316 mpg
Moderator: martauto
Hey got a wee dilemma.
Wanted a e30 for a few year now, got a chance of a 316 now but I start a new job in 2weeks but I have to travel 56 mile there and back each day, currently own a gt tdi but swapping to a 316 will this break the bank, been unemployed almost a year and tbh just manage to run my tdi atm
Wanted a e30 for a few year now, got a chance of a 316 now but I start a new job in 2weeks but I have to travel 56 mile there and back each day, currently own a gt tdi but swapping to a 316 will this break the bank, been unemployed almost a year and tbh just manage to run my tdi atm
Haha very true! Not only the fuel it'll drink, but the maintenance you're gonna need to do as wellpacerpete wrote:Keep the Golf.
56 miles everyday is a lot for a 25+ year old car, you'll end up with a lot going wrong over time... plus the mpg on my M20B20 is nuts in comparison to modern motors I've had previously..
I used to drive 90 miles everyday for a few years, to go work and back.. I held off getting an E30 until I stopped all that.
I used to drive 90 miles everyday for a few years, to go work and back.. I held off getting an E30 until I stopped all that.
the 316i has the shortest diff out of all e30's so at 70mph on the m/way you will be at around 4k revs out of 6 k revs ...ie they are screamers
keep the golf .
keep the golf .

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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It's a 316, not a 320i.Mitchen wrote:... plus the mpg on my M20B20 is nuts in comparison to modern motors I've had previously..
djyo, is this a 316 or a 316i? They are completely different cars with different engines, so that "i" is a very important factor.
However, common sense says that asking a 20+ year old car to do 14,000 miles a year is asking for trouble. You will be very lucky to see 30mpg, and while the maintenance isn't hard, it will be regular - expect to pay an extra 50-75 quid in parts per month over the course of a year, if you're really lucky.
Plus, it's a pathetic little 4-pot. After a month, you will hate the car; the lack of power, the whiny motor and all the rattles and shakes that you feel when you go from a modern car to an old one. If you're going for an E30, at least get a 1.8.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
M10'd 316 will give around 30mpg (probably best of all the E30's) and has a 3.91 diff. 70 is at 3k rpm.
I did about 12000 miles in my 316 (although I call it a 318 now) last year, and the same the year before. Still works a treat. I did spend about £5k refurbishing the suspension, renewing the engine gaskets, installing a different carb, manual conversion etc etc.
I did about 12000 miles in my 316 (although I call it a 318 now) last year, and the same the year before. Still works a treat. I did spend about £5k refurbishing the suspension, renewing the engine gaskets, installing a different carb, manual conversion etc etc.
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pacerpete
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capnmchl wrote:M10'd 316 will give around 30mpg (probably best of all the E30's) and has a 3.91 diff. 70 is at 3k rpm.
I did about 12000 miles in my 316 (although I call it a 318 now) last year, and the same the year before. Still works a treat. I did spend about £5k refurbishing the suspension, renewing the engine gaskets, installing a different carb, manual conversion etc etc.
The 5k you spent to make your car work/ continue working could be a problem for the OP..........
Keep the Golf and save the money you'd spend running/commuting in an E30 and then when you've saved a few quid buy a decent E30 and keep as a weekend car on classic insurance (if you're old enough)
That way you may be able to stretch to a 318is or 325i which is a far better prospect!!
That way you may be able to stretch to a 318is or 325i which is a far better prospect!!
And to add to my previous post...
If you're doing those kind of commuting miles it usually works out cheaper (depending on your age/insurance costs) to run an E30 as a second car and have a daily diesel hack.
A fair few on here SORN their E30's for 6mnths over the crappy months so only 6mnths RFL to fund. Classic insurance on an old second car is pretty cheap also if you qualify...

If you're doing those kind of commuting miles it usually works out cheaper (depending on your age/insurance costs) to run an E30 as a second car and have a daily diesel hack.
A fair few on here SORN their E30's for 6mnths over the crappy months so only 6mnths RFL to fund. Classic insurance on an old second car is pretty cheap also if you qualify...
True. I could have made it a lot cheaper though.pacerpete wrote:capnmchl wrote:M10'd 316 will give around 30mpg (probably best of all the E30's) and has a 3.91 diff. 70 is at 3k rpm.
I did about 12000 miles in my 316 (although I call it a 318 now) last year, and the same the year before. Still works a treat. I did spend about £5k refurbishing the suspension, renewing the engine gaskets, installing a different carb, manual conversion etc etc.
The 5k you spent to make your car work/ continue working could be a problem for the OP..........
Thanks for the advice folks.
decided to let it go for the time being, hopefully when im back on my feet I can get a e30 for pleasure use.
my insurance company cant quote me on any e30's over 316 for some reason even though im 26 and have 6 years no claims or I would be looking at a 6 pot.
I have had around 6 e36's now hopefully will be back on in near future with an e30
decided to let it go for the time being, hopefully when im back on my feet I can get a e30 for pleasure use.
my insurance company cant quote me on any e30's over 316 for some reason even though im 26 and have 6 years no claims or I would be looking at a 6 pot.
I have had around 6 e36's now hopefully will be back on in near future with an e30
If you're 26 then classic insurance will be fine. Save your £ and buy one as a second car, keep your NCB on your daily hack...djyo wrote:Thanks for the advice folks.
decided to let it go for the time being, hopefully when im back on my feet I can get a e30 for pleasure use.
my insurance company cant quote me on any e30's over 316 for some reason even though im 26 and have 6 years no claims or I would be looking at a 6 pot.
I have had around 6 e36's now hopefully will be back on in near future with an e30
Grab yourself a 325i ....
- RobWill116
- E30 Zone Newbie

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Really? Adrian Flux insured me on my e30 325i when I was 21 for £700, only a £100 more expensive than my old 1.2 clio!djyo wrote: my insurance company cant quote me on any e30's over 316 for some reason even though im 26 and have 6 years no claims or I would be looking at a 6 pot.
Ring around a few different companies, you'll definitely find someone.




