Could use some advice on my first car purchase

[MaxwellMiky]

Hey,



I'm looking to buy my first car and an opportunity to buy one of my dream cars, an E30, came up and I could use some advice from people who already own one. The price is pretty cheap for my country, around 5k €, but it's a family member selling it so I trust it a little more than the usual seller, although he's not the first owner. It's a 318i from '85 so it has the M10 engine in it. It seems to be in great mechanical condition and he had started reworking it a bit when he decided to sell it so, fuel pump's been switched, oil changed, spark plugs, it's been repainted and lowered and I believe he did a few more QOL maintenance as well.

I have always wanted to own this car, and to learn how to maintain it as well. I have very limited experience however, having only taken a class in uni, though I learned how to take apart an engine and a transmission.

My question is, how "safe" could you say this purchase is? And regarding replacement parts, does anyone know of websites that sell them in Europe? Because I checked the FAQ and it's all US based stores.



Thanks!

[ah]

First any chance of putting some photos up of it.It sounds ok,if you did purchase it LOOK FOR MAJOR RUST,and get the cam belt changed (if it’s not got a chain).

[Be30]

Parts in Europe... I’d use German eBay if I could read German.

[steve_k]

welcome to the zone.

but, as mart would/will say

[paultv]

All the major German and or European websites are multi language...and they also speak English if you call them and will answer English email...you can also input your VIN on most sites to confirm you've asked for the right part number for your car.

Paul

[Firefly200505]

Just to say I had a 320i that I bought as a wreck in 2004 for £200. Ran it as a daily driver for 5 years even though it was on over 250k miles. Only reason I could do that was because of the quality of build and ease of working on the car as a mechanical newbie.

The economics and ages of the cars are different now but that central fact is the same. If you’re looking at spending 5k on your first car you probably have enough money for the maintenance, and if you’ve done that class you’ll be fine.

[martauto]

welcome to the zone.

but, as mart would/will say

Mart.

[BristolE30]

Just do it mate, fix any issues that come up