How hard is it find an original...

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:10 pm

How hard is it to find an original e30 sport with average miles (150k -ish) without rust?
Original in this context meaning all genuine factory panels which the car was born with. Unrestored bodywork which has not had rust repair?

Have seen a couple advertised in the past month or 2 and have spoken to the owners in length and they have said they are mint and have welcomed all viewings for however long... Didn't find the time to go down there.

I find it hard to believe that there will be many out there which have not been rust'repaired/restored at that age/mileage...

Your 'relevant' thoughts..

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:21 pm

You would have to narrow your search to cars with very few miles if you are after rust free examples.

There are exceptions to that rule (ones that have done 150k miles and never had an accident, and garaged every night, while doing long trips during the day).

Andrew

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:50 pm

I'd say it's nigh-on impossible. BMW neither designed nor built their cars to last 25 years, and the British climate is not particularly conducive to keeping steel in good condition.

What's more, these cars were meant to be driven; you didn't spend that sort of money in the Eighties on a BMW if you wanted a garage queen. So almost all Sports have seen action at some point in their lives.

With that in mind, I'd much rather have a Sport that HAD had some work done, and properly, and documented, rather than a car that had never been taken apart and properly examined. The E30 shell rusts in all the hidden places, and if a seller says "no, I've never had the skirts off or the bulkhead panel out or the carpets up or the boot carpet out" then I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

You'll have to search for a long time to find ANY Eighties car in Britain with zero rust that's never been repaired in some way.

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:50 pm

beautymeanswheels wrote:How hard is it to find an original e30 sport with average miles (150k -ish) without rust?
Original in this context meaning all genuine factory panels which the car was born with. Unrestored bodywork which has not had rust repair?

Have seen a couple advertised in the past month or 2 and have spoken to the owners in length and they have said they are mint and have welcomed all viewings for however long... Didn't find the time to go down there.

your asking for something thats very very hard to find your finding that, yet find a couple and dont go to see them

most sports were driven and loved to be driven, e30s have prone rust areas,any/most 20-25 year old cars in british weather will have some sort of rust or repair, there probably isnt such a thing as an e30 of any type with 150k and all its original metal with no sign or rust at all or any form of body repair at all

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:52 pm

They are out there! 150k with no rust and accidents is a reality!

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:58 pm

Personally if it was me i would'nt be getting "hung up " on the Sport tag.

There will be more nice original 325's out there which are just as nice to have, ok they may not have the extra baubles and frilly bits that BMW threw at the Sport to shift them, but who cares anyway...........

Underneath they are the same car pretty much.

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:02 pm

here we go !!!

"get a 325 se instead"

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:06 pm

polsta wrote:here we go !!! "get a 325 se instead"

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:13 pm

I bought my sport back in 1993, it's had charmed life in my ownership and I only sent it away to have work done because I wanted to bring it back to life as it was once.

This is mine prior to any work -

It didn't need much but I went to town on it in the end.

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:56 pm

Remember seeing a 6k miles sport at Satan's pod circa 2006. It was for sale too. Not entirely sure, but I think the price was 5,000 or 6,000gbp.

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:18 pm

kieran325 wrote:I bought my sport back in 1993, it's had charmed life in my ownership and I only sent it away to have work done because I wanted to bring it back to life as it was once.

This is mine prior to any work -

It didn't need much but I went to town on it in the end.

Got a thread? Or of your m3? I always see pics of them looking nice but only one or two

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:23 pm

kitch wrote:
kieran325 wrote:I bought my sport back in 1993, it's had charmed life in my ownership and I only sent it away to have work done because I wanted to bring it back to life as it was once.

This is mine prior to any work -

It didn't need much but I went to town on it in the end.
Got a thread? Or of your m3? I always see pics of them looking nice but only one or two

Kieran is a shy retiring type, he doesn't really do pictures

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:24 pm

^^^^^

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:03 pm

Try 'wln automotive' u will have to pay top money but they may have what u want

Post Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:12 pm

is there anyone around on here at all, whos bought a higher priced sport in the last year or so ? like a 4-6k range one ?

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:14 am

polsta wrote:is there anyone around on here at all, whos bought a higher priced sport in the last year or so ? like a 4-6k range one ?

Don't be daft! This is the E30Zone ya talking about.

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:18 am

I keep seeing a few nice ones forsale in birmingham on ebay

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:49 am

sweep wrote:I keep seeing a few nice ones forsale in birmingham on ebay

Dont forget to use the emoticons, I would suggest at least a,

but a,

would be much better.

Or people will think you are actually serious

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:21 am

kieran325 wrote:
polsta wrote:is there anyone around on here at all, whos bought a higher priced sport in the last year or so ? like a 4-6k range one ?
Don't be daft! This is the E30Zone ya talking about.

Mine was over 4K and look where that got me!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=227199

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:38 pm

meatballs it goes to show that issues can and will be found no matter whats spent really, all these 4-5k ones on ebay that are said to be mint, ones people have bough but do not set out to discover, least better the devil you know and once done shel be a beauty, these are the cars that will end up standing the test of time

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:12 pm

Meatballs82 wrote:
kieran325 wrote:
polsta wrote:is there anyone around on here at all, whos bought a higher priced sport in the last year or so ? like a 4-6k range one ?
Don't be daft! This is the E30Zone ya talking about.
Mine was over 4K and look where that got me!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=227199

It's in good hands now mate

Post Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:30 pm

Meatballs82 wrote:
kieran325 wrote:
polsta wrote:is there anyone around on here at all, whos bought a higher priced sport in the last year or so ? like a 4-6k range one ?
Don't be daft! This is the E30Zone ya talking about.
Mine was over 4K and look where that got me!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=227199

Yours is stil better than most out there!! Plus it's fully morselled up from the factory, has the 'pinas and you coined some back on the private plate. Still a good buy!