to E21 or not to E21?

hi, do you own an E21?

 i have a '96 E36 328i coupe which im more than happy with . but ive seen a '83 Y E21 316 and the thought of owning a classic BMW as a second car has really struck me.

 Are there any tips out there to help me find the rite one? is buyin a E21 a good idea? what engine sizes did they use? and y did some have 4 headlights and some only 2? id prefer a 4 cylinder with 2 headlights (if thats possible!) any info would be greatly apperciated! cheers!

Edited by erol328

Agree with Nick -- these things make 6ers look like amateurs when it comes to rusting. 

But find one with the bodywork in good nick and you'll be sold for life. I have an E21 323i Baur, and it's my daily drive. I love the damn thing to bits, even though it's a sack of bolts.

Utterly brilliant fun!

I can't understand the desire for a 4-pot, myself. Half the fun of my E21 is having the roof down and listening to that glorious, raspy exhaust note as you climb through the revs.

The car doesn't sound bad, either!

forget the glorious sound.. the M10 engine car is better balanced and with its lighter front is less inclined to understeer as much..
All the injection gubbins on a 323 will be long past its best.. go for the 316 and when funds allow modify the engine with the readily available engine bits.

A simple cam and carb ugrade will get you 130 bhp, a bit of work will see 150 bhp and trick Alpina bits will give you an expensive 175 bhp.. all these parts are available for the old '02 cars and the 316 has the same engine.

And as for the Cortina.. if you can find me a sound one for £250 and race-prep it for £750 and then actually pass another car in it you are a better man than me.

Our bog standard 316 cost just less than the magic grand to get ready for trackdays and laps just as well as a lot of the more expensive stuff out there.

Nick

Drew540i wrote: ...I've done a track day in a 90 bhp 518 and passed quite a few cars, so a Cortina won't be a problem. Anyone can do a track day in a heap of junk and go quickly, as the 518 so ably proves!

"Andyboy" clearly knows his s****ers

No.....outbraked an E36 M3 at Combe

You don't need 300 bhp to fast - just a light car with
about 100 bhp and just enough grip. Plus big balls
of course!