E30 Zone

Hey there.

My name is lewis, im 20, and doing a journalism degree.

TBH ive owned VW's since i was 17, but just fancy a change.

Small rundown of the cars i have had:

2x Mk2 Golf GTI
1x Jetta (1986) GTI
Lots of mk2 golf 1.3/1.6's
2x Early 90's passat estates - one 2.016v, one 2.0 8v
1.9 Golf GTI (1991) TSR race engineered..

The list goes on!

Currently got a mk1 (1979) Golf which i am looking to sell/swap. Need a bigger car for lugging stuff to uni, and I'm bored of passats/audis etc and have nearly bought several E30 touring's.

Forum seems nice and i hope you dont all hate me for driving VW's (lol).

Basically looking for an E30 touring, up to a 320i. Insurance isnt really an issue but MPG is, and dont facny a 2.5 litre 6cylinder fuel bill! would rather a 318TBH, but are the 316i tourings as gutless as i would expect? (compared to driving 'the' 80's hot hatch - Golf GTI)

Not got much to spend - whatever the mk1 sells for or if someone fancies a swap its just gone through an MOT with NO problems at all..

See you around guys.

Some pictures of some of the cars i have owned...

haha, love the caddy

Go for a 318 or a 325. Without wishing to re-open a 320 bashing spree, they have poor fuel economy for not a lot more poke. They do sound nice!

In your shoes I'd recommend a 318 now and drop a 2.5 (either M20 from an E30 or M50 from an E36) later on. In a touring you'll have 325i type suspension and brakes apart from the front springs which are softer for a four pot for weight reasons.

lovin the wolfrace style wheels matey.

welcome to the zone.

as above 325 touring manual can give 33-35 on a run my 318 cab cant get any where near it i bought a 318 for economy and now with hindsight should have gone for a 325 from the start ....320 is in a quandry you get the power of a 318 with the fuel consumption of a 325 as with all tourings they have the correct suspension and disc brakes all round for a later conversion if you want to keep your insurance down think about a 318 is enginge into your touring you can retain all your suspension its a easy conversion you get extra power with the 16v engine so you can still play with your golf mates and maintain reasonable economy

Cheers for the info

the wheels are genuine wolfrace too

I've got an 1982 Audi and Im tinkering with E30's at the moment, and I have to admit it's a pleasant difference (compared to, say, a similar period Merc.) Whereas VW's are charming in their tweakability, you might get frustrated that the main mods you can make to a BMW are either bolt-on bullsh!t or engine transplants - there's not much of a middle ground. Bearing in mind though that that just means excellence was delivered from the factory, and that perfection doesn't need to be improved on ;)

Get a 318, simply for insurance reasons, and learn the wonders of Right Wheel Drive.

316's gutless? what? :p.........

Fine...that may be the case, but it doesn't stop you from having a lot of fun in it....... a big plus is the huge amount of them on offer because everyone hates it :p........Get a newer one (318i / 316i) and you get a lot of kit on it in terms of brakes, interior, etc. but just watch for those notorious M40 problems

OK, cheers.

Limited by my fuel budget really, there's only about £140 difference a year between a 316 and a 325 (3 years no claims, secure off road parking) for my insurance, but it is the MPG that gets me as I'm a poor student..

Not sure how much ive got to spend, its my birthday soon so might wangle a bit of cash but i'd say tops is about 600:-
Ive watched several clean looking 316 touring's go on egay for 400odd quid but they're all in that horrible metallic green. I'd like it in white, black or red tbh, but beggars cant be choosers.

I'm all not that fussed how quick it is (ive had my fair share of 55hp mk2 golf 1.3's), as long as it will sit at 80 all day long for my Brighton - Cornwall trek for uni several times a year.

Also, how easy are they to lower? they look awesome decked on some BBS splits. Done many suspension changes on the VW's - mainly coilovers but a few shock and spring sets. Whats the main route to lower them?

hello mate,

iv had loads of VWs myself, including a mk3 vr6, mk2 8v gti, mk1 cabby with a 16valve KR lump. iv now got a 325i se touring, its an auto and a BIG change from tghe VW scene, but with the right rims and a drop the VAG crew still show respect.

i think you should go with a 325i, as stated they have better fuel economy compared to the 320i with loads more GO! the 318is is a good option too, my mates reminds me loads of my mk1 cabby but not as quick BUT with more luxuries. rolling start my touring keeps up with the vr6s but off the mark (being an auto) its slow as sh*t! but im sure a manual would keep up nicely off the mark.

hope it helps mate,

Sonny

Ah cool, nice one.

would go for a 325 but just horror stories of 20mpg around town...

