E30 Zone

Hi all,

Just getting back to BMWs after a few years absence . I'd appreciate a ball park valuation figure for a 1987 320i with under 70,000 miles on the clock, in excellent condition throughout (but not mint) with few owners. It's a 4d model, no PAS.

Would also appreciate your thoughts on the 2 most important things to check out before buying (you could name more if you wish ).

Cheers,

notsofast

If it has full service history it's worth more than if it hasn't. 70k is low mileage. When you say "not mint" in what way is it not? Is it rusty, dented, rough to drive? If the car has FSH it should drive more or less as new. Rusty arches, sills or pillars will all drag the price down. See if the boot smells damp and if the rear light clusters have rot around them. That's bad news. Also check that the timing belt has been changed. Interiors don't age well and few cars have pristine driver's seats. This isn't a problem as you can source new interiors or have them refurbished. Certainly take money off though. Try and arrange to view the car when it's cold, specify that you want to see it started from cold and not have the owner warm it up before you come. Most engines are tappety, that doesn't matter unless it's excessive. Check for knocking and unusual noises though, walk away if anything bad. Other than that, take it for a drive and go with your instincts. They're worth over a grand in good condition and upwards from that for very well kept examples. If it has no rust and FSH I'd say it's worth whatever you're prepared to pay to own it, no set rules in my book. A minter asks it's own money.

Also as its a 320i look to see if its got rear disc brakes.

Any reason why not a 325i? Its been said many times that the MPG is about the same, but the 325i is far quicker. Don't think insurance is that much more either.

There are a few good 320i around because of the reason above, they will never be the classic of the range.

What's it matter if it has rear discs or not? They didn't come standard with them. Still has brakes at the back though! The 320i is cheaper to insure than the 325i and, in my experience, less likely to have been owned by the thrashing brigade. True, they aren't much better on juice than the 325i but to call the 325i "far quicker" is ludicrous. Some people are more interested in a tidy car than getting something as fast as possible. Also, to say that the only E30 worth having is one with a 2.5 lump is daft. BMW sold a range of E30's to cater for different needs and a different pocket. Certain parts are cheaper for the 320i, tyres as it has 14's and exhausts for example. A tidy 325i is a smashing car, as is a tidy 320i or indeed any other E30.

Some people are more interested in a tidy car than getting something as fast as possible. Also, to say that the only E30 worth having is one with a 2.5 lump is daft

So true, and its probably easier to find a better 320i than a 325.
Can't say I have ever said that the only e30 worth having is one with a 325 lump, check out my screen name!

As far as the rear discs go, its just another thing to look for, after the other things you mentioned before, never said it was of uptmost importance. The buyer might be looking to put a bigger or faster engine in the future and changing from drum to disc is a little bit of a hassle,

I got a really nice one for Ԛ£800 quid, 64k on the clock but no history, I've spent a fair bit on it but if I was a mechanic, I'd have saved a bundle. Its now my pride and joy, so smooth and drives like the business! Go for it!!!!

smooth and drives like the business

Thats what 320's are built for! also the noise

Yes, must admit, they do sound nice when motoring. Sound better than the 325i. Wonder why that is? Something to do with the exhaust?

its prolly to do with the smaller bores..

Hi guys, the 320i I'm interested in isn't mint in my book - you can see that it's been used (but looked after). No rust as far as I can see. Boot is dry. Paintwork is good but with minor touching up on doors (car park scrapes) and front windscreen surround has gone dull and a bit scratched. Head was replaced (so was cam belt) 10,000 miles ago. Interior seems very clean - even driver's seat not torn or saggy, but sunroof winder falls off (winding mechanism seems ok though) and there's a hole on the back seat. Seller said it's got ABS but how do you tell - are there flashing lights when ABS is on??

Apparently, it's got full history - last major service 10,000 miles ago.

Drives well enough but steering is heavy at low speed - no PAS. That will put your ordinary joes off!

I'd love a 325 (who wouldn't) but I buy on the condition of the car, depending on what's available. Right now, I need a runabout that can stand up to regular use without fear.

Thanks again.

dunno might be, cause I tihnk early ones sound better than late ones, and they only have a single exhuast, while the later ones have dual.

Just sound less stressed....

My 320iTouring cost Ԛ£300 plus Ԛ£150 to get through mot
(needed rear sus bush, new shoes and handbrake adjustment, and a wiper blade)

The car was one owner from new (female) with 87k on the clock and BMW sh up to 66k, showing a belt change in 2002.

engine is sweet as a nut, could prob do with a new backbox (one of the tailpipes is rusty)

so bargains are there to be found (mine also had 4x bbs 152s on it )

there was a market for 320's when they were new, now there's even less because of the points already stated. All 320's struggle to sell on here that's what i've always noticed.

