identifying a sport?

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:54 pm

Could anyone inform me how to identify a genuine 325i sport?
Does it say 'sport' on the log book?

Also I have had a couple 325 saloons before (4 doors), I have been told the sport has a 'close ratio gear box', is this different to the standard saloon? Is there less travel in it? Would a 1987 sport have ABS? And how can I confirm a car has a limited slip diff?

Cheers

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:03 pm

Sports say so in the log book, correctly expressed as

BMW 325i SPORT in the model/type section on the V5, not on the V5... walk away or risk it M8

LSD is easy, jack up a rear wheel, release the handbrake and see if the wheel spins freely, if it does, no LSD

buyer beware !!!

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:32 pm

cheers mate I'll have a look when I go and view also is the gearbox any tighter and do sports have ABS?

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:37 pm

The gearbox isn't 'tighter', the ratios are closer.

I didn't think it made that much of a difference until I drove the same car with a normal, then a sport box.

All 325s should have ABS, except for maybe really early ones.

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:44 pm

so what does that mean having different gear ratio's?

How does it effect the gear change / engine rev's etc...

Cheers

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:47 pm

Are you buying the sport off ebay in Severnoaks?

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:51 pm

Having different gear ratios.........

Well, put simply (which is all I can manage at the moment!)

When you change up a gear in a sport, the revs don't drop quite so much, so that the engine is always in the 'power band' so to speak.

The normal 325 engines are more geared to economy than performance.

Hope that helps.

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:51 pm

not sure if it's in seven oaks just says ( London), its a 1987 'sport' in grey?

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:55 pm

Thanks guy's this is all usefull stuff, may be the owner of a sport soon then?

Anyone want a gas converted 325i touring?

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:08 pm

k9 wrote:Thanks guy's this is all usefull stuff, may be the owner of a sport soon then?

Anyone want a gas converted 325i touring?

K

Whats it like on juice, cost of running etc?

All sports have abs, only the very first 1985 325's don't as it was an option for the first 6 months or so of production mate

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:13 pm

k9 wrote:not sure if it's in seven oaks just says ( London), its a 1987 'sport' in grey?

K

I emailed the bloke about it to veiw it on saturday. The blokes selling it for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£600 so i thought i'd get in there quick but looks like i'll see someone else behind the wheel now. Let me know if you don't want it and why?

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:14 pm

Its pretty good on Juice, on petrol it averages 25mpg on gas 40 mpg, I've only had it 2 months.

Had a few problems with the gas, thought I had a leak but seems okay now, been fine the last few days. Taken me to workj and back 40 miles.

Since I've had it I've removed the alarm as it had an intermitant start problem that turned out to be the alarm, I've had the tappets / valves adjusted and a new battery as the other was past it's best.

K

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:25 pm

So its the same car then a 1987 D plate sport in grey with 180,000 on the clock and a worn drivers seat?.

He was selling for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£600. This seems a little too cheap for a genuine sport, even a high miler??

I had an E30 325i with over 200,000 that still went really well, and a 1991 E36 325i with 220,000 on it and it still didnt burn any oil, Germans biuld proper cars!

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:37 pm

Back to the question at hand........

Sport will have map reading light on rear view mirror, black head lining, LSD, ABS, head light wipers, much more obvious torque and it doesnt (spell check) necessarily say sport on V5 !

Peejay.

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:44 pm

do they all definately have light wash wipes as this one being sold does not have this?

Does it say sport in the log book or not?

Any other opinions, ideally from sport owners!

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:47 pm

i havea sport and no wipers

Post Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:49 pm

get the chassis number and check it with your nearest dealer.

only sure way of knowing

Post Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:12 am

and hardly any early sports had headlamp wash/wipe

Post Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:27 am

got wash no wipe.

Post Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:29 pm

My sport said 'sport' on the log book (1991 H). I also checked with the dealers in nottingham and the sales guy I spoke to was very helpful. gave him the reg. number.

Post Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:17 pm

alot of people remove the headlamp wash wipe cos they never bloody work and they look sh!te

Opening rear quarters too and the carpet should be good enough to have in the house quality wise, not the shag pile effort that lesser e30's are saddled with!

It's probaly cheap cos

A) milege
B) has rust holes everywhere

be careful when viewing it and check everywhere inner arches, outer, sills, jacking points, battery tray. These would all be my concerns