Value of 320i

[Dr Firefly]

Right, not sure if this is the right section, so please move it if so.

I'm wanting to know if I've got a good deal here. Bought an F reg facelift 320i for £200, 130k

So far, I've got a new diff (74k) for £45 (thanks Stevetigger in advance!)
Putting new rear brake shoes and cylinders on (£50 for brand new parts)
Replaced inlet pipe £8
Fixed a few issues with PAS - free
Repaired speedo - free
Fixed radio - free

Remaining issues
Problems with dash - rev counter, temp monitor, fuel gauge and service lights

It's got a bit of rust on the front wings but I've found none elsewhere
Engine sounds fine - bit tappety (is it an overhead cam? If so, whatever are the equivalent of tappets need adjusting, will do that next weekend) but apart from that is perfect
Went through MOT 3 weeks ago with no issues
Driven 1000 miles with no breakdowns
Got a "slimline 2" bodykit, apparently factory fitted
Beautiful sounding exhaust, told it was from an M3 but not sure about this.
Had brand new front brake discs and pads a week before I bought it
The reg plate is F346 ECK - which I love (hint - take out the numbers)
Has 15" OZ alloys in good nick

So what do you think? Good buy? Any idea of its true value - ie what one of you guys would pay (Please not too much stick about it being a 320). Overall its cost me £300 so far, and I'm going to do a full service this next week - oil change, gearbox oil change, new spark plugs, injector cleaning fluid etc, see how it runs then.

I love it - consider me a new E30 nut! Got all sorts of plans, but I think I'll just get it totally mechanically sound first.

Cheers, Ian

[Zayyan]

Yeah OK you got it cheap. No need to rub everyone's noses in it

[Dr Firefly]

Sorry didn't mean to upset you Zayyan! I was just pleased and wanted to check if it actually was a good deal - don't know what the value of these cars is properly, just took a chance on an Ebay auction that had 5 min left.

Any reason for the bitterness? It wasn't you that sold me it was it?

[Dr Firefly]

though on second thoughts the cars in your sig look in slightly better nick than mine

[Zayyan]

I'm not bitter, just kidding.

You did get a good deal on it though

[stevetigger]

Yes you got a good deal on the car and on the Diff, I wonder who sold you a Diff so cheap??

Maybe a mint 320 would be around a grand!

[Zayyan]

though on second thoughts the cars in your sig look in slightly better nick than mine

Cheers, one of them isn't bad, but the other's a 197,000 mile shitter!

If you paid £200 and it went thought the MOT fine though you can't complain

[Andy325i]

Good work Are you planning to mod it?

If you are the rear disc conversion is a good one and costs about £50-70 to do, using 325i rear arms and handbrake cables


Andy

[pete320i]

hi, dont no if its any help, i picked up my 320i for£700, fsh, 86000 on the clock and its in good nick, but what you would really get for them i dont no. any love mine great fun... peter. .

[e30-320i]

sounds like you got a good deal i paid £400 for mine with 5 mths tax and 8 mot 116,000 miles

[pete320i]

did not do to bad, have spent a bit on it because i wonted to, replaced oil seals, cam belt, tappets ajusted ect. by the way love your wheels, love my car would not sell it, even if we do get stick for owning 320i. peter.

[Dr Firefly]

Yeah I was thinking of doing a few mods. The rear disc conversion sounds good, but if I'm getting the brake drums sorted in the next week or so I'll probably wait a bit before then.

The seats are a bit tatty, so I'm going to be looking out for some recaro's dirt cheap over the next year or so - not leather though, as my girlfriend's veggie and it'll turn her off the car totally. I reckon she'll be more tolerant if she still likes the car. She loves it at the moment - she's named it Amy (predictive text for BMW)! I reckon she'll be more tolerant if she still likes the car. My friend suggested "Fecker" after seeing the number plate, but it just didn't fit!

But I'm liking this car. The body kit on its pretty nice, so aside from a lot of cleaning and changing the front wings for none rusty ones I don't think I'll change it much externally.

But I am eyeing up the engine conversions section quite enviously - but its out of my price range till I qualify as a doctor in Sep 2008. Then I'm tempted to basically just spend about £5,000 and convert its internals to M3 specs, but leave it looking the same outside, so I can gobble up unsuspecting Chavved up Novas at the traffic lights. Is that called a "Sleeper"? Can't wait till I have enough money to blow on things like that!
Sound good?

[stevetigger]

Have you got Photo's?

[Andy325i]

Yeah I was thinking of doing a few mods. The rear disc conversion sounds good, but if I'm getting the brake drums sorted in the next week or so I'll probably wait a bit before then.

The seats are a bit tatty, so I'm going to be looking out for some recaro's dirt cheap over the next year or so - not leather though, as my girlfriend's veggie and it'll turn her off the car totally. I reckon she'll be more tolerant if she still likes the car. She loves it at the moment - she's named it Amy (predictive text for BMW)! I reckon she'll be more tolerant if she still likes the car. My friend suggested "Fecker" after seeing the number plate, but it just didn't fit!

But I'm liking this car. The body kit on its pretty nice, so aside from a lot of cleaning and changing the front wings for none rusty ones I don't think I'll change it much externally.

But I am eyeing up the engine conversions section quite enviously - but its out of my price range till I qualify as a doctor in Sep 2008. Then I'm tempted to basically just spend about £5,000 and convert its internals to M3 specs, but leave it looking the same outside, so I can gobble up unsuspecting Chavved up Novas at the traffic lights. Is that called a "Sleeper"? Can't wait till I have enough money to blow on things like that!
Sound good?

Sounds good

I personally would do the Rear disc conversion insted of spending money on the drums, but understand everyone is different

I converted my 320i to a 2.8 24valve lump

Here is how it looks, just waiting to find some chaved up saxo's etc



Andy

[Blue_MK2]

wha are 320 cabs worth?

[stevetigger]

wha are 320 cabs worth?

Pretty much the same!

[kingbreezer]

If this is illegal, please just delete it, but I'm stuck on pricing my 320i se.

E plate Delphin Grey metallic, 10months MOT (£100), just had an inspection one at a specialist (£210). 4 good tyres, MINT interior - the cleanest I've seen on one of these. 104k miles. It has both computers, no electronic faults showing. New OE exhaust centre section.
Lots of service history, 2 previous owners.

On the negative side, there is rust on the arches - quite bad on the front offside one.

Would I get £700 for it bearing in mind the length of MOT and new service?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

wha are 320 cabs worth?

Pretty much the same!

Saw a concourse cab 320i with m-tec front and back kit, chrome wrongness 63k on the clock go for £2,900.

Seen another one go for £2,600, slight rust on rear arch 67k on the clock.

[Dr Firefly]

I reckon 700 would be fair - I'm hoping to get mine back up to that value just by looking after it and making sure its in mint condition mechanically over the next couple of years.

Ian

[Dr Firefly]

Just so everyone knows - it was NOT a good buy - just found this thread having added up what she's cost so far... but I love her anyway - even given her a name

If you want to be sensible financially - don't get an E30! Get a 7 year old low mileage VW polo

Ps what a bump