E30 Zone

Hi,
i have been looking at e30's for a while and gathering information, I've previously owned a e36 328i sport and currently have a e82 120d as a daily.

I've been searching for either a 320i or 325i and came across this 4 door 325i auto.

It's got a high amount of owners wich is kind of a put off and seems to of been for sale a while.

Welcome, 10 owners in 30 years is not high, it wouldn't put me off in the slightest, buying an E30 is all about condition rather than paperwork

Thank you for your reply

+1 - also main buying criteria in my eyes is rust...everything else is easy (ish) to sort. Looks tidy enough for the money

It's had some welding done to the floor and possibly a couple of rear arches too ....

Thanks guys much appreciated.
Ideally I'm looking for a manual but I've seen so far it's not too difficult to do a auto manual conversion?
Difficult trying to find the right car as I would want to keep it original as possible and enjoy the e30 for what they are

Cloggy Saint wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:42 pm

It's had some welding done to the floor and possibly a couple of rear arches too ....

Based on what evidence?
A quick look through the MOT test history only throws up what looks like to be rot in the infamous front 'jacking points', which of course is not a dangerous structural issue, in spite of the MOT fail. The test gives a blanket fail for any hole within 300mm of a suspension mount (in this case the lollipops), whether or not the hole is in a structural part or not.

I saw advisories on the MOT history for corrosion and the next ticket didn't mention it so I assumed there had been welding. I bow to your superior knowledge.

No mention of any corrosion at the rear. The only concern was that the repairs at the front were done and the car re tested in two days, so it's not likely to have been carefully shaped butt welded patches that were fixed into place, with careful multi coat painting and sealing afterwards.

Yes. I used to own that car.

Bought from Old Colonel Cars (drove past, saw it outside and bought it there and then) Guessing late 2007 or early 2008. Didn't like the colours or the auto particularly but great documented history, low mileage (at 47,000?), original everywhere except the wheels which I changed for the 15" BBS (all 5)

Everything standard factory spec until I had an invitation to Castle Combe for a private track day. Added LSD and uprated brakes, shox, springs, added strut brace and took it for a fab day with only seven cars on the circuit. All very hot 911s etc. The E30 did not show itself up at all.

Removed strut brace immediately as ride too firm for my daily commute. May have put standard springs back on too - I can't remember. Left LSD in.

A work friend pestered me for months to buy the car as she just loved the look of it and was pining for her old Volvo Amazon...

Eventually agreed and she promised to take great care.

The last I heard (around 2011-ish?) she had part exchanged for a Ford Focus! Worth checking it still has the original engine. I remember she ran it hot on a holiday trip, not knowing why the "coolant" light was on.

In my time, it was a lovely car - I cared for it well and it was in great shape when I sold it (it even got some nice comments at BMW fest Gaydon)

It had around 67,000 miles on it when I sold it. Good to see it's still out there.

I see it also put in an appearance on a TV show in 2012...

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_554075-BM ... -1990.html

i just brought that the other day,
drives real nice, rear arches will need doing, will be getting under her soon , , and she still completely standard. ian