New member (hopefully soon new owner)

[kingbreezer]

Hey, I'm currently still on the darkside (Just bought a Saxo VTR) but find it truly uninspiring to drive/look at etc.
A friend just got an E30 325i sport and I'm in love.
I'll have a look through the faq pages for stuff like power/torque, acceleration etc, but I was just wondering if I could get some help on some specifics?
Firstly, I can get a C reg Bauer 325i convertible for Ԛ£695, but it has brake problems (owner describes them as 'spongy')and no SH. At worst case, how much would replacing the master cylinder, pipes and calipers? (and maybe upgrading to E30 M3 spec whilst I'm at it if possible?

Unfortunately, at 19, I'm very much dpending on my insurance quotes. I get it pretty cheap anyway (Ԛ£579 fully comp on a newish Saxo VTR). A little help on what to look out for when test driving an E30, and what problems I can expect would be great though, thanks.

[JazzMan]

Welcome (Its Patrick BTW )

[chu346]

Welcome to the zone dude!

Firstly, I can get a C reg Bauer 325i convertible for Ԛ£695, but it has brake problems (owner describes them as 'spongy')and no SH. At worst case, how much would replacing the master cylinder, pipes and calipers? (and maybe upgrading to E30 M3 spec whilst I'm at it if possible?

Thats a very expersive job including a swap from 4 stud wheels to 5 stud for the brake discs to fit. Which will mean new hubs, struts, wheels etc.

Unfortunately, at 19, I'm very much dpending on my insurance quotes. I get it pretty cheap anyway (Ԛ£579 fully comp on a newish Saxo VTR). A little help on what to look out for when test driving an E30, and what problems I can expect would be great though, thanks.

As for insuring a 325i, it ain't cheap so get a price first, i think its group 17 and a saxo is about 9.
You may have to get a 316i or 318i which would be group 12-13.

[billgatese30]

welcome to the zone mate.

insurance shouldn't be too much of a problem so long as your prepared to pay and have full no claims and have had no speeding fines or have any points etc.


i took my policy out when i was only 18 for a 325 sport and it was Ԛ£1850.

but you will possiby have another years driving experience and no claims so it should come in cheaper.

any car made before 1988 was more prone to rust than the later cars, also small things changed like sensors, wiring connectors ecu's and stuff like that so some stuff may be a little more difficult to come by second hand.

later cars were much more durable as far as rust is concerned and it is also a lot easier to find good ones.

hope that helps, sure everyone here will be able to answer anyhting else you have to ask.

[elliot]

320i`s group 14, im pretty sure an auto would be cheaper insurance but if your not a cruiser its not a great option.

[bmwe30mtech]

welcome to the zone mate.

insurance shouldn't be too much of a problem so long as your prepared to pay and have full no claims and have had no speeding fines or have any points etc.


i took my policy out when i was only 18 for a 325 sport and it was Ԛ£1850.

but you will possiby have another years driving experience and no claims so it should come in cheaper.

any car made before 1988 was more prone to rust than the later cars, also small things changed like sensors, wiring connectors ecu's and stuff like that so some stuff may be a little more difficult to come by second hand.

later cars were much more durable as far as rust is concerned and it is also a lot easier to find good ones.

hope that helps, sure everyone here will be able to answer anyhting else you have to ask.

Hi and welsome to the zone. A 325 convertable for 695? thats a cheap price i would have thought! And....billgates30 ,wow that sounds cheap for a 18 year old insurance on a 325i sport! I am almost 17, and looking for insurance on my 1.8, but so far nothing less than about 2500 has come up, whihc im well off paying!

[iDreamBeemer]

Hello mate, welcome to the Zone. I know I have posted this link before but this guy has put a massive list of things to check when buying and E30 although he has 318iS which is quite specific but some really handy things to look out for are mentioned.

Look in Advice and you will see buyers guide.

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/

Good Luck!

[billgatese30]

welcome to the zone mate.

insurance shouldn't be too much of a problem so long as your prepared to pay and have full no claims and have had no speeding fines or have any points etc.


i took my policy out when i was only 18 for a 325 sport and it was Ԛ£1850.

but you will possiby have another years driving experience and no claims so it should come in cheaper.

any car made before 1988 was more prone to rust than the later cars, also small things changed like sensors, wiring connectors ecu's and stuff like that so some stuff may be a little more difficult to come by second hand.

later cars were much more durable as far as rust is concerned and it is also a lot easier to find good ones.

hope that helps, sure everyone here will be able to answer anyhting else you have to ask.