320's shift but no where near like a 325i

Why do you get so defensive with everyone sunking?

Why do you get so defensive with everyone sunking?

i was thinking that...

Hey batman (320touring), you're one lucky guy.

The 320 is a sensible compromise between performance and cost. How much faster can you drive the 325 on public roads?

Come on guys, what would you pay for the 1987 320 I just described? I got to know.


Mustafa 320

maaybe upto Ԛ£600- is it on bottletops, or cross spokes?

LOL at the batman! more like bat ELEPHANT!

with regards to the 87 320i, if its nice and tidy, no interior rips etc and

little or no welding needed below, tyres good etc i'd pay no more than

Ԛ£800 for one with full years ticket and 6 months rent (tax).

front wings not a prob as they bolt on and new ones are Ԛ£23!
if boot is dry tis good

whats being asked for it?

Gwynleym, it's on bottletop alloy. Seller wants Ԛ£900.

i've had a 318i facelift with no PAS and it was very heavy, but ok at speeds. You got great feedback though in the wet etc.

Really check those rear arches inner and outer. If you can get the boot cover off to see the rear turrets. There can be horrors under there

Sounds like the sunroof can be sorted with a new handle 5 mins job happend to my 318i

ABS the light should light up when the engine is started and go out after a few secs on the dash. Plus there's an abs sensor in the engine bay. It wasn't standard on those cars then

My guess would be around Ԛ£700

U must be able to find a clean facelift 325i for a grand though!

HTH

Ԛ£900 is a bit steep-come in at Ԛ£600 and haggle over tyres etc-should bag it for Ԛ£750 max

bottletops are not too hot so budget on Ԛ£100 for a set of BBS crosspokes (get 'em from a scrappy)

also check that there are no damp patches in the footwells and no 'flatspots' just above idle at part throttle.

Thanks again, Simon and batman. Trouble is I guess we've all come across sellers who have somewhat unrealistic expectations of their lower milege BMWs. The original ad price was in fact Ԛ£1150!! I offered Ԛ£850.

Should I keep on lookin'??

hmm Ԛ£1150 does it have gold bumpers?

could get one much cheaper-might as well look elsewhere, but keep an eye on it-seller could get desperate in a week,and accept a lower offer from you!

it's definately a buyers market! well sort of

also look at this link-ok so the miles are relatively high (compared to what you were looking at, but its only Ԛ£600!)

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=

Simon13,

Why do you get so defensive with everyone sunking?

(Quick answer, I don't with EVERYONE) Notsofast asked for some advice on 320i's, then Gwynleym10 chipped-up and basically told the guy to forget about 320's and get a 325 instead. If I was being defensive it was purely in relation to an 'offensive' post from Gwynleym10. The guy asked for some info on 320's, he didn't ask for an opinion on the 320i v 325i. I don't go slagging 325's now do I? Also, all you guys saying you got 320i's for Ԛ£300 here and Ԛ£600 there. Sorry but are all these top quality cars that ran like a dream and didn't need loads of problems fixing when you bought them ? I seriously doubt it for that money. People usually sell cars at runabout money if they have ceased being a reliable runabout. This guy has obviously seen a good car that doesn't appear to need money spending on it - ANY car in good condition mechanically and cosmetically is worth decent money, it's only tired and tatty examples that go cheap. Sure, I'd rather have a minter 325i than a minter 320i but I'd MUCH rather have a nice 320i than take a tired 325i purely for the badge. As Notsofast said, he buys based on condition, not the badge. He's seen a nice condition 320i that he likes and he wants it. He could quite easily go out and buy a gnarly old Porsche that would sure as hell beat a 325i in a 'race' but is that the best way to spend one's cash? Just to buy the fastest thing possible? By the way, just in case you think I have a 320i and I'm just jealous of you guys in your 325i's then you're wrong. I have a 318i, a 320i and a 325i sport.

If any of you guys don't like 320i's then why don't you keep it to yourselves? Maybe then I won't have to get "defensive"
Maybe I shouldn't rise to the bait but you obviously can't resist slagging a 320i so why should I resist defending one? Not me at fault in my book.

drama

320Touring wrote:My 320iTouring cost Ԛ£300 plus Ԛ£150 to get through mot
(needed rear sus bush, new shoes and handbrake adjustment, and a wiper blade)

The car was one owner from new (female) with 87k on the clock and BMW sh up to 66k, showing a belt change in 2002.

engine is sweet as a nut, could prob do with a new backbox (one of the tailpipes is rusty)

so bargains are there to be found (mine also had 4x bbs 152s on it )

sunking101-my car is reliable, even though it only cost Ԛ£300-i only have a 320i and I love it!

