E30 AUTO MOTORSPORT (1987)

[Dangertwin]

I'm currently looking at buying an E30 AUTO MOTORSPORT (1987) with near 100k on the clock. I would like to know if anyone knows of any issues I should look for when I go for the test-drive/vehicle inspection. ANYTHING age/mile related, and if a part goes at a certain point, what that part(s) is and how much it is to replace. I need to know a bit of background basically.

Any help/experience would be appreciated.

Az

[swindler]

Rust, rust and rust: bulkhead, roof, scuttle, inner rear arches, back lights. Everything else mechanical isn't too bad to be honest

[Dangertwin]

Cheers! Fingers crossed.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

swindler said:

Rust, rust and rust: bulkhead, roof, scuttle, inner rear arches, back lights. Everything else mechanical isn't too bad to be honest

Exactly this; rust is the killer. I'd also suggest you take a torch and once you've got the sunroof open use the torch to check out how bad the back of the roof is inside. The channels block and thus rust soon forms.

If you can see the rust then it'll be bad as they rust from the inside out. Check the battery box in the boot (underneath too) and also behind the rear number plate. Also check the triangular piece of metal under the water bottles (at the front of the car) as they weep and they can rust v badly. It's not a biggie as you can simply weld new in but it's more cost you know. Also - check the power steering isn't weeping from the actual arms (not the fluid level as such). It's a hassle changing the powersteering (fiddly rather than difficult).

Mechanically - parts are plentiful and you can pick 2nd hand stuff on e30zone, PH classifieds, breakers, BMW itself. the 325 engine is the same as in other 325i's - sometimes the gearbox was different (but not always) and sometimes they had LSD's (but not always). To check i it's an LSD either crawl under the car and check out the tag attached to the LSD (should read S 3:64 or 3:15 or 3:27 etc - it's the faint S that's crucial) or jack the car up and turn one of the rear wheels - they should both rotate in the same direction. Careful on the latter option however.

And the only way to tell a sport is by checking with BMW itself. Yuo can get DVLA to put 'Sport' on the v5 so it's not a given if the reg documents say 'sport' or motorsport. How to tell a sport? BMW only made them in specific colours. That's the only way to tell. It should have the german for 'special paint or special order (hang on, need to check the translation/memory). It's usually at the end of the order sheet.

Epic cars - good luck.

[BlueProp]

Dangertwin said:

I'm currently looking at buying an E30 AUTO MOTORSPORT (1987) with near 100k on the clock. I would like to know if anyone knows of any issues I should look for when I go for the test-drive/vehicle inspection. ANYTHING age/mile related, and if a part goes at a certain point, what that part(s) is and how much it is to replace. I need to know a bit of background basically.

Any help/experience would be appreciated.

Az

Check the lower dash trim below the steering wheel to the right. This was foobared on mine.....it hangs down. Also, the alarm rechargeable battery in the alarm unit, once it's one it's way out it warbles instead of beeps ! The seal on the petrol tank or filler neck went also went, I could fill it half way no problem, any more then a smell of petrol hung about until the level dropped. This was on a 1989 touring I had earlier in the year.

And as has been said....rust!