Rust, mpg and reliability??

[300bhpton]

Looking for some info.

How well have the E30 325i's faired over the years, in terms of picking one up for a DD?

I had a 318 auto a number of years ago, and while I had little love for it, it did have some positive points such as no squeaks or rattles and no visible rust.

Are these cars still fairing well against rust or what should I look out for?

Also, what sort of real world mpg should I expect from a 325i? After using Google I've failed to locate any roadtest for the car, either original ones or as used car purchases.

Any other info would be welcome.

Cheers.

[Nay]

Rust is still the killer of these cars. Rust free examples do exist and most can still be fixed... There are some (well, a lot) that are rusting from the inside out, so when you find out about it.... its too late. Thankfully, re-shelling is a possibility with these cars!

25mpg on average is a genuine ball-park figure!

[bpowell555]

I get 26-27 on mixed driving with a 325i touring - in town I reckon it would stink, plus I can't deal with the clutch in traffic (need to man the fnck up haha)

[Morat]

They're very reliable for an old car... that is to say a well maintained one is rock solid. If you're unlucky and buy a neglected old dog then you'll have to shell out for some replacement parts, but there's nothing really _that_ scary. They are basically well engineered so can keep on going with some terrible neglect but that will eventually catch up with them.

I daily drive mine and get low twenties for MPG. It uses far less oil than my wife's E46 (the M54 does like a bit of a drink) and has only let me down with a split rad hose a week after I bought it. I got a set of SAMCO hoses from a group buy on here and haven't looked back in 18 months.

The bottom line is that if you are prepared to go through the thing when you buy it and do the preventative maintenance and the bits that people have skipped and bodged over the years then you can count on a reliable ride for years to come. If you don't get it up to scratch then you'll pay for it in the long run with recovery trucks and unexpected bills. Yer pays yer money....

[SteSE]

The bottom line is that if you are prepared to go through the thing when you buy it and do the preventative maintenance and the bits that people have skipped and bodged over the years then you can count on a reliable ride for years to come. If you don't get it up to scratch then you'll pay for it in the long run with recovery trucks and unexpected bills. Yer pays yer money....

Brilliantly put Morat, i'm on my second one and will echo every word of that!

[300bhpton]

Thanks.

Will they do over 30mpg on a run, something like a steady 65-70mph on dual carriageway?

I know I'm being picky, but there is reason behind the madness,lol. I'm really after a car to use as a DD, I want it to be a bit of fun and not run of the mill, but its not got to be a PITA to own or cost a fortune.

Most of the time it'll only have to do a 3 mile journey to the station, but at other times it'll have to do 200 miles a day for a couple of weeks when I'm working on clientsite.

If I'm truly honest I'm not the biggest BMW fan out there, but I like to think I'm open minded and think a BMW 325i Sport might fit the bill.

Currently I've got a ~350hp modern muscle car and a 32 year old 220hp Triumph TR7 V8. For a DD I am currently driving a Nissan 100NX, which has been a lot of fun, especially with the roof off, but time has come to replace it.

So I want something that I can jump in everyday and use on a modest budget but that will sill put a smile on my face. Needs to be smaller than the muscle car, less raw and more comfy than the Triumph and faster than the Nissan.

Do you think it might fit the bill, or is a 325i just a bit too old and uneconomical, the Nissan will do 43mpg on a run and low/mid 30's on shorter runs.

Cheers.

[Morat]

You'll need LPG to get the the same fuel bills as the Nissan, but the kits are not expensive for these cars with alloy manifolds. I wouldn't bother buying a sport if it is just going to be a daily hack. A standard 325i has the same engine and will cost much less.

[Nay]

I'm a 6-pot man and all, but maybe a trusty 318iS? Better for the mpg, and really not far off the 325i in performance....

Why not look at an E'dirty'6 (E36) 325i/328i sport? Bit more modern and usable, and the chances of finding a much better/maintained one for a good price.

You could by an E30 thats a dream and well looked after, or one that appears to be Then the thing might start failing on you. Although people (like me) live with an E30 as a daily, IMO its better to own a good'un which is looked after and used for fun. This is when talking about 325i's. The lower models can be dirt cheap run arounds to mint little cars, but dont pull anything like the 325i.

[daimlerman]

