Faults:

Without being involved in accidents:

Nothing major except a for taillight bulb blowing... Passenger seat will not go up anymore to allow someone to get in the back seat. Was never able to open the glovebox.

General Comments:

I picked this car up for less than $2000 and the previous owner treated it like a baby.. The car is in beautiful shape.

One thing I noticed immediately is that there is so much low end torque.

It is a very fast car for the gas mileage it gets (40+mpg on the highway.. average of 30mpg combined highway/city average).

I raced a V6 98 automatic Mustang just to test how fast it was when I first got it, and it beat the stang. That was when I was a beginner at manual transmissions.

This car looks good, rides good and is a great car for a teen. Only problem is when getting it repaired, you have to pay big bucks.

Since I bought the car it has been involved in two accidents. First one being a minor collision taking the front spoiler off. Next was a deer collision. After $2000 to repair it, it runs just like when I first got it.

Faults:

When I first bought my car, it was leaking antifreeze. I haven't managed to get this fixed yet though because I can only imagine how much a German car costs to be fixed, and I am just a broke student right now (hopefully it is just a hose, but I have no luck).

General Comments:

This car is a solid runner and it handles like a dream.

Leather interior gets hot, but it is very comfortable.

All the features, just put in a Compact Disc player and now I can't get out of my car.

Faults:

The electric windows seem to be out of alignment, though they manage to get up and down OK.

The antennae doesn't always like to close, though periodic squirts of WD-40 fix that.

Minor sensor problem: If I try to turn on the air conditioner within the first five minutes of starting the car, it almost always stalls out.

General Comments:

I bought this car to have "more fun" than with my old Accord, and I got exactly what I wanted.

It's a small car with a 6 cylinder engine, so the pick-up is excellent. The handling is precise too.

I do wish mine had cruise control, because the engine really hits a groove at 80 mph otherwise, so it's just a matter of time before I get stopped.

The only reason I'm not sure I'll buy another BMW is because I like to try new old cars... but I have NOTHING bad to say about this one.

Faults:

Most recurring problem is that it stalls out randomly, without apparent cause. My mechanic says it's the idle control, maybe, but he can't be sure until he replaces it. Chilton's lists about 12 possible causes, but I don't have the time or money to test them all.

Transmission needed a major fix this year (300 dollars), muffler needed to be replaced last year (350 dollars), tires and alignment this year (350 dollars), window switches needed to be replaced, emergency flasher has an intermittent defect where it STOPS working.

Besides that, the car is beautiful: classic lines, and styling way ahead of its model introduction year (1984). This 1987 model runs fast in the higher RPMs, but is limited by a 4500 red line, which is frustrating. It corners well, and is a blast to drive on windy roads. Fun 900 mile trip when I feel like driving to Seattle once in a while, with no problems.

If you have the $ to repair it when needed, this car, and all other e30 varieties, is a great investment, and chicks dig it!

General Comments:

Definitely drives like it's on rails. Great ergonomics in the seats, though a little cramped.

Love the on board computer (way ahead of its time, again).

Gauge cluster is simple: everything you need, nothing you don't.