Hi, im looking at buying an e30 318i touring and was wondering what i should be looking for, good points, bad things?
never bought a car before as it will be my first car.
anything i should look out for that i should stay away from?
did a quick search but couldnt find a right lot.
any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks.
what to look for?
Moderator: martauto
Rust, Rust, Rust and more Rust. Any you can see easily X by 10 that's hidden.
If you can take someone who knows these cars, buying the wrong one will be very expensive. A good one is amazing, very hard to find now though.
Welcome to the mad house.
If you can take someone who knows these cars, buying the wrong one will be very expensive. A good one is amazing, very hard to find now though.
Welcome to the mad house.
Co Founder of CR24vTM By Invitation Only. Absolutely no riff raff!!!
Wheels would be a good start. An engine is a given. Four doors and at least one seat is always nice!
Sorry, I pride myself on beingt useful as tits on a fish. Ill try help. Arches and scuttles are the obvious places to start. If its a sunroof model then you need to do the following. First press the headlining to the rear of the sunroof tray. Does it crunch. If so I would walk away unless your feeling brave. Secondly, pull up the carpet behind the drivers seat. My e30 had a nice swimming pool under the carpet in the rear footwell, I reckon because of the crunchy sunroof tray.
Have a good look underneath, places I know that rot gets hold are, the front footwells and floor also. Check your spare wheel well and rear arches also. I know the tailgates on tourers can get rusty as well to something to bear in mind. If its got a tech 1 or tech 2 kit, you could find its hiding a multitude of sins. Also check the battery tray which is notorious for rotting. On a 318 this will be on the drivers side, but a 325 will be in the boot.
Engines are fairly bulletproof is kept oiled and fairly simple to work on to boot. The m40 tends to have clattery tappets and are hydraulically adjusted so replacement rather then repair. If it does rattly tappets there are a number of simple things you can do before replacing.
Wynns (or similar) Hydraulic valve lifter additive. See if that helps. Failing that run diesel oil in the engine for a couple of thousand miles, then flush and replace filter. Dielsel oil has more detergents in which break down the sludge from dirtier diesel engines and can help where the valves clog. This (on good authority) will not harm your petrol engine) You could also ignore it. Failing that, get your cam and valves replaced.
Dont be surprised if first gear is stiff to engage (on manuals) till the box is warm. My 3 did it, my 5 does it, my old mans e36 does it and my mates e46 does it. No idea why, must just be a BMW thing.
Think ive just about covered it. Welcome to the zone shipmate. As for the zone, think of the lyrics to Hotel California, you wont be far wrong!!!
Sorry, I pride myself on beingt useful as tits on a fish. Ill try help. Arches and scuttles are the obvious places to start. If its a sunroof model then you need to do the following. First press the headlining to the rear of the sunroof tray. Does it crunch. If so I would walk away unless your feeling brave. Secondly, pull up the carpet behind the drivers seat. My e30 had a nice swimming pool under the carpet in the rear footwell, I reckon because of the crunchy sunroof tray.
Have a good look underneath, places I know that rot gets hold are, the front footwells and floor also. Check your spare wheel well and rear arches also. I know the tailgates on tourers can get rusty as well to something to bear in mind. If its got a tech 1 or tech 2 kit, you could find its hiding a multitude of sins. Also check the battery tray which is notorious for rotting. On a 318 this will be on the drivers side, but a 325 will be in the boot.
Engines are fairly bulletproof is kept oiled and fairly simple to work on to boot. The m40 tends to have clattery tappets and are hydraulically adjusted so replacement rather then repair. If it does rattly tappets there are a number of simple things you can do before replacing.
Wynns (or similar) Hydraulic valve lifter additive. See if that helps. Failing that run diesel oil in the engine for a couple of thousand miles, then flush and replace filter. Dielsel oil has more detergents in which break down the sludge from dirtier diesel engines and can help where the valves clog. This (on good authority) will not harm your petrol engine) You could also ignore it. Failing that, get your cam and valves replaced.
Dont be surprised if first gear is stiff to engage (on manuals) till the box is warm. My 3 did it, my 5 does it, my old mans e36 does it and my mates e46 does it. No idea why, must just be a BMW thing.
Think ive just about covered it. Welcome to the zone shipmate. As for the zone, think of the lyrics to Hotel California, you wont be far wrong!!!
Proud member of the PARDON? club!
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
hey, thanks for the quick responses, so other than rust there aint a right lot to worry about then? not sure if ill be able to look at the car myself, it depends where it is, might have to get my old man to have a look at it if its down south as i live near leeds. got about 800ish to spend so hoping i can get something that aint too rotten for that!
hmmmm...i don't know robbo...robbo86 wrote:Wheels would be a good start. An engine is a given. Four doors and at least one seat is always nice!
Sorry, I pride myself on beingt useful as tits on a fish
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... CCsQ9QEwBQ
[/quote]
what area are you in ninjastyle? i'm happy to look for you if you're local by any chance
E30 Parts Galore!! 07901 888019
[quote="bss325i"]
Get a f* grip,we are talking about 20+yr.old sub £10k cars here,NOT the crown jewels!
