Just about to send a deposit.

Mon May 30, 2011 9:27 pm

Going to keep it standard i think.
Just going to fit a 1 piece sport gearknob.
Maybe a tec 1 steering wheel.
Electric aeriel if i can find a genuine 1.
Will have a good poke round and clean will post pics up as soon as i can

Mon May 30, 2011 9:37 pm

Glad it worked out. Sounds like a decent original car. On the drive home, did you spend much time sitting in traffic - that would be the acid test imo.

Mon May 30, 2011 9:42 pm

Lol she was on the back of a transporter.
Chap that picked her up is a mechanic so he checked it all out and its fine.
The car came from big money and going from the service history money was not spared on her upkeep.

Tue May 31, 2011 7:03 pm

Well done mate it looks like you have yourself a great buy!!

Tue May 31, 2011 7:29 pm

Just got a reply says it was done the othere day.
Had it running for over an hour to try and charge the battery.
Says the fan cut in and it stayed at halfway as it should so he says.
Stupid letting the car run like that for so long.

So the batteries fooked as well then! Plus he's speaking like the fans an electric one. Viscous fans do not "cut in" or cut out. They run on a clutch and therefore are variable. All that said, it still should have taken care of that temp way before the needle hit that region.

I can leave my M20 running for hours and it will NEVER rise above the centre on the dial. OK an hour is a fairly long time BUT if it got that high, it's an issue.

And East Horsley ain't in London. It's in the depths of Surrey if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Tue May 31, 2011 9:07 pm

If it looks as good as it does in the pics, then go for it. Looks very very original (even looks like it has original dealer plates -is that Cooper Thames Ditton?!?

What is the history/mileage like? Does it all appear to he 'honest'? I recently bought a 2 owner H reg 325i lux and i have never looked back. Loads of history and pulls like a train!

Follow your gut. If its just a viscous coupling/dodgy sensor/misplaced needle while it was being clocked (only kidding), then it is all easily rectified. What's the worst that can happen? It needs a new (cheap) engine.

EDIT. Just noticed you got her home, and she appears fine. Well chuffed for you!!!

Tue May 31, 2011 10:03 pm

Yip guys she is more then fine she is super fine.
Changed the batt this morn insured her and then got her taxed.
I gave her a clean and had her booked in at a bmw garage ,i bought the plugs,air filter and oil filter from Bmw and they did the work.
Full service all fluids changed and all service lights reset,waiting on the cam belt and rocker covers gaskets from Bmw.
They did a full inspection while she was on the ramp and she is spotless nothing to report.
Mis matched tyres on the front 1 hankcock and 1 conti which i dont like so will replace both.
Obc has a bulb out so it dont light up.
Everything is orginial and she is wearing her dealer plates and she is a cooper ditton car.
She pulls like and train and so so very tight and smooth but the only thing i dont like is its a MANUAL lol just got to get used to it again so used to my slush box lol.
I can say i am very happy with the purchase great colour great engine correct wonderful history and she is a coupe to top it all off.
The old girl was near 70 and still driveing the 325 wow the whole family came to say farewell to her so my mate said.
My perfect car if she was an auto lol.

Tue May 31, 2011 11:12 pm

that looks like a nice SE

Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:50 pm

Sorry chaps any info on the Z3 quick shift for the gearstick throw.
What parts do i need from Bmw and how hard is it to do.
Is it worth doing.
Really struggling to get used to manual again you seem to drive faster as it feels so good compared to my auto which just just get on with it nice and smooth with no fuss.
Is it a big deal sticking an auto box in her.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:01 pm

Nogaro325 wrote:Sorry chaps any info on the Z3 quick shift for the gearstick throw.
What parts do i need from Bmw and how hard is it to do.
Is it worth doing.
Really struggling to get used to manual again you seem to drive faster as it feels so good compared to my auto which just just get on with it nice and smooth with no fuss.
Is it a big deal sticking an auto box in her.

Refurbing the gerashift mechanism is a pig of a job but worth doing.

Have a look at my touring resto thread - I did this last weekend but just fitted a new standard E30 lever - the improvement is spectacular.

Don't put an Autobox into it

Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:14 pm

Nothing wrong with the gear leaver there is no play at all tight as a nut.
Just thought about the long throw and the z3 bit make it shorter but i guess its no big deal lol.
Think i am just lazy getting used to the smooth talking auto box.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:21 pm

In that case you'll need to just drop the prop out of the way, disconnect the lever from the linkage ( 1 clip ), you then twist the plastic bearing the ball sits in until the clips which hold it are pressed in, and the lever will then pull out from inside the car.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:30 pm

Nogaro325 wrote:Is it a big deal sticking an auto box in her.

Do it.

I'd do it if I was you...

Perfect car then... Don't listen to these losers.

Autos FTW

Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:04 pm

New bonnet badge on its way.
New sport all in 1 gearknob ordered.
4 new bm alloy badges.
And i guess that it nothing more to do now,going to start on a good clean up this weekend.

Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:19 am

You don't need to take the prop off to change just the gear lever, you just pop off the little sprung clip slide the old lever off and out the top after twisting the white bush out then you want to be fitting a 1.9 z3 lever and yes the difference is amazing, have a look in the zone Wiki for how to do it.