Bmw 318i lux purchased. What do you think??

[boicey]

Hi all, im new to the site but from what ive seen so far its great. Ive owned quite a few BMWs but never an E30, although ive always wanted one. Whilst scanning ebay last night i saw this and bid on a whim and won it for £600 quid! Its been described as immaculate both inside and out, with all original bits and not a hint of rust at all. Anywhere. Its done 83k and had 2 keepers from new. Its got a years m.o.t on it and just had the timing belt changed less than 500 miles ago.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what the colour is called, and does anyone have any ideas what rims would be best? Im thinking 15inch BBS, but im not sure if they'd suit a four door in this colour. What do you guys think about black rims with it? Or should i keep it absolutely standard including the bottle tops, as its apparently mint and totally standard. I pick it up tomorrow afternoon and will post better pictures when i get chance. Thanks everyone.

[boicey]

Here it is.
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[boicey]

Heres a link to the ebay page.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0292499993

[Gortour]

Very nice looking car. The colour looks like Calypso red, a lovely colour. Wheels are what's known as 'Bottletops'.
If it's as good as it looks, I'd say it's a bargain. 15" BBS will look fine on there, black rims would work well with Calypso, as there's no chrome on it, apart from the kidneys and the boot badge.

[patch]

try this by Tylerma. pics are a bit complex but you'll get your head round it quick enough wellcome!! http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=24043

[patch]

Nice looking motor nice price the description sounds great

[NatDJ]

Nice find Boicey....looks straight.

Hmmmm grey consoles...just what I'm after at the moment.

[boicey]

Thanks guys. Im hoping its as nice as it looks. I was after a two door in grey, black or white, but so's everyone else and i got sick of being out bid! Im sure she could be nice though with a little work. Im a bit particular with my cars, so ive already booked a week off to spend some time on her! In my early car days i was a Mk1 MR2 fanatic. I rebuilt / restored quite a few of them so im not too bad at the old spannering in general. Hopefully it will be pretty sweet and wont require much though.

Thanks for all your replies so far. Appreciated.

[Blitz]

Looks very tidy. Love the grey interior.

[capri_rob]

Rust free, Less than 100k, 2 Owners, Full MOT. £600.

At least the credit crunch is doing some of us favours!

Sounds like a proper bargain

[gooner1]

Good find boicey, loved my Mk I MR2 as well, car was impossible to drive slowly.
Have always regretted selling it

[boicey]

I was real mad on the Mk1s, Gooner. I had 3 at once at one point! Including one of only 140 supercharged ones in the country at the time. I suspect theres plenty more been imported since then but its still very rare i see one. Fortunately a friend of mine bought the supercharger so i still see it. They were really underated cars. They were the first production mid engined rear wheel drive car, first production engine with a non interference head. Think they were the first ever mass produced car engine with 16 valves too if i recall. Great cars . .

Anyway, any more suggestions for rim choice for the E30 please and does anyone know the official name for the colour? Thanks.

[magpie]

looks v,clean only thing to watch or listen for rather is noisey top end,any ticking at all is not a good sign,v,common on m40 engines,it,s not the injectors,and not cheap.all cars you looked at are 1.8 why this one an is has 40 more horses

[boicey]

Hey Rob fella, notice you're from Hednesford. Not too far from me. Im Codsall way.

[Gortour]

As I said above, boicey, the colour is Calypso red.

[boicey]

Oh, cheers fella. Thought that was a guess as the pictures arent clear.

[Elecblondie]

I like it, leave it on the bottle tops would be my choice. Keep it nice and original. Refurb anything wrong first anyway .

[robbo86]

i thought it was weinrot...... am i the only zoner on the zone driving a weinrot e30, certainly no parts (ie body colour mirrors) come up in that colour, making it bloody difficult to get any parts.....

[maxfield]

I had a Weinrot.

Check on the front strut on the passenger side.

[AlexBaur325]

Weinrot

did you see a doctor for that? sounds nasty

[boicey]

That the German translation for Calypso red?! Colours have been in German on the struts on my previous E36s. I asked as i just thought somone might know off hand.

You are no longer alone Robbo!

[Gortour]

Wienrot is Wine Red, Calypso is different, Weinrot is a solid colour, and Calypso is metallic.

[boicey]

Excellent. That clears that up. Thanks.

[robbo86]

yeah mine is a weinrot... at least i am not the only zoner to have had one but i can never find anyone breaking one

I WANT SOME BODY COLOUR MIRRORS...... and a decent coloured (ie non faded drivers side wing)

you probably want me to stop hijacking your thread

which i will do.....

in a sec

anyone explain what a 318i LUX has over a standard 318i (and how do you tell what one you have)

hijack over



for now

[Blitz]

yeah mine is a weinrot... at least i am not the only zoner to have had one but i can never find anyone breaking one

I WANT SOME BODY COLOUR MIRRORS...... and a decent coloured (ie non faded drivers side wing)

you probably want me to stop hijacking your thread

which i will do.....

in a sec

anyone explain what a 318i LUX has over a standard 318i (and how do you tell what one you have)

hijack over



for now

I think I saw some for sale.

from Andyboy

From BMW:

The 316i and 318i Lux have;

14 inch bottle top alloys
Manual sunroof
Dechrome
Power steering
62 litre fuel tank
Green tint glass
Body colour grille blanking panel under front bumper
Body colour boot spoiler
Black tailpipe trim
Grey lower dash, console and B pillar trim on all cars with silver grey cloth trim or Indigo beige with Indigo beige trim(rare).
Cloth roof lining
Black front headlining panel recessed for sunvisors
Velour carpets
3 spoke leather wheel and gearknob plus leatherette handbrake gaiter
Rear headrests
6 button clock/outside air temp
Front electric windows
Front fogs.

