E30 318is worth buying???

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:51 am

Hi I'm new to this forum and don't know much about e30's so I'm looking for abit of advise. I have the chance to buy a silver 91 318is it has 11months mot and tax until the end of the month, 134k, body work reasonable body is solid just rust on one wing. All the seller says it needs is a new steering rack. He is asking £500 for it. Is it worth the money?

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:56 am

500 quid for any E30 with an MOT is a bargain, and a 318iS is one of the good ones. Snap it up, and if the rust turns out to be too bad or it has too many mechanical issues, you'll always be able to palm it off to someone on here either as a running car or something to frag (strip for spares).

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:05 am

Well worth it tbh, whilst only small, the M42 engine has a good following, and it's a well setup car. As said if it turns out to be a rot box, you'll make a lot more than you paid breaking it

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:06 am

If you dont go ahead with buying it, send me the details

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:11 am

Jim320i wrote:If you dont go ahead with buying it, send me the details

Point proven haha

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:20 am

Thanks for the quick response. Think I'm deffo going to have it. Any idea's on how much a new rack is?

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:22 am

Be able to pick one up here for cheap, but would say it's worth upgrading to an e36/e46 rack while you are at it

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:24 am

£60-120, seems a good opportunity to fit a Z3 or E36/46 rack though

Look here in the Wiki...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... g#Upgrades

Or this thread shows you how to fit a Z3 quick rack to a 318iS

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:35 pm

It would be a good idea to confirm that the rack is dead before ripping it out!
If there is steering fluid in either of the bellows at the end, then it has failed, and replacement is the only practical answer, but it could just be a rod end joint that's worn, and these are readily available and easy to change.

Post Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:38 pm

£60-120 seems reasonable. Will definitely look into the e36 or z3 rack aswel.
It's definitely the steering rack it's pissing fluid out everywhere

Post Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:29 am

Z3 rack would be a worthwhile upgrade, reduces turns from lock to lock from 4 turns to 2.7

Post Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:27 am

Just to clarify guys, does the knuckle still need modifiying to fit an E36 rack into a 4 pot?