Discussion
Hello I am pondering about getting a E30 3 series for my next car (aged 18) I should be able to get them on classic insurance via footman james as they do it for people my age and insured me on my modified mini for a reasonable price.
Considering a 318is or a 325i couple with a budget of about 2500 maybe 2750 at a push
Just wondered whether they actually decent cars or not and what to look out for
Also what engine is the best to have as 325i's look a bit ropey at my money whereas can get a pretty mint 318is for a little over 2k
Reason want one is after something a bit more everyday as would love to take my mini to university but would not want to leave it on the street as it attracts too much attention and it has already nearly been robbed a few times so I may have to sell it. Possibly that is....
Considering a 318is or a 325i couple with a budget of about 2500 maybe 2750 at a push
Just wondered whether they actually decent cars or not and what to look out for
Also what engine is the best to have as 325i's look a bit ropey at my money whereas can get a pretty mint 318is for a little over 2k
Reason want one is after something a bit more everyday as would love to take my mini to university but would not want to leave it on the street as it attracts too much attention and it has already nearly been robbed a few times so I may have to sell it. Possibly that is....
Yeah a lot of adverts seem to mention rust on the arches
These two seem decent for my sort of budget though
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1816703.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1848525.htm
I could find 3k for one but it would have to be very nice
I am attempting to save money so a 318is may be a better option
These two seem decent for my sort of budget though
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1816703.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1848525.htm
I could find 3k for one but it would have to be very nice
I am attempting to save money so a 318is may be a better option
Mr.Jimbo said:
I think you'll struggle for insurance at 18 with a 325i, I'm paying £700 F/C on my 318iS at 21, with 4 years NCB, and thats after a lot of shopping around!
Did you ever try ringing footman james?To put it into perspective i pay £755 on my mini fire and theft with all mods aged 17 and next cheapest was flux at over £2,000. Classic insurance at young age makes it very reasonable I would hope just need to make sure it is garage and stick it on a limited millage. If I have quote over 1500 I will just keep the mini to be honest and drop a 1330 inside instead.
HellDiver said:
Good luck getting a 318is or 325i that hasn't been diffed to death at that money. The 6-pot are prone to overheating on cylinder 6 and popping the head gasket if the coolant is not changed every two years which would concern me. Rust is also an issue on the E30.
EFA. Rust on any 20+ year old car may or may not be an issue. For the E30, look in the engine bay around the front turrets as well as all the usual places for any car.
318iS would be more likely at that budget. Make sure it is a 16v version being offered for sale before you hand over your cash
Get yourself onto E30zone.
blimey how things change, i picked up a old dog of a E30 for £200 years ago and apart from eating fuel pumps at £100 each it was a pretty dam good car.
Mine was a 1.8 8v, and for 110 hp it was pretty good fun. Lets you explore the world of rwd without being too much of a twitchy beast. Insurance was pretty steep though so the OP should get some quotes before getting too carried away especially with the idea of a 325i.
For what its worth id pick a 318IS over a 320i for certain but the 325i is a different animal all together.
Mine was a 1.8 8v, and for 110 hp it was pretty good fun. Lets you explore the world of rwd without being too much of a twitchy beast. Insurance was pretty steep though so the OP should get some quotes before getting too carried away especially with the idea of a 325i.
For what its worth id pick a 318IS over a 320i for certain but the 325i is a different animal all together.
greggy50 said:
Hello I am pondering about getting a E30 3 series for my next car (aged 18) I should be able to get them on classic insurance via footman james as they do it for people my age and insured me on my modified mini for a reasonable price.
Considering a 318is or a 325i couple with a budget of about 2500 maybe 2750 at a push
Just wondered whether they actually decent cars or not and what to look out for
Also what engine is the best to have as 325i's look a bit ropey at my money whereas can get a pretty mint 318is for a little over 2k
Reason want one is after something a bit more everyday as would love to take my mini to university but would not want to leave it on the street as it attracts too much attention and it has already nearly been robbed a few times so I may have to sell it. Possibly that is....
I had a 318 e30 and hated it, although strangely enough I could be tempted by another.Considering a 318is or a 325i couple with a budget of about 2500 maybe 2750 at a push
Just wondered whether they actually decent cars or not and what to look out for
Also what engine is the best to have as 325i's look a bit ropey at my money whereas can get a pretty mint 318is for a little over 2k
Reason want one is after something a bit more everyday as would love to take my mini to university but would not want to leave it on the street as it attracts too much attention and it has already nearly been robbed a few times so I may have to sell it. Possibly that is....
Rust I think is an issue these days, although oddly enough I don't recall any rust on the one I had, none at all.
Personally I'd rather go for a 6 pot over a 4 pot, so while it's not the performance variant, I'd rather have a 320 over a 318IS, assuming a 325 is out of the question.
If you fancy something different but of similar ilk, then maybe a Brit alternative is worth a look. In the from of a Triumph 2000/2500. It too has a lovely straight 6 motor, similar shape and layout (although more curvy). Certainly more rare, but doesn't shout about it. And as an already Mini owner can probably relate to another BL offering.
I don't think rust or age is really likely to be much more of an issue on the Triumph compared to an e30. As they are both in the time period where things go wrong.
While over budget, there was a mint Triumph 2.5 PI on eBay about 5-6 months back, it was up at £3500. So I'd have thought for your budget you should be able to find quite a tidy example with a bit of searching.
They look rather cool too with a couple of simple mods
Given your age I'd recommend going for a 318is; insurance on a 325 would be horrific (I've tried 
). I have an IS and I love it. The engine is revvy, the handling is good and on a run it returns over 30mpg.
