Does this sound like a good buy? **UPDATE**

[jmc330i]

My brother has just phoned me and we've been offered a 1991 auto 325i touring with 196000 on the clock.
Its got full BMWSH, a years MOT and 6 months Tax and by all accounts is in pretty good condition.

The one thing he didnt mention was the colour, but a friend of my brothers thinks it was a dark blue.

The guy wants Ԛ£700 - does that sound ok? Im sure I could get him down a bit more anyway.

Not worried about the miles on the engine, but how does the auto stuff hold up to the miles? - I do have a spare M20 and manual box if the worst happens.

I know its not much of a description to go on, but do you guys think its worth the 90 mile drive for a look?

Cheers

[paulj]

Go and have a looksee with Ԛ£600 in yr pocket use the rest of the money for petrol offer him that and then if he says yes its a bargin

[Morat]

Sounds like a bargain to me... 12 months MOT - how can you lose?

[JoeP]

What they said.

[jmc330i]

Ok point taken.

Having never driven an E30 Auto before, is there anything I should look out for - dodgy kickdown, revving too high/long before changing up???

[Jon_Bmw]

Ok point taken.

Having never driven an E30 Auto before, is there anything I should look out for - dodgy kickdown, revving too high/long before changing up???

They should idle quite low, about 650rpm iirc, as not to damage the autobox when idling. Look for nice clean red fluid on the dipstick, shows signs of it being looked after, and perhaps signs of a filter change in the hostory.

Obviously check that it selects all gears and the kickdown works, go along at about 28mph, put your foot flat to the floor, it should change into first

[Morat]

forgot to say, the driver at work who is a speed freak - ex F3 driver, ex F1 mechanic/testpilot, sold his modded hayabusa aged 60, bought a ZZR-11 because it was slow and sensible.... reckons that a 325i auto is just about the fastest thing cross country unless you spend some serious money.

[jmc330i]

Obviously check that it selects all gears

Dumb question but how many gears do the autos have?

[Chris-W]

It's a 4 speed box, but at a steady 56ish mph in top the 'box should switch into 'overdrive' (it locks out the torque converter).

[jmc330i]

Cool.

Going to see it at the weekend, so will see how it goes.

Will report back if Ive bought another E30

[jmc330i]

Quick change of plan - going to see the touring today, leaving in about an hour, but my brother has thrown a spanner in the works....

Thing is, there is a Lazer Blue (same as the touring I think) 1991 318iS thats on route to the touring. Its done 138000, 12 months MOT, No Tax. New tyres and battery and is in good condition - Ԛ£750.

I know the mileage is a bit high, but its still about average and is a lot less than the tourings 196k.

Any opinions before I leave??

[Richy325iTouring]

touring

[Morat]

Touring
faster, more practical.
But check and testdrive them both or you'll always be left wondering!

[jmc330i]

Opinions on the iS??

Could be buying both you see - my brother has decided he wants the touring if its any good, so I may go for iS if I can get it for Ԛ£700 max.

If I cant get the iS for any less (or its a shitter) then Im having the touring.

[jmc330i]

Well, what a shit day

Left the house to go to the bank and get a wedge of cash out. On the way, I stop off and pick up the manifolds for the S50 conversion from my mate who had the stainless nicely polished up They looked bloody great

I get to the bank and whilst at the counter my mobile rang, it was my brother to say the touring had been sold - the guy got offered Ԛ£900 so he took it and as he only wanted Ԛ£700 I thought thats fair enough.

So with cash in hand, I decided I was going to look at the iS anyway cause it was only a 45min drive away.

Leave the bank and walk back to the car park to find the alarm on the XR3i going off and a big hole where the passenger window used to be
Glovebox open and all the contents pulled out - spare bulb kit, road map and first aid kit gone, Radio and CD changer gone and the real bastard, as the CD changer was in the boot, they also found the manifolds which, unless they happen to have an E30 with an S50 engine fitted will be pretty useless to them - but they took them anyway

Police didnt want to know, just took the details and gave me a victim support leaflet

So now Im totally fcuked off - I havent got a new E30 but even worse, Im screwed for the conversion without the manifolds and I havent got a clue what Im going to do about it.
Even if I still had the spare bits of manifold I had, Im not sure I could be bothered with the hassle of making another set, especially not at the moment

[Morat]

awww man..

pointless crap like that really hurts.
I hope the gits OD on the smack they get for your stereo.

[m3ben05]

Gutted for you mate, thats a real shitter. Whats the point in taking something like that, it will be of no use to them whatever.

Are you fully insured? you might be able to claim for them?

[jmc330i]

I hope the gits OD on the smack they get for your stereo.

Normally I dont think things like that, but today I am

The stupid thing is the CD changer didnt work, it would jump if I ran over a white line and then eject the cartridge, but I guess that doesnt matter to the little cnuts.

Im just so pissed off, Ive lost a load of time and money on the manifolds and they wont be any use to the gits who took them, it was just pointless.

[maxfield]

That sounds pretty bad yeah try and claim on insurance

[jmc330i]

Are you fully insured? you might be able to claim for them?

Only TPFT, but even if I was FC, Im not sure how I could/would claim for the manifolds.

There was the amount of money they cost in material/welding supplies and then the amount of hours we put in to making them - dont think an insurance company would pay out on that.

[buster]

Sorry to hear about your manifolds James,that sucks m8 big time.
What the hell are they going to do with them !?!?!
I once had perscription glasses nicked from my car !! for gods sake what good are they to anyone !??!

That sucks, it really does

andy

[jmc330i]

Cheers Andy and youre right it really does suck - big time.

If I wasnt going for the M3 brake and suspension setup, the car would of been ready to MOT once the manifolds were fitted and centre section made up.

Now the M3 setup will have to wait until I can sort out new manifolds and even then I might not be able to afford it after redoing the manifolds

[DieselMeister]

I hate tea leaves.

Advertise with a small reward and you might yet get back the manifolds.... I've seen it done.

Failing that, we should start a group buy for custom stainless S50 -> E30 manifolds as I'll be needing some eventually

[d6dph]

really sorry to hear this. there are some spitefull little cnuts around.

it may be worth taking a walk around the area the car where was broken into. they might have taken all and dumped it when they had a chance to look? have a look in the bushes/bims etc?

[jmc330i]

Good thought mate

It happened in a town centre car park and it wasnt quiet, but as normal, nobody saw anything. I reckon they were in a car cause the manifolds arent small and with the CD changer and everything (they even got a the long leads for the changer), it wouldnt have been easy to carry by hand.

[stevetigger]

Find the local drug dealer and ask him to ask about, tell him to do that or you will beat his little arse black and blue.


Many years ago, I had part of my tec2 kit stolen, got it back the same night once I got the local drug dealer to make some calls!

[ad318i]

not everyones hard core gansta rappers like u steve lol

[Ziggy]

Check your home contents insurance! Seriously!
My car got broken into a few years ago & anything that's not part of the car was covered - ie the car stereo wasn't, but the personal CD player & shades that were in the glovebox were! Was only a couple of hundred quids worth, but it still worked out as being worthwhile claiming...

[jmc330i]

Check your home contents insurance

Yeah, I might try that. But Im not sure how the manifolds would be valued, its not like I can go out and buy some more - there were totally custom.

I guess I could get a quote from BMW for the price of new S50 manifolds and then see if the insurance will pay out for those. I think they are about Ԛ£800 each, so I cant see that happening TBH

[Simon13]

very sorry for u James> The drug dealer route could shed some light for u i think. Just maybe, what is there to lose?