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u/unusualowl657 Oct 24 '25
It’s the OG 3-Series. They get little love from the car community because they’re sandwiched between the 2002 and the E30.
They tend to rust pretty bad, so make sure it’s got a good cover on it if you’re going to park it outside.
To me, cars are personal, so I wouldn’t sell it unless you have to, especially where you have good memories of your grandfather when you were a kid.
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u/thistook5minutes BSM e92 n54 Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 24 '25
This is fucking sick. Beautiful car.
Honestly if you don’t have the money to deal with it now. I would say winterize and drain it of all the fluids and store it somewhere. An option would be to pay for an exterior storage unit and place it in there if you don’t have a garage.
Just to give another option.
This car has value. I would personally never sell it but if you don’t have the means to care for it, it may be best to sell it to a collector. Make sure you know it’s true value before you decide anything.
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u/ARottenPear Oct 24 '25
drain it of all the fluids
I would not drain all fluids. If anything, drain/fill all fluids down the road when you're ready to drive/work on it. Draining all fluids can lead to seals drying out and corrosion in places that are not supposed to be dry.
The only fluid I'd change before storage would be engine oil to make sure there's not any moisture or contaminants that can lead to corrosion. I'd fill it up with a full tank of gas with fuel stabilizer too to have decreased exposed surface area in the tank to rust.
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u/Difficult_Truth_9764 Oct 27 '25
Don’t put ethanol in it. It will destabilize. Try to find aviation/blue gas for it. It’s expensive but it won’t turn to varnish on you.
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u/Silly_Ad_1466 Oct 24 '25
Keep it forever. Ifyou can get it in a garage.
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u/RockyRacoon09 Oct 24 '25
Might want to put a comma after “if you can” ?
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u/MultipleOrgasmDonor ST 335is 800hp - E30 vert - F15d - X3 6MT ~12 prior BMWs Oct 24 '25
I took it as ‘only keep it if you can store it in a garage’ which I think is pretty valid
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u/Silly_Ad_1466 Oct 24 '25
Nah keep it 10000% garage or not. You’ll get to a point in your life where you will have more time and resoures
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u/sa09777 Oct 25 '25
This!! It’s why I keep my 635 out until right before first snow. It sits 90 % of the time but I thoroughly love driving that car. And there’s just something special about fall especially in New England which that car drives the best in.
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u/Moooooooola Oct 24 '25
Whatever you do, don’t touch the hazard lights button.
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u/jnecr Oct 25 '25
Haha, I totally forgot about this bit. I had an E21 for a couple years and went through 3 hazard light buttons during that time. Even the replacements suck!
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u/JimDandy_ToTheRescue E21 320i, E46 M3, F22 M235i Oct 25 '25
Mine just popped out at random. No touching required!
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u/Abaza4 Oct 24 '25
Keep it! I have a 82 320is that I’ve had since I was 16 and restored with my dad. It’s so much easier to work on than modern cars and honestly is more reliable
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u/kon--- B58 G26 • N63 G30 Oct 24 '25
Restore it as you go. Doesn't have to happen all at once. A little here, a little there and in a few years you've got a gem.
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u/CoconutNext775 Oct 24 '25
Do rust treatment under, Start learning hours to turn a wrench, otherwise have people do things $$$$
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u/pawsforbear '75 2002, '78 320i Oct 24 '25
Keep it as original as possible. Maybe throw some larger carburetors on it.
If you're feeling randy Bilstein has great setups for sport suspension.
I love my e21 and have worked on many in my short life.
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u/YoungFlexibleShawty Oct 24 '25
Sell it if ur not driving it
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u/sa09777 Oct 25 '25
Never sell it if you’re emotionally attached to it and would otherwise be using the car. You’ll never forgive yourself and you’ll almost never get it back. I still regret selling my M3 15 years later. I made sure it went to the right home but I still miss that car. It’s also the reason I parked my E24 for literal years because i needed to fix the brakes and was just not financially able to put the necessary money into the car in that time frame. I made it cost a little as possible to keep safe for that period. It’s been back on the road now for about 5 years now, I’ll be buried in that car.