Hi and welsome to the zone. A 325 convertable for 695? thats a cheap price i would have thought! And....billgates30 ,wow that sounds cheap for a 18 year old insurance on a 325i sport! I am almost 17, and looking for insurance on my 1.8, but so far nothing less than about 2500 has come up, whihc im well off paying!

the 1 year no claims and no penalties on my lisence really help.

do an online quote through HERE and see what it comes back with

[kingbreezer]

Legends, all of you. Hehe. Well, I'll call the insurance company in a few minutes and get them to mail me a quote (It's an old fashioned company ;))
That guide is great, thanks. If I can't get a 325 I'm afraid I'll stick with the devil I know. I like the idea of it being fairly nippy, as well as quite rare (sport model).
I have maximum potected no claims (due to some juggery pokery from our insurance rep) so I get fairly chep insurance for my age (19). It won't get cheaper really until I'm 21 because of this though.

The post 1988 advice is spot on; exactly the sort of tip I was after, thanks!

The 325 convertible is cheap because it's got no service history, and has 'brake faults' though when asked, the owner merely said 'they were too spongy'. It could be a money making bargain, or it could be a dog.
I'll keep you posted!

[Zayyan]

Does this help?

Admiral 0800 600 800 www.admiral.com
Adrian Flux 01553 777 240 www.adrianflux.co.uk
AON 01384 552 670 www.aon.com
A-Plan 0845 071 123 www.aplan.co.uk
AXA 0800 015 4292 www.axa-motor.co.uk
Bell Direct 0800 140 180 www.belldirect.co.uk
Bennetts 0990 202090 www.bennetts.co.uk
Bugdet 0800 028 9044 www.budgetinsurance.com
Catterall 01254 695 055 www.chris-thompson.co.uk
Churchill 0800 200 331 www.churchill.com
Cis 08457 464646 www.cis.co.uk
Confused www.confused.co.uk
CoverSure (RallySure) 01829 733 880 www.dmatters.co.uk
Crowthorne Insurance 01344 771626 www.crowthorne.co.uk
Direct Line 0845 246 8701 uk.directline.com
Elephant 0870 6080668 www.elephant.co.uk
Endsleigh 0800 028 3571 www.endsleigh.co.uk
Footman 0121 651 6250 www.footmanjames.co.uk
Graham Sykes 0870 444 6319 www.graham-sykes.co.uk
Greenlight 01277 263 030 www.greenlight-insurance.co.uk
Keith Michaels 0181 642 7868 www.keithmichaels.co.uk
Liverpool Victoria 0800 514 514 www.liverpoolvictoria.co.uk
More Than 0800 072 4186 www.morethan.com
Motor Quote Direct 0800 48 44 33 www.motorquotedirect.co.uk
Nash Warren 0121 561 4484 www.nashwarren.co.uk
Norwich Union 0870 242 0800 www.norwichunion.com
Peart 0870 240 2972 www.peart.co.uk
Peoples Choice 0800 614 824 www.peopleschoice.co.uk
Performance Direct 08704 203896 www.performancedirect.co.uk
Privilege Insurance 0113 292 5555 www.privilege.com
Quinn Direct 0845 850 0845 www.quinn-direct.com
QuoteLine Direct 0870 444 0870 www.quoteline-direct.co.uk
RAC 0845 3000 755 www.rac.co.uk
Sainsburys 0800 032 0000 www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/insurance
Tesco's 0845 300 9900 www.tesco.com
The AA 0870 606 0483 www.theaa.com
Hastings Direct 0800 00 1066 www.hastingsdirect.com
Esure 0845 603 7873 www.esure.com
Halifax 0845 608 9913 carinsurance.halifax-online.co.uk
Eagle Star 08459 45 45 67 www.eaglestar.co.uk
Lloyds TSB 0800 056 3040 www.insurance.co.uk
Screen Trade 0800 435 207 www.screentrade.co.uk
Its4me 0870 0131 464 www.its4me.co.uk
The Insurance Centre 0709 2511050 www.theinsurancecentre.co.uk

320i`s group 14, im pretty sure an auto would be cheaper insurance but if your not a cruiser its not a great option.

Autos are always more expensive to insure, the reason being that you're statistically more likely to crash I believe.

[kingbreezer]

Thanks for the list dude, but I get the best deal with my current insurer (NFU)
It's worth paying a bit extra because thay are very fair, and because we are old clients they trust us and just pay up if we claim. None of this haggling over value or arsy inspections.
They also allow induction and echaust mods at no extra cost.. ;)
Just called them up; a nice lady said she'd call back later today. Bonus.