E30 as a daily driver? opinions please. *Poll*

[josh-hocking]

As per title really. Im thinking as of a couple of weeks the E30 (318i) will be on the road as my daily doing 60miles round trip per day, throughout winter and summer etc. I have noticed a few on here only have theres on the road for summer.

Most of you will no the car hasnt been on the road in the last 5 years really other than the odd week, so its probably gonna need a few bits doing first.

My question is i need it to be reliable, so if you think it wont be please let me know!

It has 112k on the clock! and will be looked after well...

Josh

[kieran325]

I can't see it being a problem.

[beemerbird]

I can't speak with authority on 318s, since I've only had 325s. Both have been daily drivers, with my present commute being about 30 - 40 miles round trip.

[Green]

60 miles a day? That's nothing! Just make sure it's got a strong battery for the winter as that's where other cars have failed me in the winter.

[rob0r]

One major problem I had with my 318is and a lengthy commute... It was dark when I left so my lights were on, by the time I got to the office (55 miles away) it was light. I lost count of the amount of times I left my light on and security had to come around and jump start me! E30s don't warn you when you leave them on!

As far as distance, I did 110 mile round trips in my 318is with no issue, apart from only getting 32mpg. After several months I bought myself a diesel passat for £100 and raked the benefits of 45-50mpg.

[Green]

One major problem I had with my 318is and a lengthy commute... It was dark when I left so my lights were on, by the time I got to the office (55 miles away) it was light. I lost count of the amount of times I left my light on and security had to come around and jump start me! E30s don't warn you when you leave them on!

As far as distance, I did 110 mile round trips in my 318is with no issue, apart from only getting 32mpg. After several months I bought myself a diesel passat for £100 and raked the benefits of 45-50mpg.

I've done this a lot recently, but the nice thing is that it only leaves the rear lights on so doesn't totally drain your battery. I've come back to my car on several occasions in the last month leaving the lights on between 5-7 hours and it fired up just fine on every occasion.

[Kos]

yes e30's can be reliable

but i'd rather be in something newer

[capri_rob]

It will be fine but a bit pointless when you can get a diesel snotter for under £1k which will give you an easy 45mpg.

60 miles a day assuming you work 48 weeks of the year is 14400 miles

@ 45mpg diesel thats 1453 litres of fuel at say £1.39 = annual spend of £2019

@ 30mpg petrol thats 2179 litres at say £1.29 = annual spend of £2811

Not worth it IMO.

If you worked close to home it wouldnt matter but a 60 mile commute is just too expensive in a petrol turd.

[DanThe]

I cant see why it wouldnt be reliable, just make sure the underneath is well protected, everything cleaned and waxoiled.

[harry_p]

It will be fine but a bit pointless when you can get a diesel snotter for under £1k which will give you an easy 45mpg.

60 miles a day assuming you work 48 weeks of the year is 14400 miles

@ 45mpg diesel thats 1453 litres of fuel at say £1.39 = annual spend of £2019

@ 30mpg petrol thats 2179 litres at say £1.29 = annual spend of £2811

Not worth it IMO.


If you worked close to home it wouldnt matter but a 60 mile commute is just too expensive in a petrol turd.

so, spend £1k on a diesel shitter, be a total of £200 worse off and have to put up with driving something rattly and horrible. even not counting the cost of buying a diesel shed, the £800 a year saving your example gives is less than £17 a week.



30mpg and 60 miles isnt bad enough to warrant needing a diesel. i'd happily pay £1k a year to be driving something i enjoyed driving every day instead of a hateful white good which gets you from a-b.

i used my e30 every day for several years, and if i hadnt got old and got a family to transport around i probably still would be.

they were premium cars in their day, and their heating, ventilation and ergonomics are more than a match for a lot of more modern cars. provided you keep on top of servicing and maintainance there's no reason why an e30 can't provide reliable all your round transport.

[Coops90]

Daily'd my M40 E30 for over 2 years now. Sound as a pound. Just having leather seats, steering wheel, hand brake and gear knob make it fucking chilly

[capri_rob]

It will be fine but a bit pointless when you can get a diesel snotter for under £1k which will give you an easy 45mpg.

60 miles a day assuming you work 48 weeks of the year is 14400 miles

@ 45mpg diesel thats 1453 litres of fuel at say £1.39 = annual spend of £2019

@ 30mpg petrol thats 2179 litres at say £1.29 = annual spend of £2811

Not worth it IMO.


If you worked close to home it wouldnt matter but a 60 mile commute is just too expensive in a petrol turd.

so, spend £1k on a diesel shitter, be a total of £200 worse off and have to put up with driving something rattly and horrible. even not counting the cost of buying a diesel shed, the £800 a year saving your example gives is less than £17 a week.



30mpg and 60 miles isnt bad enough to warrant needing a diesel. i'd happily pay £1k a year to be driving something i enjoyed driving every day instead of a hateful white good which gets you from a-b.

i used my e30 every day for several years, and if i hadnt got old and got a family to transport around i probably still would be.

they were premium cars in their day, and their heating, ventilation and ergonomics are more than a match for a lot of more modern cars. provided you keep on top of servicing and maintainance there's no reason why an e30 can't provide reliable all your round transport.

You can get a lot of modern Diesel for £1k - no rust issues to worry about, better MPG, cheaper tax, A/C as standard and a 120-130BHP one will wipe the floor with an M40 powered turd in terms of performance. - and after 12 months its paid for itself.

Each to their own but its a no-brainer IMO

If i was going to live with 30mpg on a daily basis it would need to be in a modern 6 pot BMW which is worth paying the premium fuel cost for.

[Ranchero]

LPG has dropped 5p a litre round my way . Just thought I'd say.

[e30kev]

I had a 316i touring that I used daily for work with a 60 mile round trip 5 days a week, never let me down and got me about in the last winter snow where a lot of others got stuck, stranded, however the £55 a week fuel cost for the pi$$ poor performance drove me mental so I bought an e36 328i touring (climate control and all that gumph) which costs me £60 a week to run, total no brainer for me

[hazd31]

Mines been on the road for 3 years done 40000 miles in it. Been faultless once i ironed out the niggles.

Only problems have been due to it being too low and me driving like a retard!

[E30BeemerLad]

I don't think I've ever had a car that does over 30mpg, I'd be happy with that in a daily

Josh, what's happened with the E90 you had?

[Cypriotgeeza]

im having the same problem atm mate, got a thread and poll up and everything! i started a new job which is 20 miles to and 20miles from..now petrol is costing me £60 a week in my iS and thats me driving like a granny!

so im wondering wether to LPG it or get a small diesel just for the work run because £60 a week on petrol is fu**ing mental! only problem is i just dont want to sell my iS

[suchy]

yes e30's can be reliable

but i'd rather be in something newer

^^This^^

E30's are just not as nice as a daily as something more modern! Sure they're reliable and 30mpg is still ok to deal with and the bits are cheap to replace blah blah... BUT they're more fun to drive as a weekend toy when the idosyncrasies are fun'n'quirky and not annoying as they become on a daily!!

If you run two cars all year factor in additional insurance/tax/mot/service items etc. It's not as straightforward as car costs £1k so you will recoup saving on diesel in X months

[suchy]

im having the same problem atm mate, got a thread and poll up and everything! i started a new job which is 20 miles to and 20miles from..now petrol is costing me £60 a week in my iS and thats me driving like a granny!

so im wondering wether to LPG it or get a small diesel just for the work run because £60 a week on petrol is fu**ing mental! only problem is i just dont want to sell my iS

I do £60 a week on fuel and mine isn't a daily and I work from home

[Cypriotgeeza]

im having the same problem atm mate, got a thread and poll up and everything! i started a new job which is 20 miles to and 20miles from..now petrol is costing me £60 a week in my iS and thats me driving like a granny!

so im wondering wether to LPG it or get a small diesel just for the work run because £60 a week on petrol is fu**ing mental! only problem is i just dont want to sell my iS

I do £60 a week on fuel and mine isn't a daily and I work from home

Doesnt it just piss you off?! lol Talk about pricing people off the roads!
is yours an iS aswell mate?

[Tom_Maverick]

I use my 325i every day to get to work and she's fine, although I did change bushes, shocks, track rods etc when I got her.. and she does get a regular service, she's every bit as nice to drive as an E36 and is far more fun yeah so I lose a bit on fuel economy but it's more than made up for with a lively drive.. hey, last year I used an E21 all through the snow etc.. you have to remember these cars were built to be used.. before people got all girly and started relying on a car full of soft furnishings to drive itself..

at the end of the day it's up to you.. make your mind up for yourself as all you're going to get on here is conflicting views!

[suchy]

im having the same problem atm mate, got a thread and poll up and everything! i started a new job which is 20 miles to and 20miles from..now petrol is costing me £60 a week in my iS and thats me driving like a granny!

so im wondering wether to LPG it or get a small diesel just for the work run because £60 a week on petrol is fu**ing mental! only problem is i just dont want to sell my iS

I do £60 a week on fuel and mine isn't a daily and I work from home

Doesnt it just pee pee you off?! lol Talk about pricing people off the roads!
is yours an iS aswell mate?

An iS? Nope sorry, mine is the 'proper' engine

[suchy]

[quote="Tom_Maverick"]I use my 325i every day to get to work and she's fine, although I did change bushes, shocks, track rods etc when I got her.. and she does get a regular service, she's every bit as nice to drive as an E36 and is far more fun yeah so I lose a bit on fuel economy but it's more than made up for with a lively drive.. hey, last year I used an E21 all through the snow etc.. you have to remember these cars were built to be used.. before people got all girly and started relying on a car full of soft furnishings to drive itself.. :)quote]

I'm not saying they don't make good daily runners- they are very reliable and bits are easy and cheap to replace and they're fun to drive BUT a Ford Focus (for example!) is easier to drive, cheaper to run, warms up quicker, demists quicker, etc etc. If you've never run a second car then you'll know no difference. I enjoy driving mine more as a second car- owned for 6 or so years and it still puts a grin on my face when I drive it. If I had to drive it every day for 6 years through rain/snow/fog winters then it would have p*ssed me off by now!

[gooner1]

I'm not saying they don't make good daily runners- they are very reliable and bits are easy and cheap to replace and they're fun to drive BUT a Ford Focus (for example!) is easier to drive, cheaper to run, warms up quicker, demists quicker, etc etc. If you've never run a second car then you'll know no difference. I enjoy driving mine more as a second car- owned for 6 or so years and it still puts a grin on my face when I drive it. If I had to drive it every day for 6 years through rain/snow/fog winters then it would have p*ssed me off by now!

Fair comment.

[Speedtouch]

Of course an E30 will make a reasonable enough winter car, though beware that rear end on the ice!

I drive a 40 year old Morris Traveller on a daily basis all year round, and used to also use my E30s in winter. One problem I had one winter was the door locks freezing up!

[darkchild]

Mine's a daily at present as my E46 has been served. I've just added a set of winter tyres to help it through the winter months but E30s tend to be better than E46s is snow from personal experience due to skinnier rubber. The only things I miss from my E46 are air-con (good for de-misting front screens); decent interior & exterior lighting; remote locking; MFSW and better mpg. Yes, it was a better daily driver but E30s are modern enough to still be perfectly capable.

[Tom_Maverick]

I use my 325i every day to get to work blah blah blah..

I'm not saying they don't make good daily runners- they are very reliable and bits are easy and cheap to replace and they're fun to drive BUT a Ford Focus (for example!) is easier to drive, cheaper to run, warms up quicker, demists quicker, etc etc. If you've never run a second car then you'll know no difference. I enjoy driving mine more as a second car- owned for 6 or so years and it still puts a grin on my face when I drive it. If I had to drive it every day for 6 years through rain/snow/fog winters then it would have p*ssed me off by now!

you know, I don't think a ford focus IS 'easier' to drive, I have had all kinds of second cars (I had a company skoda superb last year etc etc) but in crappy winter weather I still prefer the E30! I've replaced a lot and she warms up to temp fast, demists in a shot (she's dry as a bone inside) and haxs no problems in the snow.. the E21, well I used to turn it on and then eat breakfast so it was warm but it was still more than confident in all that snow we had last year and I didn't miss a day! (more fool me) I guess it's a personal thing really.. horses for courses.. like most things!

[mb15]

Had mine as a daily for a year now, i wouldn't reccomend it unless it's a minter! Always something needs fixing and it's a pain to have it off the road for a few days at a time if it's your only car. Now got a e46 as a daily... easy life!

[josh-hocking]

I don't think I've ever had a car that does over 30mpg, I'd be happy with that in a daily

Josh, what's happened with the E90 you had?

Thanks for all the comments. given me something to think about...

Lee... its on ebay. deposit for a flat

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300626390639? ... 172wt_1174

[Cypriotgeeza]

An iS? Nope sorry, mine is the 'proper' engine

Yea a proper thirsty one..enjoy

[suchy]

An iS? Nope sorry, mine is the 'proper' engine

Yea a proper thirsty one..enjoy

Exactly

[Morat]

I use my E30 daily, age isn't a concern because it is reliable. Whether it's a good winter car is another question really. How many winters do you want it to survive?

[gaszman]

this will be my daily driver over the winter

a little 316 then she will be on her way to get a nice 1.0 polo 5door for my girl to take lessons in