E30 Convertable buying advice

[bigtalljim]

Thinking about getting a soft top 3 Series, and I love the shape of the E30. So the question is which one? and would it be an enjoyable weekend blast as well as a to and from work car?
Any major things to look out for?

[RodentRacing]

Good choice sir. Don't bother with a four pot. Six cylinder is the only way for a rag top. Get yourself on e30zone. Plently of friendly, knowledgeable e30ites over there will gladly assist.

[bigtalljim]

e30zone? How does one get onto that? I have TVR S at the moment and 318 Touring so looking to sell both and have one covertable toy/car.
Got to be 6 pot indeed, just dont know a hell of a lot about the ups and downs of the soft top models

[Mustard]

Just look out for wheel arch and sill rust, and a car with lowish owners (Many have double figures!) good service history (local garage is fine), worth finding out when cam belt was last changed (every 4yrs/40k miles) avoid chav laiden crates from ethnic minorites

Electric roofs are best avoided..... if the car does have one check its operation several times

Leather trim is desirable as are 15" BBS cross spoke alloys wheels

Cars worth buying start at around £2k (likely to be a 320i Auto though) for a really nice proper 325i manual (manuals are surprisingly rare....think they tended to be bought new by affluent women whos preference is for an Auto) in excellent order throughout ie roof, trim and all bodywork is circa £4k

[Shine-On]

bigtalljim said:

e30zone? How does one get onto that? I have TVR S at the moment and 318 Touring so looking to sell both and have one covertable toy/car.
Got to be 6 pot indeed, just dont know a hell of a lot about the ups and downs of the soft top models

www.e30zone.co.uk

Very helpful forum with a lot of people that really know their stuff.

Agree that its got to be a 325i really, manual if you can find one although as said the auto's are much more common. I'd say bodywork is going to be the biggest issue, the dreaded tin worm. The engines are easy enough to change so if worst came to the worst, you could drop a rebuilt engine/gearbox in for sensible money, providing the body and chassis are up together. Buy on condition and history rather than how many owners/mileage/what toys it has.

I was very lucky in picking up my 1990 325i Touring in January this year with just 2 previous owners and a fully documented 61k miles from new! I've since added 10k miles to that so far.

[Paracetamol]

Mustard said:

avoid chav laiden crates from ethnic minorites

Who- like those whitefolk in SE London