspection to see that the car meets the description.
Do a search on this site on the cars for sale section, there are a number of members here that are/were selling their cars recently.
70sRescueGuy
Active Member
Welcome BMWnyguy….since i am only 30-45min north of you in Westchester and currently have 8 vintage bmws (60s/70/80s era) i could for sure offer you very good Shops in our areas for mechanical (and body if so desired ) service….also you MUST attend the awesome bmwcca.org (NY chapter) “Vintage @ Saratoga” Oct 11 weekend where you would see at least 15 awesome e9s (and many other vintage bmws) and can talk to the many people at event…i am trying to bring 2 of my cars, a few currently for sale BUT wish you best of luck in your e9 search…you should also join BOTH the bmwcca.org and bmwccca.com ( i am member of both). Thomas in westchester cty
To quote a multitude of posts seen on this board over the years, "Buy the best car(little or no rust, almost nothing to do) you can find." Paint, body work, rust remediation, any of these will send you down a deep, long-term hole(years and years, $$$$ and $$$$s and more). Make sure one of the experts on this site eyeballs the car with cold eyes, up in the air. Believe no one else. And even if there is "little to do" your coupe will keep you busy for decades. It is never finished. Part of the joy.
I am in Bucks County north of Philadelphia. I have looked at a number of coupes over the years. But I always bring someone who knows a lot more than I do.
We have a small group, the Rocket Dogs, here in Bucks who gather for drives and share searches, etc. 70sRescueGuy above is a member and makes some of our drives.
Final advice: Join the BMWCCCA first. Dirk's group is THE place for owners like us. Note our affiliation with the BMWCCA. https://bmwccca.com/
Yeah, that's me and my 72 Agave Bavaria in front of my late and much lamented mechanic and friend's shop.
Steve [email protected]
I am in Bucks County north of Philadelphia. I have looked at a number of coupes over the years. But I always bring someone who knows a lot more than I do.
We have a small group, the Rocket Dogs, here in Bucks who gather for drives and share searches, etc. 70sRescueGuy above is a member and makes some of our drives.
Final advice: Join the BMWCCCA first. Dirk's group is THE place for owners like us. Note our affiliation with the BMWCCA. https://bmwccca.com/
Yeah, that's me and my 72 Agave Bavaria in front of my late and much lamented mechanic and friend's shop.
Steve [email protected]
When I began looking for my car (which took almost three years), I read the cars for sale section here daily, with a particular emphasis on what people commented upon and emphasized. I also went to several where people who know e9s were likely to be each year. At the first event I attended - Sharkfest in Spartanburg, SC - Amy Lester (@coupelady) took me under her wing and showed me her car in great detail, including the various places to look to determine if a car is rusty.
I agree with 70sRescueGuy that you should attend the Vintage at Saratoga and attempt to meet as many of the e9 owners as you can. In particular, @Stan and @HBChris, who are both planning to attend, were very helpful to me when I was looking for my car (and numerous times after I bought it).
I agree with 70sRescueGuy that you should attend the Vintage at Saratoga and attempt to meet as many of the e9 owners as you can. In particular, @Stan and @HBChris, who are both planning to attend, were very helpful to me when I was looking for my car (and numerous times after I bought it).
Welcome and congrats on your desire to purchase one of these amazing machines!! I was looking for over a year, and had a couple of false starts that looked like a good acquisition, only to be nixed by a PPI by an expert. I recommend you network with a few of the folks here who aware of solid cars that get sold privately. HB Chris, SF Don, Mario L are all folks who are super helpful! I wound up buying a fully restored Coupe that was listed here. It checked all the boxes for me, and passed the PPI. Find a car with no rust if you can. Mechanical repairs are easy compared to proper rust remediation costs. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice yes the rust just doesn’t sit on the digestive system while you sleep at night.
Doing all the rust remedy on a basket case is about 50 to 75k on your side of the Pond.
For that money, or even less, there are survivor cars that are rust free enough to be had.
What's the budget?
20k will get a you a massive project like an incomplete, disassembled car. Keeps you busy for the next 5 years
40k is a driver car. Needs tinkering, shows her age. May leave you stranded somewhere.
70k gets you almost no worries (as if ever with a classic)
Above that it's paying for faultless and perfection aspects: paint without issues, chrome without blemishes, interiors without wear (beyond patina) and tears, engine, trans and diff upgrades.
For that money, or even less, there are survivor cars that are rust free enough to be had.
What's the budget?
20k will get a you a massive project like an incomplete, disassembled car. Keeps you busy for the next 5 years
40k is a driver car. Needs tinkering, shows her age. May leave you stranded somewhere.
70k gets you almost no worries (as if ever with a classic)
Above that it's paying for faultless and perfection aspects: paint without issues, chrome without blemishes, interiors without wear (beyond patina) and tears, engine, trans and diff upgrades.
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Be sure to look at the agave green coupe that will be there. Do you have deep pockets? This one is turn key.
Spot on Erik!! Bmwnyguy, laminate Erik's advice above on pricing and put it in your wallet. Or on your phone.
Oh, and a strong marriage (if applicable) helps...
More good advice Erik. My wife of 52 years, Karen, has been so supportive!! For my fiftieth birthday she sent me to a driver's school weekend with the BMWCCA local chapter. Hooked on the first lap, went on to modify my coupe and drive tracks all over the east coast. There we are leaving our wedding reception in our 1971 1600.
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nope I don't have deep pockets. Trying to get a deal and willing to do some work. Lets see what my luck is but not looking to spend so much on car as 100k. Really just looking for running drive decent car Im very good mechanically and have changed a motor on a M635csi in the past so no stranger to challenges. Thanks for all the feedback. Also open to piecing together a car as long as body isn't a rust bucket.
ill look out
oh my wife was asked if ok otherwise I would have hide it from her hehe.Oh, and a strong marriage (if applicable) helps...
70sRescueGuy
Active Member
Hey…maybe today is your lucky day….i have a e28-535is motor AND 5sp Getrag trans (both working BUT was parted from a bad e28-535is that had roo much corrosion on Body) you can have for 1k AND we live…what…20-40miles from one another….unless you wanted e9 original stuff….just let me know but best of luck in your search….thomas