Rust is the biggest problem on these. Check the arches, sunroof, the panel under the windscreen and under the carpet in the boot. All of these areas are prone to rust and can be expensive fixes.
Good luck with finding one!
). I have an IS and I love it. The engine is revvy, the handling is good and on a run it returns over 30mpg.Rust is the biggest problem on these. Check the arches, sunroof, the panel under the windscreen and under the carpet in the boot. All of these areas are prone to rust and can be expensive fixes.
Good luck with finding one!
HellDiver said:
Good luck getting a 318is or 325i that hasn't been diffed to death at that money. The 6-pot are prone to overheating on cylinder 6 and popping the head gasket which would concern me. Rust is also an issue on the E30.
Sorry, this is b
ks, I've been around M20 6 cylinders for over 20 years, raced them and owned several, including E30s and E21s. The engines are NOT prone to 'overheating' at all. Judging by your profile- you're perhaps comparing it to a new Mondeo-which is a totally different car. If you don't understand the intricacies of looking after a car- ie keeping an eye on coolant levels, and making sure the viscous fan clutch is working- any old car can seem unreliable. There's nothing inherent in the design that cause overheating -(for instance like a stock Triumph Stag, or Jaguar XK engine driving around Arizona)
The "885 , "731 and previously "200 cylinder head castings were sometimes porous from the factory and some were prone to cracking.By this time the ones that have survived are most likely fine. That said I've never had any problems but then I look after my cars. I used to use an E21 2.7 as a daily driver as recently as 2006.
Check for rust along the wheel arches and sills- they rust more than some contemporary cars, such as Audis or VWs but only a bit worse than the W123 Mercs. For rust they're ALOT better than Ford Sierras or Austin Rovers for instance.
Thanks for all this help
I think first thing I will do is get an insurance quote over the weekend and see what it brings.
I think 318is may be way forward as looking should be a bit more fun in the twisties as weighs a fair bit less. Also insurance should be a lot better and looking I should be able to get a pretty mint example for my budget which is important to me as any minor rust etc... would annoy me so I would want the cleanest car I could afford and keep it that way.
300bhp/tonne - That triumph does look very nice but I can imagine upkeep may be a bit too much for me at the moment as want something that mechanically is pretty relibale which the BMW is meant to be whereas I see that more as a nice 2nd car for the weekend. Personally I dont see why the E30 could not be used everday as I will be myself.
Kentish - Thanks
Danny S - Long time no speak indeed mate
I think first thing I will do is get an insurance quote over the weekend and see what it brings.
I think 318is may be way forward as looking should be a bit more fun in the twisties as weighs a fair bit less. Also insurance should be a lot better and looking I should be able to get a pretty mint example for my budget which is important to me as any minor rust etc... would annoy me so I would want the cleanest car I could afford and keep it that way.
300bhp/tonne - That triumph does look very nice but I can imagine upkeep may be a bit too much for me at the moment as want something that mechanically is pretty relibale which the BMW is meant to be whereas I see that more as a nice 2nd car for the weekend. Personally I dont see why the E30 could not be used everday as I will be myself.
Kentish - Thanks
Danny S - Long time no speak indeed mate
inlovewithRWD said:
Given your age I'd recommend going for a 318is; insurance on a 325 would be horrific (I've tried ). I have an IS and I love it. The engine is revvy, the handling is good and on a run it returns over 30mpg.
Rust is the biggest problem on these. Check the arches, sunroof, the panel under the windscreen and under the carpet in the boot. All of these areas are prone to rust and can be expensive fixes.
Good luck with finding one!
). I have an IS and I love it. The engine is revvy, the handling is good and on a run it returns over 30mpg.Rust is the biggest problem on these. Check the arches, sunroof, the panel under the windscreen and under the carpet in the boot. All of these areas are prone to rust and can be expensive fixes.
Good luck with finding one!
CHECK!
My E30 has rust in nearly all of those areas, DO I WIN?
greggy50 said:
Thanks for all this help
I think first thing I will do is get an insurance quote over the weekend and see what it brings.
I think 318is may be way forward as looking should be a bit more fun in the twisties as weighs a fair bit less. Also insurance should be a lot better and looking I should be able to get a pretty mint example for my budget which is important to me as any minor rust etc... would annoy me so I would want the cleanest car I could afford and keep it that way.
300bhp/tonne - That triumph does look very nice but I can imagine upkeep may be a bit too much for me at the moment as want something that mechanically is pretty relibale which the BMW is meant to be whereas I see that more as a nice 2nd car for the weekend. Personally I dont see why the E30 could not be used everday as I will be myself.
Kentish - Thanks
Danny S - Long time no speak indeed mate
If you can insure a 325 then get one. The noise is simply amazing. rust areas on mine were front turrets, rear arch liners and seat belt pickup points.I think first thing I will do is get an insurance quote over the weekend and see what it brings.
I think 318is may be way forward as looking should be a bit more fun in the twisties as weighs a fair bit less. Also insurance should be a lot better and looking I should be able to get a pretty mint example for my budget which is important to me as any minor rust etc... would annoy me so I would want the cleanest car I could afford and keep it that way.
300bhp/tonne - That triumph does look very nice but I can imagine upkeep may be a bit too much for me at the moment as want something that mechanically is pretty relibale which the BMW is meant to be whereas I see that more as a nice 2nd car for the weekend. Personally I dont see why the E30 could not be used everday as I will be myself.
Kentish - Thanks
Danny S - Long time no speak indeed mate
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff