E30 Zone

At the start of the year, I spent quite a bit of time hoping to find an E91 335i in manual, finding the right car proved difficult. So then I looked for a nice E46 M3, that also proved difficult as there are some serious dogs out there! Anyway, my circumstances changed, and my misses fell pregnant. At this point, I decided that my savings are better buying a house, I haven't bought a house yet, but will do when the little one is born and a couple of months old.

For the past 18 months I've had an E36 318i touring for a daily. And for the past few months, due to being busy making money, I haven't had the time to spend on the E36 getting it to fine fettle, it does need quite a few bits. So before xmas I decided I fancy a bit of a newer daily and a bit bigger. After going to look an a dog awful E46 in a barn and also another dog of an E39 I was getting pissed off with the eBay descriptions. (Still unsure on whether to break the E36)

I then found a nice E39 530i, it came up on Facebook, exchanged a few messages. I decided I wanted to view it as the seller was very genuine unlike others that I dealt with. I went to view the car Sunday night, bought it and drove home.

The car itself was first owned by BMW, and then by an old chap, and the previous owner who had just done a bit of maintenance work on it and a couple of bits before deciding he wants a 540i. It's got a full service history with it, DanThe has recently replaced the gearbox oil and front thrust arm bushes. I had the car on the ramp quickly today at work, and there's no drastic issues that I found. The rear brake pipes are just starting to corrode, but other than that not a lot. When I get a spare day, I'll be changing all the filters/fluids/plugs. The car itself drives absolutely spot on for 141k.

I've found a Bluetooth adaptor on eBay which I plan on fitting, so I can still have the original headunit. (Link here if anyone has ever used one http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/111685007449)

The private plate hasn't come with the car, I'm just waiting for some BMW plates to come from pukar designs so I can put the original plate on.

I've only got one picture at the minute, but I will try and find somewhere nice to take a few at the weekend.

They do make a nice daily tram.

I'm slumming it in an E36 316i saloon as a winter hack.

My E36 was fantastic last year in the snow, it went everywhere I wanted it to go. I'm not sure this will be as good with 265s on the back.

Theres something about a Silver E39, Lovely looking cars

I have a video of me on an old phone in my old 530i driving about in the snow, uphill passing a FWD rover being pushed stuck on the hill.

I never bother with winter tyres and I've only got stuck once in the snow in a 118D auto on 18's. Bit of cardboard and was soon on my way again.

Any pans for the 530i or just maintain and run it?

maxfield wrote:So then I looked for a nice E46 M3, that also proved difficult as there are some serious dogs out there!

Tell me about it. Went to view one the other day described as mint. It's had a front and rear end and had some new bumpers lashed on, and not serviced for 2 years

Looks like a nice tram. I liked my e39. Best all rounder I've owned

bss325i wrote:I have a video of me on an old phone in my old 530i driving about in the snow, uphill passing a FWD rover being pushed stuck on the hill.

I never bother with winter tyres and I've only got stuck once in the snow in a 118D auto on 18's. Bit of cardboard and was soon on my way again.

Any pans for the 530i or just maintain and run it?

I've never bothered with winter tyres either, we don't have enough snow to warrant them.

No plans as such. Just maintain it. I've looked at doing a few things, E46 SMG steering wheel, some electric/heated seats would be nice. It looks absolutely spot on and drives fantastic, so I don't think I'll be changing anything there. I did consider a set of eibachs to lower it a little but unsure. A proper 4 wheel align wouldn't go a miss either.

That looks a beauty maxfield. Four door and space - you'll need it with a little one.

The good thing about Mansfield is the abundance of decent £65'000 houses!

Nice work on the E39, does look smart.

As for breaking an E36 4 cyl, I was going to say don't bother but there's a bloke in Sutton who seems to be the world's leading E36 breaker with a yard containing dozens of them. Does he know something we don't?

E39 saloon = breaker


Wagon or nothing !

Andyboy wrote:The good thing about Mansfield is the abundance of decent £65'000 houses!

Nice work on the E39, does look smart.

As for breaking an E36 4 cyl, I was going to say don't bother but there's a bloke in Sutton who seems to be the world's leading E36 breaker with a yard containing dozens of them. Does he know something we don't?

Prices have gone up, 3 bed semi detached with a garden and garage, £120,000.

The guy breaking the E36s is doing very well, he's now in ladybrook. He strips a lot, he deals with a lot of time wasters I know that much.

My E36 is a touring with M tech kit, Motorsport wheels, decent interior, anal eyes. So there is some OK morsels on there. I bought it for £550 18 months ago and it's cost me a £15 alternator.

Is that £120k in Mansfield? I have never been to that neck of the woods, but guess it's decent? What's the rental income like *

Asking for Diable.

You're going to make money on £565!

Yes, £120k in Mansfield and surrounding areas. Woodhouse, Sutton, Kirkby etc although shirebrooke is cheap a˜ƒ

Rent varies I'm paying £500 for a 3 bedroom semi detached.

