Potential purchase, advice needed please

[TriggerFish]

Hi all,

I know this has no doubt been asked several hundred times already, but: I went to look at an E30 today. Drove fine, no mechanical clunks/bangs/noises. Pulled well and sounded fine. Only issues were an intermittent speedo and seat back, so easy fixes. If that was all that was wrong, I'd be talking money already, I think.

However, there's a couple of bits of rust (surprised?) that I'm not quite sure about. The driver's A pillar has a tiny (1p coin size) bubble of rust coming up. Terminal, or fixable?

There's also some rust around the boot lock/clasp on the rear slam panel. Again, easily fixable? (My e46 is doing this too, annoyingly)

There's also a bit of visible surface rust underneath the sills, but I've got enough of an idea what to expect there.

Cheers for any help

Joe

[Grrrmachine]

The only terminal rust is in the roof. For the A-pillar, it depends where. If it's close to the scuttle then it can be patched, but expect to find more below - in the bulkhead under the fuse box are common spots. If the hole is up near the roof, then walk away.

Rust is only a problem if you're paying someone else to fix it.

[TriggerFish]

Thanks, I've just been searching now to look at other people's A-pillar rust experiences.

It's not near the roof, it's where the front wing meets the A-pillar. (Generic photo, but with the location marked)



Good point. I've never used a welder before properly, but there's no better excuse to learn than buying an E30 I guess!

[capri_rob]

Very common rust spot as is around the rear boot lock.

if its not actually holed you may be able to rescue it without welding - depends on what your plans are for the car - grind it back and see what happens - if its surface rust only ( unfortunately unlikely ) just re paint it and smother it in waxoyl from behind ( remove the inside pillar panel and the vent in the photo above for access.

If thats the only rust you're lucky there may be more lurking but unless its a show car buy it and enjoy driving it

Intermittent speedo will almost certainly be the plug/wiring to the diff - easy to fix

[Duke137]

That A Pillar rust will be expert windscreen fitterzzz or a bad stone chip untreated

[Brianmoooore]

The common E30 A pillar/scuttle rust is caused by sealant inside the bottom of the pillar shrinking with age, leaving a small gap between the exposed metal and the sealant, into which water is drawn by capillary action.

[TriggerFish]

Plans were to use it for track use, but I think I'm coming around to the idea of restoring it to as near-as-factory condition as possible, upgrading anything that needs it along the way (like brakes or new shocks/springs etc.)

It's a fairly good looking base of things, less visible rust than my e46 has got, and nothing too bad seeming underneath.

Sounds like it's not enough of a concern to be put off, so that's good. Just got to finalise insurance and agree a price with the seller, and I should be in the fold after two years of waiting (and an annoying cycle of researching/forgetting!).

Cheers all

[TriggerFish]

Decided to go for it I think I was just worrying about spending a fair sum of money (to an ex-student anyway) on a car such as an E30. I don't suspect I'll find one with less rust easily, nor as locally. I've spent a small fortune in fuel hunting down cars before, and I can see that happening again, so I might as well fix the small bits of rust on this one instead.

Now, to find someone who wants to swap their fabric seats for my leather.

Expect a progress thread soon.