Guys I'm currently looking at a bmw 318is the engine has done 180000 is that too much. The body looks ok.
How much would I be looking at for an engine rebuild at an independent garage and would it be worth it as in give the car loads more life properly a stupid question but would like too hear ur thoughts. I want to make it a project paint restoration,engine rebuild,lowered alloy wheels to finish interior if I was to spend thousands getting it too an excellent standard would I get my money back on it or not would appreciate your input
Thanks jamboree
Help please
Moderator: martauto
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
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You never get your money back on restoring a car, whether it's an E30 or an E-Type.
What you WILL get is a car you enjoy driving. Whether the engine rebuild is worth it or not is debatable; 180,000 motorway miles will have done far less damage than 180,000 city miles, so without doing a compression and leak-down test on the engine, I'd suggest it's pointless stripping it to bits just for the sake of it.
If you ARE determined to spend money on it, then do a thorough rust hunt. Welding up the holes that you WILL find and restoring the paint afterwards are a much better investment, and you can spend any change on sensible repairs like bush replacement, brake rejuvenation and a thorough service.
We have had a mug, sorry, young man recently spending around 5k on a 318iS, and he didn't get anywhere near his money back when it came to selling.
No-one but you can decide whether your money is well-spent.
What you WILL get is a car you enjoy driving. Whether the engine rebuild is worth it or not is debatable; 180,000 motorway miles will have done far less damage than 180,000 city miles, so without doing a compression and leak-down test on the engine, I'd suggest it's pointless stripping it to bits just for the sake of it.
If you ARE determined to spend money on it, then do a thorough rust hunt. Welding up the holes that you WILL find and restoring the paint afterwards are a much better investment, and you can spend any change on sensible repairs like bush replacement, brake rejuvenation and a thorough service.
We have had a mug, sorry, young man recently spending around 5k on a 318iS, and he didn't get anywhere near his money back when it came to selling.
No-one but you can decide whether your money is well-spent.
Last edited by Grrrmachine on Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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Kedge
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Simple answer, not a chance! 
No point revbulding the engine just for the sake of it, i'd take a guess at the engine internals still being fine if its been looked after. May just want a good service and the timing chain and sprockets doing if they look worn.
Main thing though is making sure there is as little rust in the shell as possible.
No point revbulding the engine just for the sake of it, i'd take a guess at the engine internals still being fine if its been looked after. May just want a good service and the timing chain and sprockets doing if they look worn.
Main thing though is making sure there is as little rust in the shell as possible.
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Jamboree
- E30 Zone Newbie
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Thanks for your thoughts lads where are the main points to be looking at the car for rust how far do bmw engines go before they go pop they sound bulletproof I'm not the richest man but I've always had a thing for this style of bemmer.
My friends are saying get a new car far point but in my option not much comes close to this style of bmw. I want to lower it with springs,shocks and alloys what size wheels do you reckon suppose the smaller they are the lower I get eh what you think cheers boys
My friends are saying get a new car far point but in my option not much comes close to this style of bmw. I want to lower it with springs,shocks and alloys what size wheels do you reckon suppose the smaller they are the lower I get eh what you think cheers boys
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
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The Wiki is a massive resource for all your questions. Just click the Wiki link at the top of the page and type "Rust" or "Wheels" or "Suspension" or "M42" and you'll have a whole evening's worth of reading.
Engines last as long as they're looked after; if they've been serviced they could last forever, and if they've been abused they could break down tomorrow. No way of knowing without doing the tests mentioned previously.
New cars are a waste of money, no "fair point" about it.
Engines last as long as they're looked after; if they've been serviced they could last forever, and if they've been abused they could break down tomorrow. No way of knowing without doing the tests mentioned previously.
New cars are a waste of money, no "fair point" about it.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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mcbonio
- E30 Zone Squatter
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It makes no financial sense at all buying a new car, you're spending a silly amount of money on a rapidly depreciating car that ever other muppet is driving around in, it's mental!
Where ever I go I get stopped and asked about my e30s from admirers. I bet new Audi A3 owners don't.!
The sky is the limit with e30s, the options are endless as is the valuable advice from the guys on the forum.!
As Kedge and Grrrr say, you want to be on the search for a rust free car first, worry about engines and upgrades later. Good parts are all over the shop, good shells are not.! And when you find one drop an M30B35 engine in...
Where ever I go I get stopped and asked about my e30s from admirers. I bet new Audi A3 owners don't.!
The sky is the limit with e30s, the options are endless as is the valuable advice from the guys on the forum.!
As Kedge and Grrrr say, you want to be on the search for a rust free car first, worry about engines and upgrades later. Good parts are all over the shop, good shells are not.! And when you find one drop an M30B35 engine in...
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greg124
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It only makes financial sense to buy a new car if you are self-employed and can write it off against tax.
As already stated a rust free shell is a big plus. Much easier to get the spanners out and replace a few machanical parts than to cut out, fabricate, weld in, grind back, seam sealer and paint...
As already stated a rust free shell is a big plus. Much easier to get the spanners out and replace a few machanical parts than to cut out, fabricate, weld in, grind back, seam sealer and paint...
Schadenfreude - the German's haven't got a word for that.
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Andyboy
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A 180'000 mile car is not the wisest choice to put money into.
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snakebrain
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Well, that's a refreshing attitude!Jamboree wrote:I want to lower it with springs,shocks and alloys what size wheels do you reckon suppose the smaller they are the lower I get eh
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318isPMK
- E30 Zone Camper
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Said mug... had an unfortunate chain jump after a plastic guide snapped and money was lost replacing the engine. The bodywork was good, bought for 3.2k got 500 back from the seller as it happend after 2 days spent about a grand on it sold it again for 3.2k and made a bit on a set of wheels I got cheap and restored.
It wasnt a complete disaster.
My point being no matter what you look at and what you think your getting, these are old cars and although we obviously have a soft spot for them your never far away from financial disaster.
Dont buy one if you dont have a bit of wriggle room and you rely on it.
It wasnt a complete disaster.
My point being no matter what you look at and what you think your getting, these are old cars and although we obviously have a soft spot for them your never far away from financial disaster.
Dont buy one if you dont have a bit of wriggle room and you rely on it.
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318isPMK
- E30 Zone Camper
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p.s F U C K YOU Grrrrmachine
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318isPMK
- E30 Zone Camper
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Lol... three days to payday and ive just lost my last tampon