I'm going to look at 2 x e30's tomorrow...

[jslot]

pony 2, I know there are but I'm not willing to travel. He is asking £750 and needs it shifted.

[pony2]

Fair play, your in the best position to make the call. Make sure you get to the bottom of what's going on with the engine before you make an offer. Could be the ecu needs to reset itself after being stood for a while.

[secondtimelucky]

If he genuinely needs it shifted you should be able to get a fair wedge off that asking price, how many people looking to buy e30s on the IOM at once

[jslot]

I would be unlucky if there was someone else out there at this moment looking for one, especially a cab in mid autumn - especially a cab in mid autumn with holey hood.

Could you do like a puncture repair kit on the hood, with really strong glue and patches?

Do you think I should post my hood / stood engine questions in the relevant topics of the forum? or would I get told off for spamming the place?

[jslot]

Would this be worth £100 delivered to my door? If I asked him to photo every inch.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bmw-e30-hood-verd ... 286.c0.m14

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Don't go for that. You'd still have to pay an experienced upholsterer a lot of cash to fit it to the frame. Not a DIY job.

If the car is very straight at £750, get £200 off for the hood. If he's desperate, he'll let it go. At 80,000 miles, I'd be concerned that the car has had a not so easy life, if there's issues with body work.

Once you have the £200 off the car, paying for a new hood to be fitted from a recommended upholsterer will be easier to swallow. There's even a guy in Swansea who'll do it cheaper again. Though even after a happy customer posted pics, a lot of people rubbished the chap because of price. A lot of classic car restorers use him too, so I'm lead to believe.

You could patch it up. There's likely to be some flappy bits on the inside you can bastardise for a patch and a decent glue will sort it, maybe even carpet glue??

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Oh, don't worry about spamming mate, the enquiries are more than welcome, we have to learn someway!

[jslot]

Thanks for the wise comments Rosc0, you and you human master look very wise in your photo.

Thing is I live on the Isle or Man so any price of upholsterey in Swansea would include ferry cost and petrol and accomodation. Would a local, fancy, modern BMW dealer be able to do it, or even another dealer familiar with convertibles? would they do it for the £400 quid mark including fitting. I will call the local dealers.

With regard to the gluing, that is what I would want to do. I dont mind if it looks a bit ropey, just gotta last over the expensive winter period before proper replacement.

I can just tape up a gash in the window? it's full length down the middle

[B7]

Whats the rest iof the hood like? the smaller holes could be repaired and you could just go for a replacement window. As stated, the second lock on the drivers door is factory kit. It's for a magnetic key that you slot in and it arms the immobilser and the alarm. Few work these days.

If it's 100% original then it sounds a good buy. Wheres that crack in the paint?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Thanks for the wise comments Rosc0, you and you human master look very wise in your photo.

Thing is I live on the Isle or Man so any price of upholsterey in Swansea would include ferry cost and petrol and accomodation. Would a local, fancy, modern BMW dealer be able to do it, or even another dealer familiar with convertibles? would they do it for the £400 quid mark including fitting. I will call the local dealers.

With regard to the gluing, that is what I would want to do. I dont mind if it looks a bit ropey, just gotta last over the expensive winter period before proper replacement.

I can just tape up a gash in the window? it's full length down the middle

Main dealer wanted £1k 5 years ago. Plus how many of the meccano monkeys that they employ actually know how to do the job. You think many have actually fitted a new roof? I'd assume they'd subby the work to the local chap with the experiance to do the job and pocket about £600 profit.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Yes £400 including fitting. Maybe £500 all in.

[jslot]

b7, i would say hood in general is acceptable, maybe 3 holes very samll, 5mm holes max.

The crack in the paint is on the rear wind at the bottom rear corner of the hood. It hasn't broken through to the outer layer, but there is something going on unerneath. This is something I know well with my old cars of the past and know that left untreated will turn into a bit rusty hole in a few years. On a '89 car its what you would expect - and it's only cause its the only thing you can really notice.

There is also some tiny rust bits coming though on the very rear centre of the boot lid - like minuscule browm rice crispies.

Rosc0, thats what I feared price wise and skills wise from dealer. Why is fitting the hood a professional job? I had a good look at it today and must admit that i couldn't even see how it was really connected to the mechanism.

Also other than the obvious gashes/holes, is the hood susceptible to leaks around the edges? If its been under cover will i be taking a gamble?

[B7]

Bearing in mind the cars nearly 20 years old, the seals woill have seen better times. The replacement seals are all available from BMW but they aint cheap. A worthwile job though. How about you buy the car and buy a car cap, (Just a cover that goes over the roof) so that you can assess the situation as you go.

[jslot]

I need you use the car as a daily driver, not urgent but as soon as missus passes test I have to give her my car (supposed she paid for half of it).

What are these seals are you on about - what are the signs they are ok or gone, is it a DIY job, what sort of prices.

Costs and potential costs of things are very important, I've told my missus that i'm getting a cheap old banger run around

[B7]

Costs and potential costs of things are very important, I've told my missus that i'm getting a cheap old banger run around

OH MY GOD are you in for it!!

The main seal runs from above the door glass right round and across the header rail above the windscereen. I believe that one in excess of 80 quid. But thats not the only one. Click this link and you'll see how many there are.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=54&fg=10

[B7]

Another option is to get the sellers hose out and dowse the roof, see what happens.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

b7, i would say hood in general is acceptable, maybe 3 holes very samll, 5mm holes max.

The crack in the paint is on the rear wind at the bottom rear corner of the hood. It hasn't broken through to the outer layer, but there is something going on unerneath. This is something I know well with my old cars of the past and know that left untreated will turn into a bit rusty hole in a few years. On a '89 car its what you would expect - and it's only cause its the only thing you can really notice.

