I always find it somewhat humorous when a seller references a classic or vintage car as being primed for becoming someone’s daily driver. It makes me wonder if the person who says that actually has to drive anywhere. I have a few cars and trucks from the late 90s and while I love driving them, hopping in every day doesn’t have the same kind of appeal as finding a spare 15 minutes to take one of them on a quick backroads cruise. The seller of this very clean 1983 BMW 320i seems to think it’s primed for being an “everyday driver,” but I’m not sure I’d want that kind of relationship with it. Still, this E21 3-Series is super clean and looks sharp on Alpina wheels. Find it here on craigslist for $10,000.
The E21 has been the proverbial red-headed stepchild in BMWs vintage lineup since new. Sandwiched between the well-loved 2002 and the venerable E30 3-Series, the E21 really never stood a chance of standing up to those giants. The E21 was a much bigger hit in Europe than in the U.S. where it was hamstrung by emissions equipment and disappointing performance. When I briefly owned a Euro-spec E21, I expected it to be light on its feet and quick to react thanks to its lower curb weight compared to the ’87 325is I had owned for years. However, that was not the case; in fact, driving it home for the first time was a grave disappointment and made me question whether I was smart to have rebuilt the engine. This E21 looks sharp from the rear, with an optional Motorsports spoiler and OEM mudflaps all around.
Now, here’s a big disappointment: an automatic transmission. Just what the heck are you supposed with a car known for its spirited handling that will always be fighting you for the next upshift? Well, you can certainly still cruise in it, and I would argue we should table some of the chatter about the superiority of the manual gearbox. Listen, I love driving a 5-speed and will probably be one of the last ones to succumb to daily driving a slushbox. But I have learned to love the slow cruising nature of an old vehicle equipped with an automatic. You cannot rush it. It will not downshift without complaining. And once you get around that, you’re pretty content to just do the speed limit all the while wrapped in the attractive profile of a vintage European car. This 320i looks as good inside as it does outside, and I dig that period-correct three-spoke steering wheel.
The seller doesn’t say whether the Alpina wheels are real but they certainly look the part from this angle what with the multiple spokes and black centers (if nothing else, they are an accurate tribute). The E21 also sports a very common upgrade which is that of the aftermarket muffler provided by Ansa. See, this I would change, for as much as I will defend the automatic transmission in a vintage car, it will never sound good when sloshing between the gears, especially in a four-cylinder 3-Series. Ditch that and otherwise enjoy what looks like a nicely-preserved E21 that will be cheap to own over the long haul.
One of the nicest body styles from BMW.I’ve always wanted
one,but have never driven one.I did drive a 318,& wasn’t impressed.
And the automatic kills the deal.Can these be converted?
Different horses for different courses.
Living in a huge metroplex with stop-and-go traffic as I do today, I’d welcome the ease of driving an automatic. I’m in South Florida where the only gradual curves in the road are built in to make you pay attention. This rig would make a great city/work car for me.
I used to understand very well why the E21 got so little love. I owned a -74 2002 and had interest trading it for an E21 320 but wasn’t enamored. Heavier, softer, duller. It really scared me during a test drive on a snowy road when I hit a bump and the rear end snapped out in a wild skid unlike anything I was used to with the 2002. I believe BMW slowly improved the handling, but the early E21 were not great.
Many years later I did own an E21 316 primarily for my girlfriend to drive. It was a perfectly agreeable daily driver.
Now, today those memories have faded and I like the looks of the E21 better than the somewhat bland E30. So I wouldn’t be opposed to owning one. But then preferably the 323i with a 5-speed!
Fun fact; that’s the same automatic transmission as a Chevette. BMW bought them from GM.
BMW used the ZF 3HP22 transmission for the E21. Chevy used a TH180 or TH200 for the Chevette.
This is not a well balanced package. Mud flaps and a rear
spoiler lip with automatic? (ZF).
The one BMW with the most practicable and logic thinked
dashboard, left the handle bar from the E9 away but kept
the on top “storage hole” where today smartphones or navi
systems can find well their place.
320 except usa had the soft revving straight six first with
carbs then with fuel injection. With factory exhaust they
sound powerful and sporty as BMW attends except it.
For winter usage a 50- or 70% lock differential with
additional ~80KG in the trunk made a better handling
and acceleration.
I prefer the successor E 30 as the first four door, the
stylish caravan or the extraordinary convertible.
Unmolested examples are hard to find today.
But they’re still way too narrow built. Well,this was BMW
I purchased one from a abandoned car auction once for $400 bucks it looked like it had been garaged since new really clean someone who got to the auction before me messed with the plugs so it sounded like it had a bad miss. After paying for it I fixed the timing and drove it home. I spent $350 for new cheap tires not the ones it should of had used it for my daily driver until the title came in the mail then took it to a dealer and sold it to them for $2500 bucks and that been my only experience owning a BMW
Very nice car! Too bad it’s an automatic.
A friend of mine had one of these while at college. Nice looking car, but the performance was nowhere near my 1980 Saab 99 GLi. It was also awful in the snow – as he learned driving to a ski trip we had in Vermont.
No one has mentioned the e21 323 euro with 4 wheel disc and manual transmission and fuel injection. Over the years I have really enjoyed both of mine, ’80 with 4 speed and ’81 with a close ratio 5 speed (wish it had been an overdrive 5 speed). Both have a aftermarket sport suspension and have been a blast to drive And yes the ’80 has the same Alpina wheels. I had bought 15″ Alpina wheels for the’81 but some one came along and offered me 4 times what I paid for them. Sure wish I had kept them.
Like this.Jeff,a BMW tech built this,& it’s as near as perfect
as any I’ve ever seen.I told him I was afraid to even breathe
on it.
I think it was a 1980 – 320i – 4 spd. Henna Red – The Iowa State Trooper that pulled me over at 105 mph – also pulled his gun as he thought I was carrying something ??? But when I rolled down my window and he saw my briefcase and 3-piece suit – he quickly let me go with a $240 ticket. I was selling Life Insurance- not something else
I had the identical car when I was 18 back in 1988 (except mine had a manual trans). The previous owner converted the fuel injection to a Weber carb, and wow, that thing was fast once that carb opened up… I also remember getting pulled over and searched by the cops every weekend my friends and I would go out girl/beer hunting..