My description of my car was merely to prove the point that cheap, reliable 6pot e30's do exist so far, including tax and insurance getting my car on the road for a year has cost Ԛ£1200-a bargain methinks

Whether you get a 325 sport or a 316 auto, i think most would agree that the e30 is a fun car to drive, and uprating the performance is easy.The guys saying about the 325i's are merely offering an opinion and suggesting alternative choices for notsofast to consider we all offer opinions on here

However, like you say, i buy cars on condition as i dont have the luxury of a heated double garage and MiG welder etc.my 320 was in good nick, so i'm well pleased with it,and I think you'll find all my posts on this topic thus far pertain only to the 320i-and i actually suggest "what i would pay for a 320i"
whereas you state "They're worth over a grand in good condition and upwards from that for very well kept examples. If it has no rust and FSH I'd say it's worth whatever you're prepared to pay to own it, no set rules in my book. A minter asks it's own money." not exactly firm figures as a guide for notsofast?!

btw, sunking101, no offence meant, and i appreciate you standing up for the 320i!
think we should all just chill now

cheers
320Touring

I've got a 320i touring, great engine, pulls ok above 4000rpm, and sounds much better than a 325i anyday.

Myself, I can't wait to pull the engine out and put a 2.5 in with a lower ratio diff, ...the fuel consumption is awful, and is a lot slower than a 325i, and I have also noticed they're a lot harder to sell than the 325i's.

If you're not bothered about those things above though, then it's still a great car with the nicest 6 pot noise of them all.

Thank you gentlemen for your lively input, passion and buying advice. Now that's what I call frank exchange of views!

Just so you'll all think better of this newbie, my last car (will be gone by Thursday) has 2 more cylinders than your mint 325i sport.

All I need now is a nice straight 6 at a decent price.

Cheers

PS These smilies are great - they're daft but they've got that traffic calming effect just like a good road hump ..... I feel much better now.

The other thing is.....is is a chrome or plastic bumper? There's not really much difference in the way it drives but chrome bumper 320i four doors are worth sod all to be honest - Ԛ£650 for a really tidy one because most of them are just old shit.
ABS 320i's have rear discs, the others (Touring apart) do not. The good thing about 320i's is that they're cheap. They're also nicer than a 318i and a good one is as fast as a 318iS. There's only 6 or 7 bhp difference.

Hi Seaman, bumper wise, the 320i I'm interested in has chrome. But what's the deal - why are chrome bumper cars worth much less, apart from the obvious fact that they're a few years older?

I could take great offence to that seamanstaines, although bearing min mind the tone of this thread it'd probably start a riot!!!

tommo320i wrote:I could take great offence to that seamanstaines, although bearing min mind the tone of this thread it'd probably start a riot!!!

How can you take offence to that? Most of em are cr@p! Doesn't mean he thinks yours is...

notsofast wrote:Hi Seaman, bumper wise, the 320i I'm interested in has chrome. Sad But what's the deal - why are chrome bumper cars worth much less, apart from the obvious fact that they're a few years older?

Because most of em are rusty, knackered & $hite, so people expect them all to be? 's all personal preference really - you may struggle to find a nice solid chrome bumper car, but it'll look miles better when you do!

Just read this post, feeling like chipping in here. I have just bought a 320i SE for the fact that it is the same as my last. My mate convinced me to get back into the BM scene, he owns a 325i.

All cars are relative to the buyer, no-one likes to get ripped off, mine cost Ԛ£220, Im a mechanic so work will be done, but it could have a passed an MOT easily, thing is, I want to fix her up. My old E30 a 320i was miles better to drive than my all my other cars and at the time regulary "played" witha certain 318is, the entire range is great fun to drive, the 1.8 torquey, and the 6cyl smooth as sin. Thing is buy a car based on what YOU want, not the views of others.

Your right they are great fun.

As the man says - "... buy a car based on what YOU want, not the views of others ..."

I started out looking for a 325 cab but could NOT find one in good condition that hadn't been thrashed and/or hacked to pieces or with crude body mods etc.

Settled for a 320 cab in vgc absolutely standard, placcy bumpers and bbs wheels. Actually why are the chrome bumpers so unwanted? more the 'classic' of years to come than plastic ones? Have to say the plastic bumpers on my (black) cab look good, though.

Anyway, sometimes think, shit why did I buy a 320 (auto by choice), should have got the 325. Then remember its not in 'sport' mode on the box - a flick of the switch and Mr Hyde rides again

Set to 'economy' is good for lazy days and traffic jams, though