Hi guys,
My names Steve and I live in Sydney Australia, firstly I'll say g'day from down under and how ya goin'.
I need some advice on something, ive been looking for a good E30 325i Mtech II possibly a convertible! for some time. Down here they're pretty rare, like hens teeth to be honest.
Anyway, I've come across a UK import, full leather, electric hood in full working condition, air con, heated seats (not that I'll need them) and a switchable auto box and 94,000 on the clock.
What sort of things should I be looking at checking?
Any good advice would be much appreciated.
Rizla.
1992 325i Mtech II
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Grrrmachine
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pacerpete
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The most important thing to check on a UK delivered car is that the car and the ID match ! 
These cars whilst playthings of the moneyed when new , quickly became the chariot of choice of the underclasses when not so new. Ringing/poor quality repairs/bodging and all sorts of beastery (new word !
) are much more prevalent on convertibles than 'ordinary' E30s.
Your dealer will be able to tell you exactly the spec car your vin was attached to when new.
Next in line are rust and electric roof woes. A non functioning roof never "just needs resyncing mate"
Lots of wrong scrap has gone out to Australia in the last few years, be warned !
These cars whilst playthings of the moneyed when new , quickly became the chariot of choice of the underclasses when not so new. Ringing/poor quality repairs/bodging and all sorts of beastery (new word !
) are much more prevalent on convertibles than 'ordinary' E30s.Your dealer will be able to tell you exactly the spec car your vin was attached to when new.
Next in line are rust and electric roof woes. A non functioning roof never "just needs resyncing mate"
Lots of wrong scrap has gone out to Australia in the last few years, be warned !
PacerPeat,
Thanks for the 'heads-up' on the beastery and scrap that's made it's way down to Oz. it's always good to have your wits about you when viewing ANY vehicle obviously.
IMHO though, the majority of people that emigrate to Australia are are the most part, hard working, consciences and diligent members or society. Australian government agency's are on the whole, excellent at keeping out the generally less than desirable types that attempt to settle here.
So, the knock on effect of this is that, you can only import a vehicle if you have owned that said vehicle for a period of time before coming to Australia. Australian customs and excise make it very difficult to import a vehicle because the growth market here is so small we promote buying from within which keeps the economy buoyant and healthy which probably explains why there was no meaningful GFC here while many other countries tightened their belts.
The upshot of this or what I'm trying to explain is this, decent people will bring decent well loved vehicles. In reality, it costs virtually a small fortune to import a vehicle to Australia so why bring a dog and make back very little back for all that hard work, endless paperwork and effort!?
If anyone else has valuable comments on what to look out for such mechanicles and or bodywork, please feel free to comment.
Cheers,
Rizla.
Thanks for the 'heads-up' on the beastery and scrap that's made it's way down to Oz. it's always good to have your wits about you when viewing ANY vehicle obviously.
IMHO though, the majority of people that emigrate to Australia are are the most part, hard working, consciences and diligent members or society. Australian government agency's are on the whole, excellent at keeping out the generally less than desirable types that attempt to settle here.
So, the knock on effect of this is that, you can only import a vehicle if you have owned that said vehicle for a period of time before coming to Australia. Australian customs and excise make it very difficult to import a vehicle because the growth market here is so small we promote buying from within which keeps the economy buoyant and healthy which probably explains why there was no meaningful GFC here while many other countries tightened their belts.
The upshot of this or what I'm trying to explain is this, decent people will bring decent well loved vehicles. In reality, it costs virtually a small fortune to import a vehicle to Australia so why bring a dog and make back very little back for all that hard work, endless paperwork and effort!?
If anyone else has valuable comments on what to look out for such mechanicles and or bodywork, please feel free to comment.
Cheers,
Rizla.
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pacerpete
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 18168
- Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Iver heath. South bucks.
rizla2 wrote:PacerPeat,
Thanks for the 'heads-up' on the beastery and scrap that's made it's way down to Oz. it's always good to have your wits about you when viewing ANY vehicle obviously.
IMHO though, the majority of people that emigrate to Australia are are the most part, hard working, consciences and diligent members or society. Australian government agency's are on the whole, excellent at keeping out the generally less than desirable types that attempt to settle here.
So, the knock on effect of this is that, you can only import a vehicle if you have owned that said vehicle for a period of time before coming to Australia. Australian customs and excise make it very difficult to import a vehicle because the growth market here is so small we promote buying from within which keeps the economy buoyant and healthy which probably explains why there was no meaningful GFC here while many other countries tightened their belts.
The upshot of this or what I'm trying to explain is this, decent people will bring decent well loved vehicles. In reality, it costs virtually a small fortune to import a vehicle to Australia so why bring a dog and make back very little back for all that hard work, endless paperwork and effort!?
If anyone else has valuable comments on what to look out for such mechanicles and or bodywork, please feel free to comment.
Cheers,
Rizla.
Wow ! you've definately had the good citizen injection !
I am an Aussie as well and I do know that the UK does not have the monopoly on scum and vermin, you have plenty down there, though not as much as us
You may or may not be aware that any Australian citizen is free to bring a car into Australia if it pre '89. It was a rolling 15 years and older but that has changed to the pre '89 rules.
Most of these cars are /were brought in by car dealers who, shock horror are more interested in a nice profit than a nice car.
I know of plenty of wrong cars that have gone out there. Don't assume anything, don't rely on luck and do your homework and you will be fine.
Peto,
You'll appreciate the shortened name being an Aussie too!
There are unscrupulous car sharks abound here that's for sure, motor mile and westy car dealers are everywhere, they appear to me though to prefer Japanese imports such as Skylines, WRX's and Supras. But as you'd know, anything goes down there.
But thankfully, most car dealers aren't as aware of the loopholes in the pre '89 market for this fine marque as you are, otherwise we'd be over run with 325is's and such like.
Maybe you could tell me about all these wrong cars that have made their way here, I can avoid them then and not have to rely on my luck. Glad I don't know the people you do!
So, in doing 'my homework', does anyone else have good valuable information I can read up on.
Cheers,
Rizla.
Btw, what are you doing for Anzac day? And cheers to Grrmachine for post.
You'll appreciate the shortened name being an Aussie too!
There are unscrupulous car sharks abound here that's for sure, motor mile and westy car dealers are everywhere, they appear to me though to prefer Japanese imports such as Skylines, WRX's and Supras. But as you'd know, anything goes down there.
But thankfully, most car dealers aren't as aware of the loopholes in the pre '89 market for this fine marque as you are, otherwise we'd be over run with 325is's and such like.
Maybe you could tell me about all these wrong cars that have made their way here, I can avoid them then and not have to rely on my luck. Glad I don't know the people you do!
So, in doing 'my homework', does anyone else have good valuable information I can read up on.
Cheers,
Rizla.
Btw, what are you doing for Anzac day? And cheers to Grrmachine for post.