Congrats on the new purchase and the impending new arrival.

Do you have any contact details for this E36 breaker? I've been searching for an arctic silver wing for my 'Pact for months with no success... Thanks.

darkchild wrote:Congrats on the new purchase and the impending new arrival.

Do you have any contact details for this E36 breaker? I've been searching for an arctic silver wing for my 'Pact for months with no success... Thanks.

PM sent

Gert_8 wrote:Is that £120k in Mansfield? I have never been to that neck of the woods, but guess it's decent? What's the rental income like *

Asking for Diable.

You're going to make money on £565!

Gert, £120K get you something like this in shirebrook

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/detail ... J5zrhDB.97

same thing in lincolnshire would cost you double

there was a 3 be semi with 3/4 acre, barn, workshop car port etc for sale a few months ago for £75K & folk said that was expensive

Shame that's in shirebrooke Steve as it looks a nice house.

maxfield wrote:Shame that's in shirebrooke Steve as it looks a nice house.

The duvet covers say it all.

maxfield wrote:Shame that's in shirebrooke Steve as it looks a nice house.

Shirebrook aint that bad, u dont live there for starters

120k for a new build on an estate that's built on old mine shafts? No ta.

Just think of all the frag you could stash and underground bondage, etc. that could be done if a mineshaft were to open up in the house or garden though.

Andyboy wrote:120k for a new build on an estate that's built on old mine shafts? No ta.

Its the new thing man, a new shit house, a new shit car on finance and lots of pretend pictures on facefook and instaspam, you can then look down your nose at anyone in a car that needs an MOT cert or people wearing non 'fashionable' clothing!
You will never have any money and everything will break around you but thats not the point is it?

The newest estate round here is going on a 300 year old pit with god knows how many unknown shafts which became a large pool for 50 odd years and then a boggy wilderness of trees/weeds for another 50+, there is a known water source that comes from underground but hey, 4,000 tonnes of concrete piles will see to that! Since they started pilling several pools were dug which have been bubbling gas for months

DanThe wrote:

Andyboy wrote:120k for a new build on an estate that's built on old mine shafts? No ta.

Its the new thing man, a new shit house, a new shit car on finance and lots of pretend pictures on facefook and instaspam, you can then look down your nose at anyone in a car that needs an MOT cert or people wearing non 'fashionable' clothing!
You will never have any money and everything will break around you but thats not the point is it?

The newest estate round here is going on a 300 year old pit with god knows how many unknown shafts which became a large pool for 50 odd years and then a boggy wilderness of trees/weeds for another 50+, there is a known water source that comes from underground but hey, 4,000 tonnes of concrete piles will see to that! Since they started pilling several pools were dug which have been bubbling gas for months

100 year old terraced in a good area, and a festering E36 Touring FTW!
I know loads of folk like that - their whole life on credit paying for depreciating junk and come retirement, absolutely nothing of any value to show for it.

They are in the process of building a new housing estate opposite me, the site was a former chemical works (many years ago) and the land has just been grass for some years.

The plans are for 200 houses and from sight of the plans they look as pokey as hell.

Given this very land was 2ft under water this time last week (river next to it burst it banks)i pity the suckers who buy one of these pricey boxes.

I pity the fools.

new houses in terms of their room sizes are poxy, i'd only have a new house if i was building it myself I'd stick to mid 90's and earlier where the rooms are fit for purpose. 60's and 70's stuff offers the best room sizes. Its to do with some old housing building law my local building inspector told me where the room has to be the right size for its function which was phased out in the 90's - so no box bedrooms where the bed fills it up, lounges where the sofa is 4ft from the telly etc.

That why a on a new build the "garage" you get now struggle to fit an E30 in them let alone new stuff, but no one puts a car in their garages anymore

That is so true, none of my neighbours keep a car in their garage not one of them.

I don't know many people that keep cars in their garages, just full of shit.

I certainly won't be buying a new house, my misses has too much shit for us to move into a small house.

I've been keeping my eye out for a house with a decent size garden so I'm able to build a workshop on, but it's kind of proving difficult.

The only reason these new houses have garages is because the building companies know there will be no room to keep stuff in the actual house

Older houses also tend to have more space around them with bigger gardens. They seem to be much sturdier too.

maxfield wrote:I don't know many people that keep cars in their garages, just full of shit.

I certainly won't be buying a new house, my misses has too much shit for us to move into a small house.

I've been keeping my eye out for a house with a decent size garden so I'm able to build a workshop on, but it's kind of proving difficult.

Any pics of your misses shit ? Steve is shy and wants me to do his 'dirty' work

You always lower the tone. But PayPal is accepted, and I'll pass on some photos

Nice barge, looking for one myself now ! Need 4 doors, child seats don't fit too well in a 2 door

Maxfield, move, England is broken.

ImysE30 wrote:Nice barge, looking for one myself now ! Need 4 doors, child seats don't fit too well in a 2 door

Finding a decent one is hard work.

What engine are you looking for?