Colours:
Alpine white with Anthracite or Indigo (beige) cloth.
Brilliant red with Anthracite or silver grey
Diamond black with Silver grey or Anthracite
Sterling silver with Indigo or Anthracite
Calypso red met. with Anthracite or silver
Lagoon green met. with Anthracite or silver (mega rare - I've never seen one)
Glacier blue met. with Anthracite or Indigo (light met. blue)
Laser blue met. with Silver grey or Indigo.

The Lux was only available as a 2 or 4 door. The 316i and 318i Lux Touring arrived in January 1993 on the K plate. These had the 15 inch BBS, electric front windows, coded bumpers, dechrome, leather 3 spoke wheel and sunroof.

As for the SE (later 1990/91 models), these had all the Lux bits plus:
14 inch BBS x spokes
Electric roof
Colour coded 318iS front spoiler on the 325iSE only
Colour coded standard spoiler lip on the 320iSE
Body colour sill covers (Touring style)
Body colour oil cooler grille for 325iSE
Body colour lower rear valance
Chrome or black tailpipe trims (twin pipe system on both cars)
All cloth seats (inc side and rear panels instead of vinyl)
Boot lid internal trim panel
Colour coded seat belts on cars with silver grey or Indigo beige trim
Illuminated gearknob (Leather)
Rear centre armrest
On board computer
Front and rear electric windows (4 door)
Interior light delay.

Colours:
Same as Lux models but the seats had the velour trim with faint pinstripes.

[magpie]

yeah mine is a weinrot... at least i am not the only zoner to have had one but i can never find anyone breaking one

I WANT SOME BODY COLOUR MIRRORS...... and a decent coloured (ie non faded drivers side wing)

you probably want me to stop hijacking your thread

which i will do.....

in a sec

anyone explain what a 318i LUX has over a standard 318i (and how do you tell what one you have)

hijack over



for now

lux has sunroor/front fogs/pas/e/f/w/leatherh/brake&gearstick gaiters/rearspoiler/and digitalclock [obc] some have air con. i just broke one up in diamond black...[r.i.p].

[Gortour]

Looks like it will be a Calypso then. Sorry Robbo...

Did think it may be too late to be weinrot on an H reg...

[boicey]

Youve been really helpful guys, thanks. Good stuff Blitz.

[Felix79]

i think you done ok. 1st thing get it serviced, at least then you will spot any obvious problems. The 15" bbs always work well no matter the style.

[robbo86]

Looks like it will be a Calypso then. Sorry Robbo...

Did think it may be too late to be weinrot on an H reg...

my wienrot car is H plate..... thanks for clarifying the difference anyway. I will ask andyboy incase he still has the mirrors.

[boicey]

Hey guys. Picked up the car this afternoon. Its as good as it looks in the pictures. Can confirm its a Calypso. The car is really clean. It got me the 110 miles home without a problem. Engine seems strong and quiet. Temp gauge didnt even get up to half so i assume rad and cooling system are good. Paint is all good, no fading anywhere. The only thing i can find externally is a couple of bubbles on the underside lip of the rear arches, but so small they are hard to see. They've not broken the paint yet. Ill get those sorted asap. Interior is absolutely immaculate. Only thing wrong inside is the red and blue temperature circle doesnt illuminate which is an easy fix, all other dash lights and back lighting are fine. Seats and door cards are mint, even the roof lining is clean. As far as i can tell its totally standard apart from a Kenwood CD head unit. Not liking the bottle tops but they have brand new goodyears all round so ill be keeping them as winter rims. Comprehensive service history at main dealer. They've even filled in the body inspection pages and coolant and other fluid changes meticulously. All handbooks are present in the original folder.

The only question i have is the gears seem to engage with a clunk at low speed or standstill. It seems better at speeds above 40. All gears engage sweetly, but you can feel and hear them go in, if you know what i mean. Perhaps its because im not used to it? Ill change the gearbox oil anyway. Can anyone confirm if the box's are generally a little agricultural or is it just mine? Its the oldest car ive driven for some time so it may be its just im not used to it?

Thanks again for all your help so far guys.

[robbo86]

Can anyone confirm if the box's are generally a little agricultural or is it just mine?

wouldnt know as mine has a slushbox (whihc is silky smooth) but if my mates e36, my dads e36 and my mates e46 are anything to go by, then i shouldnt have thought so!!!

worn selector forks maybe

[Elecblondie]

My car is a little agricultural shifting, especially into reverse. A lot better since I got my clutch working properly though, before it was never quite fully releasing the clutch.

[boicey]

Dont get me wrong, its not so bad you think 'bloody hell whats that noise and clunk' each gear change. . I didnt even notice until half way home until i hit traffic and was stopping and starting loads. The gears go in easily enough including reverse so i dont think its selector forks. Maybe its just very old gearbox oil and worn linkages. I dont know much about e30s at the minute and havent had the time to have a good look round it yet. I doubt the clutch has ever been changed either. I also have an e36 and it just seems a bit louder on the E30. Its hard to explain!

Does anyone know any E30 specialists in the midlands or staffordshire for future reference?

Thanks again.

[robbo86]

i think, no idea why i think this but i think that the all knowing e30 guru Brianmooore is up your way