E30 Zone

What should I expect to pay for a mint E30 325i sport with 80k on the clock 1989.

Thank You

I would say about £3500 for a tidy one, alltho i've seen immaculate ones going for upto £5500.

I have also read that the suspension on the sport is very different to that of the 325i, can you still get coilover kits for sport.

Thank You

wizard wrote:I have also read that the suspension on the sport is very different to that of the 325i, can you still get coilover kits for sport.

Thank You

The suspension on a Sport is virtually identical to the regular 325i. It's approx 15mm lower (shorter springs), and the dampers are valved a little different (I think). Nothing that's going to stop you fitting coilovers should you wish.

Ian

I hope that in the end i will be putting in an E36 M3 engine into this car, I have been told that i may need to change the brake servo and that i need a different prop(59inches long, 12mm at gearbox end, 10mm at diff end) is this true and if it is is there a bmw that has this or will i have to mate two together.

Thank You

wizard wrote:I hope that in the end i will be putting in an E36 M3 engine into this car, I have been told that i may need to change the brake servo and that i need a different prop(59inches long, 12mm at gearbox end, 10mm at diff end) is this true and if it is is there a bmw that has this or will i have to mate two together.

Thank You

You'll certainly need to do something with the servo. There's various options, but none are all that simple. Have a search of the archives, as there's been plenty of discussion on this.

The prop depends on which gearbox you end up using. If you use the 5 speed 382i/3.0L M3 box, then a standard E30 M3 prop will bolt straight in. If you go for the 6 speed, you will need to shorten the front section, and fit the larger E36 M3 front flange.

Ian.

I have a couple more questions that i need answering if people dont mind helping. Ok im going to use the 3.0ltr M3 box from a E36 but i can image i will be waiting for ever for a E30 M3 prop. is there any other method of solving this problem. I am right in saying that it needs to be 59inches long. could i use half E36 M3 prop, a different center bearing then the back end of a E30 prop to mate to the diff.

Second question, the gear selector rod is to long, i think it need to be able 23inches long. I have thought about cutting and welding or bending it in a 'S' shape but can i get hold of one special manufactured for the job.

Thank You

sports seem to be making verry good money at the mo, somthing to do with the irish boys. a friend of mine is desprate for a nice 1 but there like hens teeth!
over the last few months i havnt seen 1 all up together go for less than £2500 and that can be dogish with high miles!
there was 1 on ebay not to long ago with a starting bid of 9K because it only had around 30k on the clock...it didnt sell on ebay but down the great vine i was informed that the car had sold since for that price!

if i was looking for a sport, then i would want at leats 3k in my pocket and up to 4.5k for a yummy 1!

hope this helps!

dodgydodger

dodgydodger wrote: but down the great vine


dodgydodger

Is this in Reading?

if your buying a car for conversion
why bother paying a premium for a sport??

theres a lot of good se models around that will cost a lot less for the inital purchase and leave cash free to spec it up and help with the conversion

thats what id do anyway

ditto daz!!

wizard wrote:I am right in saying that it needs to be 59inches long. could i use half E36 M3 prop, a different center bearing then the back end of a E30 prop to mate to the diff.

I think you can use the front section from the E36 328i with the rear section and centre bearing from the E30. No idea how long it needs to be, other than however long an E30 M3 prop is.

Second question, the gear selector rod is to long, i think it need to be able 23inches long. I have thought about cutting and welding or bending it in a 'S' shape but can i get hold of one special manufactured for the job.

Easily solved using BMW parts. Mine is a mixture of the E36 M3 3.0ltr and E30 325i gear linkage - I just cant remember which bits are what
I can tell you that if you get a manual 325i to convert, you will have all the bits needed.
All the above (and the rest of the conversion) has been covered on here in the various M50 and S50 conversion threads.

I would agree with Daz and say dont bother spending big money on a Sport if its for a conversion. Of all the things you will be changing when doing the conversion, pretty much the only things you would keep from a Sport that is different to a non-Sport is the interior and bodykit.

As Ian said, the suspension is all but the same, the brakes are the same and both will need changing as will the LSD as the E30 diff is the wrong ratio for the E36 box.

Find a decent 325i and use the spare cash to go from there.

i have just been looking on pistonheads at a white 320i with m/tech kit for £2000, do the 3201 come with rear disc brakes please. will i need to change the diff.

Thank You

wizard wrote:i have just been looking on pistonheads at a white 320i with m/tech kit for £2000, do the 3201 come with rear disc brakes please. will i need to change the diff.

Thank You

i think if it has ABS it will have rear discs and its unlikely it will have a LSD unless the owner has retro fitted one....

HTH

Tom

ok, i still would like a 325i though, so what should i look to pay for a 325i in good condition.

there is no guide its all about condition, miles, service history and what the owner values it at i would have thought.....

Well sadly for me i've just sold mine £4250 gone to a good home, a guy who's going to join up to the zone so I'll leave the rest to him.

Part of the deal i agreed to get a new MOT, & today she passed without a hitch, i guess thats a yardstick on the prices really something immaculate 12 months Mot nothing needs doing £4k + but buy a cheaper one at your peril

Good luck with your search

What should expect in terms of mpg from a 325i sport

Thank You

jmc330i wrote:[I think you can use the front section from the E36 328i with the rear section and centre bearing from the E30. No idea how long it needs to be, other than however long an E30 M3 prop is

Use the complete e36 328 prop with the e30 centre bearing fitted. You can turn the bearing around to get it to fit ok although i managed to fit it the correct way by using one of the 328 dust covers

bigdek, have you done this conversion already. if so what brake servo have you used.

No dude i'm doing the m60 v8 conversion . i have bigger issues with servo than what you do

Same prop though .

i bet you are, well good luck with it

ive just looked at a e30 325i sport. it is priced at £3200 and it has done 118,000. I would like some advice and guidance with some questions i have please. I noticed that the bottom of one of the door was rusty and i was just wondering the cost to fix it or for a new door. The inspection light was lit on the dash, would does this mean and how much at a bmw dealer to get it removed. After the test drive the indicator started to fantically flashing, does anyone now what could be causing this.

A read that a 325i sport should hav ad13 in the vin number but this one has aa12, which isnt even listed on a resources i got of the internet.

Once i started it there was little squeaking which i assumed is the fan belt.

when do the cam belts need to be changed.

thank you

For that money I wouldn't even consider buying it withought a RAC check, which will flash up if its a genuine sport or not, as I'm afraid I have no idea about the VIN codes.

unless the problems you noted are very small, or the car comes with excellant service history that is very strong money for what sounds from your description to be a ropey sport. Squeaking at start could be the viscous fan which comes on when you first start but should shut of after a few mins or could be a slipping PAS belt.

has anyone else got some advice to add to this please

got any pics? any other problems? us zoners seem good at picking decent cars to pieces!

But all gives you more leverage to bargain!

one question and im not an expert by any means but you said it had rust on the bottom of the door... did it not have the tech 2 kit fitted? as the door pods cover the bottom of the doors

it did hav the kit fitted but i am talkin on the inside where the two skins are connected.

oh ok, shouldnt ba a prob to find a good door at a scrappy or here in the parts fourm, any 2door door will fit I think

its getting a colour match thats a real issue.

check the reg. plate on the rac website free mate
Does it say sort or not ??
http://www.rac.co.uk/web/vehiclechecks/status_checks/

wizard wrote:has anyone else got some advice to add to this please

Absolutely pointless paying the premium that a Sport commands if you're going to modify it.
Just concentrate on getting a good clean rust free shell with any engine.
Ideally with a rusted toy laden 325 to go with it.