Sat May 28, 2005 11:01 pm
Some of my thoughts...
Get the 325i, the c is heavier, you need the 170bhp. Check all the things mentioned above plus the following:
When closing the doors, the windows should go nicely under the hood without touching it.
Check also the INSIDE of the hood for tears and discolourations and the condition of the tensioner belts. When the top is down, check for paint damage on the hood cover bit, the back of the hood tends to leave marks.
Look for cracks in the chassis, especially on doorsills. (Never seen any, but have heard urban legends).
General M20 325i things to remember:
Look under the oil filler cap, MUST be totally black. Have a peak in the coolant reservoir, ONLY coolant there. If one or the other doesn't check out, forget the car, a head job is evident.
If you have the possibility, remove the valve cover and check the condition of the cam and rockers. They tend to groove, if oil changes have been neglected.
Finally, you will want to have a wind deflector! Makes a whole lot of difference in motorway speeds and early season top-down cruising.