E30 Zone

Hi guys,

I'm new to these parts - I'm considering buying an E30, most likely a 320i, possibly a 325i if I can convince my insurers that this is a good idea, although that seems unlikely! Just got a couple of questions that hopefully you guys can answer before I commit myself...

First off, I'm tempted by a cabrio - always loved the idea. Is there any reason that this should be a bad idea with an E30? Any particular issues with them that I should be aware of?

Next, I'm tossing up between manual and auto transmission - manual's more fun, auto's more practical especially since I'll be moving into a town soon. Either way I'm a winner I guess, but how good is the auto box? Is it reasonably sturdy? Does it strangle performance? Does it kill the fuel economy? I'm just naturally nervous of older auto boxes, don't trust them, maybe you guys can put my mind at rest.

Finally, how thirsty are these cars? I like to enjoy myself from time to time but more of the time I drive pretty sensibly - I can handle something in the region of 30-35 mpg, much less though and it gets silly as I commute about 45 miles every day.

Cheers for your help!

welcome to the zone mate.

1. you wont be getting 30-35mpg out of a 320/325 around town with an auto box. on a run, maybe, with a well maintained example.

2. rust is your main enemy with any e30.

3. i know nothing about the cab version except its heavier.......see no.1

Most of my real driving is A roads / fast B roads - I certainly wouldn't expect that high an MPG in town As long that sort of region is realistically achievable with sensible driving on the open roads, I'm happy - is that reasonable, or am I expecting too much? I've had plenty of cars of this sort of age, but never with more than 4 cylinders so don't really know what to expect! If the auto box makes a big difference, then I guess all the more reason to go for a manual and have some fun. Cheers for the advice!

the best combination IMO is a 325 with a manual box. classic insurance is available on the e30 so worth investigating.

also, as soon as someone else on here pops up and says, get a 318is, its time to get your coat

Hah, noted ;) If I get a BMW it's going to have to be a 6 cylinder - it would just be rude not to really!

Out of interest, how much quicker are the 325's than the 320's? Can't find reliable specs anywhere for them. Would love to go up to the bigger engine if possible, but I'm 22 and lost my NCB earlier this year, so insurance is tricky - especially since I had to claim through HIC and they and Adrian Flux (partner company) don't want to touch me any more

120 or so bhp vs 170bhp. The 325i is a much better car. MPG is very similar between the two. Some classic insurers dont take ncb into account but then you dont earn any either

Welcome to the zone ruari,
I think the best you can expect from a 6 pot on a round town commute is 20-25 mpg. On a run you could return around the 28-34 sort of mark. Don't be put off by the high consumption as driving a cabbie is well worth it, or any E30 come to think of it.......as for the usual problems I would say all E30's suffer the same issues but obviously the cabbie has roof issues which in turn lead to other problems like wet interiors which can lead to the dreaded tin worm! I did read recently that the early cabs were built in a different factory and had better rust proofing, now this could be crap but thats what i read. As for my chrome cabbie its really solid and thats after two years of driving through a wet muddy landfill site!

Jacko

That's cool, cheers - I can live with that, just have to be gentle with my right foot. I drive a T registered Polo at the moment, which is dull as dishwater to drive but at the same time you can drive like an old dear or hammer it everywhere and it'll still return 40+mpg, it's a good feeling!

Just had an insurance quote that I can live with as well - the 320's easily manageable, the 325's possible if I go around collecting loose change from phone boxes from now until the end of time, but might just be worth it. What I'm tempted to do is get a 320 for now and then do an engine swap in a year or so when I have some NCB, and with any luck an IAM certificate, to ease the blow. I assume it's a relatively simple conversion - one in, one out without too much chopping and changing?

OK 325'S are better on fuel than 320's in my experience and are much more fun to drive. The only 325's that will return in excess of 30mpg with mixed driving are the early cars (pre88) Cabs are bad on fuel due to weight as are autos. What you want is an early car without too many extras to keep the weight down. Obviously these are hard to find in decent order but later cars, cabs autos and 320's will kill you in fuel driving 45 miles a day.

Damn.. you have a good point there, I forget how long my commute is sometimes. Just done some maths, it costs me about a fiver a day in petrol in the Polo, would cost around £8 per day in an E30 at ~25 mpg... that's a lot of money to pay to go to work. Might have to reconsider the whole thing. Maybe more practical when I move closer to work, I guess..

Any successful LPG conversions out there, by any chance?

ruari wrote:Any successful LPG conversions out there, by any chance?

Red touring in my sig. for about eight years!
Several others on here, and several being done at the moment.

Hmm. Tempting then.. might just buy one, run it for a bit and if I fall head over heels in love with it I could have it converted.. if not and the cost is too much to justify, can always sell it on. I'll have a proper think on it

Around £300 - £400 to convert to LPG, with a bit of careful ebay purchasing.

Cool cool, I will bear that in mind. I may have just figured out how to manage this as well - next year I'm doing the Mongol Rally, and have just bought a car to take part in - a perfectly nice if a little boring Skoda Felicia, for the rather pleasing price of £400. I could very comfortably run that as a daily for a year and use it for the commute with group 4 insurance and 40+ mpg, and keep an E30 cab on limited mileage insurance for 'play time'. Everyone's a winner Think that may be how I play it!

Cheers for all the help, everyone!

Oh, just while I think about it.. do your insurers mind about the home-installed LPG kit? I thought they got edgy if it didn't have a certificate...

ruari wrote:Oh, just while I think about it.. do your insurers mind about the home-installed LPG kit? I thought they got edgy if it didn't have a certificate...

Some insurers' insist on a certificate, but there are plenty that don't.
I've even heard of one that gives a discount.

It will use more fuel on LPG, but it's half the price (or thereabouts... 49.9 Vs 94.9 round here at the moment)

My 320 touring is probably about the same weight as a cab and averages 25mpg on petrol and 21 on LPG (so equivalent of 40mpg) better for the engine, enviroment and most of all your wallet.

I do crave more power though and am lead to beleave the 2.5 is about the same on fuel.... but cabs are for cruising not thrashing so it's upto you.

Power on 6-pot's motor's:

320I - came with 125 hp @ 5,800 rpm and sum with 129 @ 6,000 rpm
320IS - 192 hp @ 6,9000 rpm
323I - 139 hp @ 5,300 rpm and 149hp @ 6,000 rpm
M3 - 194 hp @ 6,750 rpm and 200hp @ 6,750 rpm
M3/E3 - 200 hp @ 6,750 rpm and 215 hp at 6,750 rpm
324D - 86 hp @ 4,600 rpm
324TD - 115 hp @ 4,800 rpm
325I - 170 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 171 hp @ 5,800 rpm
325IX - 170 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 171 hp @ 5,800 rpm
325E (2.7) - 129 hp @ 4,250 rpm

If engine codes are wanted , will post them up also 4 pots motors as well , all above its taken from AutoData 2007.

320is or M3 aren't 6 pot.