BMW E30 320i 2 door

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:34 pm

Just bought a mint E30 2Door 320i
it in spotless royal blue with grey trim
thers a 5p size rust spot on the sunroof
no rust on wheel arches, has full tool kit
2 owners full service history with traceable mileage
i was so excited when i saw the car i forgot to see if i could drop the price a few hundred quid. they wanted Ãƒ”šÃ‚£1695 for it.
i put down Ãƒ”šÃ‚£100 deposit.
i think i could get my money back in say 2 years time, plus a bit more
what do u think???
am i buying a good car??
i know it make just shy of 130bhp
it doesn't have x-spokes but has spotless alloys, the bmw ones.
has bmw alarm, fitted bmw mats, bmw radio cassette

im just alittle unsure about this purchase...
am i paying too much??

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:36 pm

How old is it and whats the spec?

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:46 pm

1989
electric windows
standard
standard seats
82,000miles
spotless

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:48 pm

how do i post pics?
i have a few of my car.

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:48 pm

any chance of seeing her, and if you have a chance to take it to a mechanic, then do so,

ask them anyway, if you get a dodgy response, then u know somethings up

check,
.engine starts well from cold (probly driven it for an hour before u came)

.look in the oil cap for creaming (mayonaise) also the dip stick, clean and to level

.check all fluids

.look on the sides of the engine for oil

.timing belt change label, not more than 40k from label to clock or older than 5 years

.clutch test, left foot (ball) on clutch and heel on brake, give it gas and feel how much clutch u can let out

.brake test, and check under the car where its normally parked (if still at their home)

.floor mats arnÃƒ”šÃ‚´t wet

.noise from wheels as you enter corners at speed (dodgy wheelbearings)

.boot for leeks

.ill think of some more

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:48 pm

As has been said hundreds of times...

A car is as much as you're willing to pay for it... I paid too much for my iS but.. it was thed first one I saww, fell in love with it.. and it's great! so i have no quibble with that!

I'm sure if Scott reads this..he will give you a tip on about a certain "Sport" that has cost a little more than expected!

Some people will say its far too much.. but if you like it, and are happy...then who can fault that!

Sounds mint... so happy motoring!

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:57 pm

I would say thats TOP money for it,if i were you i would have got them to deal with the rust spot on the sunroof as part of the deal.

Sounds like a good car,but I wouldn't have thought you would make any money on it buy selling it in a couple of years.

Have a look here for hosting pics....................

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... topic&t=95[/url]

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:10 pm

you see i havent parted with my mney yet...just Ãƒ”šÃ‚£100 for deposit...havent signed anything either..though have a reciept with siad amount etc....im thinking Ãƒ”šÃ‚£1400-1450, for the rust and the aerial that doesnt come up..smooth as kylie's arse to drive..though a little tappet noise on top...didint check for white stuff on filler cap...must go back and check for more stuff..though its a lovely motor...standard...HOW DO I POST PICS????

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:34 pm

i'm located up near Derby,whers the best place to go for servicing and rolling road tuning..does anyone know..also whens the next meet up near here?

thanks in advance for all your help

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:01 pm

erm....

The time for negociating is BEFORE you place a deposit. Not after.

So now, you either buy it at the full price with all the faults or you walk away from your oner.

Post Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:44 pm

straight6 wrote:i'm located up near Derby,does anyone know..also whens the next meet up near here?

there is one at ferrybridge services(a1/m62 junc)...have a look in the meets section at the north of england meet.

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:38 pm

Have you made any decision on the car?

I think I've just found it on the Auto Trader Website. You're going to be paying top price because it's from a Car dealers and it looks like they will be including a "Guarantee" which might be useful, but they will have accounted for that in their price.

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:12 pm

Wyldie wrote:As has been said hundreds of times...

A car is as much as you're willing to pay for it... I paid too much for my iS but.. it was thed first one I saww, fell in love with it.. and it's great! so i have no quibble with that!

I'm sure if Scott reads this..he will give you a tip on about a certain "Sport" that has cost a little more than expected!

Some people will say its far too much.. but if you like it, and are happy...then who can fault that!

Sounds mint... so happy motoring!

*cough cough* did someone call? :lol:

For those that dont already know my sob story (cue violin smiley)...
I bought a sport for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£650 that i knew was a total dog! i thought about breaking it for spares, but couldnt bring myself to do it...so i got a bank loan of Ãƒ”šÃ‚£5k to do it up, ive now got Ãƒ”šÃ‚£500 left, and i need to pay for the bodywork next week! EEK! that'll be Ãƒ”šÃ‚£2500-3k please sir! oh dear!

Moral of the story is "buy a dog, ONLY if you want a project and have nothing else to p1ss your money away on" I dont drink or smoke, so i gota waste my cash on something havnt i!!!! You know what??? I dont regret a single second of it! I absolutely love it!!!

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:17 pm

Where did the money go then!?

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:20 pm

Wyldie wrote:As has been said hundreds of times...