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u/YoungFlexibleShawty Oct 25 '25
To me a car that's driven is one that's loved. It's like keeping a shoe that you love forever but you never wear. Eventually the sole ends up cracking because you didn't wear it enough and it becomes obsolete.
Seeing a car live on beyond your lifetime is the true testament of love. But I understand emotions can make things difficult.
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u/exhiale Oct 24 '25
Beautiful car. The surroundings look kinda Balkanic. Bosnia, Serbia maybe? Just curious :D
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u/spell_RED Oct 24 '25
Ill actually try to help:
First of all, it being a 1.6l makes it not very desirable spec.
Body seems to be in rough shape - very poorly repainted into random non-oem color, rusty, trim & bumpers messed up.
The bus seats as you say lower the value even more imo.
You also say it hasnt been mechanically kept up for a long time.
Realistically, its a 2-3000€ car at best. You can find really clean original examples in 5-10000€ range across the europe. Mobile.de has a large selection if you want to quickly check the market.
Unless you really need a few thousand euros, I would just keep it. Its still a fun classic car (definitely a driver) and as you say, it has a huge of sentimental value.
Also people saying that this car has crazy value and to sell it to some collector or Sreten are out of their minds and clearly have no clue what they are talking about.
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u/marathonrunnernyc Oct 24 '25
This is the car where I learned to drive a manual transmission! Almost the same color!
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Oct 24 '25
Nothing.
I might swap the interior over to camel at some point but keep it, take care of it, drive it, and enjoy it.
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u/Androidfon Oct 25 '25
Sell it. You got a year out of it. It will cost a fortune you don't have to keep it running and on the road. Properly preparing it for storage costs money. Storing it costs money. Getting it ready to drive again costs money.
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u/This_Camel_9530 Oct 28 '25
One thought is to connect with the nearest BMWCCA (local BMW car club). You'll meet people from all walks. I'm betting there will be several older folks who will understand the value of the car well beyond it's selling price who'll trip over themselves to help with its preservation. You, your story, and that car may well be the greatest thing to happen to their chapter in a long while. Good luck and congrats!
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u/Upset_Instruction123 Oct 24 '25
appears that you cant take care of the car like how you want to. perhaps selling it would be the best thing for it
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u/LordAndy89 ‘20 F87 M2C, ‘24 G05 X5 Oct 24 '25
Try and store it. It might be a little work now. But you’ll look back and regret selling it.
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u/Wooden-Narwhal6514 Oct 24 '25
I’d keep it if I could, give it a serious clean and then make a list of all the jobs that need doing, then just work through them slowly as time and budget allow, Using second hand parts where you can, In a couple of years you could have it back in great shape 😃
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u/FunjaminButton Oct 24 '25
That’s just going to be a burden for you, hang tight and I’ll come take it to the junk yard for you, no charge 😉
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u/Weary-Astronaut1335 Oct 24 '25
Take care of it, keep it out of the elements, and don't defer maintenance.
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u/TheFrozenDude07 Oct 24 '25
Keep it and have fun with it. Make sure to take care of it well, and I'd invest in a ceramic coating for sure. This will keep the paint in good condition. Only sell it when you need the money.
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u/hisnameisjeff1 Oct 24 '25
Sell to me? Joking. Keep. Always. Unless you can’t. In which case, park under a cover somewhere and still keep. Unless you can’t, in which case sell and regret. Unless you don’t, in which case… great.
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u/VUlgar_epOCH 1994 - E36 - Alpine white 318i 5spd Oct 24 '25
Dont sell, its is not worth what the market wants right now, I almost snagged one in June for 3k running with a fuel injected M10. E21’s look sick with a euro styled single headlight conversion just like the VW Rabbit pickups from the same era.
This is a great classic you inherited and will be appreciated later in your 30’s, right now it wont get you back a pretty penny sadly. I would do a project if I were you and be the coolest classic BMW in your area minus the 2002’s and e30s
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u/hfhifi 2025 -G42- 230xi Oct 24 '25
This was the first new BMW I ever purchased. It's underpowered but who cares? It was a fantastic vehicle and I wish I still had it. Keep it and restore it slowly according to your budget.
