Discussion: early E21 or facelifted version?

[Jeroen]

Curious what you guys think!

I do like the looks of the facelifted versions better but both have their pro's and cons, like:

Early
+more rare
+more classic looks (inside, outside, cloth trim)
-more rust sensitive

Facelift
+more modern looks
+more user friendly (dash)
-less rare but still not common

[e21-Mark]

I like both. I like the quirkyness of an early dash and the doors without the big plastic wing mirrors too. Mind you, I'd have either if I wanted an e21.

[Jeroen]

Agree, even though I have a slight preference for the facelifted version, if I were looking for one now I'd accept both if it met my requirements since good ones are becoming pretty rare these days.

Same story with my car, Polaris silver metallic is a pretty common color so there are a few colors I like better but if I'd rejected my current car based on that I'd still be looking for an E21 I guess

[arshad76]

That's interesting. I personally like the series 2 better. Not always, however facelifts do have a habit of refining the lines a little more. Wasnt the handling also improved a tad? My first exposure to these cars were to the facelifted versions. The less effective dash, chrome mirror/s and the smaller front valance really don't sit well with me. Harder to find parts for them too I'm guessing?

Like you say though Jeroen they are getting rare, a genuine series 1 Alpina would be appealing and I can see why people might prefer the more chrome look.

[nas80]

theres not that much in the way of difference for me really. apart from the wierd twin servo setup which tbh would have made life more easy if they had kept it when they built the RHD s2

[mr edd]

100% pre facelift

[323baur]

Hard to say; the FL is a bit more modern. Its more a drivers car.
The early ones are really classic looking, specially when its totally original.
The dash is absolutely super on the 1st series.
I've chosen both

[uwbuurman]

I've chosen the type 1's. Like the crome mirrors, the dash, but most of alle the front skirt. On a type 2 it's all metal, but on the typ1, its more freiendly but in the end, 30 years later, it suits the e2 better, in my opinion. But I wouldn't pass on a nice type 2, also great cars!

[BMW-POWER]

early e21!!!!!!!!
when you look at it it really looks old
love having no right mirror

[Peter V.]

For us it makes no difference. Both E21 types have the looks.
Offcourse has the old dashboard a more classic view and the chrome mirrors make it nice.

We both have a type 2 E21 but both with one mirror at the leftside.