E30 Zone

So after much deliberation I picked up this E30 yesterday. I originally saw i tucked away around 6 months ago 5 minutes from my house, but i wasn't in a position to buy it.

I'd been past a few times and seen it was still there. I recently got the money together to get the car but completely put myself off, and explored other options. after a few weeks of hunting for something else and having my time wasted by people i decided fate was drawing me to this car and sorted the deal.

The car is pretty standard, except for a few little things. It's one owner from new, 23 stamps in the service book and every MOT. The guy used to be a police man, after he retired his wife broke her hip, hence they can't use the car anymore.







Anyway, to start with im just gong to try and get it clean, replace any small parts it may need.

Some pictures when I got it home..

Posted Image





















Original dealer sticker and tax disc holder





Gave the engine bay a very quick clean, most of the dirt was on the bonnet, plan is to keep on doing in here bit by bit





After that i washed and clayed the car (preperation for machine polishing tomorrow), here's some pictures..











The only problem is, I don't know what i want to do with it, the original plan was coilovers and some nice wheels but a part of me want to keep it all standard (I can't see that lasting though)

Welcome.

That needs keeping as it is.

It's lasted this long in far better condition than most e30s that are left please don't ruin it with coilovers

As rob said, I'd keep that exactly as it is

Forget coilovers

Its a beauty! in such a good condition! but before you spend any money on it you should remove the carpet and boot lining hunting for rust/water leaks.

Welcome to the Zone! Lovely looking example - as said above, it needs keeping in that condition. What's the mileage?

Are those chrome tailpipe covers on the exhaust?

Lovely looking chariot that!

Echoing the above here, don't "slam it" in search of stretch stance gape and poke, too many have gone that way

It will hold its value with that history if you keep it as it is

You'd be crazy to ruin that car with shit alloys and lowering springs and all that junk. It's a beauty as is.

As above, leave it as it is. Maybe a set of bottletops to keep the car as it should look. BBS would be took much.

What's the mileage?

Lucky man! That looks like a nice one.

Nice looking example buddy. Very nice

lovely car, finding examples like this are getting rare. The only change i would make to her is some bottletop alloys (in keeping with the period)...otherwise leave it standard.

looks clean leave as is and just enjoy save your money

Nice find - those tailpipes need binning though!

How much did you pay for it? if you bought it cheap offer it out for more and then buy one someone has already ruined with coil overs, shite wheels and such like mods! That needs keeping as is and will make you money instead of losing if you go down mod route

Hey thanks for the warm welcome everyone

It's done 150k

Im still very up in the air about what I want to do, but i don't feel coilovers and wheels would ruin it to be honest (there's always air ride for ground clearance issues). Plus it's reversible if i ever wanted to sell it.


Anyway, I did a little work on it today. Started off on the passenger suspension turret with a clay bar.
Before, not the best picture

I got bored of doing this quickly, but im trying not to do it all at once (I lose interest that way)
After (very slight improvement)


So after this I sealed the car, I was going to machine polish it but the weather was too on and off which was a shame, and then dressed all the trim and seals etc










Firsttime i've used the carlack sealant but heard good things, pretty impressed with the shine considering i've done n polishing and the car's white

Then took those god awful chrome tips off






The back box isn't in great condition, slightly crusty and one tip is dented, will probably knock it straight and give it a coat of satin black for now, but would like a stainless one that looks exactly the same (if that makes sense?).

Also nipped into BMW today to order a new oil cap, the one on now has a crack, not very exciting

Good work. Looking better already.

Impressive history and car, would be a shame to ruin it with aftermarket modifications.

Thnaks guys, still needs a lot of work before im happy with it.

I'm kind of leaning towards not messing with the car right now and just cleaning and tidying it up, bad news is the radio doesn't work though s need to find something that fits the look of the car

Looks lovely as it is!

hodge112 wrote:Thnaks guys, still needs a lot of work before im happy with it.

I'm kind of leaning towards not messing with the car right now and just cleaning and tidying it up, bad news is the radio doesn't work though s need to find something that fits the look of the car

Check fuse 12:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Fuse_Box

Leave the coilies and wheels for your VAG scrap.

Sorry I should have been clearer, the radio has power, but just doesn't do anything, it's a Blaupunkt Casablanca, it powers up but there's just 4 dashes on the screen, and no buttons respond.

I have the manual (with all the paperwork) and it doesn't mention anything, and I got the car he said it'd need replacing. I was looking at a Alpine CDE-181RM, it has and orange background and I need to be able to connect my Iphone so.

Might hide it in the dash/glovebox eventually though.

With regard to "VAG scrap", let's not have that argument. I like cars, I don't really care what badges they have, although I do have more history within the VAG group (and still do)

Cheers

Sounds like it needs a code entering. These are often written either in the radio manual, owner's handbook, or on the case of the radio.

Looks a tidy one for sure.

RE the tail pipes, they would have has tail pipe trim and are available from BMW.

As yours has chrome window trim it would have had chrome tips and they are still available from BMW and look a damn sight nicer than those awful things that were on it.

A set of OEM alloy wheels is a must be they 14/15" BBS or 14" bottle tops as the steels with trims as just so low rent.

I'd be colour coding the bumpers (but not the bumper mouldings) and mirrors to SE spec as well.

Looks real nice, especially having such high miles, a nice set of BBS alloys
Personally that's all I would do.
What is your cleaning / detailing routine ?

I just got me a 1 owner 318is a couple of weeks ago also in white, just given it a major detail inside and out, hoping to post it up soon
Nice find though

lovely find. i have a black 320iSE in similar condition. my had bottle tops on it, couldnt resist fitting 15" BBS's but now im thinking the 14" bottletops were a little more in keeping as lets be fair the 320 isnt a B road rocket, more of a cruiser. id definately leave the ride height standard. with the UK's shitty roads theres a big advantage in a smooth rolling smoker. the ride quality in our 320i pisses all over our newer family merc. lovely car.

Nice car

I agree with the others, it should probably get some tidy bottle tops but apart from that it should stay standard

What part of the world did you find it in?

PS if you want to sell it as it stands - let me know

hennabm wrote:Nice car

I agree with the others, it should probably get some tidy bottle tops but apart from that it should stay standard

What part of the world did you find it in?

PS if you want to sell it as it stands - let me know

Funny you should mention that.

I'm considering selling it

Can anyone guide with me how much it's worth?

Difficult to say. Although it's a nice, clean, unmolested example, it's quite high mileage at 150,000 miles, and quite a basic spec., so that may be offputting for some.

I would say at least £2,500.

Why would you want to sell? What else can you get for £2500 that's better than this?!

This is a really nice looking original BMW
IMO keep standard
Possibly get bottle tops or BBS