E30 Zone

316 Auto, pretty much was destined for the scrap yard. God knows what I'm going to do with it.

Was that pic from the forsale ad lol?

Have you had a look over it yet then?

Yes, was a very quick look over, it was during my lunch hour so wasn't able to poke around too much. Good news is that the rear arches are pretty solid as is the scuttle and sunroof, 15" BBS with caps and good front fogs. Runs but tappets are noisey, but no worse on start up than when its running so fingers crossed its not a knackered cam but its been bought as a project anyway.

I do like that colour on a Touring. Drop an M42 in it and it'll be a lovely chariot - 16 valves and a 62 litre tank will let you smoke around all day long.

Grrrmachine wrote:I do like that colour on a Touring. Drop an M42 in it and it'll be a lovely chariot - 16 valves and a 62 litre tank will let you smoke around all day long.

Agreed, definitely a candidate for an engine swap. If I wanted to convert to manual I guess that wouldn't be too difficult, would an auto have a different ratio diff to a manual car?

One of the best touring colours ever. Scrapping that would be a crime, and it definitely deserves something better than a M40B16 and a basic auto. box.
M42 would be nice, but a M52B28 would be so much nicer.
Existing diff. will probably be a small case 4.45, but that will be irrelevant when a M52's in there.

Nowt wrong with a M40B16, though the auto box might inhibit it a touch.
My 316i touring had stood idle for the best part of a year, changed it's broken
steering rack, MOT'ed taxed it and it has conveyed the family down to deepest
Dorset and back with no problems whatsoever. At a steady 80mph.

Snap, I have also just got myself one of these in the exact same colour. Mine is destined for a M52B28 swap, though It may take me a while to gather all the bits on my crap wage.

Good luck with yours

well it completed a 15 mile journey back on trade plates without any fuss.

Obvious issues, central locking not working, drivers door reluctant to lock with the key, tailgate won't open, power assistance for steering virtually non existent at idle although does seem to put in a little effort when engine revs are increased.

There are a few dents to the doors but shell appears straight and fairly free of rust. Drivers seat is tatty and has a mismatched back. Apparently doesn't drive too bad and autobox seems good.

As a bonus there's a very 1990's alpine radio cassette with 6 disc changer and remote control installed, I need to check for upgraded speakers. And the clincher, half a box of .22 rounds in the glove box

MOT was out at the end of January and its not been retested.

well didn't scrub up too bad





Has a couple of rust scabs on the tailgate and along the bottom of the nsr door, although that is dented too so could really do with replacing. Elsewhere its very good on the rear arches, jacking points, scuttle, battery tray and sunroof, infact the only rust I can find worth mentioning is this in the osr door shut...



Runs ok although tappet do make quite a noise, starts well and has fully working abs. Only obvious mechanical MOT issue appears to be a heavy fluid leak from the steering rack.

I was going to rob a few bits for the cabby and frag it but I'd feel guilty scrapping a decent shell so may have to have a rethink, engine swap maybe?

Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!

daimlerman wrote:Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!

ONLY if a hole can be made with the prescribed 'corrosion assessment tool'

pacerpete wrote:

daimlerman wrote:Rust in the last piccie should be an MoT fail,within bla bla of a suspension/seat belt mount....

If it helps you make up your mind about it's fate!

ONLY if a hole can be made with the prescribed 'corrosion assessment tool'

Only If it's soft with finger and thumb pressure then you're allowed to use my favourite tool

I've got the same surface rust, in the last Picture, on the nsr door as well! it had to be welded by the floor bung, a couple of MOT's ago, as it was within 30cm of a seat belt mount. I love the green colour, lovely on a Touring

That's only surface rust and flaking paint , if they fail it on that start using another testing station .

Steve .

Its not through, I'll probably chemically treat it and give it a coat of something greenish to preserve it. some pics of the good bits....

Rear arches





sills





rear valance



scuttle





and battery tray



wheels are really tidy too, so they'll be finding their way onto my cab

Just how easy would an engine swap be? I may start looking for a cheap e36 323 or 328

a chance conversation with a work colleague has lead to a potential sale. Someone they knows is getting into drifting and is looking for an E30 to use as a base so he mentioned that a work colleague has just got a project. I'm not sure that I want rid of it but money talks, so how much would be a good price for it without the wheels?

To summarise it has no MOT, it lapsed in January and hasn't been presented for a test. To get an MOT I suspect that it will need a PAS leak fixed, looks like its coming from the right hand end of the rack, two wipers, possibly a right hand rear light unit (although that's got an orange bulb fitted to avoid emitting white light and got an advisory for this last time), and possible front anti roll bar bushes (advisories last time) and a decent set of tyres. The top end rattles, but I think the guy would upgrade that department anyway. There is very little rust, and none in the usual structural areas.

In my mind I've got £500 simply based on the lack of rust in the shell, what do you guys reckon?

Brianmoooore wrote:One of the best touring colours ever. Scrapping that would be a crime.

An even greater crime would be to sell it to some driftcock to ruin! There's plenty of Jap scrap out there that they can wreck.

In my opinion, £500 without the wheels is about the limit for both parties! I certainly wouldn't pay any more for an MOT-less 316 Touring, but in your position I wouldn't want to sell for much less!

If you can get it, happy days!

Its a tired 316 auto with plenty of issues and no MOT. I'd be very happy drawing £500 for what is in reality a £200 car.

Has it got an alarm?

pacerpete wrote:Its a tired 316 auto with plenty of issues and no MOT. I'd be very happy drawing £500 for what is in reality a £200 car.

I'd normally agree Pete, and if it had rust issues I wouldn't have touched it myself. However with cars with rust issues making £300 I don't think its unreasonable. Yes it has its issues, but most of these could be fixed as part of an engine swap.

I may leave it as I tend to be with Brian on this one, its worth saving.

BROOMY wrote:Has it got an alarm?

Yes, a BMW one and it works perfectly !

Wanna sell it .
Times have changed right nows the time to upgrade.