Any E30 experts
Discussion
I've been after one of these for a while now. May have found one that hasn't been chaved up or is a total rust bucket.
It has a few things wrong with it. Wondered if any helpful E30 owners would be good enough to offer some advise. Since the E30 Zone is down at the moment, I figured this would be the next best place to ask.
The service indicator light doesn't work, also the owner changed the brakes last year and now the brake warning light stays on all the time. How tricky or expensive is it to repair?
It needs a new rear electric window switch. Not sure if this means just the button itself or the electrics. Again ideas of price to repair would be great.
The alarm needs repairing.
There is a large scratch on the windscreen. Could this fail an MOT? How much would a replacement E30 windscreen cost?
I'm a bit naive when it comes to these old cars. Any other tips of what to check most welcome.
I'm not an E30 expert but I'll try to help...
BeerForBreakfast said:
I've been after one of these for a while now. May have found one that hasn't been chaved up or is a total rust bucket.
It has a few things wrong with it. Wondered if any helpful E30 owners would be good enough to offer some advise. Since the E30 Zone is down at the moment, I figured this would be the next best place to ask.
The service indicator light doesn't work, also the owner changed the brakes last year and now the brake warning light stays on all the time. How tricky or expensive is it to repair? If it's the same as an E28 then the batteries on the SI boards leak and the indicator stops working. Not too hard a fix, you just need to get a replacement SI board. For the brakes, could be that when they were replaced the wear sensor wasn't reconnected or needs replacing (about a tenner).
It needs a new rear electric window switch. Not sure if this means just the button itself or the electrics. Again ideas of price to repair would be great. If it just needs the switch then it should cost a couple of quid from a breakers yard. Second hand bits aren't expensive if it needs more.
The alarm needs repairing. [b]Bin it[/i]
There is a large scratch on the windscreen. Could this fail an MOT? How much would a replacement E30 windscreen cost? £50 if you've got fully comp insurance.
I'm a bit naive when it comes to these old cars. Any other tips of what to check most welcome. Rust, rust, rust and rust. What model are you looking at?
It has a few things wrong with it. Wondered if any helpful E30 owners would be good enough to offer some advise. Since the E30 Zone is down at the moment, I figured this would be the next best place to ask.
The service indicator light doesn't work, also the owner changed the brakes last year and now the brake warning light stays on all the time. How tricky or expensive is it to repair? If it's the same as an E28 then the batteries on the SI boards leak and the indicator stops working. Not too hard a fix, you just need to get a replacement SI board. For the brakes, could be that when they were replaced the wear sensor wasn't reconnected or needs replacing (about a tenner).
It needs a new rear electric window switch. Not sure if this means just the button itself or the electrics. Again ideas of price to repair would be great. If it just needs the switch then it should cost a couple of quid from a breakers yard. Second hand bits aren't expensive if it needs more.
The alarm needs repairing. [b]Bin it[/i]
There is a large scratch on the windscreen. Could this fail an MOT? How much would a replacement E30 windscreen cost? £50 if you've got fully comp insurance.
I'm a bit naive when it comes to these old cars. Any other tips of what to check most welcome. Rust, rust, rust and rust. What model are you looking at?
check around the number plate, rear arches, scuttle and under the fuse box for rust,
If the brake lights been on since he changed the brakes I expect its the sensor on the pad, These need replacing at the same time as the pads if the warning lights come on and don't always come with the pads, This there around £10.
If the brake lights been on since he changed the brakes I expect its the sensor on the pad, These need replacing at the same time as the pads if the warning lights come on and don't always come with the pads, This there around £10.
Since its a cab, check the condition of the hood, if it hasn't been replaced, then it might leak.
Again as mentioned above, metal cancer (rust)
issues with the Diff, whining noise or a thumping felt from directly underneath the driveshaft.
have a look at the alloys, if they've been upgraded, as 17" is pretty much the limit for these cars, very common to find lowered ones, even non-chavved up ones, so check wheel/arch clearence, especially on the rear arch.
Again as mentioned above, metal cancer (rust)
issues with the Diff, whining noise or a thumping felt from directly underneath the driveshaft.
have a look at the alloys, if they've been upgraded, as 17" is pretty much the limit for these cars, very common to find lowered ones, even non-chavved up ones, so check wheel/arch clearence, especially on the rear arch.
You will need a new service light board I bet, the old batteries on board will have leaked onto the circuitry and shafted it.
The wires for the brake sensors will have broke when they changed the pads, its not expesive to renew them but it does say a bit about the car if the owner is not arsed.
By one with the best bodywork available, check the footwells for the heater matrix/valve leaking coolant. If it has a body kit you might have nightmares if you choose to remove it, if its a good one get a bodyshop to inspect it with an endoscope.
Use this for parts referencing.....
www.realoem.com
Window switches are poor on the E30, swap it with the other side to prove the button, 90% of the time that is what fails.
The wires for the brake sensors will have broke when they changed the pads, its not expesive to renew them but it does say a bit about the car if the owner is not arsed.
By one with the best bodywork available, check the footwells for the heater matrix/valve leaking coolant. If it has a body kit you might have nightmares if you choose to remove it, if its a good one get a bodyshop to inspect it with an endoscope.
Use this for parts referencing.....
www.realoem.com
Window switches are poor on the E30, swap it with the other side to prove the button, 90% of the time that is what fails.
Edited by R5GTTGAZ on Friday 23 January 19:41
Edited by R5GTTGAZ on Friday 23 January 19:42
also chech the front jacking points are in tack around the sill and floor.
my e30M3 looked fine in this area until I managed to get a screwdriver thru the floor!
Had the jacking point cut out and a new piece welded in and a new jacking point made up.
Si board will be eiter leaking batteries or flat batteries, do any of the SI lights light up? If your hand with a soldering iron its a fairly easy fix, batteries can be bought from maplins or RS components for a few ££££
Dave
PS
link to replacing batteries here http://www.beckerelectronics.com/SIboard/siboard.h...
my e30M3 looked fine in this area until I managed to get a screwdriver thru the floor!
Had the jacking point cut out and a new piece welded in and a new jacking point made up.
Si board will be eiter leaking batteries or flat batteries, do any of the SI lights light up? If your hand with a soldering iron its a fairly easy fix, batteries can be bought from maplins or RS components for a few ££££
Dave
PS
link to replacing batteries here http://www.beckerelectronics.com/SIboard/siboard.h...
Edited by David87M3 on Saturday 24th January 09:43
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