Picking your perfect project car is a personal experience. Do you want a car that’s easy to work on or one you can sell for a lot of money later? Are you planning on turning your project car into your daily driver, or are you just tricking it out for showrooms or the track?
For many car fans, a BMW — especially an older one — can be an excellent option for a project car. Why should you pick an older BMW for your new project build? Here are four reasons.
- They’re High-Quality and Attractive
Utilitarian cars don’t always look the best — they’re certainly not something you’re going to take to your local car show unless it’s to show off that it’s 0-60. That’s one of the best things that BMW has going for them — they make those blocky, utilitarian cars sexy. Even if you pick up a model that is a couple of decades old, chances are it will still be in pretty good shape and might also run.
- They’re Everywhere
Sure, a brand-new Beamer might be out of your price range, but older BMW’s are just about everywhere. You can pick up a used 3 series for a few thousand dollars — well below Blue Book value — nearly anywhere in the country. Seriously, pull up Craigslist right now, or your newspaper’s classified and search “Used BMW for Sale.”
A quick search for Tampa, Florida with a maximum price of $5000 brings back more than 800 results – and that’s just on Craigslist!
- Their Parts Are Easy to Get
You don’t have to worry about sourcing your parts from Germany anymore. You can find replacement parts online, or at your local auto parts store without too much trouble. Ordering parts online can help save you some money, but you’ll need to match up some other at the store before you bring them home to make sure you get the perfect replacement.
If you’re not able to find the perfect replacement part, don’t worry too much. Most of these old BMWs are made mostly of steel, making it easy to get custom parts stamped. Plus, metal stamping you know you’re always getting a part that fits perfectly.
- They’re Good for Everything
A BMW is good for just about everything — daily driving, shows, spending time on the track or any combination of the three. It doesn’t take much to swap your tires and spend some time on the road, then swap them back and drive home.
What your BMW can do will be entirely up to the work you do to it. When it comes down to it, these little cars are good for just about everything.
There’s nothing quite like owning a BMW, no matter how old it is. If you’re looking for a new project car, consider adding a BMW to your collection. You won’t be disappointed, and you may even find a new love for mechanics you would have missed out on otherwise.