Just picked up a touring....(now a 'whats it worth?' thread)

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:57 pm

Image

316 Auto, pretty much was destined for the scrap yard. God knows what I'm going to do with it.
Last edited by stew72 on Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
appletree
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3482
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Retford

Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:03 pm

Was that pic from the forsale ad lol?

Have you had a look over it yet then?
Image

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

M42 Supercharged 285bhp + M3 6speed box
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:28 pm

Yes, was a very quick look over, it was during my lunch hour so wasn't able to poke around too much. Good news is that the rear arches are pretty solid as is the scuttle and sunroof, 15" BBS with caps and good front fogs. Runs but tappets are noisey, but no worse on start up than when its running so fingers crossed its not a knackered cam but its been bought as a project anyway.
Grrrmachine
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
Posts: 8043
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warsaw, Poland

Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:03 pm

I do like that colour on a Touring. Drop an M42 in it and it'll be a lovely chariot - 16 valves and a 62 litre tank will let you smoke around all day long.
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:50 am

Grrrmachine wrote:I do like that colour on a Touring. Drop an M42 in it and it'll be a lovely chariot - 16 valves and a 62 litre tank will let you smoke around all day long.
Agreed, definitely a candidate for an engine swap. If I wanted to convert to manual I guess that wouldn't be too difficult, would an auto have a different ratio diff to a manual car?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:22 am

One of the best touring colours ever. Scrapping that would be a crime, and it definitely deserves something better than a M40B16 and a basic auto. box.
M42 would be nice, but a M52B28 would be so much nicer.
Existing diff. will probably be a small case 4.45, but that will be irrelevant when a M52's in there.
User avatar
gooner1
Out humping Reindeer
Posts: 13280
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Northampton.For my sins.

Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:38 am

Nowt wrong with a M40B16, though the auto box might inhibit it a touch.
My 316i touring had stood idle for the best part of a year, changed it's broken
steering rack, MOT'ed taxed it and it has conveyed the family down to deepest
Dorset and back with no problems whatsoever. At a steady 80mph. :)
Image
User avatar
natdawson
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:00 pm

Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:45 am

Snap, I have also just got myself one of these in the exact same colour. Mine is destined for a M52B28 swap, though It may take me a while to gather all the bits on my crap wage.

Good luck with yours
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:38 pm

well it completed a 15 mile journey back on trade plates without any fuss.

Obvious issues, central locking not working, drivers door reluctant to lock with the key, tailgate won't open, power assistance for steering virtually non existent at idle although does seem to put in a little effort when engine revs are increased.

There are a few dents to the doors but shell appears straight and fairly free of rust. Drivers seat is tatty and has a mismatched back. Apparently doesn't drive too bad and autobox seems good.

As a bonus there's a very 1990's alpine radio cassette with 6 disc changer and remote control installed, I need to check for upgraded speakers. And the clincher, half a box of .22 rounds in the glove box :D

MOT was out at the end of January and its not been retested.
beemerbird
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8620
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Suffolk

Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:24 pm

:D
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:11 pm

well didn't scrub up too bad

Image

Image

Has a couple of rust scabs on the tailgate and along the bottom of the nsr door, although that is dented too so could really do with replacing. Elsewhere its very good on the rear arches, jacking points, scuttle, battery tray and sunroof, infact the only rust I can find worth mentioning is this in the osr door shut...

Image

Runs ok although tappet do make quite a noise, starts well and has fully working abs. Only obvious mechanical MOT issue appears to be a heavy fluid leak from the steering rack.

I was going to rob a few bits for the cabby and frag it but I'd feel guilty scrapping a decent shell so may have to have a rethink, engine swap maybe?
daimlerman
**BANNED**
Posts: 15968
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Grumpy Old Man

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:15 pm

Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!
Youth is wasted on the young.
pacerpete
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 18168
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Iver heath. South bucks.

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:39 pm

daimlerman wrote:Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!

ONLY if a hole can be made with the prescribed 'corrosion assessment tool'
maxfield
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 15186
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Mansfield

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:42 pm

pacerpete wrote:
daimlerman wrote:Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!

ONLY if a hole can be made with the prescribed 'corrosion assessment tool'
Only If it's soft with finger and thumb pressure then you're allowed to use my favourite tool :)
Image
TPS
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 13121
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Hampshire

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:44 pm

I've got the same surface rust, in the last Picture, on the nsr door as well! it had to be welded by the floor bung, a couple of MOT's ago, as it was within 30cm of a seat belt mount. I love the green colour, lovely on a Touring
Last edited by TPS on Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
User avatar
sanitroc1
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 244
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: North Somerset

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:44 pm

That's only surface rust and flaking paint , if they fail it on that start using another testing station .

Steve .
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:54 pm

Its not through, I'll probably chemically treat it and give it a coat of something greenish to preserve it. some pics of the good bits....

Rear arches

Image

Image

sills

Image

Image

rear valance

Image

scuttle

Image

Image

and battery tray

Image

wheels are really tidy too, so they'll be finding their way onto my cab

Just how easy would an engine swap be? I may start looking for a cheap e36 323 or 328
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:09 pm

a chance conversation with a work colleague has lead to a potential sale. Someone they knows is getting into drifting and is looking for an E30 to use as a base so he mentioned that a work colleague has just got a project. I'm not sure that I want rid of it but money talks, so how much would be a good price for it without the wheels?

To summarise it has no MOT, it lapsed in January and hasn't been presented for a test. To get an MOT I suspect that it will need a PAS leak fixed, looks like its coming from the right hand end of the rack, two wipers, possibly a right hand rear light unit (although that's got an orange bulb fitted to avoid emitting white light and got an advisory for this last time), and possible front anti roll bar bushes (advisories last time) and a decent set of tyres. The top end rattles, but I think the guy would upgrade that department anyway. There is very little rust, and none in the usual structural areas.

In my mind I've got £500 simply based on the lack of rust in the shell, what do you guys reckon?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:12 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:One of the best touring colours ever. Scrapping that would be a crime.
An even greater crime would be to sell it to some driftcock to ruin! There's plenty of Jap scrap out there that they can wreck.
andrew_baran
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 762
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Leamington Spa

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:16 pm

In my opinion, £500 without the wheels is about the limit for both parties! I certainly wouldn't pay any more for an MOT-less 316 Touring, but in your position I wouldn't want to sell for much less!

If you can get it, happy days!
Image
pacerpete
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 18168
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Iver heath. South bucks.

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:17 pm

Its a tired 316 auto with plenty of issues and no MOT. I'd be very happy drawing £500 for what is in reality a £200 car.
BROOMY
busy saving Clifford
Posts: 425
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:00 pm

Wed Jul 30, 2014 2:25 am

Has it got an alarm?
User avatar
stew72
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:00 pm

Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:50 am

pacerpete wrote:Its a tired 316 auto with plenty of issues and no MOT. I'd be very happy drawing £500 for what is in reality a £200 car.


I'd normally agree Pete, and if it had rust issues I wouldn't have touched it myself. However with cars with rust issues making £300 I don't think its unreasonable. Yes it has its issues, but most of these could be fixed as part of an engine swap.

I may leave it as I tend to be with Brian on this one, its worth saving.
pacerpete
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 18168
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Iver heath. South bucks.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:57 am

BROOMY wrote:Has it got an alarm?


Yes, a BMW one and it works perfectly ! :)
BROOMY
busy saving Clifford
Posts: 425
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:00 pm

Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:53 am

Wanna sell it .
Times have changed right nows the time to upgrade.
Post Reply