E30 Convertable..dilema??????

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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:48 am

I am thinking of getting a convertable E30. Have always wanted one.

Those who do have them, is it worth it?


I have a 4door e30 at the mo'...saw a convertable and am thinking of trading it (sell mine to buy the cab).


What are the pro's and con's of having a convertable E30 as a main car all year round?
Please help!
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BrAdZ
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:51 am

I have one..... dont use it in the winter though....

I love cabs

Summer day, open roads, roof down not a lot beats that oh and the purr of a 6pot!!

Go buy one!!! Girls love em too :P

Cons:
Heavier so a bit slower than fixed roof e30's
Roof is expensive to replace
Higher insurance
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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:24 am

Hey.
You don't use yours in the winter! why not?, are they problomatic in winter months?
How much is a new roof by the way? Manual and electric prices?
If i do buy this i would have to as it would be my main car!

rmmm....mine is a 316i and the conv is a 325i
Decisions decisions??????
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Hyperion
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:18 am

i have one and love it to bits, in winter its a bit cold, but noting i can handle. Cabs are great, i say go for it!
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:32 am

I love mine and would buy a hardtop if i used it in the winter,,,but why are you asking all these questions when there is a two page thread on the go at the moment...'convertible questions' about 7 lower on this page??? :thumb:
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bootyman
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:44 am

Go buy one buddy. I bought my 1st E30 cab about 10 years ago and i've owned one ever since, regardles of what other car's i've had. Fantastic in the summer and just buy a hardtop in the winter and yopu wont hardly notice the difference. Just go for it winkeye
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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:18 am

DaveD wrote:I love mine and would buy a hardtop if i used it in the winter,,,but why are you asking all these questions when there is a two page thread on the go at the moment...'convertible questions' about 7 lower on this page??? :thumb:
Thanks ALL for the advise, i was not aware of this thread..will go check it out.

Nice!
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Ziggy
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:20 am

Just do it!
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andyp
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:38 am

its brill, just think e30 and converitble cant get better when the sun is out, the only thing with it is like any other convertible is watch some f - - -er dont slash the roof apart from that go for it.
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orangecurry
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:23 am

see other thread :D

ps - IMHO a manual hood is a much better idea - on my 318 I had an electric one, and it was broken, and you hear of many many others that have also broken. My 325 is manual.

Buy a 325 - the noise (with the top down) is to die for.
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325sportcab
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:30 am

I've got a 325i Motorsport Cabriolet and have been using it as an every day car for the past 3 years, it great and still puts a smile on my face!!! Definitely get a cabriolet, you wont be disappointed.
Bootyman: I remember seeing your car down Ruxley Lane, Ewell when it was blue, Looked impressive back then but haven't seen it since you have done all the work to it. I'll have to keep any eye out for you next summer.
Dean


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orangecurry
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:43 am

pah my conv is MUCH cooler than that :wink:

in fact I can't even get the doors open at the mo.....

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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:56 am

325sportcab wrote:I've got a 325i Motorsport Cabriolet and have been using it as an every day car for the past 3 years, it great and still puts a smile on my face!!! Definitely get a cabriolet, you wont be disappointed.
Bootyman: I remember seeing your car down Ruxley Lane, Ewell when it was blue, Looked impressive back then but haven't seen it since you have done all the work to it. I'll have to keep any eye out for you next summer.
Dean


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Nice 1.
That is really what i wanted to see.sum 1 else that uses it as a every day car all yr round.
So it is worth getting then?...gonna go check 1 out today!.
hehe... Nice car man!
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bootyman
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:03 am

325sportscab, my car was a dog when you use to see it mate. I only bought it to drive it into the ground. It's completly different now though. We stripped it down to a bare shell and everything that can be changed was changed, so It's almost a new car now. I'll keep an eye out for you too mate. Nice car by the way. I was looking for one, but i've decided to use the money to pay off my credit card instead. Especially as i already have 2 sitting at home doing nothing and i'm not even in the Country :D
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Nelly
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:22 am

orangecurry wrote:pah my conv is MUCH cooler than that :wink:

in fact I can't even get the doors open at the mo.....

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Loved my Cirrus Blue cab before she was sold due to needs!!!
Mine was also used as and everyday day car but had the hard top (Wiesman roof) for the winter.Now that my mate Danny owns the car - he's had the top colour coded.

Orangecurry - this is what yours would look like with one;

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Nelly
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:23 am

Whoops - double posted - have slapped myself for this act of ill-concentration!!!!!

Neil.
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325sportcab
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:54 am

MrBMW78: Thanks mate. For a long time I was doing over 300miles a week in the car. You do need to look after them as they are all around 15 years old now. But I find it so much fun to drive. You can park an e30 cabriolet up next to cars worth double the value and the e30 will get far more looks. Over the past 3+ years of owning mine i have had lots of notes left on it asking if i would sell it, I've even had people get out at the traffic lights and ask me how much it would take for me to sell mine. But I really donÔš't want to sell it. They look like the ultimate summer cruise with the roof down too.
Bootyman: I've seen pictures of your car since you have finished all the work and I've seen the magizine features, It looks stunning now mate, but haven't seen it in the flesh recently. I was expecting it to be a Gaydon this year but i didn't see it mate. I was speaking to a guy from the e36zone (think he said his name was Kav, He had a really nice e46 with hartage wheels) and your car came up in conversation he said that the car was looking great and that you had it re-sprayed candy red, Instead of the orange colour, I think the Red really suits it. Your leather interior looks awesome too.
DonÔš't know why but i think most e30 cabriolet owners always buy two of them. I've got 2 at the moment aswell. My other one is a J-reg Mauritius blue one!

