The oil leak is a design feature. Stops the chassis from rusting.

9:40 "looks like absolute child's play to work on". Which is still two levels of difficulty above Tyler's mechanical abilities.

$2600 to fix all that stuff, hell that's less than ONE problem to get repaired on a newer BMW.

So nice to see you picking up an e30 😍

I love how Johnny is so positive about getting Hoovie to work on his own cars, you can tell he's just the sort of guy who believes in everyone's ability to figure things out and do the work.

You know you’re rich when 5 lights come on in a BMW and you say, “Interesting??”

How appropriate, the holiday season just kicked off and Tyler’s new BMW’s dash is lit up like a Christmas tree!!

I went to a private school for high school in the early 2000s and these E30s were the must-have car for many of my friends. Off the top of my head, I know of at least 3 friends who had 325is coupes, one had a '91 318is, and another had a 325i sedan. You were right about the backseat being spacious as a much thinner past me rode in the back of the coupes often. I really wanted one but it never came to pass, but one day I'll have to find one of these to re-create part of my high school experience.

Wow, you actually made a great investment for once.

BMW E30's are showing up everywhere these days! Love it!

Tyler is like the WalMart edition of Jay Leno.

Tyler: "It's slow, an 8-9 second 0-60" Me with my 13.5-second 0-60: "Well then..."

Hoovie: test drives a car Seller: I hope it works Hoovie: it’s broken! I’ll take it!

“They’re kidneys not lungs.” Most accurate thing I’ve heard this year

Holy crap, You bought a BMW thats actually worth saving!

Look at that silver W219 Mercedes CLS in the background!!! Most beautiful car ever made!

I appreciate your description of the 90s definition of luxury. Actual quality. I wish manufacturers were still like that 🙂

I talked to a BMW independent mechanic. He said Business is always Good. 😂🤣

So nothing really broke. Just need a lot of dated maintenance.

Ninja is awesome! His smile when you drive in tells you everything. Had a mechanic like that a while ago who was great to work with. Long story short, dude made a ton of cash, never advertised, and retired outside of USA as a millionaire. Wish I still had a mechanic like that.

‘They call them kidney grilles not lungs’ - Tyler Hoover 2020. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

The Car Ninja and the Car Wizard are some of my favorite recurring KZfaq characters of all time.

Love it! Often wondered about picking up a four-door iX as a daily, but the nice ones are expensive now. $2,600 in repairs doesn't seem too bad - seal up the leaks, change the belts, replace the exhaust, and enjoy!

I think an E30 was the best "investment" I've made in a car. I bought an 88 325i in 2008 for $1800. It was in very "used" condition with about 212k miles on it, I think. It needed things, but it started and ran fine. It was easy to fix little things here and there and keep it on the road. The purpose for the car was to be something cheap to beat on with about a $2K budget and the it was about saving wear on tear on the newer car. I thought it would be used in up in a couple years, but I ended up keeping it until 2016. I had to do things like the clutch/throwout bearing, wheel bearings, fuel pump, water pump/timing belt, and a couple sets of spark plugs. On my own, I also swapped out the control arms and replaced a leaking/bypassed power steering rack. I'd be lying if I said I missed having to work on the car to keep it going, but it was usually easy to fix and really a lot of fun to drive. I would even take it on road trips. Even without it being that fast, it was just the perfect size and engaging to drive with the manual. I got rid of it due to getting a new car (2015 X1) and not being able to justify cost of keeping this one up or restoring it, but I do miss it. If I'm being honest though, I'd want one that was already restored and had fresh seals.

Hoovie i know you'll probably never read this but i cant thank you enought for lighting up my messed up life with your content. Thank you tyler

Hoovie: it's not a hoopty yet!! Also Hoovie: been sitting most of 10 years, the paint's faded, it's leaking, and broke down on the test drive.

"My check engine light just came on." In other words, it's a Hoovie video.

I love the e30 styling. I walk my dog daily and pass a 325 with a five-speed parked on the side of one of my neighbor's house. What a beautiful car.

BMW went from “the ultimate driving machine” to “the subpar commuting machine”

"So what made BMW's great? Everything but their electronics." *BMW:* Here's an EV i made, enjoy it!

