E30 Convertibles...worth a punt?
Discussion
This popped up on the Autotrader...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Been lowered etc...just wondering peoples thoughts??? These getting into classic car area? Worth a punt for retro 80's soft-top motoring?
I think it looks better than the E36 that replaced it.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Been lowered etc...just wondering peoples thoughts??? These getting into classic car area? Worth a punt for retro 80's soft-top motoring?
I think it looks better than the E36 that replaced it.
JohnnyRims said:
I think you'd have to go and see that in the flesh and get a feel for the seller - much less of a punt then. These will, in general, have two types of owner. Those who look after them and see them as classics, and council estate heroes who don't.
exactly spot on.There was an old boy across the road from my house that had 2 E30's a 325 sport and a 325se. Everyweekend without fail he would be out there washing a polishing them.
4years ago i bought the sport from him (which i now dont have but has been totally restored to showroom spec!!) last week it appears he has sold his other one to some chav, you now see it hooning around the local crappy town with a crappy set of aftermarket wheels.
Such a shame as that car was pampered and cared for all its life. If only he had told me about the other 325

S3_Graham said:
exactly spot on.
There was an old boy across the road from my house that had 2 E30's a 325 sport and a 325se. Everyweekend without fail he would be out there washing a polishing them.
4years ago i bought the sport from him (which i now dont have but has been totally restored to showroom spec!!) last week it appears he has sold his other one to some chav, you now see it hooning around the local crappy town with a crappy set of aftermarket wheels.
Such a shame as that car was pampered and cared for all its life. If only he had told me about the other 325
Me sad, that makes.There was an old boy across the road from my house that had 2 E30's a 325 sport and a 325se. Everyweekend without fail he would be out there washing a polishing them.
4years ago i bought the sport from him (which i now dont have but has been totally restored to showroom spec!!) last week it appears he has sold his other one to some chav, you now see it hooning around the local crappy town with a crappy set of aftermarket wheels.
Such a shame as that car was pampered and cared for all its life. If only he had told me about the other 325

Any pictures of your E30?, Very much like them.
JohnnyRims said:
I think you'd have to go and see that in the flesh and get a feel for the seller - much less of a punt then. These will, in general, have two types of owner. Those who look after them and see them as classics, and council estate heroes who don't.
+1The E30 really suffered the same fate as E36s now. When they get to a certain price they get bought up by the type of people whose idea of modification is 19" wheels and a sub in the boot.
If you find a good one then they are an appreciating classic, if you buy a wrong 'un then they can be absolute rot boxes!
I managed to find a good one (low mileage, rot free, always garaged) and I have never looked back.
However this one doesn't look too promising tbh. If I were you I'd be looking for a 325i for a convertible (thirsty but worth it for the noise they make). This one has questionable mileage and also appears to have the usual "modifications": stick on badges on the headrests (wtf!), nasty replica Alpinas and a big suspension drop (probably 60mm). There are much better ones out there...
I wouldn't touch that one with a bargepole for all the reasons mentioned already.
But if you can find a good unmolested one, go for it! They are moving towards classic status, parts availability is good, I love the unfussy design and they are reasonably "entertaining" to drive, even in 1.8i spec.
At that sort of price point, I'd be looking at this very straight-looking 325i:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-325i-cabriolet-Auto-/130...
But if you can find a good unmolested one, go for it! They are moving towards classic status, parts availability is good, I love the unfussy design and they are reasonably "entertaining" to drive, even in 1.8i spec.
At that sort of price point, I'd be looking at this very straight-looking 325i:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-325i-cabriolet-Auto-/130...
Avoid this one for all the reasons given before:
No close up pics, wrong engine, 49k on recon engine (what is total mileage?), excessive suspension drop etc.
Find a good 325i but don't expect it to handle like the saloon as the body will flex a lot.
Rot is the big worry (rear arches, sills, scuttle, footwells (especially behind the pedals). If it's a solid shell everything else can be sorted relatively cheaply.
Still a fun. drop-top, four-seater which looks great if kept fairly standard.
No close up pics, wrong engine, 49k on recon engine (what is total mileage?), excessive suspension drop etc.
Find a good 325i but don't expect it to handle like the saloon as the body will flex a lot.
Rot is the big worry (rear arches, sills, scuttle, footwells (especially behind the pedals). If it's a solid shell everything else can be sorted relatively cheaply.
Still a fun. drop-top, four-seater which looks great if kept fairly standard.
ZOLLAR said:
S3_Graham said:
exactly spot on.
There was an old boy across the road from my house that had 2 E30's a 325 sport and a 325se. Everyweekend without fail he would be out there washing a polishing them.
4years ago i bought the sport from him (which i now dont have but has been totally restored to showroom spec!!) last week it appears he has sold his other one to some chav, you now see it hooning around the local crappy town with a crappy set of aftermarket wheels.
Such a shame as that car was pampered and cared for all its life. If only he had told me about the other 325
Me sad, that makes.There was an old boy across the road from my house that had 2 E30's a 325 sport and a 325se. Everyweekend without fail he would be out there washing a polishing them.
4years ago i bought the sport from him (which i now dont have but has been totally restored to showroom spec!!) last week it appears he has sold his other one to some chav, you now see it hooning around the local crappy town with a crappy set of aftermarket wheels.
Such a shame as that car was pampered and cared for all its life. If only he had told me about the other 325

Any pictures of your E30?, Very much like them.


The 325se in my ownership

The 325 post restoration

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