There is also some tiny rust bits coming though on the very rear centre of the boot lid - like minuscule browm rice crispies.

Rosc0, thats what I feared price wise and skills wise from dealer. Why is fitting the hood a professional job? I had a good look at it today and must admit that i couldn't even see how it was really connected to the mechanism.

Also other than the obvious gashes/holes, is the hood susceptible to leaks around the edges? If its been under cover will i be taking a gamble?

There's a great deal of sewing and stretching. Plus feck knows how to get the tensioners straps sorted too.

[mineralblue]

Me thinks if you have not got a lot of cash to throw at the car,You avoid this cab. A new roof and new seals,which it will probably need by the sounds of it aint gonna be cheap.Not pissin on any bonfires here,just don't want you to end up with a car you either A. Spend a lot of money on or B. Don't spend the required amount on, and it ends up dying.
As reliable as they are,they are old,so there is ALWAYS a little something here, a little something there that needs TLC(i.e. usually pound notes)Especially as a daily driver. Swerve the cab thing if you are spending around 1k and get a good,unmolested tin top, Or think about another type of motor if they are hard to come by on the IOM.
By the sounds of it you might wait ages for a decent one to go on sale over there.Just don't rush it,you may regret it.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Good post. These cars are all close to 20 years old and require regular injections of cash.

[B7]

Me thinks if you have not got a lot of cash to throw at the car,You avoid this cab. A new roof and new seals,which it will probably need by the sounds of it aint gonna be cheap.Not pissin on any bonfires here,just don't want you to end up with a car you either A. Spend a lot of money on or B. Don't spend the required amount on, and it ends up dying.
As reliable as they are,they are old,so there is ALWAYS a little something here, a little something there that needs TLC(i.e. usually pound notes)Especially as a daily driver. Swerve the cab thing if you are spending around 1k and get a good,unmolested tin top, Or think about another type of motor if they are hard to come by on the IOM.
By the sounds of it you might wait ages for a decent one to go on sale over there.Just don't rush it,you may regret it.

Really good advice there. Some very valid points.

[jslot]

regular injections of cash can be discused in budgets.

Dont get me wrong I appreciate old cars constantly need new parts, but i've factored this in and that's why purchase budget is low.

Having an cool old car is going to be my hobby so little bit of money every month for parts, and save up for big things like hoods and rims, is all part of it.

I would like to know what I can look out for to give me an indication that immediate spends were imminent.

Your right about the hose test, at least then I can see if I need seals straight away.

[jslot]

and i promise i will try not to rush it....but you all have your cool cars already

[djk]

/\/\/\/\ What they said /\/\/\/\

A cab at this kind of money is likely to be a bit of a money pit. I'd wait for a saloon to come around, there must be a few on the IoM, £750 should get you a very useable 2dr or a really pretty good 4dr, obviously dependent on engine/spec etc. Don't get caught with a snotter or it will prejudice you against what can be great cars - when properly maintained, they are near bulletproof compared to almost anything else of similar age.

[jslot]

It has to be a 2dr or a cab. If the hood is the only thing wrong, and its its been well looked after/serviced, then is it worth it. I dont mind having a scruffy roof for a while.

I will do my research on costs of stuff and undertake the most thorough inspection of this car and report back.

[Chase007]

Good luck with your mission mate!

[jslot]

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp27 ... et/car.jpg

I bought the 3rd one!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now a proud owner.

Bad points - the hood, I was in the car when raining yesterday and I WILL win the battle over the leaks.

Interior isnt leather and needs a good clean - usual rip to drivers seat. and doorcards hanging off / dodgy interiror door handles.

Had to buy a new battery also.

No mods. Ok service history and recent receipts for quite a lot of stuff

The ecu has re-set itself after a good 25 mile drive and now engine runs fine.

It also wobbled at >70mph speed - this also seems to have sorted itslelf after a bit of driving - egg shaped tyres from being stood maybe?

Girlfriend screamed with joy when I came to pick her up - it looks mint at night from accross the road

[Brianmoooore]

I've told my missus that i'm getting a cheap old banger run around

Girlfriend screamed with joy when I came to pick her up - it looks mint at night from accross the road

And what did the missus say??

[mineralblue]

Congrats on your motor,get some more pics up in the photo gallery section

[Ollie_bwoii]

Looks great! Love the colour combo!

[Blitz]

Bargain! looks great. Keep it original.

[jslot]

Ha! when I say missus I mean my girlfriend - we have a mortgage and a dog together so missus seems apt to use.

Will be keeping in original apart from possible lowering and wheels.

Will take more photos soon so you can see details

[bss325i]

Did that number plate come with the car?

[jslot]

Yes number plate came with the car, we have different numbers on IOM - this one (with small number) is quite desirable, someone might have paid a few hundred quid just for the reg!. Cars built before 1990 can have black and silver/white plates - they dont even have to be reflective. - poeple get away with all sorts of 'show plates' on the isle of man. People even put black plates on cars that are not even pre 1990.

I want to get some 'inverted' german style plates, ie white on black.

I was hoping to pay £69 to get "E30-MAN" but some other e30 owner has that reg already.

[greentouring]

Excellent. Let's see some more photos

[bss325i]

Yes number plate came with the car, we have different numbers on IOM - this one (with small number) is quite desirable, someone might have paid a few hundred quid just for the reg!. Cars built before 1990 can have black and silver/white plates - they dont even have to be reflective. - poeple get away with all sorts of 'show plates' on the isle of man. People even put black plates on cars that are not even pre 1990.

I want to get some 'inverted' german style plates, ie white on black.

I was hoping to pay £69 to get "E30-MAN" but some other e30 owner has that reg already.

Ah, didn'i realise you are on the IOM. The plate would have prob been worth more than the car over here!