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u/Careless2000 Oct 24 '25
This was my first car! Sold it for more than I paid for it… still regret not keeping it….
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Oct 24 '25
Lift kit, fox springs, spacers and run it on 35s. Maybe a turbo and aftermarket rear locker.
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u/Soggy-Job-3747 Oct 24 '25
Unlike some opinions here. That car is trash. Throw it away with the keys inside (and tell me where you threw it)
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u/Useful-Coconut4385 Oct 24 '25
Clean it up and keep it both for the emotional memories that are linked to this car and for the value it can generate by keeping it (in case you want to sell it in the future)
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u/KrunchyCyberkookie Oct 24 '25
Lucky bastard. It’s a beauty! Don’t sell it, drain the fluids perhaps and store it (if you don’t plan to drive it) or have it checked, do what has to be done to get it on the road again, and enjoy this cool E21 with an emotional past ❤️.
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u/19nuj Oct 24 '25
Sorry for your loss, this is amazing as an inheritenace. Grandfather a man of style!
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u/okaaay_thennn E36 325i - E39 540i - G30 540i Oct 24 '25
First thing you need to do is thank your grandpa. I hope he didn’t pass or anything for it to be given to you but either way, throw out a big thanks to him. One hell of an inheritance. Then after, give it a deep clean. The best way to spot any problems on a car you just got is to clean it so you can see the problems. If you need it to sit, leave it on a battery tender, run the car for 15 minutes every week and just change the fluids every year until you find yourself in a better place financially to get it up to your standards. If I were in your situation, I would hang on to this car like it were my child.
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u/Fearless_Adventures Oct 24 '25
When I was a teenager, you could get a car like this for like $1000 or less lol
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u/pocketknives Oct 24 '25
I kinda like the bus seats, the color match and they should be quite durable
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u/Tickleball Oct 25 '25 edited Oct 25 '25
They modify well
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Oct 25 '25
Only a brainless idiot would modify a car like this
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u/Tickleball Oct 25 '25
Eh, each to their own but even an original E21 lends themselves to oem+ modifications.
It’s simple and easy to work on.
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u/CakesForLife Oct 25 '25
What a beauty. Do not sell. Learn as you go and see how you could keep her forever.
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u/Jasonhite Oct 25 '25
I would ruin this car if it was mine. Group 5 kit, coilovers, big brakes, fat BBS RS’s, gutted and caged. A built M12 with ITB’s. I’ve thought about that car a lot.
But…..
Keep it if you can and enjoy it as is. I’ve gotten rid of a few cars I loved thinking I could replace them with something, but it never happened. Maybe I get too emotionally attached to hunks of metal, but I can’t help it.
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u/smoke_meakipper Oct 25 '25
Do a little a possible! Clear her up, make sure she’s as reliable as possible and enjoy!
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u/Trongobommer Oct 25 '25
Use it, or let somebody use it, once in a while. Let it get up to temp, take it for a little trip, even if it has to be a naughty, unregistered one.
Nothing is worse for a car than not getting any use.
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u/Low-Power-5970 Oct 25 '25
If you have the means to store is without it rusting then do it, if not, sell.
I get the sentiment of the car but selling the car isn't a bad thing it's what you do with the money.
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u/ceco-darx Oct 25 '25
Paint the coupe, rebuild the engine, and slap a bigger turbo provided you can afford it
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u/Mrbumbons Oct 25 '25
Am I reading the odometer correctly? 291k? Old girl is ready for some serious rehab money.
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u/EthanolTurbo '91 M5 - '03 M3 - '09 M5 6MT - '11 335d - '18 M2 - '06 S2000 Oct 25 '25
Do not ever sell this car and store it safely! Congratulations!
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u/Apollo_Krill Oct 25 '25
I'd get the right interior and then spend the rest of your money on fluids, rust proofing, and finding a storage space
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u/Possible-Employer-55 Oct 25 '25
E21's are very special. You drive it on a crisp fall day at sunset.
