Shed of the Week: BMW 320i E30

A six-cylinder, manual E30 that isn't going for silly money? This is Shed's kind of classic

What defines a classic? Rarity? Performance? Style? Heritage? All of the above?

No 'four-door coupe' saloon nonsense here!

Whatever does it for you, the biggest and most inescapable hurdle that must be factored into classic ownership these days is purchase cost. Low interest rates and high levels of bank distrust have brought classics back into the sights of those investors who want to do something a bit more life-affirming than stuffing smelly tenners into a mattress. Annoyingly for buyers, this investment activity is driving prices up. Now, even the filthiest old sack of oxidised parts calls itself a 'great project' and bears a £4,995 price ticket.

Refreshing then, to find a BMW that is not only approaching classic status, but is also apparently solid, useable and - most importantly - affordable.

Looking now at the primary school art class three-box body with chest-freezer boot, it seems hard to believe that E30s were once much sought after by high-achieving aspirationalists. Shed was one of them. He still remembers the extraordinary efforts he made to try and wheedle a 320i company car out of one employer. It didn't work. He ended up with a beige Escort 1.3 L with brown seats, a car that was better than it sounds, but his failure to score an E30 on the firm still rankles slightly.

Is that an original dealer sticker?

In pure driving terms the 318i was probably the better all-round car, but there was something special about the creamy six-pot rasp of the nose-heavy 320i. It was neither fast nor economical, the devil's combination, but nor was it as prone to head cracking as the 325i. And they were classy. You can't put a price on that.

Well, you can, and in this case it's a grand. That's a tempter. This car has the steel wheels and original giffer wheel trims, which for those of a certain age only adds to its desirability. You might want to find some BBS wheels, but Shed reckons they wouldn't look right on a four-door.

Rust is the big issue. At this age, and for this money, it's definitely going to be frilly on the door bottoms and most likely elsewhere (especially in the boot and rear numberplate area), but if this car has spent most of its life in Sussex rather than Stromness there's a chance it might be better than average underneath.

The vendor has spent money on welding to get it through a recent MOT, and the suspension turrets look nice and clean. He mentions the suspension arms, a well known E30 foible. Electrics, clutch and brake master cylinders and any item that drives, pumps or cools anything is going to need replacing at some point. Unreasonable to expect much more really from a car that's a quarter of a century old. For the same reason, don't expect a 21st century driving experience.

Interior good, bar one strange addition...

Or, indeed, a cheap one. Running even relatively prosaic old BMWs like this can be a pocket-emptier. Fortunately there are some excellent specialists in Britain who will help to take the sting out of it. Be warned: six-pot E30s have cambelts, not chains. They don't last long either, and it's an interference engine. Classic insurance will be good value though.

Anyone care to guess why there's a kitchen cupboard handle on the driver's knee panel? Shed's best guess is that it's something to hang a flat cap on. Send your alternative answers to Kitchen Handle Comp, c/o Matt Bird. The most imaginative submissions will receive absolutely nothing.

Here's the ad.

Original classic 1987 BMW E30 for sale, MOT until August 2014 & tax until Feb 2014. Low mileage for age at 91,000.Well maintained Service history from a BMW specialist. Vehicle in good condition & runs smoothly. It is a 2.0 petrol with a straight six engine.

Recent work includes brake fluid change, new themostat with coolant flush & welding repairs carried out to the front underside. Only advisories on the MOT are to expected of the vehicle age, front suspension arms rubber bushes deteriating but not resuting in excessive movement. Slight play in steering rack joints & suspension stops starting to perish. All items which are to be expected. Other notible repairs include new fuel tank in 2011 & cambelt changed at 81,500 miles

Small dents in both front wings by the headlights & dent/scratch in nsr door. Again reasonable condition for vehicle age. Interior of vehicle is in good condition & has not changed from new.

OP Posts Only

Prev 2 3...9 10 Next

OP Posts Only

Author

Discussion

nagsheadwarrior

Original Poster

2,789 posts

209 months