been offered one for my bike. what are they like, this one seems ok. any big exspensive things to go wrong? wouldnt mind a little change while my beemer is layed up!
any help much apreciated
cheers
anyone owned a mk3?? 2ltr 8 v gti 1996 golf? need advice!!
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E30BeemerLad
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Parts cost buttons for them mate and plenty of them in scrapyards.
So long as it isn't hanging with rust they still look presentable. No ball of fire but probably quicker than a 318i.
So long as it isn't hanging with rust they still look presentable. No ball of fire but probably quicker than a 318i.
They do not really deserve the GTI badge to be fair, They are slow, dull and drive no better than a 1.6 GL. Having said that, They do make a half decent, cheap run around. I bought one for my wife for next to nothing with head gasket issues, After swapping the engine it has been a good solid family car for over 3 years now without any major dramas.
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320iAN
- E30 Zone Camper
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rust.. if it has either side skirts & wheel arch trim's they rot badly behind them, check round all foot well floor grommets, inner & outer cill's, complete floor.. especially the harder to see areas ie: above fuel tank etc they if not fixed yet they leak water in to the back of the dash in to the footwell's via bad fitting seal's in the bulkhead, rear hatchback door can rot quite a bit, cheap for part's, strong running gear
i had a VR6 with a few shriek goodies & topped out at 155/158 & got there fairly quick
audi TT wheels, coilovers, whiteline droplink's, shriek cam & inlet remapped bigger fuel pump & bigger injectors were some of what i added
i had a VR6 with a few shriek goodies & topped out at 155/158 & got there fairly quick
audi TT wheels, coilovers, whiteline droplink's, shriek cam & inlet remapped bigger fuel pump & bigger injectors were some of what i added
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capri_rob
- Married to the E30 Zone
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Can be bought for buttons and theres loads of them out there so no excuse for buying a hound.
They're not quick by any means - they just go OK.
30+ MPG
Gearboxes are a weak spot - the can let go with no warning whatsoever or they can be a bit crunchy - if the box shows any sign of crunchiness though walk away and find a better one.
Engines are strong and reliable if a little gutless.
MAF sensors play up but can be cleaned if you're careful.
Distributors can fail and arent cheap to replace
I had one of the run-out models ( dec '97 R Plate ) it was well specced up even with aircon but in truth it was pretty worn out - No actual rot but a few cosmetic scabs on the doors and the tailgates are notorious for rotting.
Think I paid about £900 for mine, spent another £300 or so on it in consumable items ( 2 x tyres, full service kit, MOT etc ) but only got about £750 for it when I sold it about 8 months later.
If you need a new radiator the whole front end of the car has to come off - lights, grille, bumper, crossmembers etc - this was the straw that broke the camels back with me - I stuck some radweld in it and served it on
It felt tired to drive and I didn't miss it when I sold it - the mondeo TDCi I replaced it with is faster, much more economical, more comfortable and generally more capable in every respect.
Mine
They're not quick by any means - they just go OK.
30+ MPG
Gearboxes are a weak spot - the can let go with no warning whatsoever or they can be a bit crunchy - if the box shows any sign of crunchiness though walk away and find a better one.
Engines are strong and reliable if a little gutless.
MAF sensors play up but can be cleaned if you're careful.
Distributors can fail and arent cheap to replace
I had one of the run-out models ( dec '97 R Plate ) it was well specced up even with aircon but in truth it was pretty worn out - No actual rot but a few cosmetic scabs on the doors and the tailgates are notorious for rotting.
Think I paid about £900 for mine, spent another £300 or so on it in consumable items ( 2 x tyres, full service kit, MOT etc ) but only got about £750 for it when I sold it about 8 months later.
If you need a new radiator the whole front end of the car has to come off - lights, grille, bumper, crossmembers etc - this was the straw that broke the camels back with me - I stuck some radweld in it and served it on
It felt tired to drive and I didn't miss it when I sold it - the mondeo TDCi I replaced it with is faster, much more economical, more comfortable and generally more capable in every respect.
Mine
e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
VAGs are very seldom expensive to run if you are talking about the old stuff...
On a Mk3 Golf, they have often rust issues on tailgate, doors, bonnet etc - so they are not rust free. The old Volkswagen engines can have problem with oil leak from the head. But in general a very soiid car - who is easy and good to drive.
I think it also got the award for European Car of the Year when it got launched in 1992
On a Mk3 Golf, they have often rust issues on tailgate, doors, bonnet etc - so they are not rust free. The old Volkswagen engines can have problem with oil leak from the head. But in general a very soiid car - who is easy and good to drive.
I think it also got the award for European Car of the Year when it got launched in 1992
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B7
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So did the Chrysler Horizon in 1979 and look at what a heap of shite that turned out to be!78dude wrote: I think it also got the award for European Car of the Year when it got launched in 1992
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
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mercdriver
- E30 Zone Regular
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Right, these gays with 'gutless' 8 valvers are a load of divvies putting up with the run of the mill. 8vs are quicker accelerating than a 16 valver and certainly good fun if you know what to tweak! I've raced a 325ise and been eating its rear bumper to get past it down the a50 up towards Stoke and when he finally pulled in my 8v hit near on 140 and started to creep past the m20b25. Mines a flamethrowing thing (not by choice but by sheer quantity of fuel flowing through it!) It runs like its on fast road cams being lumpy and horrible on idle, but open the throttle and let off the clutch and it shifted pretty well! I've even owned a 2.0 avantgarde mk3 cab (crap slow horrid thing) and a vr6 which was entertaining and sounded beautiful with a milltek (had that up to 145mph but the mrs told me to let off so i never got to see its final result 
) but that was 192bhp on a rolling road and drank fuel like 
Anyway - some are galvanised at the 96 onwards so less rust issues (if the tailgate has no rust anywhere then it should be a galv edition).
- rear calipers handbrake release seem to always seize (check for play in handbrake as you lift) usually results in a £90 caliper from ecp!
-gearboxes dont like heavy thrash and turning from pull off (they go boom).
-indicator storks gather dust behind the cowling where the ignition barrel is resulting in a fire!!!
-my head gasket developed a weep yet still pulled well (then i had it done and mucked about with it)
Mine became surprisingly quick for a 'gutless' 115bhp lump. Never had it rolling roaded but it goes well enough to keep up with the likes of bmw 325's and clio williams and even did well against my vr6 i thought. Maybe they are all wrong about mk3 gti 8vs - or maybe i got lucky?! mpgs were 18 - 20 at best though!
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=200306
Thats mine - mk3s arent worth much either. Not a classic and not in good condition anymore. Just existing for now
) but that was 192bhp on a rolling road and drank fuel like Anyway - some are galvanised at the 96 onwards so less rust issues (if the tailgate has no rust anywhere then it should be a galv edition).
- rear calipers handbrake release seem to always seize (check for play in handbrake as you lift) usually results in a £90 caliper from ecp!
-gearboxes dont like heavy thrash and turning from pull off (they go boom).
-indicator storks gather dust behind the cowling where the ignition barrel is resulting in a fire!!!
-my head gasket developed a weep yet still pulled well (then i had it done and mucked about with it)
Mine became surprisingly quick for a 'gutless' 115bhp lump. Never had it rolling roaded but it goes well enough to keep up with the likes of bmw 325's and clio williams and even did well against my vr6 i thought. Maybe they are all wrong about mk3 gti 8vs - or maybe i got lucky?! mpgs were 18 - 20 at best though!
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=200306
Thats mine - mk3s arent worth much either. Not a classic and not in good condition anymore. Just existing for now
I'll check with the manager
