E30 Zone

I'am getting bored with my car, its immaculate and ive done that much to it i dont want to sell it if that makes sence.

what are the chances of getting a straight swop for a 325i in the same condition (i.e must have zero rust) and no scratches etc in paint. and have loads of history.

i will even swop for a 320i if its a minty low mileage example

what would you do, baring in mind insurance for a 325i next year is £1100 or there abouts and £900 for the IS, but putting an m52 in would make it £2000.

i dont know what to do, also fancy a change from white

Bored

Keep it and stick a M50 in there You'll be lucky to find another one in the same condition for around £1500 i.e a 2.5.

Whites lovely

Insurance costs too much cheaper to just buy a b25

£1500 wouldnt let it go for any less than 2k, i'am sure people who have seen the car will agree

Your next mod should be a high quality car cover or a carcoon and store the thing until you either able to insure the engine you want or you feel like driving it again. You know yourself that you'll never get back the money and time you put into it, and if you mod it you'll probably end up devaluing it. Non M3s are not really classics in terms of value, but they might be one day.

I hate insurance too

Advertise your IS and see what kind of response you get

If your really really bored, i can come over and make a couple of cosmetic changes

What about a bit of boost??

If done well it'll be reversible and you'll be able to sell the turbo kit on if it's removed...

ImysE30 wrote:I hate insurance too

Advertise your IS and see what kind of response you get

If your really really bored, i can come over and make a couple of cosmetic changes

no angel eyes for me imy

if i was to advertise it i would have to source a set of 14" bbs, tech 1 wheel and used knob,.

or do i be cheaky and email this guy and see if he wants a swop as i have always liked the early models best

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... &logcode=p

sihooker wrote:What about a bit of boost??

If done well it'll be reversible and you'll be able to sell the turbo kit on if it's removed...

costs too much

This is a stunning car, I remember it from Santa Pod, Keep it as it is

ImysE30 wrote:I hate insurance too

Agreed, got a long list off stuff to photocopy and that to now send off for my insurance

ImysE30 wrote:Advertise your IS and see what kind of response you get

If its anything like mine... be prepared for timewasters I'd be tempted to keep it. I only bought my other e30 becuase i had spent alot on my iS, including a large amount on the engine + servicing. I didnt like the idea of basically throwing it all away and sticking a new engine with no previous history in it.

thanks

i could always stick some hairy cams in it??

if i sold my mint leather sport seats ?

Cook318IS wrote:

ImysE30 wrote:I hate insurance too

Agreed, got a long list off stuff to photocopy and that to now send off for my insurance

ImysE30 wrote:Advertise your IS and see what kind of response you get

If its anything like mine... be prepared for timewasters I'd be tempted to keep it. I only bought my other e30 becuase i had spent alot on my iS, including a large amount on the engine + servicing. I didnt like the idea of basically throwing it all away and sticking a new engine with no previous history in it.

can you get some sort of insurance that covers you in two cars for not much more than a normal policy ?

given the fact that only you can drive them and you can only drive one at once

TPS wrote:This is a stunning car, I remember it from Santa Pod, Keep it as it is

thanks, i wish i had washed it properly now though

Alex wrote:I'am getting board with my car,

What kind of board? An ironing board?

toby wrote:

Alex wrote:I'am getting board with my car,

What kind of board? An ironing board?

All Amended

list it for sale for the price you would let it got for.

Then IF it sells buy a 325 or 320 or whtever...

worth a try? i can sell you an SE gear knob and steering wheel if you need.

josh

Having recently sold E30 bits, 100% agree with Cook, be prepared for Test Pilots & timewasters

Alex wrote:

ImysE30 wrote:I hate insurance too

Advertise your IS and see what kind of response you get

If your really really bored, i can come over and make a couple of cosmetic changes

no angel eyes for me He who feels the need to reply on every thread

if i was to advertise it i would have to source a set of 14" bbs, tech 1 wheel and used knob,.

or do i be cheaky and email this guy and see if he wants a swop as i have always liked the early models best

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... &logcode=p

Damn

They are cheap enough to get hold off, you might get more with the 15" BBS' though

No harm in asking Alex

I'll swap ya

i dont want a rusty cabby

Alex wrote: or do i be cheaky and email this guy and see if he wants a swop as i have always liked the early models best

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... &logcode=p

IMHO, you'd be mad to swap a 318is for an L-Jet 320i automatic!

i would just drop a 325i, or 2.7 bottom end in it speedtouch and keep quiet to the insurance, if i did it to the IS it would be obvious if i got stopped or anything

Just keep your eye out for a tidy 325 - if you can buy before you sell all the better. I would think there would be a ready market for your car as and when you want rid, though I think £2k ono would be a realistic starting point, and 18-19 hundred a reasonable selling price. If I could find an unmolested, fully historied sub-120k 325i for sensible money, I'd buy it, but they are bloody rare, even rarer for sale. You have to be prepared to pounce (and to travel).

I have a minty(ish) 76k 320i with truly exceptional history (1 previous lady owner, every bill inc original bill of sale, serviced every 6mths with no expense spared) and I would part with it for an adequate sum, but only, only, if I already had a 325i with similar provenance already on my drive as a replacement - in a similar boat to you really. It isn't all the car, or even all the e30, that I want, but it is so straight and honest I feel really lucky to have it, just as I am sure you feel with your excellent iS.

