Hoping to purchase first e30 within next 6 months.

[Futureowner]

And was looking for some advice as although being a massive fan of the car and always wanting one I'm not to knowledgeable.
When the time comes I'm looking to have somewhere in the region of 4k max to spend.Ill be looking for one in fairly good condition to which I can add my own touch to and be road worthy from the outset.
My preference in model is the sport 325i although I'm willing to move on that as the cab model is also a beaut.
At the moment I'm basically wanting to know is with the money I have available what kind of condition would I be looking at.
Thanks again and I'm sure more questions will pop up as the months go on lol.

[FinalD]

First up you'll want to read this:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

For 4k...it'll be rusty, that being said, they will likely all be rusty so that isn't always a problem.

[Futureowner]

Thanks mate.
I've seen a few on gumtree for 3.5k which to be fair looked half decent with claims of very little rust.. Although ill take that with a pinch of salt

[verde]

Where are you based. Taking a zoner to viewings would be a plan...I refused several times and good god i wish i hadnt

[snakebrain]

First up you'll want to read this:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

For 4k...it'll be rusty

Not necessarily. You should be able to get a very clean 325i for 4k, but Sports are trickier because a) there's more demand, and b) they rot under the kit.

Have it inspected.

[Futureowner]

Where are you based. Taking a zoner to viewings would be a plan...I refused several times and good god i wish i hadnt

Paisley mate which is just outside Glasgow and when the time comes taking someone with knowledge along with me would be of great help .

[Futureowner]

First up you'll want to read this:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

For 4k...it'll be rusty

Not necessarily. You should be able to get a very clean 325i for 4k, but Sports are trickier because a) there's more demand, and b) they rot under the kit.

Have it inspected.

As much as it is my first choice I'm far from adverse to going for the 325i non sport

[Topblag]

Where are you based. Taking a zoner to viewings would be a plan...I refused several times and good god i wish i hadnt

Paisley mate which is just outside Glasgow and when the time comes taking someone with knowledge along with me would be of great help .

There's not many of us in the Glasgow area, but there's a few of us in Scotland that will help you with viewings to keep you on the right track. When you know what to look for, they are easy cars to assess, the only thing you need to take with you are a pair of overalls and a big screwdriver with a flat blade

Boyd from Bavarian Retro in East Kilbride is a man who knows a good car from a rusty sh*tter also.

[verde]

Where are you based. Taking a zoner to viewings would be a plan...I refused several times and good god i wish i hadnt

Paisley mate which is just outside Glasgow and when the time comes taking someone with knowledge along with me would be of great help .

There's not many of us in the Glasgow area, but there's a few of us in Scotland that will help you with viewings to keep you on the right track. When you know what to look for, they are easy cars to assess, the only thing you need to take with you are a pair of overalls and a big screwdriver with a flat blade

Boyd from Bavarian Retro in East Kilbride is a man who knows a good car from a rusty sh*tter also.

Im up outside Aberdeen near hammoj, theres nickso whos IN Aberdeen, theres a few in forfar, fife region. Loads of Scottish zoners basically so if you wanna go see a car post up and no doubt one or two of us will be able to tag along and help you out.

[FinalD]

Not necessarily. You should be able to get a very clean 325i for 4k, but Sports are trickier because a) there's more demand, and b) they rot under the kit.

Have it inspected.

Sorry, that's what I meant. Sports for 4k will most likely have rust, rather than a normal 325i. As you say, the kit enables and hides the rust.

The other thing to mention is, also look for cars in England/Wales and ask zoners closer by to do an initial view maybe. Sometimes it is worth travelling the length of the country to buy a decent example of a car instead of buying locally.

[Rtaylor2208]

I'm not far from you being in Ayr and Paul 318isPMK is in paisley too. Paul can advise you on where to find the bad bits as he has had a trial by fire and two E30's with issues and had to learn the hard and expensive way.

[Topblag]

It's a nice day out poking holes in someone else's E30.

The last one I poked holes in I ended up buying, which was not ideal

[snakebrain]

Paul can advise you on where to find the bad bits

He's exceptionally good at finding cars with bad bits!

Definitely have a chat with him though. He's had a baptism of fire caused, and I don't think he'd mind me saying this, by inexperience and excessive enthusiasm. Learn from his mistakes..

[Futureowner]

Thanks for all the advice folks much appreciated and the hunt is now on
Anyone know which sites are the best for sales of e30s

[Topblag]

This one, gumtree, ebay, pistonheads, Car and classic.

[FinalD]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... wforum&f=7



To be honest, best bet is to look at them all, here, PistonHeads, AutoTrader, eBay, GumTree, RetroRides etc.

[Chris_B86]

First up you'll want to read this:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

For 4k...it'll be rusty, that being said, they will likely all be rusty so that isn't always a problem.

Paid £2400 for mine and all it needed was a patch under the battery tray and a small bubble in each corner of the scuttle. Arches are solid, as are all 4 corners of the floor pan.

That being said, I went to look at a few between 3 and 4k and they were rotten as a pair. Think I just stumbled lucky on this