Early 320i? + 323i content

[d.e]

I was driving around the other day and I found a nice looking orange E21 in a pile of snow. I checked the license plate and it is a 1976 model, in Swedish DMV registry since 1/76 so I figure it must be a late 75 build. It is a 320i, M10 equipped. I'm not sure yet wether it has the 5spd gearbox or any other options on it.

Since the 320i was first launched in Germany in late 1975, is this early model rare and any more desirable than later models? Should I try to save it?

Oh, and just for clicks. I came on here earlier asking about a 1979 323i. I did decide that it was too rough and left it. BUT, then my friend decided he needed another BMW for iceracing so he haggled the price down a bit and bought it. Now it just sits as an ornament in MY yard. It is a sports package car with an LSD and BBS bodykit but it doesn't run very nicely and the paintjob and interior are no good.

[jimbob]

buy it,save it enjoy it

[d.e]

I went and looked at the 320i today. It is an Inca Red 125hp K-Jet M10B20 car with a nice, unmolested black interior and a 4-speed tranny. According to the owner the rear diff had a certain percentage of lock but he did insist that it was not an LSD. It has been sitting since 2001 on a patch of gravel. It had a rust hole in the right rocker, one of the front fenders was a bit crusty in one spot, the cold start injector was sticking on, the paint was very flat and unpolished and the drivers seat diaphragm was a bit collapsed. He wanted €500 for it. Could it possibly be worth it? It'd need all maintenance parts and a good buff/wax.

[Jeroen]

320i's are pretty rare except in the US (and over there all the more recent ones actually are 318i's), I believe we have just one 320i in the Dutch community! If it's not that rusty it might be a good deal. But take a good look, if it has rust on some spots it is bound to have a few more.

[gerrit323]

Still 500€ for a rare 320i is nothing .. such a e21 is defenately worth saving .. costs all depend of how much you can do yourself .. don't you have any pics of that 320i??

Gerrit

[d.e]

Yeah, it is rare, and I would guess it's a very fun car to drive considering how much fun a 2002 with 25 hp less is. It is also a style of car that I have always liked, especially the 70's models. I do everything myself on my cars. I daily drive a 1976 Volvo and helped my friend restore a 1973 2002 this summer. If economy/space allows, I'll pick the 320 up. Unfortunatly, I was stupid and forgot to snap any pictures of it this time. But it looks pretty much like an early, faded orange E21.