I run two E30's as dailys.
One is a '88 touring bought very cheaply as it was LHD and missing an engine/gearbox and a few other vitals.BUT,the shell was 97% rust free.Cost about £3000 to get right.
Second is a 320iSE 4 door bought cheaply of ebay with a damaged engine and tired interior,ran this as a 'fixer upper'....
The touring now is RHD and has an M50 engine,smooth,fast,quiet and comfortable.Returns around 32mpg,best ever about 34mpg.
4 door now has a home built 2.7,decepively quick,almost quiet and very comfortable.Returns 32mpg,best ever was a zone roam tour when it gave almost 38mpg(and left the standard 325's for dead!)
Currently the 2.7's days are numbered due to multiple rust issues so the engine will live on along with most of the suspension in my new project neon cabbie.
These cars are fine as daily drivers,but as Morat says and I endorse,they MUST be brought up to a good level maintainance wise,this will be expensive in the short term but will work out well over several years.
That £3000 my touring cost will be spread over at least ten years of ownership,OK,I will still need to maintain the car,but it will cost less per year than your Triumph TR7 V8 each year!
325i sport is perhaps not the best choice for a daily,the bodykit looks good in an '80's bodykit way but also hides the rot very well,spend a couple of hours looking through the 'sport resto' threads to see what I mean....
318iS or standard 325i or touring will make a first rate daily,once properly sorted.
What needs sorting?
Every suspension bush and ball joint.
Cooling system(do you expect a 20 year old domestic boiler to run fault free?)
Exhaust system
Full and proper rust search,rectification and waxoil/underseal/respray as needed.
E30 is a small,light car with first rate handling/ride.It could not be bettered when new and modern cars are only 'better' in equipment levels and passive safety.
You spends your money and takes your choice,
Welcome to the zone,BTW!

[Tyra]

Will they do over 30mpg on a run, something like a steady 65-70mph on dual carriageway?

The best I have ever got from my auto is 29mpg on a motorway run. Normally on a standard motorway / dual carriage way run I get about 25 ish

As a DD, driving round town kills me, I get about 15mpg on average



Fair enough, it is an automatic, so perhaps if you are a careful driver you may get more in a manual

[anisotropy]

bad, bad, good

[Morat]

What are the chances of there being a "How do you fit a TR-7 V8 into an E30" thread in six months time?
I wasn't a BMW fan either, until I actually drove one for a while....

[300bhpton]

I run two E30's as dailys.
One is a '88 touring bought very cheaply as it was LHD and missing an engine/gearbox and a few other vitals.BUT,the shell was 97% rust free.Cost about £3000 to get right.
Second is a 320iSE 4 door bought cheaply of ebay with a damaged engine and tired interior,ran this as a 'fixer upper'....
The touring now is RHD and has an M50 engine,smooth,fast,quiet and comfortable.Returns around 32mpg,best ever about 34mpg.
4 door now has a home built 2.7,decepively quick,almost quiet and very comfortable.Returns 32mpg,best ever was a zone roam tour when it gave almost 38mpg(and left the standard 325's for dead!)
Currently the 2.7's days are numbered due to multiple rust issues so the engine will live on along with most of the suspension in my new project neon cabbie.
These cars are fine as daily drivers,but as Morat says and I endorse,they MUST be brought up to a good level maintainance wise,this will be expensive in the short term but will work out well over several years.
That £3000 my touring cost will be spread over at least ten years of ownership,OK,I will still need to maintain the car,but it will cost less per year than your Triumph TR7 V8 each year!
325i sport is perhaps not the best choice for a daily,the bodykit looks good in an '80's bodykit way but also hides the rot very well,spend a couple of hours looking through the 'sport resto' threads to see what I mean....
318iS or standard 325i or touring will make a first rate daily,once properly sorted.
What needs sorting?
Every suspension bush and ball joint.
Cooling system(do you expect a 20 year old domestic boiler to run fault free?)
Exhaust system
Full and proper rust search,rectification and waxoil/underseal/respray as needed.
E30 is a small,light car with first rate handling/ride.It could not be bettered when new and modern cars are only 'better' in equipment levels and passive safety.
You spends your money and takes your choice,
Welcome to the zone,BTW!

Thanks for the advice

Don't think a 318 is really me, it would be the pace and sound of the 6 that would win me over (being as I'm not a BMW fan).

To be fair the TR7 has actually been pretty reliable. Had it the best part of 9 years now. It's only had a couple of faults and has done the best part of 40,000 miles in that time.

Only real faults have been due to abuse - busted diff!

[300bhpton]

What are the chances of there being a "How do you fit a TR-7 V8 into an E30" thread in six months time?
I wasn't a BMW fan either, until I actually drove one for a while....

lol

About 4-5 years back I had a red 318 auto that I used to drive to Bristol and back twice a week in. Have to say the engine was wheezy and asthmatic and the seats were uncomfy. The central locking also failed (while in the car) and forced removal of the door cards with the doors still shut to open them again.

It didn't squeak or rattle though and can't remember seeing any rust on it.

I think a sport would have to be the answer though, manual gearbox, LSD and sports seats might well reappraise my current preconceptions.

[300bhpton]

Will they do over 30mpg on a run, something like a steady 65-70mph on dual carriageway?

The best I have ever got from my auto is 29mpg on a motorway run. Normally on a standard motorway / dual carriage way run I get about 25 ish

As a DD, driving round town kills me, I get about 15mpg on average



Fair enough, it is an automatic, so perhaps if you are a careful driver you may get more in a manual

I suppose that is what I should expect really, even hot hatches of the same era would be 25-32mpg machines. Shame really though as my 5.7 litre muscle car will happily return 22-24mpg on most runs and a fairly easy 26mpg on a longer run. With an auto and climate control too.

[HairyScreech]

well i can manage about 34mpg from my touring, did ~65 miles on £10 the other day. some of the lower mpgs on here are either because of poor running engines or driving style.

admitted around town im lucky to be at 20-25mpg though.