what do i look 4 in an m3??

[325i-sport]

Hi guys my mate is going to look at an m3 today it on the trader eg number E620 GMY its in manchester and owned by a chinese fella, any one know this car or seen it about? good or bad?

basically what sort of problems should i be looking for?

where are the spots prone for rusting

do they leak water internally like the sports

anything you can tell me will be a bonus. I have had a few sports so I know what to look for diff and engine wise but anyother problem areas on the m3s

cheers people

[okadas_cat]

I guess it's too late now if you saw it today, but bodily it's basically the same as any other e30: rust below windscreen, rear number plate lights. And, importantly crash damage.

Mechanically i'd want it to be good: full service history, no leaks, etc... The engines are v expensive to put right. Make sure it idles properly - they often suffer leaking inlet manifolds.

Looking at the pictures on autotrader, I'd want to know why the bumper's been repainted, the radiator replaced and only one headlight wiper is there.

Looks cheap though, although if stuff is wrong with it, it may cost more than that again to put right.

[325i-sport]

thanks mate but we didnt end up going to view it. we priced the train tickets up and we were ready leave when my mate suddenly thought he wanted to hpi check it, so he did, it turnned out to be stolen and never recovered!!!!!! the hpi company rang the insurance and they said to phone the police and tell them where the car was last seen.

we phoned the seller and he said he got stopped by the law the other day for a break light, they did a vehicle check and surely if was registered stolen they would have arrested him and re-possesed the car? we were in doubt so we left it.

but thanks for the tips.

[M3RAGS]

what is interesting is how the insurance companies obviously do not pool resources/databases with the police. This would have prevented him being allowed to insure a stolen car!

[325i-sport]

exactly, so simple but yet they havent done it. I just hope no one on here buys it as they may aswell throw away 4k as they wont get anything back once the police take it off them. gut wrenching thought