Buying my 1st E30 ... Plz Help ?

[Wiredjunkie]

Hi guys.

Started this thread for some advice and guidance on buying my 1st E30..........
I will be viewing a 325i sport Mtech 2 and need to understand how to check its authenticity.

If the car has black leather interior what colour should the dash and centre console be from Factory?

I know about the common rust issues with these cars
What's the best way to check?

Any help is appreciated for a noobie like me.

[Brianmoooore]

Take the VIN number to a BMW dealer to check for authenticity, after checking that there's nothing dodgy looking about the number stamped into the scuttle panel.
Best way to check for rust is to get it on a ramp, remove all the carpets, boot liners, roof lining and the Mtec kit, but most vendors probably won't let you do all of this. Be aware that any rust that you can see will be about 10% of that particular area of rust.
Check out the seller, as well as the car. I find that you can gain as much info. about the car from that, as from looking at the car itself.

[Jim320i]

Take someone with you who knows what they're looking for in terms of rust etc.

Like Brian said, the best way to find out if its a genuine sport is to take the VIN number to BMW for them to confirm.

The colour of the seats, carpet, trim etc etc will not determine its authenticity. A Black headlining is a good start though as they came standard from factory, but this can be replicated so the only real way to ask BMW.


Whats your location though? Someone may be willing to go with you from here

[Grrrmachine]

Have a good read of the Buying Guide:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

[pacerpete]

Best advice would be to do all the dealer spec check and HPI stuff yourself and then find somebody CLEVER who knows these cars and get them to give it the once over.

I make a good living out of repairing these cars that people have bought and not had them properly checked over

I do pre purchase inspections in the M25 area

[Wiredjunkie]

Best advice would be to do all the dealer spec check and HPI stuff yourself and then find somebody CLEVER who knows these cars and get them to give it the once over.

I make a good living out of repairing these cars that people have bought and not had them properly checked over

I do pre purchase inspections in the M25 area

Thnx for all the good advise will demo take these precautions
how much for a pre inspection fella .......be gentle

[Wiredjunkie]

Take someone with you who knows what they're looking for in terms of rust etc.

Like Brian said, the best way to find out if its a genuine sport is to take the VIN number to BMW for them to confirm.

The colour of the seats, carpet, trim etc etc will not determine its authenticity. A Black headlining is a good start though as they came standard from factory, but this can be replicated so the only real way to ask BMW.


Whats your location though? Someone may be willing to go with you from here

Thnx jim the car is based in east London area. Hopefully to view this Saturday, I love these cars but never had the confidence as you read so many awful story's

[Jim320i]

pacerpete is your man my friend! His cost will be worth every penny if it saves you spending a small fortune on a bodged up rust heap

[DEVIL]

how much you paying? as i seen a few nice ones in east london going cheap.

[Wiredjunkie]

for a good one upto 5K ish.........
You know any forsale fella

[Jim320i]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4013697.htm

Not a sport, and personally I'd rather have something like this or a Alpina than a rusty old common sport

[G-Bear]

^^i'd sooner put 5 bags into that than a Tech 2^^

[Barx325i]

get it bought, you won't look back..

[polsta]

but really is that not a"replica" not being an original shell/reg and just an e30 with hartge parts, as nice as it is, its never goin to be a genuine hartge , wonder if it ever was and he can provide the history from the original shell and paperwork

probably just parts from an old hartge breaker ?

still looks super mind

[Jim320i]

If I was wanting to part with 5k for a E30 that was a bit more special with most, my money would be going towards that turd rather than a Sport.

If it has been nut & bolt rebuilt, that would top any Sport for me... The idea of a build sheet tick box saying Sport really doesnt do it for me. My money would go towards to best possible condition E30 I could buy with what money I had to spend. And if thats nut & bolt/minty, its worth every penny. Like the majority on here, they have bought and E30 Sport that needs work, you'll end up spending a damn sight more in the long run than £5750 or what ever its priced at. It will get a lot more interest in general. Plus its faster

[Barx325i]

Not sure 'replica' is a word I'd use. I'm pretty sure once you get behind the wheel, the re-shell is immaterial.

As Jim says, all valid points.. Go on, buy it

[polsta]

just wonder if its an actual proper re shell, or just a car built with hartge bits from here n there ? all good points, if it really has had a nut n bolt job, every new fitting etc etc and a full bare shell inspection and sort out as jim says.... , but who knows, nice car tho all the same, looks the bollocks for sure,i love the lines and style of the hartges

[Barx325i]

It's a Steve reshell..

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=224818

The build thread may or may not be around still..

[rh306]

..the classic car world is catching up with the idea of reshelling monocoques by the look of things:

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42909.html

[Andyboy]

how much you paying? as i seen a few nice ones in east london going cheap.

Cheap= crap. Of all the 325i Sports around, I'd estimate only a quarter of them are any good. The others vary between saveable to utter shite. These are now appreciating classics and owners of good ones are hanging onto them. £5000 is the baseline for something decent but which could still need work. Most Sports will swallow £3000 without so much as a burp. Really mint cars which need nothing are closer to 7-8k.

A pre purchase inspection is essential - do not buy without one. There are so many shiny polished turds out there (not just BMW's) and it's easy to get stung.
A particularly shiny and very nasty Alpina E24 has just been served for a LOT of money by a certain specialist - after Pete informed the owner that it was a horrid, fillered up pile of scrap that needed selling quick before it erupted. Caveat Emptor!