E30 Zone

Hi All

I mailed a few months ago asking for advice on a car I saw, was it good value etc? Well I still haven't found the one for me and have bought an e46 as a stopgap until I get exactly the right one. Problem is, I sometimes see one with all but one of the features I want....mostly aircon is the problem. Anyway, I really want it to be:

silver, grey, red or blue
manual
convertible
2.5 litres
black leather interior
aircon
earlier chrome trim type
no front chin spoiler

I accept that if I don't find one soon I will have to make compromises. And these are the ones that I suspect are the easiest and cheapest to sort...and so I ask for your advice:

If I find one with the chin spoiler, will I be able to take it off with no aesthetic scars underneath and what are the costs of getting the older looking parts?

If I buy one without aircon, how easy and expensive will it be to get one installed, parts and labour.

If I buy one without chrome trim, how expensive is it to retrofit, parts and labour?

Cheers,
Richard

Yes. I doubt you'll find too many older chromey cabs in the UK with air-con fitted!

Why would you want aircon in a cab - if you need to drop the temperature in the interior - drop the roof ?

Sounds like you are being a bit picky. I would just pick one up without aircon then keep an eye on ebay for one being broke or ask a trader on here, they could sort you one out. Then its a matter of getting it fitted... Again, ask on here and someone will tell you how to do it... My logic is, if someone else can fit it, I can too... nothing is impossible

with these you need to buy on condition rather than spec. i don't know why anyone wants aircon in an e30 in this country anyway extra weight extra fuel and unreliability.

Hmm yes I had heard the aircon is not so good on them.....but it is traffic jams in summer with hood down that are really unpleasant. It made me not remove the hood on my last cars (spitfire and x19). So, get one without aircon first and if I still feel the want for aircon, get a used one, perhaps from here. How pricey are they and how heavy are they?

Thanks for your advice so far.

Rich

Search in the for sale section. The aircon kit includes a variant radiator as well as the unit itself (IIRC), additional wiring and a dash switch. I recall they go for around £200 for the whole set.

I'd assume you'd lose approx 10% in fuel economy running it.

Finally, if you are getting too hot in your cab in the summer, try moving to Scotland !

A full Air con kit is 250 to 300 quid all day long. Bit odf a stripping mission to fit it.

As said, Buy a 325i Cab in the best structual condition you can get. Then spec it the way you want it.

Whats your budget anyway?

pnd wrote:with these you need to buy on condition rather than spec. i don't know why anyone wants aircon in an e30 in this country anyway extra weight extra fuel and unreliability.

The extra weight is marginal

It only uses extra fuel when in use and the majority of time its used is when stationary or when first getting in the car

Unreliabilty?! The E30 A/C set up is very reliable and alot more reliable than some modern systems, BMW ones included!

The unreliablity comes from old neglected systems but this is the same for any car.

Most 325i Cabs probably won't have a "chin" spoiler as such anyway - only the later "facelift" early 90's cabs can have the M Tech 2 front airdam fitted without a lot of work and if you want one with Chrome you're only looking really at late 80's stuff anyway.

B7 is spot on - try and find one in the right colour in the best condition possible and then just retrofit the bits your really want ( Black Leather / Aircon ). If you specifically want aircon for when you're stuck in traffic on a hot day you'd also better look for one with a working factory electric roof

richgilb wrote:Hmm yes I had heard the aircon is not so good on them.....but it is traffic jams in summer with hood down that are really unpleasant. It made me not remove the hood on my last cars (spitfire and x19). So, get one without aircon first and if I still feel the want for aircon, get a used one, perhaps from here. How pricey are they and how heavy are they?

Thanks for your advice so far.

Rich

Air con in E30's is fine if mainained.

I have a complete set up for sale and can fit it as well if need be for an extra cost.

Rodderz wrote:Whats your budget anyway?

no more than 5 grand

bss325i wrote: I have a complete set up for sale and can fit it as well if need be for an extra cost.

Just tried to pm you but got no confirmation that it went and nothing in my sent items.

richgilb wrote:

bss325i wrote: I have a complete set up for sale and can fit it as well if need be for an extra cost.

Just tried to pm you but got no confirmation that it went and nothing in my sent items.

No pm received.

Give it another try.

Update! After nearly 4 years I found one having made compromises just to get one in good nick. 1986 325i Convertible Sport with 15" BBS wheels in white with black hood and black leather, 71,000 on the clock - £3500.

I have been looking nearly weekly, waiting for a really tidy one to come in at under 4 grand, since I didn't get the one 4 years ago with similar miles on for £3700. Couldn't face paying 5 grand, which seems to be a common asking price. SO I waited until it felt like decent value,

So the colour stays but I am back on the aircon mission....so about £250 to buy. How much would someone on this forum charge to fit it?

You'll never get all the parts for aircon for 250 quid. I bought the remnants of an R134a kit and still ended up replacing the temp switch, engine radiator and condensor as well as the receiver/drier, and I still needed a blower fan and compressor bracket from the dealer as well as a myriad little screws and clips - cost me a lot closer to 500 quid all in, and that's wothout paying for the vacuum/recharge.

As for fitting, you'd have to pay me the same sort of price on top to go through that ballache again

500 zloty and you're on.

Are you bonkers? 500 Zloty = £1,027.36

500 zloty is a hundred quid.....

So it is! The first exchange rate calculator that Google came up with got it ar$e about face.

We are now 4 years on. Prices of parts have gone up now. But you may still get a complete AC kit of parts for £250.

However, as above, you will need a new drier, no doubt a condenser, the R134a conversion kit and no doubt a new fan as 90% of the 20 odd year old ones are seized.

But initially you have to make sure its a complete kit you buy as Grr says, you'll end up at the dealers spending the same again on bits and peices.

And then theres the fitting............ A proper ballache and time consuming job.

if the pipes are rusty internally then that not really any good either

If your interested in fitting aircon you need to expect to be spending £1000, new parts are always needed and they are not cheap.
I wouldnt be without it personally

I have the CORRECT A/C kit for your car in an '87 convertible I am dismantling , complete with correct tropical radiator, shroud, hoses and the early A/C loom. PM me for more details.