e30 lust.... the search for a 325i sport begins....
Discussion
yes the rust problem is my single biggest issue... also theres no shortage of mutton dressed as lamb and some very sharp sale practices out there amongst some folks... im happy to play a long game and i doubt ill stumble across the ever elusive barn find but id hope to get sorted for around 8k
im happy to sit it out and wait for the right one but it has to be any colour other than white and must be a tech 2 and coupe in reasonable condition with solid provenance and below average miles
i know im not the only one looking for it and decent cars command strong money so lets see what happens
i know im not the only one looking for it and decent cars command strong money so lets see what happens
iSore said:
Like E30 M3's, most of these have seen some action and even more with a mig welder. There are very few really good opens - plenty of cars that look tidy but which have seen some very substandard repair work. They rot like a b
d behind the sills covers, the rear wing plastic bodykit bit as well as the front jacking points, rear arch tubs, roof skin (sunroof cars) etc etc.
A very good one that passes muster is a 10 grand car now but there's plenty of shiny substandard ste about for less. A proper inspection is essential and depending on where you are in the country I can point you jun the direction of guys who know their stuff. Do not assume either that cars sold by dealers with smart studio photography are anything special either.
im a pretty experienced buyer and my local indies are cpc and dmworx and old colonel cars are just around the corner. im handy myself but always good to know of others esp if they come recommended. ive registered on e30 zone as well.d behind the sills covers, the rear wing plastic bodykit bit as well as the front jacking points, rear arch tubs, roof skin (sunroof cars) etc etc.A very good one that passes muster is a 10 grand car now but there's plenty of shiny substandard s
te about for less. A proper inspection is essential and depending on where you are in the country I can point you jun the direction of guys who know their stuff. Do not assume either that cars sold by dealers with smart studio photography are anything special either.i would not be averse to getting the bodywork properly sorted but i need a good and honest basis to work from
JungleGus said:
Good man! It can be a ballache at times, but worth it! At least on a slight modded one. Don't be scared off by good quality mods - they need them to be moderately interesting to drive. I've had around 10 and a well sorted 325i Sport is my fav. I have mine with an M52 and E30 M3 suspension/brakes and she's great around a track, back roads...bit noisy at speed on the motorway but hey.
Number 1 thing as mentioned is rust - get it up on a hoist and have a good poke around with someone who knows what they are doing. Almost all of them are, but there are good ones out there.
Depending on what you want it for, I would strongly recommend a M52'd Sport - the owners loss in £ will be your gain, and they drive way better with the extra power/torque. If it's got an M52 manifold it should be around 50hp up on stock pretty easily. If you want to return to standard, it's not too tough.
Another option is to find a rust free shell and play around with engines/suspension, depending how adept you are mechanically. You probably want to be anyway if you're buying an E30.
Good luck! I have the same username on the E30Zone, happy to chat if you have any questions. If you want someone to do a pre-purchase inspection I can strongly recommend Barry - bss325i on the zone
ill take you up on your offer!Number 1 thing as mentioned is rust - get it up on a hoist and have a good poke around with someone who knows what they are doing. Almost all of them are, but there are good ones out there.
Depending on what you want it for, I would strongly recommend a M52'd Sport - the owners loss in £ will be your gain, and they drive way better with the extra power/torque. If it's got an M52 manifold it should be around 50hp up on stock pretty easily. If you want to return to standard, it's not too tough.
Another option is to find a rust free shell and play around with engines/suspension, depending how adept you are mechanically. You probably want to be anyway if you're buying an E30.
Good luck! I have the same username on the E30Zone, happy to chat if you have any questions. If you want someone to do a pre-purchase inspection I can strongly recommend Barry - bss325i on the zone
im also a strictly 'as it left the factory' kind of guy boring i know but i like mine just plain vanilla
my daily is an alpina b3s coupe so the e30 will be largely a garage queen for special weekend action
gents thanks so much for sharing your personal experiences... i have to say that i wasnt quite expecting to hear so many horror stories and it really is making me think carefully about my next move
i think the tip about the buyign the person before the care is one that ill definitely take on which means ill likely need to source through the enthusiast community
im also getting a little wary that a car that should be a pleasure to own could end up being a real pita if not careful...
my only issue now is whether i continue to focus on the e30 or whether i should cast the net wider
the only other things ive considered include an s series tvr..
i think the tip about the buyign the person before the care is one that ill definitely take on which means ill likely need to source through the enthusiast community
im also getting a little wary that a car that should be a pleasure to own could end up being a real pita if not careful...
my only issue now is whether i continue to focus on the e30 or whether i should cast the net wider
the only other things ive considered include an s series tvr..
ok so this is where im at so far... im still open minded but it looks like i will now also have a poke around for a chimaera...
prob with the e36 is that it doesnt grab my soul in the same way the e30 does and i would rather not compromise unless i really have to.... the tvr tickles the soft spot but i never had anything but german cars before so i need to have a careful think
prob with the e36 is that it doesnt grab my soul in the same way the e30 does and i would rather not compromise unless i really have to.... the tvr tickles the soft spot but i never had anything but german cars before so i need to have a careful think
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