I'm a BIG fan of the classic e30 BMW's. Owned a few of them through the years, but never got a chance to own an 325ix. Would love to see this turn out well and be saved!! Loving the rescue videos! Keep them coming!!

Has to be either an '89 or '90. The 88s had aluminum bumpers and Recaro style seats and the 91s had air bags. All of the 1988 US 325ix models were 5-spd coupes, which is pretty cool.

The best thing about the leaks is that they actually help protect the frame and body from rust.

"Even you can do that" Ninja CLEARLY doesn't know Hoovie that well.

Everybody, Tyler gonna work on his own car! Quick grab some popcorn and get ready for a laugh.

Even Jeff Goldblum's brother has an e30!!! Love it! Hope to see many more e30 videos in the near future.

You need to fully restore this.

I had a 1989 iX 20 years ago. It was a true hoopty with plenty of surface rust. Tons of fun and nothing could touch it in the snow. One of the few cars I've ever sold at a profit.

Ah, how do I love E30s and miss mine. Those were truly The Ultimate Driving Machines.

One of my favorite BMW generations.

The Ninja doesn't want anyone to say "It was the Ninja's fault" so he is making Hoovie work on the car. Very clever.

My grandmother owned a 2002 and it was an amazing car: cheap ($3,500 new), fun, and comfortable. It was a revelation, after driving Honda and Toyota compacts. My son owned a 1999 3-series, and it was falling apart by the time it reached 90K miles.

That BMW, spent time in Minnesota, That rear dealer badge say's " MotorWerks", which is a BMW Dealership, located in Bloomington, Minnesota.

I just love how they encourage him to work on things. You can tell it’s not just a mechanic/customer relationship, it’s a true friendship

“Don’t really have to worry about that breaking” - final last words about anything on an E30. Especially the sunroof.

I appreciate how during the driving sequence, at around 11:00, the landscape outside is stabilized, and you and the car are cast against it, showing how the car is moving.

As a English car buff i always love it when i see something i never knew even existed ! 4wd 3 door e30...wow

Car Ninja is definitely the man to go for all BMW repairs. He knows his stuff

Hoovies - "Dont buy used BMW's" Also Hoovies - "Look at my new used BMW!" Yup, perfectly legit

Hoovie's gushing review of this car reminds me of the saying "nostalgia just isn't what it used to be". The E30 is a very special car - but the best? Thats debatable.

I have a 1990 325I convertible with a 5 speed and I love it. I've had the same trouble with not being able to use modern computers to diagnose problems. Now I'm having trouble finding suspension for it. Even the local BMW dealer can't find BMW or generic suspension for it. It's been at the dealer since October 6.

Damn it, now the prices of these will JUMP again.

“OK, Boomer” - The car company that mainly sells to Boomers

I have a E30 325i, and it is the best most reliable vehicle I've ever own. Couple small quirks, but has never not started, or left me stranded. Great buy Hoovie! You need to get some lowering springs for that thing.

I learned to drive in my grandfather's 1984 E30 320i, a 2-litre RWD manual, no power steering, straight six with 125 hp. I loved that car. Useful tip, if you keep cranking the sunroof lever in the closing direction it tilts open at the back! At least in the EU version.

"you don't really have to worry about that breaking" I just snapped my sunroof cable this morning LOL

E30s are wonderful cars. I’ve owned a number of them over the years and, as long as you keep a fresh timing belt in the M20, they will run forever.

I had a 1987 325is for a few months. It had an endless list of needed repairs, but you could do any of them at home in your garage. Loved the comfort and engine.

Grew up in an 325ix, and learned how to drive in it. Ours was extremely tired when we retired it, but it's probably the best car for it's time we've ever had.

Hoovie is the youngest 60 year old on youtube.

“It’s got a lot of oil leaks” hmmm yes the e30 is being e30

If you don't love an e30, you're not a car guy.

South Africans watching this going ..Finally a "Ghusheshe!!!!"

I’m not really of a BMW guy but I gotta admit this is probably one of the best BMW of all time

"Broke down on the test drive but you know me, I bought it anyway!"😂🤣

I almost accidentally bought an E34 535iX Touring and it was a superb driving car with a huge rear space. Almost 'practical'.... My then car had broken down and I needed a car quickly. I saw a metallic green 535i Touring in a small car dealer's yard, asked the price and bought it cash after haggling. It was only when I picked it up later that week I found out it was an 'X'. Only major fault was the transfer box fitted on the end of the standard gearbox which had a chain which stretched and made clacking noises under load. Didn't break down but I replaced it as I was working as a technician at an HGV (Semi) Main dealer and so the job was done 'at work'. Agree with everything Hoovie says about that era of BMW cars. They are on another planet now.

My parents had an 85 325e, also with a manual transmission. I drove it a lot in high school in the 90s. It was a great car, and very fun to drive. Even though it was over 10 years old with more than 100K miles on it when I started driving it, it still shifted real nice. It would be a great car to teach someone how to drive a stick shift on. At the same time, it had a pretty powerful engine considering how small and light weight it was, so it could be dangerous if you weren’t careful with it

Ninja is so calming towards Hoovie and his money... Wizard gets all excited and licks his chops!

I love the visibility driving those cars. So much glass. Can see everything. Triumph acclaim + 10yrs,

On the Euro e30's with the sump nut facing outwards you can change the oil and filters without jacking the car up or dirtying your hands. You can change all the bulbs out in 10 minutes, Alternator takes half an hour. These were seemingly built entirely with the Diy mechanic in mind and apart from that are very comfortable and great cars to drive and enjoy.

my fav car was my 22 year old e30 320i convertible 1992. Beautiful car, the only Bimmer drop top that people let you out of side roads in and could leave parked open without anyone spitting into or stealing from. I hope you kept this car, values are going insane

When a car breaks down during a test drive most people walk away. Hoovie buys it and gives it a loving home.

Still living off the reputation of the BMW 2002. The only BMW I ever considered buying and that was in 1976.

“Greatest BMW ever!” Laughing E39 M5 noises*

I had a 1987 325is. Bought it new...and it was very expensive for the day ($28000 in '87, equivalent to $64000 today) Wonderful car. It had the proper RWD configuration, with no heavy AWD mechanicals to add weight, rob power, and dull the steering feel. It had a limited slip diff, no traction control, and exhibited tons of BMW's infamous trailing throttle oversteer (let off the throttle in a corner, and you may end up in a ditch). It weighed less than 2900 lbs. Check the weight of a current 3 series...nearly 1000lb. heavier. As a bonus, it was also absolutely deadly in the snow, and snow tires were not optional in the winter. For 1987, the car was plenty quick (low 7 sec. 0-60), and the engine was smooth as silk all the way to redline. And you could actually hear the whirring and ticking of the engine's valve train (no hydraulic lifters) in the cabin. Sounded like an exotic car. The only BMW I enjoyed more was my E46M3. That said, in typical BMW fashion, it wasn't very reliable. Went through a number of air conditioner compressors, water pumps, radiators, along with bad suspension parts like struts, shock mounts and bushings. As for modern BMW's...you can have 'em. BMW makes nothing like the E30, and hasn't since the early 90's. My MK VII GTI is about as close as you can get to that light, responsive E30 feel. Wish it had the refined engine, but a turbo 4 banger will never come close to that sweet I6.

The Car Ninja should start his own channel!

Why do I think it'll be more work for the Ninja to supervise Tyler than it would be to just do the work himself?

I fell in love with this car back in the 5th grade. I can distinctly remember my 5th-grade teacher Ms. Miller having one, except in gold. Back then we were in portable buildings and being in Florida the A/C in those things never worked. She used to open the back door to let a breeze in and parked right outside was her little gold BMW. Which back then was kinda a big deal. I would stare out there daydreaming about driving one someday. If you do one of those crazy car giveaways or you sell it for like $500 bucks or something crazy like that, please pick me, because I would cherish it and drive it around proudly.

BMW responding to the critique of the design with: "OK Boomer". Who do you think your customers are? Woke SJWs? Bad move dissing a large part of your customers.

