few BMW questions.

[spaz]

Trying to read up on http://www.bmwinfo.com/23000.html and the above pinned thread but still a few questions.

I am looking to spend ~$2000 on a BMW mid 80's.

Where's the best place to buy? Private party?

Does the "i" designate a 2 door?

Also, I desire leather if possible....is this standard?

And finally.... 325 (85-?) are straight Six, correct?

Eventually I am looking to mod it up (probably supercharge) but dunno much about it.

[Aether]

All E30 (1984-1991) 325s have M20 inline-sixes; the i and is models have a 2.5L (M20B25), and the e and es have a 2.7L (M20B27). The i-spec motor has 168hp and 164lb-ft, whereas the e has 121hp and 170lb-ft.

While it is possible to have a 325i with two doors, most are sedans. The 325is and 325es are nothing but coupes, and basically the same as a 325i coupe with slight mechanical differences mainly in suspension and probably a different LSD (although the es still has a B27). I don't think leather is standard on any E30s, but it was an option on virtually if not all of them.

It's always nice to have the haggling ability you get from a private party, but with such old cars, I think it's safer to go through a dealer. At this point in a car's life, the price difference won't be that great, provided the dealers aren't completely evil, which may tuen out to be the case.

You could learn a lot from reading Spiff's thread about buying an E30.
Welcome aboard, questions welcome.

[spiff325is]

well said, I couldnt sum that up anymore.