The trouble is with e30s, the most cared for cars are usually the more 'old person' variants - moredoors, luxor/bronzit/cirrus cars, autos, carb 316s, 320s - and it then feels almost naughty to molest them in pursuit of proper pace, handling and appearance. I could, and have, owned less well preserved examples, but I couldn't fall for one in the same way as I have this particular one. I regret losing it's immaculate cloth interior and feel torn about potentially firming up the boat like ride, giving it more poke, or junking the stupid 4-turn steering rack, all things I would like to have done.

Why are you bored??
Is it the lust for a bit more power,or is it that it's an E30 and you just need a change?

Alex you wont get someone with a 325i in the same condition of yours wanting to do a straight swap - it just ain't gonna happen - if you were the 325i owner would you ?

If you're getting bored of it why not buy a cheap snotter to smoke around in and SORN & garage it over the winter - then when you take it out next spring you'll probably find renewed enthusiasm for it.

want a 6 pot and more power

capri_rob wrote:Alex you wont get someone with a 325i in the same condition of yours wanting to do a straight swap - it just ain't gonna happen - if you were the 325i owner would you ?

If you're getting bored of it why not buy a cheap snotter to smoke around in and SORN & garage it over the winter - then when you take it out next spring you'll probably find renewed enthusiasm for it.

seems a good plan but i have no where to put it

and parents wont let me leave it on the drive

Alex wrote:
what would you do, baring in mind insurance for a 325i next year is £1100 or there abouts and £900 for the IS, but putting an m52 in would make it £2000.

how much?!

sod that - get out of BMWs into something more insurance friendly

All E30s are much the same. 2.7s aren't a great deal faster in the real world. If you are bored of the 318is sell it for good money and look elsewhere perhaps.

Have you done the timing mod on your 'is'? Perhaps then it wouldn't seem so boring.

Alex wrote:want a 6 pot and more power

Got the 6 pot just want more power

If it wasn't for insurance i would just stick a M52/M30 in there, have you had a quote for a M50 swap from insurance?

toby wrote:

Alex wrote:
what would you do, baring in mind insurance for a 325i next year is £1100 or there abouts and £900 for the IS, but putting an m52 in would make it £2000.

how much?!

sod that - get out of BMWs into something more insurance friendly

All E30s are much the same. 2.7s aren't a great deal faster in the real world. If you are bored of the 318is sell it for good money and look elsewhere perhaps.

Have you done the timing mod on your 'is'? Perhaps then it wouldn't seem so boring.

no i havent done the timing mod, i asked a while ago if its worth altering and it seemed that most people who did went back to factory. you either have more low down torque or high end.

still might give it ago some time, prehaps a nice set of cams will make it a little quicker ?

ImysE30 wrote:

Alex wrote:want a 6 pot and more power

Got the 6 pot just want more power

If it wasn't for insurance i would just stick a M52/M30 in there, have you had a quote for a M50 swap from insurance?

cheapest ive found was 2k

In that case i reckon i'd look out for a mint 320i with ABS(rear discs already in!) and do the engine swap thing...you'll probably get change from your 'is too!

Alex wrote:

toby wrote:

Alex wrote:
what would you do, baring in mind insurance for a 325i next year is £1100 or there abouts and £900 for the IS, but putting an m52 in would make it £2000.

how much?!

sod that - get out of BMWs into something more insurance friendly

All E30s are much the same. 2.7s aren't a great deal faster in the real world. If you are bored of the 318is sell it for good money and look elsewhere perhaps.

Have you done the timing mod on your 'is'? Perhaps then it wouldn't seem so boring.

no i havent done the timing mod, i asked a while ago if its worth altering and it seemed that most people who did went back to factory. you either have more low down torque or high end.

still might give it ago some time, prehaps a nice set of cams will make it a little quicker ?

Turbo??

I would have thought the power increase of a set of cams would be minimal at best? Likewise, is the power increase of 20 - 30bhp of a 325i really going to rock your world, certainly enough to the point of trading a well sorted car that you know for something unknown?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but E30s aren't about raw power, and if that's what you are after you might be better off looking elsewhere?

That or pay the £2,000 for the M52 conversion. After all, you were paying that for a 3 cylinder Corsa a few months ago!

Alex wrote:

ImysE30 wrote:

Alex wrote:want a 6 pot and more power

Got the 6 pot just want more power

If it wasn't for insurance i would just stick a M52/M30 in there, have you had a quote for a M50 swap from insurance?

cheapest ive found was 2k

Yikes!

Without the cost of the swap, it doesn't seem too bad tbh, a good 2.5 will cost 2.5k+ and then on top of that, insurance of 1k = 3.5k ish

Alex. You have a minter, and not an undesirable minter either. Hold onto it for a few years. Consider garaging up to preserve it. Maybe in 5 years an iS in that nick may be worth a few more bags?

Get a snotter of a 325i and do as you wish to it. Just get a rust free, working one and you'll be on your way to making a 2nd beast. 1 to look after, 1 to abuse!