Are 325i's still any good?

[northloop]

Probably asking this in the wrong place, you will be biased, but here goes anyway

Off to look at a 325 tomorrow with a view to building myself another track car. The car will live in Germany being used monthly on the 'ring'. I currently do this with a 205GTi with alot of sucess. The car is reliable to an extent and over the last 2 years hasn't had an issue which cant be sorted from one month to the next.

Ok my dilema is this ........

I am off to look at a 325i tomorrow which has a few mods making it a starting point as a track car. Before you ask yes its off this forum. The car seems reasonably priced considering the mods.

I have asked a few friends about E30 325's and there seem to be a large number of things to look for. Most of them centre around Rot. I know the car i'm looking at has a few places where its already set in.

I don't want to spend a fortune sorting the car till I know its sound and will prove reliable.

Are cars from the 87 sort of era a liability?

If i'm going to spend cash in the future I want it to be on nice suspension, brakes ARB's etc, not on new body panels and stopping the rot.


Your honest answers would be appreciated.

Gary

[stevenannahouse]

Personally i would never buy a car with rust/rot setting in..In my experiance the only proper way to get rid of it is by replacing panels..But im really fussy.

[Ant]

all e30s rot in the same areas, so get underneath and dont just look, touch,poke and prod in every nook and cranny for rot.

Rust can creep into the front chassis rails,

Engines are OK< head issues aside, check for cam noise, and mayo !, being an early car, it should feel quite perky and really take off over 4K

Good Luck

[andyborris]

I'd say it depends on where the rot is.

You're using an old 325 to get some tail happy action on the track, so you're aware of what might happen if you get it wrong in a corner! So any rust in the chassis is not good, don't want the car folding up on you, but cosmetic (non safety issue) rust can be covered with some filler and paint.

If you hit a bank hard enough to make it fall out, you'll be scrapping the shell anyway!

Andy

[mrLEE30]

there is a sticky sport buying guide in the technical section, read that and it will give you a good idea what to look for. sun roofs are best avoided too and some four doors are a good buy if you are not about looks. check for rust in the cills, rear panel, scuttle panel, pull ALL carpets out of the boot and look down in the wheel jack area, if is has a bodykit have a good poke around under the plastic kit, it can be a great rust hider. Engines as mentioned are strong and easy to mod with a chip and exhaust work, check the usual things noises creaks etc etc.

look here for a good four door track project...

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=34036

you could pick up a 60000 miles grannie four door 325, change the seats and shocks loose the extra pounds and you got a great track fun car for less than a grand.

mrlee