Getting an e30 - Pros and cons?

[skezy]

So i'm planning on getting an e30 for my daily run about.

316 or 318is

Which would do the task better? cost less to run?

I would like to make the car a project and have quite a lot of questions. Would having the engine re-mapped improve the mpg? How much would a full body wrap cost? How much are the cars to repair and will I be paying a TONNE for road tax and insurance?
I have very small knowledge about cars but I'd like to learn a lot more.

sorry for all the questions!

cheers guys

[Green]

Tax for an E30 is approx £123 for 6 months and £230 for 12 months, 1.6/1.8/2.0/2.5 etc all the same as it's before the 2001 tax changes.
A full wrap will vary depend from garage to garage depending on the type of vinyl and quality of the finish as well as if you want bits like the door inserts also done properly. A complete wrap as far as I know can be anything from £500-£1000. If you're looking for a cheap paint job try plasti-dip (or something along them lines) it's durable and also if you want you can peel it off to reveal the paint underneath when you're done with it.

Repairs wise the E30 can be quite a money pit, but they're all variable it's hard to say. Rust will be the biggest problem usually. There's a lot of spares you can get through here and everyone's friendly if you need help.

Check out these off the wiki for an idea on what you're looking for when buying

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

As for insurance, well once again it depends on this and that really. I got mine when I was 20 and insured for £1000 as standard, now it's insured with it's modifications and 3 points for £550 (nearly 4 years on).
Have a look around for a good deal, companies such as lancaster, sky insurance and adrian flux tend to pop up here a bit although adrian flux is a broker and will find you insurance through another company - but that worked out fine for me.

Personally out the two you're thinking about, get the 318is. Tend to not rot as much for some reason (or so I get the idea from here) and you'll enjoy the added power compared to a limp wristed 8v.

[Brianmoooore]

316 saloon and 318iS are very different cars, and the iS wins hands down on all points, except perhaps on purchase price.
Getting the engine running as it was when it left the factory will improve MPG/power (which is dependant on your right foot), which will generally involve returning adjustments to where they were at the factory, having the injectors rebuilt, and replacing a few rubber hoses and bungs.
All E30's are taxed (in the UK) at the higher pre 2001 rate, which, until tomorrow at least, is £225.
Fully comprehensive normal insurance is around £100 a year for me, but I suspect I might be slightly older (and therefore much less of a risk) than you. Subject to conditions, E30s can be insured very reasonably on classic policies.

[Duke137]

In my experience "project" and "daily run about" as the same car is a bad idea if you are relying on the said vehicle getting you to work (or wherever) every day. One day you'll start a job you can't finish and need a lift, or buying a lemon because it was cheap to fix up will at some point not be reliable enough as a daily commuter.

Everyone is different I know but that is my experience of it. They are all old cars now with even the last of the production line at the 20 year mark, so this is definately worth thinking about.

[Mitchen]

I was in the same boat as you when I got mine. Hadn't really tinkered with cars at all in my life, because I was used to modern Germans with excessive electrics and parts here, there and everywhere.

Since getting my E30 I'm pretty confident enough to be able to do more of the menial jobs, pretty much all down to the wiki page at the top! Still get slightly baffled with the jargon, because I've not come from a mechanical background, but I get the jist, plus the guys on here are very helpful.

I was lucky that mine wasnt a bad motor to begin with, and so far only put just over a grand into the car in maintenance since last year (mostly down to inspection 2). Most of the things that could go wrong are manageable financially because parts are relatively cheap, but as mentioned the killer and the one I'm dreading, is uncovering rust!

In terms of a daily runner, depends on how far you're driving. I work around 20 mins drive from where I live, so I'm confident with the daily use... but as to be expected with parts in the car being over 20 years old, one day it will let me down! Just hope it's not an important day at the office!

But with all the money and potential grief, I wouldnt change it for all the 14 plate Ford Focus's in the world! Nothing like a mint E30!

[rich318i]

as above what is costs for a new car ive had mine for 9 years now and as in total spent about 1k on it if that but with all the stuff ive wanted done to it like M52 conversion and so on about 3-4k

Not bad for the cost and blows many new cars away