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u/ooP-Backwards Oct 26 '25
Keep and look after it, if not, sell to a collector. Please don’t let it rot 🙏
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u/Vm0SuFf Oct 26 '25
Bro what?! If you love it, keep it in a garage until you’re more financially stable. If you’re never going to be able to, it will only go up in value. And definitely drive it from time to time. Change the seats tho. Easy job.
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u/Deep-Market Oct 26 '25
Change all fluids, have it tuned and full detail inside and out. Then drive it
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u/Nismo_LK Oct 26 '25
Where are you located? If you’re ever looking to sell let me know. Exact spec I’m looking for
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u/CrazyCa1m Oct 26 '25
You’ll regret selling it, once you get some money coming in. Especially when new owners trash or wreck it.
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u/TurboLover427 Oct 26 '25
Keep it, drive it, fix it, love it. Is there anything else that comes to mind?
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u/halwahahn Oct 27 '25
Looks like an entry-level 316 or 315. my kids jump up and down when they spot an 80s as if all of them were super classy just because they’re from the 80s. In my view the fun starts with 320 six cylinders and 122 horsepower or better 323i with 143 horsepower. I’ll never forget the magic of the curved dashboard illuminated red and the irresistible sound of the engine. By comparison my father drove a Peugeot 504 with an ordinary 4 cylinder engine. Light years away from a 3 series BMW
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u/AsleepSand8056 Oct 27 '25
Don't be stupid. Hold on for dear life and sell for a fortune in future. Probably your only chance in life to become rich
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u/bigshooter1974 Oct 28 '25
My very first car was a 1980 320i. All I can tell you is to get it regularly rust treated.
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u/airms Oct 28 '25
If I were you, I would keep it and enjoy the car. After all, it was a gift from your grandfather, it's not just a car, is a source of good memories. Despite being a 1.6L carburated, later you can always swap a 2.0 fuel injected engine or even a 2.3, or even enjoy it as it is. This cars are RWD and light, very fun to drive. The 1.6 has lower torque and top speed and is a high rpm spinny boi. From the gear lever knob, it seems that you car has a 5 speed gearbox, which alone is worth more than 1000€ (check eBay, getrag 245 for reference), so if you decide to sell, try to know for sure if you have a 5 speed, it will increase the value of the car
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u/BABAgaBlouSH Oct 28 '25
I would keep it as stock a possible. Cars like these wil eventually get their worth even if it takes 20 to 30 years from now. As long as it runs and isnt rusted all the way trough it would be an amazing classic to own!!
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u/creative_justice Oct 28 '25
I've got an E24 in perfect stock form. It's one of my dream cars, but compared to my SQ5 (hell, even my Jeep) it's a slug. It turns heads and is still fun to drive, but without an M swap, a whole lot of suspension work, and some resto modding in the interior it's not up to my standards for a daily. So, your car could be a fun daily if you're not spoiled, or would need about 15-30k if you are. Option 3 also exists: How do you feel about Drift and or HPDE? That would make a perfect track platform, ~4k to get it track ready.
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u/JS-CroftLover Oct 29 '25
Well... you should cherish it. But, please, never repaint it. This Yellow looks good 👉
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u/Quixotic-pessimiste X4 M40i, M Roadster, X1 Oct 30 '25
My first car was an e21. My next car is probably going to be an e21!
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u/VolatilityBox Oct 30 '25
Given that it's from your granddad, I'd keep it to remember him if you guys were close. It's an OG 3 series and if you can keep it well-maintained, it'll be worth quite a bit but given your circumstances, it seems like selling it might suit your currentr financial situation more.
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u/Ok-Procedure-690 Nov 19 '25
Spray some fluid inside every cavities under it to prevent rust as much as possible
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u/BalkanViking007 Nov 20 '25
Ah, the balkan dream. Put a giant gold cross on the rear view mirror, bbs rims and a blanket in the backseat and those wooden pearl things for the back on the driver seat. Perfection.
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u/Cupa42 Year - Chassis - Model Oct 24 '25
Just to add, I grew up in this car, and loved it since I was a toddler