E30 Zone

Hi Guys,

used to be on here a fair bit but i have not had an E30 for a while. I am Looking at getting into another one now and because i used to have a 318is i am keen on getting another (despite some members views on them!).

However i have been looking around and the few that do turn up seem to be going for £3500~ unless they are rusty dogs. I am just wondering if they are really going for this price or if it people chancing their arm?

worth mentioning that i am interested in 2 door, manual with either a 2.5m20 or a 1.8 m42 engine.

I think a £3500 car need to be pretty spot on but what you need to consider is that a £2500 might need a little bit doing, maybe a little bodywork, a new exhaust and a bush or two. Before you know it you have spent the extra £1000. It does depend just how good an example you want, a £2500 318is should still be a very nice car, not perfect but usable and free from any real issues

Thanks for your reply. I only ask as i don't mind doing some work (i expect it) but it seems all the ones i see are 'mint' or complete dogs with no rear arches and shagged dampers.

I sold a really nice one for £1700 in 2011 so was hoping prices had kept at that level!

It's fairly typical of cars of the age most are shagged but a few are kept mint, the ones In between are getting rare, I've not seen a very nice one sell for £1700 in a while now, more like £2500 I would think. I think it's a slight knock on effect of the last few years of mega M3 prices pushing average joe into a 325i sport, which is pushing average joes monkey into a 318is ( hence I drive a 318is )

Generally the £3500 cars are in standard unmolested condition from what I see. However, all E30 purchases (rgardless of guise) should be treated with upmost caution as you are probably aware already as few are 'as nice as they look' with a bit of investigation...

Best thing you can do is go and view as unless it is a fragger or scrap money I wouldn't buy a potential E30 'keeper' blind these days

You could get a good 318 for that money
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111338557294? ... 1423.l2648
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221430392911? ... 1423.l2648

Bakedbean100 wrote:I sold a really nice one for £1700 in 2011 so was hoping prices had kept at that level!

Things have moved on in three years.

The best 325i Sports have virtually doubled in price from £6k to £12k for example.

Magpie: I have seen that one on Ebay, looks good but the ad is a little bit creepy and i am not sure how high the price will go. I have my eyes open though.

there are no bad points is a BIG statement ,there will something somewhere that needs doing.


it's a basic model apart from the leather which was probably added later ,mine came with 13 button obc,bmw alarm,front fogs and electric s/roof as optional extras

bss325i wrote:

Bakedbean100 wrote:I sold a really nice one for £1700 in 2011 so was hoping prices had kept at that level!

Things have moved on in three years.

The best 325i Sports have virtually doubled in price from £6k to £12k for example.

I have never seen a 12k sport !!

£12k for E30 325i Sport is a lot of money but try finding a nice one
Rare as hens teeth nowdays even though lots were made

I think is knock on effect from M3 (E30) plus people want the cars from their youth ie 1980s cars

i won't tell you what i paid 7 yrs ago for mine

real Zone car mine is....bought from a 1 post hero in the for sale section and built up to what it is now over the years with parts and help from the zone ...

Love it

e30topless wrote:

bss325i wrote:

Bakedbean100 wrote:I sold a really nice one for £1700 in 2011 so was hoping prices had kept at that level!

Things have moved on in three years.

The best 325i Sports have virtually doubled in price from £6k to £12k for example.

I have never seen a 12k sport !!

There have been a couple up for that money recently, a zoner called dbel bought a white one for that.

magpie wrote:i won't tell you what i paid 7 yrs ago for mine

real Zone car mine is....bought from a 1 post hero in the for sale section and built up to what it is now over the years with parts and help from the zone ...

Love it

£650 complete white chrome arches if I remember right?

bss325i wrote:

magpie wrote:i won't tell you what i paid 7 yrs ago for mine

real Zone car mine is....bought from a 1 post hero in the for sale section and built up to what it is now over the years with parts and help from the zone ...

Love it

£650 complete white chrome arches if I remember right?

quite a bit less than that Baza ,it hadn't been on the rd for 3 yrs and was sold as a project but passed it's mot first go

everyone was put off by the stick on chrome arches,when i removed them the cars arches were mint underneath

retro & limited edition cars are rocketing in value

E bay item No : 261479435413, has issues but maybe worth a look

it's a "baby M3" so worth every penny. Get it bought.

im not from around here but why would some members have an issue with the 318is?

Absolutely EVERY E30 will need some work. Even the 'mint' ones.

My personal opinion is that the 318is is easier/cheaper to maintain and alot rarer than a 325 /320 m20. Look to spend around 3.5 - 4k for one that needs minimal bodywork.

mattIS wrote:im not from around here but why would some members have an issue with the 318is?

The only people who have issues with the mighty IS are the owners. Most think they own some sort of canyon carving uber weapon and hate reality and sand being kicked in their face, especially by a ropey old four door 325

Its not about what car beats what,its about the grin on your face when you get there

mattIS wrote:Its not about what car beats what,its about the grin on your face when you get there

6 pot it is then!

Galvaniser FTW

I agree with the pot bit

318is make the perfect track shell donors

Well i guess the more people destroying em,the rarer they become,the higher the value,win win

Haha PacerPete, both cars are good and both have their merits. It just depends on what you want and how you drive. The m20 will never be a screeming hooligan and the m42 will always need big money to go fast in a straight line.

The op was asking about 318is values not which is best right?

Thing is, Ive had them all and I really dislike the M42, it sounds terrible and commends a premium for essentially a test engine for BMW as throughout its life it was changed and updated so much.

A tuned M42 will give any 325i a run for it money, they are not that slow!

Demlotcrew wrote:Thing is, Ive had them all and I really dislike the M42, it sounds terrible and commends a premium for essentially a test engine for BMW as throughout its life it was changed and updated so much.

A tuned M42 will give any 325i a run for it money, they are not that slow!

Agree on the test engine part, too many corners cut on the initial release. After a decent chip, COP, exhaust and lightened FW they go real nice. ...Then there is the 2.1 stroker, ITB's, Head and cam.....£££££ but

Unfortunately here down under there isnt a wide choice of e30,not as many sold.I originally wanted a 6 but had to make do with what was around,was never gonna touch a standard 318i or auto.I sold a car with a gen 3 making 400 hp to buy it so power meant not as much.I just find the balance & handling of the 318is was something i never experienced & love the sound of the twin cam screamer(has chip,full exhaust,minor head work,4.1 lsd z3 short shifter etc).Besides if i need grunt i just get my 68 torino gt vert with 390 big block out the shed or worse,the missus stagea(fast piece of shit)