Today's homework for 'class'......

[PJ S]

....really fancy a bit of a Bavarian MotorWerks shed, but utterly clueless as to what I should be looking out for or at!
So, some here that have caught my eye - anyone fancy critiquing them and letting me know what I'd be letting myself in for on the different ones?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=27...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26... (323)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=27...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=26...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=27...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=20...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=25...

Bit all over the shop there, but any and all comments gratefully received.

[Seeker UK]

You want one of these - similar price, and much classier:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2695025.htm

[PJ S]

Thanks but '86 is a bit too far back in time to appeal.
I'm even fighting with myself to include those B10's.

[E30M3SE]

I would narrow down the petrol/diesel thing first.

Visually and going by the description, stand out car in that lot is the 330i M/sport with 130K,

[PJ S]

Thank you, and the green paint doesn't exactly put me off, oddly.
Any particular reason why that one stands out.
As for diesel v petrol, I'm fighting hard to fathom that one out myself.
On the one hand, some savings on VED & fuel, but offset possibly with potentially big bill if (when?) the turbo decides to take the hump and not want to play any more.

The B10's then - too old, too high a mileage to not be a money pit, even allowing for high VED & fuel costs?

[BalhamBadger]

E30M3SE said:

I would narrow down the petrol/diesel thing first.

Visually and going by the description, stand out car in that lot is the 330i M/sport with 130K,

Which of the links is this? Love the colour.

[E30M3SE]

Is the first one a real B10?????

Second one coming on to 190K, so could have some bill just round the corner, but then that could be said of any of these car, if you need the extra space/a bigger saloon, then certainly this one over the silver 'Alpina'.

The green 330, BMW F/s/h, some may argue that this does not count for st, but one thing it does show is that on expense has been spared, and auto gearbox oil changed which is vital on those ZF auto's.

[E30M3SE]

BalhamBadger said:

E30M3SE said:

I would narrow down the petrol/diesel thing first.

Visually and going by the description, stand out car in that lot is the 330i M/sport with 130K,

Which of the links is this? Love the colour.

6th from the top

[Seeker UK]

E30M3SE said:

Is the first one a real B10?????

No, it's a 535i with Alpina wheels.

[Seeker UK]

PJ S said:

Thanks but '86 is a bit too far back in time to appeal.
I'm even fighting with myself to include those B10's.

You said you wanted a shed.

TBH, an e24 that's lasted this long is more likely to be better looked after than a more modern car at banger money - most of them will be very tired, probably not looked after as well.

[BalhamBadger]

E30M3SE said:

6th from the top

Love it. Would be even better if it was a manual.

[PJ S]

Seeker UK said:

PJ S said:

Thanks but '86 is a bit too far back in time to appeal.
I'm even fighting with myself to include those B10's.

You said you wanted a shed.

TBH, an e24 that's lasted this long is more likely to be better looked after than a more modern car at banger money - most of them will be very tired, probably not looked after as well.

Yes, a shed - not a bloody WW II bunker or outdoor lavvy!
I'm just not a classics appreciator - very old cars don't flick my switch.
Just like 911s - very nice looking motor, can see why others get a stiffy at the mere glimpse of one, but no matter what, if I could, I wouldn't.

[E30M3SE]

Seeker UK said:

E30M3SE said:

Is the first one a real B10?????

No, it's a 535i with Alpina wheels.

That's what I thoght.

[PJ S]

Yes, seems I've paid more attention to the title than the listing - Alpina wheels and body parts, so that's that scrubbed.
And it was listed some days previously at £1550! Why the price has risen £700 since then is anyone's guess.

The one you've highlighted, was one that I've had in my head, so nice to see it confirmed - but as I'm not up with all what's gone before (or even present for that matter) I wanted to make sure I wasn't glossing over something worth really considering.

Still love the notion of the B10, but I'll really need to do some research into what it could have in store for me.
Encouraging though to read an old thread ('08) where a number of 530-540 owners were running 150K models without major issues.

Thanks again, and if you spy something, point me in its direction.

[Seeker UK]

PJ S said:

Yes, seems I've paid more attention to the title than the listing - Alpina wheels and body parts, so that's that scrubbed.
And it was listed some days previously at £1550! Why the price has risen £700 since then is anyone's guess.

The one you've highlighted, was one that I've had in my head, so nice to see it confirmed - but as I'm not up with all what's gone before (or even present for that matter) I wanted to make sure I wasn't glossing over something worth really considering.

Still love the notion of the B10, but I'll really need to do some research into what it could have in store for me.
Encouraging though to read an old thread ('08) where a number of 530-540 owners were running 150K models without major issues.

Thanks again, and if you spy something, point me in its direction.

If they're genuine Alpina alloys, they're worth £1000+ second hand.

If you want a B10, cost to run / service will be little different to a standard I6 / V8 E39. The only extra costs would be body parts and insurance.

[PJ S]

Couple more things to ask:

1) Is there any point looking at a similar age B3 - what does that give me over a regular 330 M-Sport (Ci or 4-dr)
2) What's the general opinion of SMG'd 330s? What do I need to be aware or prepared for on that front? How does the MPG differ compared to the ZF slushie?


Edit:
Oh, and when did timing chains first appear?

Edited by PJ S on Wednesday 13th April 17:13

[E30M3SE]

The SMG on these cars is a manual g/box with automated change, so yes it will be more economcal as far as MPG's are concerned but the cost of a new hydraulic pump will far out weigh any MPG saving if it goes wrong, and they do go wrong. On a E46 M3 (differnet system so not directly comparable) the SMG pumps are circa £2.5K fitted not sure on the non ///M system, but I would avoid like the plague.


B3's worth considering, obviously you will get the Alpina toys, bespoke suspension and engine mods, so more power, better handling over a std sport, but then you need to weigh this up with more expensive insurance (probably) and increased parts cost.

[PJ S]

330 is already Grp 57, when I asked earlier today what premium I'd be paying in going for one.
I'm guessing they go to Grp 60, which means in old money, Grp 17 has been reclassified really as Grp 19, so I don't think the B3 can be much different.

I had some inkling there was a big concern over SMG, didn't think it was a £2.5K one. Ouch!
I presume whatever I may eventually plum for, I'll need to get a warranty for it, rather than wing it?
Any recommendations on that front?

[Seeker UK]

E30M3SE said:

The SMG on these cars is a manual g/box with automated change, so yes it will be more economcal as far as MPG's are concerned but the cost of a new hydraulic pump will far out weigh any MPG saving if it goes wrong, and they do go wrong. On a E46 M3 (differnet system so not directly comparable) the SMG pumps are circa £2.5K fitted not sure on the non ///M system, but I would avoid like the plague.


B3's worth considering, obviously you will get the Alpina toys, bespoke suspension and engine mods, so more power, better handling over a std sport, but then you need to weigh this up with more expensive insurance (probably) and increased parts cost.

The BMW implementation of SMG in most cases is no more economic than an auto.

[Jobbo]

PJ S said:

330 is already Grp 57, when I asked earlier today what premium I'd be paying in going for one.
I'm guessing they go to Grp 60, which means in old money, Grp 17 has been reclassified really as Grp 19, so I don't think the B3 can be much different.

My B3S premiums were about twice the premiums for my 330i; many insurers don't know what the Alpina is either. So get a quote rather than expecting them to be similar.