So, What should i be aware of with e30's

[59Drifty]

Yes, i've read the guide, i found it quite vague and hard to make out.

I'm interested in tracking down a 316. rather have a 4-door or touring only, and dont really want to spend more than a grand. at a push.

yes i know ill be looking for an absolute heap, but its something i want as a project.

I would also like some feedback as what are like the top 10 mods that are more like tricks, such as with diesels EGR deletes. I hear about certain "mods" where its using cheap materials and fixing OEM bits and bobs.

also interested what pupular parts are available.

whats th difference between the two strut sizes i see?

thanks, Joe.

[Jim320i]

For a grand you should pick up a tidy 316 4 door... They're not in high demand so it's more of a buyers market so to speak. The touring will always demand a slightly higher premium that its 4 door cousin but again, they are hardly expensive at the moment and £1000 should bag you a tidy one.

I'm guessing your going for the 316 due to insurance? Have you checked quotes on a variety of e30 with different engines? I found that it was cheaper for me to insure a 325itouring rather than. 318 2 door by about £500... The touring cost me £165 fully comp on a classic... The 318 £500 more

The strut sizes are the sizing of the front struts. Touring and convertibles were both fitted with the larger of the 2 sizes regardless of their engine, although that doesn't mean the smaller versions don't work... BMW designed them for that engine and they are still working today so is something you haven't really got to worry about if your looking to save money somewhere along the line.

[59Drifty]

cheers mate, thanks!

yeah i'm 18, almost 19, have a few driving convictions (oops) so insurance will still cost a fortune! im looking at about £1400 fully comp with mods allowed.

wanting a moredoor as i have a teeny tiny yaris and you end up feeling claustraphobic. and my dad drives an e60 5 series so it feels even smaller when i park up next to it.

I'm gonna sound like a propper pikey here, but ive seen some ebay special coilovers which are like £200 (a price id gladly pay, considering coils for my yaris were about £550 second hand) are they ok, im only going for lows dont care about comfort


im definitely feeling a 4-door or touring though! and ive looked at bigger engines and they all get rejected, im after something low and slow anyway, then doing an engine conversion later on!

[G-Bear]

As already said, a grand at your intended spec will get you a relatively tidy car. I paid around grand for a Touring 325i in the summer, so far haven't found too much rust (noting major) but have come across a few problems nothing too expensive.

Insurance can be brought down if you put a girlfriend on.. The cheapest quote i got fully comp was £1000, put my self down in a 'common law partnership'.. it shaved it down to around £600, added my girlfriend on the insurance took another £100 off. A friend put his girlfriend and mum on to take it down.

As for cheap coil overs... you get what you pay for...

[59Drifty]

yeah i assumed its a YGWYPF with the coilovers, whats a favoured method, lowering springs or cheap coils?

ive always been a coil person due to stiffer shocks etc, love the stiffness from coils haha

its £1200 with my mum on it, sadly my girlfriend doesnt have a license at all! haha

shes getting one soon though, she wants a mk1 golf cabbie as her first car, alright for some eh!

rust etc is no problem, ill be doing a full bare metal respray myself.

[G-Bear]

Oh well, at least your premium seems to be mainly because of your age.. I'm 30 and still pay a fair whack..

Bilstein shocks and either eibach or H+R springs are a popular choice.. definitely over cheap coilovers.. Sounds like H+R springs might be a better choice for you as they are said to be stiffer..

[59Drifty]

awesome! thanks for the help mate!

im just looking for a car i can do anything to, from a full respray, interior, ice and then engine.

[Jim320i]

I'm only over in Leicester so if you do need a hand and the car your looking at is this way, give me a shout

Also, like above, the zone usually recommends some bilstein shocks with eibach or h&r springs, but you won't get the low drop that your after, but you will get a much better handling feel and it will be a lot safer, and you wont be replacing worn out/broken parts every few weeks with like you will be with a car dragging on its ar5e.

[Morat]

Coilovers are for the track, or golfs.
If you want to look super low, don't buy an E30 unless you've got plenty of cash to do it properly. They run into suspension/clearance issues before they look as "stanced" as some other cars and you'll end up ruining the thing.

There will now be a string of posts saying I'm an OEM Homo and I shouldn't jump all over your creative genius... but I'm just warning you that you're not going to look like a hero with a 316 and cheap coilovers. You'll probably look more like a sparking comet trail as you exit a roundabout backwards.

btw, 4 doors are no more spacious that 2drs. Touring FTW

[GemE30]

We're not far away if you want us to come Joe. We have a habit of picking up pretty rot free ones for cheaps.

[G-Bear]

Touring FTW

[59Drifty]

the idea of it is something to really sink my teeth into! id be prepared to work on the car to get it low.

i understand what youre saying about the OEM thing, which i think is cool! i just want to build a car for me, and i feel like i want something low and wide

eventually ill swap the engine out for something different, loads of people do the BMW engines, a few do the nissan engines, gemma has the diesel, i dunno, id maybe get a rotary in or a F20C or smething like that, as said its a build for me! as it will be my car, and I wouldnt consider a coupe on the basis that i think they look funny, im dead wierd, if fits a hatchback, its gotta be 3 doors, if its not, then its 4 doors, excepting things like silvias and a few others.

[kangman]

2doors are boss . Your far too young to be driving a 4door or a estate if your going to drift the turd then get a 4 door so you can sling the wheels on the back seat easily.

But if your planning on slamming it and putting some whore wheels on it cus your a dude-star then id go 2door or touring.

As for coilovers... If you got coilover money then get coilovers. I unfortunately dont so ive dropped mine 60mm front and back with stiffer struts which suits me fine but i might go lower at the front one day as i like my cars low and on dishes

[59Drifty]

2doors are boss . Your far too young to be driving a 4door or a estate if your going to drift the turd then get a 4 door so you can sling the wheels on the back seat easily.

But if your planning on slamming it and putting some whore wheels on it cus your a dude-star then id go 2door or touring.

As for coilovers... If you got coilover money then get coilovers. I unfortunately dont so ive dropped mine 60mm front and back with stiffer struts which suits me fine but i might go lower at the front one day as i like my cars low and on dishes

a wee spot of drifting would be nice

but i just really prefer 4 doors hahaha im an old man at heart! hahaha