Buying an E30

[Shano]

Hi, im a major fan of the E30's, im jus wondering where the best place would be to search for a 316i in good condition, i need a small engine as it is my first car and i always loved this car.
Any suggestions?

[Adammcf]

You should find a decent one in the for sale section on here as most of the cars here are well looked after.
Just keep checking every few days.

Or you can just check auto trader and see whats on offer.

[Zayyan]

I'm pretty sure the 316, 316i Lux and 318i (not the Lux) are all in the same insurance group of 12.

Unless economy's really important and you can put up with poverty spec bumpers (although you can spray paint them yourself pretty easily) I'd look for a standard 318i (not Lux as it's in group 13), which should be the same to insure as the 1.6i as it's in the same insurance group.

Another factor you might want to think about is what you'll use the car for.

If it's going to be used daily in town for example the 316i is a better option as the economy's slightly better and it seems to have more go at lower RPM than the 318i making it more enjoyable in town, but if you're planning on driving at low RPMs for 10-15 minutes to warm it up and then driving it hard then the 318i will probably be the more fun option for you.

As Adam's said most of the cars in the For Sale section have been well looked after, but you might want to watch out for those with low post counts who have obviously just come on here to sell.

eBay has some well-looked-after bargains as well if you look carefully enough.

It's all about going to see as many cars as possible, maybe even a dozen or so, and then deciding rather than going for the first car you see.

If you do a search you'll be able to find a few threads that will tell you what to look out for when going to look at an E30.

HTH

[naylor04]

he he !

[Zayyan]

he he !

?

[JoeP]

Hi, im a major fan of the E30's, im jus wondering where the best place would be to search for a 316i in good condition, i need a small engine as it is my first car and i always loved this car.
Any suggestions?

I kept an eye on the AutoTrader website for months before falling over mine in my local paper. AT always has lots on there at varying prices and if you're not stuck in some rural backwater they should be easy to go and look at.

[notsofast]

Zayyan, povery spec bumpers?! You meant chrome bumpers by any chance? I say that's classic kool

[Ziggy]

Zayyan, povery spec bumpers?! You meant chrome bumpers by any chance? I say that's classic kool

My guess is he meant non colour coded plastic ones...

[Zayyan]

Spot on Ziggy....they look awful compared to the colour-coded ones IMO.

I personally prefer the chrome for the proper old-skool-ness but if you're buying a 4-pot an M40 is the only way to go....except for S14 of course

[Matt]

i keep an eye in all of the papers for three months before i brought mine

i eventually found it in the friday add

now all i have to do is pass that damm test

[Shano]

Cheersa 4 t advice, i think something like what naylor got is what im looking 4, thats a tidy car, jus needs the alpina rims! did anyone here of ''Oldcolonelcars.co.uk'', if so whats their opinion?

[JoeP]

Cheersa 4 t advice, i think something like what naylor got is what im looking 4, thats a tidy car, jus needs the alpina rims! did anyone here of ''Oldcolonelcars.co.uk'', if so whats their opinion?

Just had a look at the website, looks pretty good. That 318 at Ԛ£995 is even cleaner than mine, very tidy.

[Gwynleym10]

personally prefer the chrome for the proper old-skool-ness but if you're buying a 4-pot an M40 is the only way to go....except for S14 of course

EH?
Earlier m10 engines are seriously cheap to run, i bought a brand new cyclinder head for Ԛ£30, i don't need it but it makes rather a nice fruit bowl!

General services items are also a lot cheaper, and easily done by your self. If you go wrong somebody is always about to throw a m10 away which you can pick up for peanuts.

Anyway, m10 don't have tick tick tick hydralic tappets which are expensive when they go wrong, which they do o most m40s at some point. This also makes them sound better...!

They also have timing chains as opposed to belts so you don't have to worry about that.

Also m10s are way better/cheaper for modding loads of stuff around.

My advise is find the best body as possible, little or no rust is best. If you get a good un you may end up cahnging the engine...especially if you spend to much time on here!

[Zayyan]

I consider myself told

I think I might have read that the 1.8 M10 is only 105bhp and then made the assumption that M10s = ancient technology and therefore not as good as M40s

[Gwynleym10]

Yes in stock the do produce a little less power, but, as they are easier/ cheaper to look after, they are for more likely to be actually producing their proper power.

Never heard of the 1980's F1 bmw turbos with over 1200bhp? yes they were m10 blocks....
Not to mention 2002 turbo etc etc
Si316 is currently building a m10 enginge that should be easily faster than a 325i New aint always best just look at the e36.......