I totally agree with all the things he said about BMW. It's a sh*tshow now.

Tyler gauge cluster started singing Merry Christmas said happy holidays to Tyler and The Wizard...

Normal maintenance on a 30+ yrs old car, but after replacing everything the ninja pointed out it wil drive like a new car, you will not be dissapointed!!! One of the greatest driving cars, congrats!!!

After 3 surgeries this year, I watched the entire Hoovie universe. And he is absolutely right. After about 70 Cars, 4 of them 3.8 Liter Buicks and a 730i BMW and this year a Mercedes C200T (W202) I know he is as sane as I am, even though I am not living in Kansas. By the way: Hoopty icon would be a VW Phaeton.

Hoovie: I can fix everything myself! 1 hour later NNNIIINNJJJAAA HHHEEELLLPPP!!!!

My e30 never fails to deliver a smile to my face. They’re awesome to drive and easy to wrench on. I love love love it. You’ve made a *fantastic* choice for once.

protip: you can get diagnostic codes by doing the stomp test! turn key to on, fully depress the accelerator 3 times in a row and the check engine light should blink out a code for you to read. bought a '91 318is in January this year, she's been my daily & my pet project. there's really nothing quite like these car, they have their own souls & it honestly honestly feels more like a person than it does just a machine. cheers Hoovie!

Can confirm the horse hair in the seats. A friend had an E30 325 coupe. The passenger seat was properly worn and really needed reupolstering (Very itchy if you were just wearing a casual t-shirt) His engine blew tons of smoke. Your car looks in much better nic Hoovie.

I love that he always buys cars with leaks and then parks them in his garage on top of a carpet

YOU ARE SO RIGHT. I've had two e30 325is-one is still in my garage and I'll never sell it. I have two e9X cars-a 325i sport pack and an 08 335i. I have had others, and love BMWS, however, I haven't desired any past the E9X. So sad to see the era of soulless, made to throw away BMWs. My first was an 89,exactly like yours(same color,seats,etc)but 2wd. You are fortunate, my man.

I just found this episode. Jonny had my E30 last week. It had a smell and grinding noise. Couldn't find anything wrong with it. I suspect the emergency brake was stuck on. I'm in Newton. Your buddy here told me the problem was the exhaust paint burning off, then changed his mind and said the rear end needed to be rebuilt. Jonny said "nope." My E30 is in almost perfect shape. I trust Jonny so he's my new goto guy. My E30 drives circles around my Miata! Thanks for this fun video. Searching for the follow up video next.

you have the holy grail , all us car guys with our 911s and ferraris, talk about this exact car while setting in our mechanics garage.

Satisfying seeing the things wrong and then coming back when she's all cleaned up, esp on the older cars

You should get a 1 series, the last of the classic BMW formula. RWD, Manual, straight 6.

I own a 1985 325e with about 135000 miles. Body and interior are in great shape. Does need some work but otherwise in great shape. I still drive some in the summer to and from work about a mile from my home. So I still use it a bit, guessing less that 2000 miles a year. Anyway, posted it on Craigslist a few months ago for $3,000 and I had a ton of interest and many willing to take the care without seeing it other than the pictures I posted. I than deleted the post it was clear this car is worth much more that I thought. I have owed the car for over 15 years and put most of the miles on it. Will attempt to resell this spring. I had plans to update the car and continue driving but don't have the time or room for the car anymore.

Finally! A BMW I would be willing to own myself. Well done. Anxious to see this get a full detail/buff!

RIP his carpet.

My friend had one with deep-dish 13 inch wheels that stuck out past fender with low profile tires it looked great he sold it that was in 90s I still see it driving around myrtlebeach where I live someone stole rims but cars still going strong.

That right there is a great find. These are amazing on loose or slippery surfaces and they make all the right noises, they may not be as quick as even a new base 2 or 3 series but they have character that no new car will ever have. They have all but rusted away here where I live as the atlantic sea air surrounds the whole dawn place...

Hoovie's reluctance to share the price he paid makes me think it was something truly astronomical...

Great project Tyler. More like this please, something the rest of us could possible get into. As always, thanks for the great content.