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
im just outside leeds, me old man is on gloucster but not too sure how clued up on his cars he is 
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
wow cheers for all the positive responses people (unlike most forms ive used), will keep hunting...
if theres owt else i should say away from then let me know!
thanks again
if theres owt else i should say away from then let me know!
thanks again
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daimlerman
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Tourings are generally better than saloons in the rust department,having written that,I have had two late(K and L plate)one's that were very rusty.
Places to check are the scuttle panel close to the heater inlet vents,difficult to repair neatly.
Rear arches,both the bit you can see and the bit you cannot(poke your hand up above the road wheels)and on the driver's side,the rear of the inner arch in the area of the fuel filler.
In general,oily bits can be repaired/replaced easily and cheaply,difficult bits are trim like seats,covers are mostly NLA,so you are hunting for better s/h stuff.
Passenger front seats can be adapted to suit drivers side easily,BTW.
Good hunting,yell again if you need more help.
Places to check are the scuttle panel close to the heater inlet vents,difficult to repair neatly.
Rear arches,both the bit you can see and the bit you cannot(poke your hand up above the road wheels)and on the driver's side,the rear of the inner arch in the area of the fuel filler.
In general,oily bits can be repaired/replaced easily and cheaply,difficult bits are trim like seats,covers are mostly NLA,so you are hunting for better s/h stuff.
Passenger front seats can be adapted to suit drivers side easily,BTW.
Good hunting,yell again if you need more help.
Youth is wasted on the young.
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
hey. ive found one with 130k miles on it, a mates told me that with cars with pretty high mileage the engine electrics tend to go on them. would this really be an issue on an e30? if so would it be fairly simple to sort out? cheers
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Jim320i
- E30 Zone News / COTM Team
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130k isnt over the top... Has it got any service history? As long as its been looked after it will keep going... If it doesnt come with lots of receipts then give it a look over... Check over the rubbers underneath as they may need replacing if they havent been done... Just look for wear on them to know...
Check the interior for wear too, can always tell what kinda life its had that.
Rust... Just look and feel for it. Whats the price for this 130k'er?
I dont think you'll have much problem with the electrics, and if you do, they're pretty simple to fix with the help of the zone. Quick responses so you can try it as you post it kinda thing which is what I usually do.
Check the interior for wear too, can always tell what kinda life its had that.
Rust... Just look and feel for it. Whats the price for this 130k'er?
I dont think you'll have much problem with the electrics, and if you do, they're pretty simple to fix with the help of the zone. Quick responses so you can try it as you post it kinda thing which is what I usually do.
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
Well im getting a mate to have a look at it as its pretty far away from me. It does have history but not sure How much. Cambelt has been done. He said all the electrics are cool when I phoned him. He said there wasn't much rust just a bit under wing mirror on drivers door. Hes askin 700 for it taxed and tested. He did say the rear interior is a bit tatty from having a dog in the back but I aint massivly bothered about that. Thanks again for quick response!
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
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130k is what BMW owners describe as "nicely run in", and whatever you were told about engine electrics and high mileage is complete rubbish, even if this car was high mileage.
Both the red touring in my sig., and a 525 that I use for towing duties have done well over double the mileage of this car, everything on them works as new, they use no fluids between services, and neither have had any major work done on them ever, except that the touring had a cylinder head changed as a result of the original cracking.
As said above, rust is the main potential problem, the most serious being in and around the rear wheel arches, especially the right hand side, and the front left bulkhead, around the area where the cables go through from the interior to the engine compartment. You can just about get some idea of the condition of this area by forcing down the top edge of the carpet behind the glovebox in the passenger footwell.
Both the red touring in my sig., and a 525 that I use for towing duties have done well over double the mileage of this car, everything on them works as new, they use no fluids between services, and neither have had any major work done on them ever, except that the touring had a cylinder head changed as a result of the original cracking.
As said above, rust is the main potential problem, the most serious being in and around the rear wheel arches, especially the right hand side, and the front left bulkhead, around the area where the cables go through from the interior to the engine compartment. You can just about get some idea of the condition of this area by forcing down the top edge of the carpet behind the glovebox in the passenger footwell.
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
Sweet, cheers man. Ill try get a viewing set up. I think my mate mentioned about engine electrics cause he had a justy thats ecu has just died on it and it was quite high mileage, and he aint been able to get another one so he must have his paranoid hat on. Thanks again.
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
was something to do with his being a manual and efi. i think the only ones he could find were for auto non efi. or hed have to pay through the nose for it from subaru.
the 318 i was looking at turns out to be an auto so im gonna try keep looking for a manual.
the 318 i was looking at turns out to be an auto so im gonna try keep looking for a manual.
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ninjastyle
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheltenham
ninjastyle wrote:Sweet, cheers man. Ill try get a viewing set up. I think my mate mentioned about engine electrics cause he had a justy thats ecu has just died on it and it was quite high mileage, and he aint been able to get another one so he must have his paranoid hat on. Thanks again.
Meh, that didnt mean crap to me, I thought it was poor typing!ninjastyle wrote:ninjastyle wrote:Sweet, cheers man. Ill try get a viewing set up. I think my mate mentioned about engine electrics cause he had a justy thats ecu has just died on it and it was quite high mileage, and he aint been able to get another one so he must have his paranoid hat on. Thanks again.
Proud member of the PARDON? club!