[Zayyan]

New aint always best just look at the e36.......

Good point...

Thanks for 'converting' me....I'm no longer an M40 snob

[Gwynleym10]

I'm no longer an M40 snob Very Happy LOL

As if there ever could be a m40 snob....

[Shano]

Ya thats dam rite bout the m10 block, it jus goes to show how they can handle that kind of thrasshing, ideal 4 souping up!

[Zayyan]

As if there ever could be a m40 snob....

Well I'd always looked down on em....but if you can have a highly tuneable engine and chrome bumpers too, who can complain?

[slippy]

I took a crazy idea last monday that I wanted a BMW so i asked around and my mate told me where there was one for sale. Im now thw proud owner of a lovely 325i sport. Found it only 15 miles down the road so spread the word and you will find one.

[Turbo-Brown]

Think there was a buyers guide in Practical Classics (Dec '04 if memory serves) for the E30, might be of some help

I bought my 325i for Ԛ£275 and thought the body was a bit shabby.

Since then, I saw another car which was described as being "virtually rust free". This had major structural rot behind one of the front suspension towers and the rear arches were frillier than a tarts knickers.

If you spot a good one, then buy if quick before someone else does, but if it's got grot in funny places then walk away.

I for my part am hanging onto my Ԛ£275 brown bargain for that street sleeper type of thing

Good luck!

[Shano]

Thanks 4 the advice, i guess ya have to tread litely when it comes down to buying a car like this!

[Zayyan]

Ah you're in Ireland....extortionate insurance right?

I don't know if they "do" insurance groups there - if not and it's purely by engine size you might want to ignore my first post and go for the 316i

Good luck

[Shano]

Ya its really heavy on insurance over here, my cousine bought an audi
A3 1.8 T about 3 years ago and he was quoted 8 thousand to insure it, lucky for him his parents had a factory and could insure it under that! its goin to get cheaper now caus alot of British companies are coming in and its bringing some de regulating!

[Zayyan]

my cousine bought an audi
A3 1.8 T about 3 years ago and he was quoted 8 thousand to insure it

That's ridiculous, where does all the money go?!

I was on the phone to my cousin the other day and he was telling me how it'd cost him more to insure a 50cc moped than it costs me to insure my car

What kind of quotes have you got for a 316i at the moment? And have you got quotes for a 316 (1766cc carb) as well?

[Shano]

Ireland is really ridiculous for insurance, the premiums ara coming down though!

I was quoted Ԛ┚¬2,300 to insure a 1.6 316i and im waiting on a quote for a 1.8 318i, i was happy with the quote for the 316 so hopefully the quote for the 318 wont be to bad, id love to get the 318 though or t 316 carb!

[terry316i]

Ireland is really ridiculous for insurance, the premiums ara coming down though!

I was quoted Ԛ┚¬2,300 to insure a 1.6 316i and im waiting on a quote for a 1.8 318i, i was happy with the quote for the 316 so hopefully the quote for the 318 wont be to bad, id love to get the 318 though or t 316 carb!

for cheap insurance in ireland phone quinn direct im 27 and got quote of Ԛ£1200 for 316i (ok 1989 but as am under 30 cannot get classic insurance)
quite big you may think but that was as an additional to my mk4 golf.
got a traders policy qoute for both cars for Ԛ£1700 and was paying Ԛ£720 on the golf. so not too bad.

[jonmsm]

MY god thats expensive!!

I am 20 and paying Ԛ£1100 on my 1986 M535i with Norich Union. The M535 is a group 18 vehicle with 218bhp, as well I only have 2 years no claims! You should possibly look at other companies to insure your 316!

[Zayyan]

There is no way you can insure an M535i at 20 with 2 years no claims in Ireland!

Shano, how old are you may I ask?

[Ziggy]

I suppose you're gonna tell me I should be paying more than Ԛ£300 for a 325i convertible at 23 too?!

[jonmsm]

GRRRR - HOW @ Ԛ£300 zig. I thought I was doing good just getting insured. what group is the 325i?? the M535 is bloody group 18!!!

[Ziggy]

's what 6 years no claims does for you!! Group 17 I think...

[Shano]

Hey, sorry ive been sick for the past week wit mumps, im 19 now and i got a quote for a 316i which was Ԛ┚¬2,230 with britton insurance, i thought that was very good without no clames and very little experience!

[Zayyan]

That sounds very fair, you looking for a 316i now I presume?

[debse30]

mines for sale!!!!!!