By this point, September (2016) was drawing to a close, and I still hadn’t found a suitable car for the right price. One car that really caught my attention was a mid ‘90s BMW 525i, but it was located about 2 hours north of my house. The price was right, but I thought the pictures on the craigslist posting didn’t tell the whole tale. Since I didn’t want to drag myself and a friend (assuming I’d buy the car) that far north for nothing, I contacted the seller asking for the status and pictures of the underbody, shock towers, and a few other failure-prone areas.
Ultimately that 525i wouldn’t be the car; it was too far away and there were too many questions about its condition. It did set me on the path to my eventual car of choice though. A 5-series was too heavy and had too many comfort features that I didn’t want. A 3-series would be a good candidate, since they were reasonably well-powered, rear wheel drive, and there are tons of cheap parts floating around since they sold a shitload of the various 3-series’ over the last 20 years. Luckily, I spotted a 1999 BMW 323i on craigslist with an asking price of $1100, and located just two towns over from me. I had a friend give me a ride over to get a second set of eyes on the car, and because I had a good feeling that I’d end up driving that car home.
We pull up to the address we agreed to meet at and it looks like an abandoned business, but sure enough, there is a white BMW sitting out front and another car whose driver looks like they’re waiting for someone. We introduce ourselves to the seller, and he starts showing me the car, starting it up, explaining some of its known faults, the usual stuff associated with a craigslist transaction. Highlights of his explanation included at least one snapped rear spring, the instrument cluster was non-functional, and the car included a set of 10-point star chrome rims. Additionally, I found ~10 diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when I scanned the car. Nevertheless, the car started and ran just fine, and after taking it for a quick test drive up and down the block, I agreed to buy it. He was asking $1100, I offered $900, and since I explained that I was going to fix it up and race it he counter-offered $800 on the condition that I send him a picture of it on track within a year.
We do up the paperwork, I hand him a wad of twenties, and he hands me the keys on a ring with what appeared to be two house keys and a rape whistle (never used, according to the owner). Shortly after, we part ways, and I have my friend follow me home just to make sure my new ride didn’t leave me stranded somewhere on 12 Mile Road. Gordan following me served multiple purposes: first was to help if I broke down, second was to flash his lights at me if I started speeding (since the instrument cluster was dead), and third was to obscure my lack of plates from any police we might pass. That third point was more for convenience than anything, since the signed vehicle title serves as a temporary registration, and if you’re familiar with the area, you’ll know that cars driving around without plates is nothing unusual. We make it to my driveway without any trouble, where I park, thank Gordan for his help, and send him on his way before going back out to the Bimmer to see just what I had gotten myself into. It turns out that it was more than I bargained for; there was already a growing puddle of coolant in my driveway. “Hmm, weird, I don’t remember any coolant puddles on the ground when we went to pick it up, I’m sure its nothing”
Nope. wrong again, it was definitely something.
Here’s a short overview of the car after I picked it up:
slight rust on sheet metal edges 
the driver’s seat and steering wheel were severely worn 
aside from a few tire marks, the rear seat was in good shape 
Dinan tuned? (yes, I called them with the VIN and they confirmed it had their relfash) 
Dinan cold air intake, with an unplugged MAF sensor.
Sidenote, as a condition of the transaction the seller required me to take these wheels that were sitting in the back seat of the car:
