I have owned a 1987 4 door 318i E30 (pre facelift chromie) in Lapis Blue since 1989. She has had only one previous owner since new and been in daily use all its life up to 2004. Throughout its life of 147,000 miles she has been a great car to use; very reliable, economical and a dream to drive. She has had very regular service and has never let me down, passing every MOT on the first visit.
However, with a growing family I found it increasingly difficult to accommodate two growing boys in the rear of the E30. So in 2000 I bought a Toyota Carina hatchback which I still own today and continues to do an excellent job.
However, I could not part with my E30 for sentimental reasons and decided to get it SORN in 2004 with a view to putting it back on the road if I ever needed a second car in the future. Unfortunately the proceeding six idle years have not been kind to the old girl and it has suffered somewhat.
What I would like to know from E30 Zone members is whether it is economically viable spending time, effort and money putting it back on the road or whether it is best (and it hurts me to say this) to break it up for spares. I have listed below all the negatives I am aware of:-
1. Both rear sills have corroded and have holes by the rear wheels.
2. Both rear wing wheel arches are corroded.
3. Both front jacking points under the vehicle have corroded away.
4. Rear end collision ”“ whereby the rear valence, panel behind the number plate and the rear bumper have been pushed in by around 3 inches. It has not affected the boot lid or boot interior.
5. O/S/R door corroded through by the quarter light interior of car.
6. Bonnet sound insulation material very brittle and breaking away from bonnet in large areas.
7. Chrome trim around front and rear screens have completely faded.
8. Dashboard cracked in three places
9. Service lights continuously on red/amber (previous fault).
10. Heater fan not working.
11. Drivers seat in very poor condition (remaining seats are excellent).
12. Drivers’ seat belt stalk not working.
13. Battery dead.
14. Borrowed battery but could not start engine. Tank is showing empty so whatever fuel is in there could be contaminated.
15. Rubber fuel hose from fuel filter has perished leaking fuel.
Sorry for the long ramble but would really appreciate some feedback.
My 318i - “To Repair or for Spares†that is the question
Moderator: martauto
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BadMoonRising
- E30 Zone Regular
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Might as well sell what you can from it. Bonnet, doors, buttons, rear seats, alloys. Then weigh it in and get yourself a 325 for fun 
That's a pretty calamitous list of faults. Many of them are cheap and easy fixes. Some of them are potentially terminal. Are you sentimentally attached to the car or do you just want an E30. If it's the latter, just go and find a good one. If it's the former be prepared to empty your wallet.
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B7
- E30 Zone Team Member
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You are obviously attacted to this car as you've owned it for a considerable amount of time. Back in the day, It was a nice car and you'd have been (quite rightly) proud to own it.
But, as in many other makes, time has not been kind to the lesser models, rendering them as being worth more as a sum of parts than restored to it's former glory. Is it fair? ot really no, but it's fact.
There are a few hardened e30 fans (and good on them) that like a 4 door and will restore one ("the diddler" is one). But the truth is, unless it's a 6 pot 2 door, touring or a convertible of some type, it's actually worthless.
I think the time will come, I really do, where any e30 will be worth money (ala mk1 Escorts) but at the moment, the e30 sits where the Mk2 cortina sat 30 years ago. No one would touch one unless it was the 1600E. And now, you go to classic car shows and it's line's of "E"'s (the metal type not the chemical type
) which to be honest, bores me to tears. You see one, you seen 'em all. It'll be similar with the e30, There will be lines of Tech 2 Sports and convertibles, populated with the odd M3 and 2 door SE 325i or (hopefully) a 323i and that will be it! My money's on the 4 door 316, 318 and even the 325 will be extremely thin on the ground. 
But, as in many other makes, time has not been kind to the lesser models, rendering them as being worth more as a sum of parts than restored to it's former glory. Is it fair? ot really no, but it's fact.
There are a few hardened e30 fans (and good on them) that like a 4 door and will restore one ("the diddler" is one). But the truth is, unless it's a 6 pot 2 door, touring or a convertible of some type, it's actually worthless.
I think the time will come, I really do, where any e30 will be worth money (ala mk1 Escorts) but at the moment, the e30 sits where the Mk2 cortina sat 30 years ago. No one would touch one unless it was the 1600E. And now, you go to classic car shows and it's line's of "E"'s (the metal type not the chemical type
) which to be honest, bores me to tears. You see one, you seen 'em all. It'll be similar with the e30, There will be lines of Tech 2 Sports and convertibles, populated with the odd M3 and 2 door SE 325i or (hopefully) a 323i and that will be it! My money's on the 4 door 316, 318 and even the 325 will be extremely thin on the ground. B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
It's not really worth doing - it would cost a LOT of money to put it right and a four door 318i just aisn't desirable enough - nor will it be in the forseeable future.
However, there are probably quite a few useful parts on it and it'd keep a few more E30's on the road. That's the way I look at it anyway.
However, there are probably quite a few useful parts on it and it'd keep a few more E30's on the road. That's the way I look at it anyway.
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B7
- E30 Zone Team Member
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Andy's right. If you can keep a few more alive then not everythings lost. Buy another (maybe more desirable) mosel and tyour existing cars parts as spares. If you've owned it from 1989 then it owes you nothing! cheap supply of parts I'd say.
Maybe if you need a second car, a nice 325i or a 318iS???
Maybe if you need a second car, a nice 325i or a 318iS???
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
Folks, really appreciate all your feedback....it is all useful advice.
As far as I can see I have three options:-
1. Restore the vehicle to its full glory >> although attached to the car, I am not attached enough to justify spending lots of money restoring it only to find that the restoration costs outweight the value of the car (particularly if it is not a desirable model in the first place).
2. Fix the faults that prevent it passing an MOT and put it back on the road >> again I have the same feeling that the costs of repair will be more than the value of the car i.e two new sills, new jacking points, new battery, new fuel hose plus anything else that has deteriorated (particularly in the suspension area).
3. Sell for spares >> this is probably the only viable option. I will be able to recoup some money and, as Andy and B7 put it, "help keep other models alive".
As far as I can see I have three options:-
1. Restore the vehicle to its full glory >> although attached to the car, I am not attached enough to justify spending lots of money restoring it only to find that the restoration costs outweight the value of the car (particularly if it is not a desirable model in the first place).
2. Fix the faults that prevent it passing an MOT and put it back on the road >> again I have the same feeling that the costs of repair will be more than the value of the car i.e two new sills, new jacking points, new battery, new fuel hose plus anything else that has deteriorated (particularly in the suspension area).
3. Sell for spares >> this is probably the only viable option. I will be able to recoup some money and, as Andy and B7 put it, "help keep other models alive".
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Ollie_bwoii
- Married to the E30 Zone
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Some, would make me mucho greatful.
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Ollie_bwoii
- Married to the E30 Zone
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- Location: Northampton
Sent you a PM, i'll happily help. 
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Ollie_bwoii
- Married to the E30 Zone
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Pics.
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Alex
- Married to the E30 Zone
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Depending on how easy the rust was to repair i would put it back on the road with an m52 and cream interior
if your saying it will cost more than the car to repair then obviosly your looking at it as an old run about, in that case sell/frag it and get an e36
if your saying it will cost more than the car to repair then obviosly your looking at it as an old run about, in that case sell/frag it and get an e36
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sihooker
- E30 Zone Addict
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I would say that it isn't worth putting on the road, but if you are thinking of getting another E30 i'd hang on to it for now. You might find that the odd bit of trim, etc., might need replacing on your next one...