Questions to ask before viewing/buying an E30 318iS?

[Commited]

Hi folks,

Looking for a few pointers. About 2 years ago, I bought my first BMW, an e30 318iS from BobS on this forum. It was a truly fantastic car and I loved using it, but my circumstances changed and I needed to do about 40000 miles a year, so I replaced it with a 530d Sport.

Anyway, that's gone, and I have a crappy Navara as a daily, and I'm looking for a weekend car once again. After trying loads of cars, including E36 318iS's & 325i's, I just keep on coming back to the e30 318iS.

The bit that I need help with is, what are the important things to ask before I make a trek to the UK with my hard earned?

The list I have so far:
Rust - where what how?
Timing chain tensioner - has it been done?
Leaks - oil&water from engine/rear boot lights/in car
Electrics - everything works?
Wheels/tyres good?
Any advisories on previous MOT?
Brakes and suspension - any attention needed here?

Am I missing anything?

Cheers
Mark

[aj_mckay]

All of the above, but with the chain find out when the whole thing was last replaced not just the tensioner - that's the easy bit!

As with all E30s rust would be extremely high on my list of stuff to check, esp. rear & inner arches, scuttle, bulk head, sills, roof, boot.

Would also be very worthwhile checking if the suspension is the original and if so what condition it's in. These will be 18 yrs old now and if original, the springs may well be fatigued and shocks may be leaky. Goes for bushes too.

There's plenty more and I'm sure others will chip in to make sure you cover it all

Good luck! You'll probably be able to get a bargain in the current market...

[Cook318IS]

and that the profile gasket has been done !!!!!

[Cook318IS]

this website comes in very handy for iS owners. its got a buyers guide, how to repair them and everything. much better than haines imo! http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318is ... whenbuying
HTH

[Nay]

Good info. Useful page!

[Alex]

and that the profile gasket has been done !!!!!

i feel a bit stupid asking this but what exactly is it, i keep hearing about it but have no idea where abouts it is

[Cook318IS]

its on the front of the engine iirc. Its easier to explain if you look on the etk for it, It all becomes clear then!

[Alex]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=11&fg=10

so what happens when its gone, slight oil leak

[Cook318IS]

thats the badger, item 10. IIRC, it gives you the same symptoms as a head gasket failure becuase that "hole" in the middle is where coolant flows

[Alex]

cool is it hard to change, might do mine if its easy and being only 3 quid it seems silly not too

[aj_mckay]

and that the profile gasket has been done !!!!!

i feel a bit stupid asking this but what exactly is it, i keep hearing about it but have no idea where abouts it is

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318is ... filegasket

[Cook318IS]

iirc its a head off job and fairly big! i think its on that link ^ on the esatclear website

[Alex]

oh well, thanks for info ive been meaning to find out about it for ages

[aj_mckay]

Alex, chances are that if your car's done over 50k miles (which i suspect it has for a £500 iS) that this job has already been done somewhere along it's life...

It's a pretty safe bet anyway. I bought my iS without firm evidence of when/if it's been done (I think! Not really checked properly TBH) because it's a pretty safe assumption to make if the mileage is anything over the 50k mark.

[Alex]

120,000 miles, so they get replaced with a better gasket

[Alex]

just reading thro its history and in 2000 it had loads of head work head set, head bolts, chain tensioner, thermostat, air pipes, pressure test, reface cyl head, reface 16 valves, reface 16 seats etc at a cost of £550 and it had only done 70k so chances it has been replaced then,

[aj_mckay]

yes, if it's been done it will have been replaced with a gasket made of something that doesn't get eaten away by the coolant...

Although it's only a 3 quid jobby of a gasket it's a pig of a job to have done as cook said cos you have to take the head off and all sorts.

[Cook318IS]

just reading thro its history and in 2000 it had loads of head work head set, head bolts, chain tensioner, thermostat, air pipes, pressure test, reface cyl head, reface 16 valves, reface 16 seats etc at a cost of £550 and it had only done 70k so chances it has been replaced then,

£550 doesnt seem too bad imo! better that they did that and that it wasnt a nasty surprise for you! your car sounds more of a bargin by the day!

[Alex]

just reading thro its history and in 2000 it had loads of head work head set, head bolts, chain tensioner, thermostat, air pipes, pressure test, reface cyl head, reface 16 valves, reface 16 seats etc at a cost of £550 and it had only done 70k so chances it has been replaced then,

£550 doesnt seem too bad imo! better that they did that and that it wasnt a nasty surprise for you! your car sounds more of a bargin by the day!

lol it is,

that was done 8 years ago mind you, but there is also recipts from 2002 saying investigate water leak, and recipts of changing radiator, all hoses and water pump and a few other bits and bobs (lets hope its not a plastic water pump:roll: ) plents of service history done every year

brakes were overhauled last year too new pads + shoes etc

[Alex]

the water pump cost 30 quid, fitted and supplied by a toyota garage

do you recon they would have used a genuine part

[Felix79]

Ask them if it it Galvenisized?

[Gortour]

Nice one Dan...

Another website to look at...

http://www.m42club.com/

[DHFiS]

Plenty of good advice above, also dont forget if it has a sun roof check it works. If you pour some water into the roof channel around the opening it should drain out under the car, if it doesnt then the drains are blocked.

[Commited]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the great information above, I forgot how helpful this site is. Hopefully I'll be annoying you all with stupid questions more frequently from now on

[Alex]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the great information above, I forgot how helpful this site is. Hopefully I'll be annoying you all with stupid questions more frequently from now on

dont worry we all need to ask silly questions

[Speedtouch]

Don't forget to check the all-important glovebox torch works!

[aj_mckay]

Plenty of good advice above, also dont forget if it has a sun roof check it works. If you pour some water into the roof channel around the opening it should drain out under the car, if it doesnt then the drains are blocked.

Do you mean pour water on the roof when the sunroof is opened and let it drain into the suroof tray?

If the drains are blocked, how would you go about un-blocking them? jam a bit of wire down there or something??

Sorry - this is a new one for me!!!

[Speedtouch]

Yes, a couple of metres of bicycle outer brake cable works well, being stiff lengthwise yet flexible. You just shove it down the drain holes at the front of the sunroof tray on each side, Dyno-rod style.

[DHFiS]

I think there are 2 at the rear as well. If you pull back the trim in the boot you will see the plastic drain hose which exits he car via a vent hidden behind the bumper.

Check the corrosion in the sunroof panel as well, if its bad replace the whole thing.

[aj_mckay]

OK, so these drains come out in the front arches and through the boot and the rear bumper? OK, that's one for me to check this weekend then!! Not had any issues so far but will check to be sure anyway

[Commited]

Off to look at a car in a couple of hours

[Alex]

good luck, hope its a good un