In your situation, I'd say that a 318i was the way to go. Quite good fuel economy and they're not that slow either. Oh, and welcome.

easy to lower! Well, my garage didn't complain The car in my sig is on a 30-35mm drop (Eibach Springs) to give you an idea. Realistically the lowest practical drop is 60mm front/40mm rear probably using an HnR cup kit but some people have gone lower with the obvious compromises required near speedbumps.

My car is set up for country lanes in Yorkshire, so it is higher and softer than some urban gangsta cabs you see on here

if fuel economy is a concern then forget the 325 dude.

318 is the best compromise of the lot and you shouldn't have many problems picking up one in decent order for £600 and under.

Cool, well, my read passat was down 110mm, had to go sideways over speedbumps at a crawl but it looked awesome, didnt care about holding traffic up!

Little red golf was down about 100mm on standard, did a couple of sumps on that but well worth it. (haha)

60-40 looks as if it would be enough as they sit low at the back anyway.

I don't think it is physically possible to drop an E30 110mm, unless you're making a sledge

loving the dubs mate, post us up some pics of your mk1

oh and if you look hard enough you may find a converted 318is touring for sale ;)

Haha ok onz.

Not got a great deal of cash though, so depends how much youve got it up for, or if you want a mk1...

Morat wrote:I don't think it is physically possible to drop an E30 110mm, unless you're making a sledge

Its easy, MJG's is. Basically you have to raise the engine up a bit as the sump would be about 10mm above it if you don't! Only way to do it is with some custom coilovers (rear turrets need welding and bracing etc), or to get REALLY short shocks, shortest springs possible, then cut another coil or 2 out anyway. (problem with spring cutting is spring dislocation, which is obviously illegal, besides all the other health and safety crap about cutting springs)

Mines about 80mm down, 40mm drop springs and a coil or so cut out of each spring. I have 40/50mm clearance at the sump, M42 engine. Got photo's, but only of it going sideways.


I'd say get a 318i touring, a 318iS engined one would nicest, but you'll not get one for your budget, the conversions tend to me like £1000+ for some silly reason.

I always say to new E30 people get a 318i/is 1st. They are bloody nippy motors and can be great fun to drive.

318 it is.

I just hate arch gap. Gonna go for 15/16" wheels as 14's are just lost in the arches. Will get a 60mm kit with shortened shocks and see how it is. Can cut one coil out without worries of dislocation etc, so should be fine.

Those that wanted some info on the mk1. Made in 1979, registered in '80

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0285860442

Hopefully i'll get a bit for her. 27 watchers

Lewis there are a few shows comming up soon which a fair number of zoners will be attending , try and come down and meet us all. You will be able to see all the different E30's with different mods on, I am sure we can help you get a better idea of just what to be looking for and give advice on what to advoid.

Cheers.

will be at Guildford on the 10th for NoRice (the VW meet, 2nd wed of every month) so might wnder over and say hi if anyone is there?

I think a few of the Sussex possie are going to be there , check the section about meets in the forum. I personalyl do more of the meets with the south coast guys as I like the drive down alot more than doing London's M25. There is a good classic show with good E30 presance in dorset on the 14th I think and a big Santapod meet the week later.

Yes yes yes!

I've blindly bought my first e30 touring on ebay (error?).

Looks good with long MOT, FULL BMWSH and nearly every MOT from new. Its a 318i LUX so is quite a comfy cruiser and I'm well chuffed for 500 notes.

Its in white, with the 15" BBS and bodywork is described as 'well above average' with no dents or dinks. Even the drivers seats is (almost) intact (haha). Only done 109,000 miles.

Picking it up tomorrow!

Sounds like a good un. Get some pics up ASAP so we can all congratulate/commiserate!!

Got one so far..