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Last edited by 325sportcab on Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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bootyman
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:11 pm

325 Kav is a really nice dude. I love his car as well. He's just fitted a new cream M3 leathers in it and it's something else now. I really, really wanted to come to Gaydon, but my girlfriend at the time wanted to come and see me here for a week, so i had to miss it. I'm sure i'll run into you sooner or later though. I've said i wont buy another E30 cab now as i've always wanted a E36 M3 Evo in Estriol blue and silver leather and i'm going to try and save to get one, but to be honest, if another E30 cab comes along in mint condition, low mileage and a M-tech 2 kit, i'd probably buy that cause like you said, they just look fantastic and you get more looks with them than cars much, much more expensive. The trouble is trying to fid one like i've just decribed :( :wink:
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orangecurry
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:01 pm

Nelly wrote:
Loved my Cirrus Blue cab before she was sold due to needs!!!
Mine was also used as and everyday day car but had the hard top (Wiesman roof) for the winter.Now that my mate Danny owns the car - he's had the top colour coded.

Orangecurry - this is what yours would look like with one;

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... if I got an mtech2 (?) kit and Alpinas it might... thanks for the photo, but I prefer my cars as Nature intended them, including the hardtop winkeye

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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:12 pm

ARE HARD TOP CONV EASY TO FIT AND REMOVE?
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bootyman
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:16 pm

It's just a lift on, lift off job. All UK cabs are equipped to take them so you dont need to do anything. Just lift it on and tighten it down winkeye
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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:24 pm

cool.......that easy huh!...
May consider getting 1 if i do deside to buy the cab.
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:30 pm

well i thought driving a cab would be freezing cold with the snap we had but overall its been alright, heaters on I'm quite comfortable, just let it run for a little while till it warms up first, this is my only car so I have to drive it regardless although if I had the extra cash, I'd buy a Golf VR6 for the winter months.
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MrBMW78
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:35 pm

Bootyman forgot to mention...nice car man! The cab is coool, am gonna definately check out some regardless of cold british winters. at least the top can be dwn 2weeks in the year...lol...lol

Gives me time to make sure it is fresh for the summer..Naa mean?! :wink:
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low325icab
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:49 pm

go for it mate! i use mine all year round and its great, heaters work pukka on e30s so it warms up with in minutes of getting in it! one prob though is the leather is bloodey cold first thing in the morning!!! 8O :D
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Ziggy
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:53 pm

Yup, you'll really feel the benefit of heated seats! :D
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t11mfn
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:05 pm

can you buy the kits to install into your cars for heated seats?! i was looking the other day but they were all american kits!!!
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orangecurry
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:12 pm

just to stick my oar in AGAIN (hey you asked for advice!)

leather seats are ok in winter (you soon warm them up) but are deffo too hot in summer.

I've had both types in the two convs I've owned, and cloth are much better to live with.

Recaros, obviously :D
Ziggy
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:35 pm

t11mfn wrote:can you buy the kits to install into your cars for heated seats?! i was looking the other day but they were all american kits!!!
Yup, mine were Ԛ£40 all in :cool:

Never found my seats really too hot in the summer... Guess black ones might have been though! :eek:
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sheldo
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:39 pm

go for it m8 i use mine as a daily drive. Ive had a lot of cars 325 sport, corrado, mg zr, celicat gt4 and ive got to say the cab is the best all rounder. The comfort factor is great, enough power to make it fun and the sound never fails to put a smile on my face or any other peoples for that matter.

cool in the winter even cooler in the summer. An engine thats music to your and everyone elses ears and goes without saying birds love it!! winkeye
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:55 pm

Ziggy wrote:
t11mfn wrote:can you buy the kits to install into your cars for heated seats?! i was looking the other day but they were all american kits!!!
Yup, mine were Ԛ£40 all in :cool:

Never found my seats really too hot in the summer... Guess black ones might have been though! :eek:
I have black leather..... dont find it hot... they can be warm if its been in the sun with the roof down for a bit
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:58 pm

Defo buy a cab !! you wont regret it, and if you do ever get regrets as soon as sun comes out and you put the roof down , you will forget them all in an instant....

Nuff said :D

would go for manual roof (lot less hassle and cash to fix)
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Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:58 pm

Defo buy a cab !! you wont regret it, and if you do ever get regrets as soon as sun comes out and you put the roof down , you will forget them all in an instant....

Nuff said :D

would go for manual roof (lot less hassle and cash to fix)
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will325is
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Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:36 am

lol that avatar is fucked up
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Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:32 am

as above buy one!! my problem with my cab is its a bit too hot to drive it in summer winkeye over here, but close the roof, A/C on and away you go!

As for putting up with a bit of cold....dad tells me its character building!!

mrlee

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