E30 Zone

Well hi, I tried a thread like this a while ago and found that most people thought the 318i M40 was the best E30 for a first car!
However after a tip off from 'Blitz' I tryed the Co-op for insurance. (Thank you)

Heres my results:

316i lux M40: around £700
316 M10: around £600
318i M10: around £600

So as they won't insure me on a 318i M40 i need opinions on these cars please? That is what do you think is the best and why for a young driver!

I have also considered a Golf Mk2 and Merc 190E, but really want an E30!

Some things that would be useful for me too know:
1) 0-60?
2) MPG?
3) Optional extras?
4) What sounds the nicest for a rattly 4 pot?


Thanks very much for any responses!

They're cheap for a young driver. M40 all the way, in standard guise they're a better engine, plus if you can find a LUX model they're likely to have a few other little extras that you might not find on an M10 car (OBC, 15"BBS etc.)

i had a 316i lux as a first car you'll love it and there probably easier to find than an older chrome bumper car how did you find cheap quotes like that

'kinell. That's cheap insurance. If I could insure an E30 for £700, I'd probably get... something bigger.

It cost me almost twice that to insure my 318i touring

318i lux,,,they have a few toys with them,,,ie leccy windows etc

Its on my dads policy with me as named driver soory forgot to mention that!

I tryed a 6 cylinder but they wouldn't insure me!

get some no-claims built up,4 years no claims an my 325i costs £360,an i got a 6month for speeding. tesco compare. id go for m40 mate!

Ollie_bwoii wrote:Its on my dads policy with me as named driver soory forgot to mention that!

I tryed a 6 cylinder but they wouldn't insure me!

That would explain a few things

318i/316i touring would be my choice, not biased though All the better if you can get a later LUX model with a few toys.

magpie wrote:318i lux,,,they have a few toys with them,,,ie leccy windows etc

I can't insure a 318i M40!

damn,,,try to get a316i lux????

TBH,a well driven 316i will keep up with a 325i through the twisty's,you just loose out on the straights and up the hills.M10 is a much better motor than M40,but is 1800cc (or thereabouts) so is ruled out on insurance grounds.You will be pleasantly suprised just how well a 316i goes when it is revved,get mine above 4000rpm and it is almost quick...by comparison the 2.7 takes off regardless of gear or road speed...you just have to think a bit more to get the best of the available 'power' from the little 4 pot.

daimlerman wrote:1800cc (or thereabouts) so is ruled out on insurance grounds.

Its not ruled out on insurance its cheaper for me!

316i LUX, but I just found out the 316 M10 was cheaper to insure co-operative

daimlerman wrote:TBH,a well driven 316i will keep up with a 325i through the twisty's,you just loose out on the straights and up the hills.

Is the 325i driver dead?

Blitz wrote:316i LUX, but I just found out the 316 M10 was cheaper to insure co-operative

Was it a lot cheaper!

find a nice rust free 316, enjoy having an e30 for a while they turn it into a beast after a few years when insurance drops both as you get older and your no claims builds.

With a little time you can bring the spec up to what you want for extras, so I would not worry so much on saying holding out for a well spec'd one. Plus at the time when sold not many would spend loads on optional extras if they were buying a 316 (IMO..!)

Jon_Bmw wrote:

daimlerman wrote:TBH,a well driven 316i will keep up with a 325i through the twisty's,you just loose out on the straights and up the hills.

Is the 325i driver dead?

Ollie_bwoii wrote:

Blitz wrote:316i LUX, but I just found out the 316 M10 was cheaper to insure co-operative

Was it a lot cheaper!

Nearly 100.

Do you want a 4 or 2 door?

Blitz wrote:

Ollie_bwoii wrote:

Blitz wrote:316i LUX, but I just found out the 316 M10 was cheaper to insure co-operative

Was it a lot cheaper!

Nearly 100.

Do you want a 4 or 2 door?

2 door! Why?

My mate (Splinter87) has an M10 316 chromie and do be honest really out powers the 316i. Try a 318i M10 if you can (haven't really heard of an m10 one tho). But the sound and power for a little 318 carb is great fun. Light to drive too. Depends what you want dude. Its your first beemer so as most people say, get the one that appeals to you most, look and body nick and one with a reasonable engine and then you can always to the conversion later down the line! Maybe even consider a four door, lowers the premium. So does a slush box!

They wont touch you on a 320i? Gutted. And you really dont want an auto as your first car

Whens the big day then? You've been waiting a while haven't you?

My birthday is in June! I'm just planning ahead because good 4 pots are pretty rare so i'm giving myself time to find a good one!

I really do prefer the look of a chromie though! Don't want a four door or a slush box really (I'd rather have a golf mk2)

Maybe when you find one you can change your sig to a real car !

Get one just after christmas, and keep on fixing it up untill your birthday... will make the wait sooo much more worth it!

In june i hit the almighty (in insurance terms) 21st so looking forward to the 325i premium dropping!

NayC wrote:Maybe when you find one you can change your sig to a real car !

Ive got the M3 in blue so

318i M10 or 316i M40.

Come on people keep voting please!

m10 engine is a much better engine imo than the m40 because you dont have to change the cam every few thousand miles like in the m40

town325i wrote:m10 engine is a much better engine imo than the m40 because you dont have to change the cam every few thousand miles like in the m40

Are both M10's Chain not belt?

m10's are chain driven engine thats what the e30 m3 engine is based on

town325i wrote:m10's are chain driven engine thats what the e30 m3 engine is based on

OH didnt realise the 318i M10 was aswell!

go for the 318i

insurance looks too good to be true, remember when you pass your test you have to ring them and tell them, and in most cases they demand a load more money, i would get quotes for when you have passed not provisional

i would get a shitter for a year, fancy a corsa for 700 quid

Nope tryed the insurance for provisional and passed and theres only a tenner inbetween them!

Shame looks like the corsa is still yours!

i will ebay it

is it in your dads name

Yep it is in my dads name!