Anybody Know this car?

[andyhindle]

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1215502

A14 NAY

Looks reasonable, anybody know it or been to look?

Cheers

Andy

[ah]

No,but put the REG in here and have a look
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

[Bonymaenjack]

Looking at the history shes had a bit of welding done and shes looks like shes been laid up for a year but the mileage looks legitimate

[Brianmoooore]

Interesting two days in mid October 2011! From rusted in all corners to a sound shell in record time.

[andyhindle]

Interesting two days in mid October 2011! From rusted in all corners to a sound shell in record time.

Yes lol! Spotted that
But to be fair corrosion doesn't get picked up again at all, got to assume its at different testers over that period so was maybe welded properly?

TBH i'm a bit sceptical that it passed its last 2 tests with absolutely no adivsories at all, on a 30 yr old car......

Was hoping somebody had viewed it or was a PO

Thanks for input all
A

[chatstar123]

I think this is the same young lad that advertised another silver sport about 18 months ago. It wad priced low but according to the ad was immaculate. I was sceptical but as it was only 20 muns a way i thought I'd have a look. He'd sent me extra photos and a video of it running, which it says in this ad, and all looked good. When i saw it in the flesh though it it had rust on every visible panel, not much history, a poorly fitted fiberglass mech tech 2 kit and pretty much the whole ad was a lie. Needless to say I walked away.

About a month later i bought the E30 that i own now from a guy in Leicester. When i told him about my experience of the boy in Hemel, he said that he too had gone to look at a car that was advertised by this boy and that car also was not as advertised.

I'm 90% sure its the same person by the photo locations and how the ad is written.

[steve_k]

were either of these cars being sold by a lad called sam?

[andyhindle]

I think this is the same young lad that advertised another silver sport about 18 months ago. It wad priced low but according to the ad was immaculate. I was sceptical but as it was only 20 muns a way i thought I'd have a look. He'd sent me extra photos and a video of it running, which it says in this ad, and all looked good. When i saw it in the flesh though it it had rust on every visible panel, not much history, a poorly fitted fiberglass mech tech 2 kit and pretty much the whole ad was a lie. Needless to say I walked away.

About a month later i bought the E30 that i own now from a guy in Leicester. When i told him about my experience of the boy in Hemel, he said that he too had gone to look at a car that was advertised by this boy and that car also was not as advertised.

I'm 90% sure its the same person by the photo locations and how the ad is written.

Thanks,
Was that the Lachs car that was hanging around for ages?
You've just confirmed my suspicions, he sells a lot of E30's, usually has at least one for sale, but the ad is the same text, "best i've ever driven, no nasty noises etc etc....."
He is currently advertising a black sport on car and classic, the advert is virtually the same, just a different car.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1215502
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1210405

I'm quite pragmatic about buying a car at that price point, however i worry that any issues wont be just cosmetic and it will have terminal rust and should be priced accordingly

The car is 250 miles each way from me, i would be sorely cross if it wasn't as described, which by the sounds of it, it is unlikely to be quite the car its portrayed as!

Thanks for the input

[andyhindle]

were either of these cars being sold by a lad called sam?

Yes, from Hemel

[chatstar123]

were either of these cars being sold by a lad called sam?

Can't remember the name unfortunately but he was a young lad.

[steve_k]

were either of these cars being sold by a lad called sam?

Can't remember the name unfortunately but he was a young lad.

there's a guy on the zone fb page called sam sb, & iirc he's selling one just like that in the advert, could be the same guy, some rate him some don't.

[Brianmoooore]

MOT history tells us that this is no carefully cherished from birth classic. It was clearly an unloved, neglected shed on wheels ten years ago, and it looks like at that point, someone made the effort to save it. How well they did this work is for a prospective buyer to find out, and the presence of abominations such as fibreglass kit isn't necessarily a reason to decline the purchase. It's simply something to be factored into the price offered. The value of a car is what a perfect example of that car is worth, less the expense of getting this particular car into that condition, less a bit more for the hassle.

[DanThe]

It sounds like SamB or SAMSB. I dont know him but I believe he is early 20s and has upset a few people along his journey of buying and selling E30's over the last few years

[steve_k]

It sounds like SamB or SAMSB. I dont know him but I believe he is early 20s and has upset a few people along his journey of buying and selling E30's over the last few years

it does sound a lot like sam sb, i know simon13 don't have a lot of good things to say about him.
he's on my friends list on FB, he messaged me a while back after he's bought a tech 2 sport 2 with a 2.7 m20 (a les stannard engine i think it was), personally i've never had any problems with him.

sad to say your always going to get the odd dodgy seller with these cars nowadays.

as brian say about that GRP bodykit, it's not a deal breaker but do take it into consideration.

[andyhindle]

It's definitely Sam - the same ad is on FB

Don't have a problem with anybody buying and selling, as long as they are honest and not trying to have anyone's pants down.
As said earlier, a car at this price point isn't going to be a concourse garage queen, but it shouldn't be a rusty pile of scrap hidden under a body kit either.
Don't mind a bit of a project but dont want to have to strip to a bare shell to address serious rust issues!