A car is as much as you're willing to pay for it... I paid too much for my iS but.. it was thed first one I saww, fell in love with it.. and it's great! so i have no quibble with that!

I'm sure if Scott reads this..he will give you a tip on about a certain "Sport" that has cost a little more than expected!

Some people will say its far too much.. but if you like it, and are happy...then who can fault that!

Sounds mint... so happy motoring!

*cough cough* did someone call? :lol:

For those that dont already know my sob story (cue violin smiley)...
I bought a sport for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£650 that i knew was a total dog! i thought about breaking it for spares, but couldnt bring myself to do it...so i got a bank loan of Ãƒ”šÃ‚£5k to do it up, ive now got Ãƒ”šÃ‚£500 left, and i need to pay for the bodywork next week! EEK! that'll be Ãƒ”šÃ‚£2500-3k please sir! oh dear!

Moral of the story is "buy a dog, ONLY if you want a project and have nothing else to p1ss your money away on" I dont drink or smoke, so i gota waste my cash on something havnt i!!!! You know what??? I dont regret a single second of it! I absolutely love it!!!

Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:29 pm

SCOTT325SE wrote: I dont drink or smoke

although that's not by choice any more

Guest · Post Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:50 pm

I wouldn't pay that much for a 320i. My black 2door cost me Ãƒ”šÃ‚£160. Spent Ãƒ”šÃ‚£18 on bushes for MOT and Bob's your Uncle. It's not as mint as the one you're looking at but, I'd rather save the Ãƒ”šÃ‚£1600.

And I doubt you'd sell it for the same price in 2 years.

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:26 am

i shall now tell my sob story.....

girlfriend and i were both offered jobs up in donington, we moved up from berkshire and move into a little house...
expensive move...had to buy lots of stuff...
i ha alos just purchased my first E30 320i 4 door in light blue, lowered, sport exhaust...i was due to start work on the 22nd of nov 04'
a few days before i intened to pop into my new work and show i was keen by meeting everyone and having a look around etc etc
my new route to work took me along a twisty country road, narrow with no room for errors on bends....
there were a few tricky bends on this road...on i noted was a blind crest left hander, which kinked off sharply once you reached the crest..i mean you could noy see around this bugger until you were around it....
i'm a safe driver..i quite aware of how dangerous the road and other drivers are...so to re-cap i wasnt even supposed to be going into work...but here i was 32mph no more, in a 40mph.......i reach this bend and slow...clear...clear..clear...FRENCH LORRY DRIVER OVER TAKING FALLEN LOG, ON MY SIDE OF ROAD.....SHIT!!! this was a 7.5ton lorry i had no where to go but straight intot hhe side of this monster.........brakes...abs....greasy wet road.....wham...blood...glass...shock...police..ambulance...glass in eye...cuts to face....no broken bones...car wass a messy...i have digi pics of scene..i will post them to show the strengh of this E30..it saved my life...to think i drove a metro weeks earlier is very scary....i am sueing the lorry company....and they have admitted fault now...man it really shock me up...i was so lucky...the lorry was carrying a load of poles....when i hit the side, the car ripped the fabric stuff off the side letting one lose pole straight threw my window...when i hit the wheel...and ducked..a pole went over my head...i have the photos......it just wasnt my time.....i owe my life to that E30 and fate..and who ever wass watching over me that day....thank you who ever you are...so this is one of the reasons why i choose another E30...at the moment i am having to pay taxi's to get me to work..v-expensive...so i needed a car qucik.....this car was to far from me...its mint...no repairs..no accidents...solid...and the abs works..i need this car....i sure it will do me well.......

so drive safe...and dont go to work when you dont have to ....oh and watch out for french lorry drivers....

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:43 am

Glad to see your alright, i had a similar scare in my old Citroen down some road in Somerset, a lorry came around a blind corner but i managed to react and did a quick jaunt off road

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:25 pm

Straight6, i think i speak for everybody when i say... "fooooooork me, that sounds a close one!!!"

Glad your still alive and kicking! I often wonder how e30s would fare on an NCAP crash test, as they are really well built! I cant bring myself to offer my e30 as a test car though! (or any other e30 for that matter!)

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:41 pm

I dont think theyd do too well under modern NCAP crash testing, but if youve ever sat in something like an 80s Metro or Uno u feel dammn unsafe even when your standing still

E30s do feel tough tho

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:55 pm

straight6, u know that was god there bruva. and e3os are solid, havin wrapped a couple times myself

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:11 pm

Do you mean Donington as in Donington Park in Leicestershire ?

Small world if it is as i work in Donington.

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:46 pm

Striaght6,I was watching over you that day

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:26 pm

Thanks everyone...yeah i work down at the Preist House Hotel in castle donington... where do you work Touring? havent been there long..think im picking up the car on monday..i will post pics of my old and new car when i find a way to do it...do i have to sign up to a host web site to transport my car pics...the thing that saved me was the long bonnet and the thick metal...oh and also the faulty seat belt that let me hit the wheel to dodge the pole....very weird man...cant wait to drive again...anyone live in or around derby/lecs..area?