Does anybody live near Hemel who would be prepared to do a viewing for me?
Happy to see them right ££

I was hoping somebody had actually been to view it and could give me an honest opinion of it before i travelled

[ocde30]

Sounds like you already really want this car - I know the feeling when you think you have found the "one". Have you had a look at any more of the pictures that he offers? Any interior or underneath pictures? I went up and down the country looking at cars before I found mine. Many were advertised as been spotless, rust free with totally original paintwork etc - only to find that they were not as advertised. Frustrating after a 4hr drive. Unless someone on the zone has seen this or is willing to view it on your behalf the only way to get it out of your mind is to go see it. However not a good time to be driving around looking for a "hobby" car. This car or another will still be for sale when life gets back to normal. One thing for sure there will always be another one if this turns out to be not the one.
Good luck.

[andyhindle]

Sounds like you already really want this car - I know the feeling when you think you have found the "one". Have you had a look at any more of the pictures that he offers? Any interior or underneath pictures? I went up and down the country looking at cars before I found mine. Many were advertised as been spotless, rust free with totally original paintwork etc - only to find that they were not as advertised. Frustrating after a 4hr drive. Unless someone on the zone has seen this or is willing to view it on your behalf the only way to get it out of your mind is to go see it. However not a good time to be driving around looking for a "hobby" car. This car or another will still be for sale when life gets back to normal. One thing for sure there will always be another one if this turns out to be not the one.
Good luck.

Wise words there.
I really like silver, its reasonable miles, nicely original and has a good history with it. I've been looking on and off for a few years, as you said few are what they are touted to be.
He sent some pictures, interior looks very good, no bolster wear and not unduly messed with. The engine bay is covered in underseal! I know what you're thinking! same as me, but looks original if you can remove it, whats it hiding? thats the question, or has a PO put it on there innocently?
I've kind of talked myself into buying a structurally sound car and perfecting it myself. Dont mind a bit of surface rust, suspension/brake overhaul
I have a few other classics/modern classics including a couple of M cars and i have taken a similar approach. Yes its probably more expensive than buying a sorted car in the first place but it then becomes "your car" if you know what i mean? Not just someone else's show pony.

Thanks for the input - appreciated

[DanThe]

Pacerpete isnt very far away, he does pre purchase inspections as a service and you can be sure he would give a VERY honest opinion

[boiliebasher]

Personally by the sounds of this "Sam" chap, I wouldn't trust him. Most E30 owners are enthusiasts and not trying to fleece others and making a few quid profit in the process.

Underseal in engine bay is defo alarm bells for me..... Who the F does that and what are they hiding?!

Caveat emptor...

[andyhindle]

Pacerpete isnt very far away, he does pre purchase inspections as a service and you can be sure he would give a VERY honest opinion

Thanks Dan

You dont perhaps have contact details for him ?
He hasnt been active on here since 2018......

Cheers

[Gert_8]

I would say it is quite telling that the car has not been advertised on here....

[Ukhozi]

Interesting two days in mid October 2011! From rusted in all corners to a sound shell in record time.

Yes lol! Spotted that
But to be fair corrosion doesn't get picked up again at all, got to assume its at different testers over that period so was maybe welded properly?

TBH i'm a bit sceptical that it passed its last 2 tests with absolutely no adivsories at all, on a 30 yr old car......

Was hoping somebody had viewed it or was a PO

Thanks for input all
A

Why? My E30 is 34 this year and passes every time and a darn site tougher test here that the MoT.

[Lemon98]

Sounds like you already really want this car - I know the feeling when you think you have found the "one". Have you had a look at any more of the pictures that he offers? Any interior or underneath pictures? I went up and down the country looking at cars before I found mine. Many were advertised as been spotless, rust free with totally original paintwork etc - only to find that they were not as advertised. Frustrating after a 4hr drive. Unless someone on the zone has seen this or is willing to view it on your behalf the only way to get it out of your mind is to go see it. However not a good time to be driving around looking for a "hobby" car. This car or another will still be for sale when life gets back to normal. One thing for sure there will always be another one if this turns out to be not the one.
Good luck.

Wise words there.
I really like silver, its reasonable miles, nicely original and has a good history with it. I've been looking on and off for a few years, as you said few are what they are touted to be.
He sent some pictures, interior looks very good, no bolster wear and not unduly messed with. The engine bay is covered in underseal! I know what you're thinking! same as me, but looks original if you can remove it, whats it hiding? thats the question, or has a PO put it on there innocently?
I've kind of talked myself into buying a structurally sound car and perfecting it myself. Dont mind a bit of surface rust, suspension/brake overhaul
I have a few other classics/modern classics including a couple of M cars and i have taken a similar approach. Yes its probably more expensive than buying a sorted car in the first place but it then becomes "your car" if you know what i mean? Not just someone else's show pony.

Thanks for the input - appreciated

This might not be exactly what you were looking for on this thread but having read your reply to being up for updating and overhauling some components have you considered a 320i? I only say this because I bought my 320i in February for under £4k and I've awaiting a caliper rebuild kit and the bushes need doing and all of that but the starting price is a lot lower!!! The underside is mint rust-wise and I had the chassis rails and subframes undercoated to protect them but the drivers door is rusty and both front wings have been replaced and resprayed at some point. So all in all just as good if not better condition than that silver one imo (I also got 3 spare doors with the car as well) My car has 80k miles btw

But that could all be irrelevant if you really want a 325i sport hahah. But for 11k you could buy a 320i, do the upgrades you want and probably do an engine swap to a 2.5 as well!

I'm new toE30's though but love classics, have had 2 classic minis and wanted something old and RWD with the 6 cylinder sound. So to me none of the M tech or sport stuff really mattered but I'm starting to understand that those things mean a lot to others.