Sell it or keep it? Help

[dinwoodie]

I love my e30 obviously.

However, to keep her on the road I'll need to spend about £1200 (to pass the MOT).

I'm not sure how much she's worth anymore. What do you reckon? Keep her and spend the money or sell her and try and get a replacement instead?

Here's some details about the car:

1988 F Reg BMW 325i SE - Metallic Dolphin Grey Manual gearbox.

All SE extras and more including: ABS, Power Steering, Remote Central Locking with Deadlocking, Electric Windows, Electric Sunroof, Electric Mirrors, On Board Computer (Gives average consumption, outside temp, remaining fuel in tank, average speed, time, date, timer, low temperature warning, adjustable speed limiter), Rear sunblind, Uprated Eibach Suspension - Progressively rolled springs to retain ride comfort but improve road handling and cornering, BMW M-tech 1 steering wheel,
Toad Category 1 Alarm and immobiliser which controls the central locking from a remote key-fob, 318iS Front lip spoiler sprayed body colour, also wingmirrors are bodycolour.

Interior is grey cloth in near as damn it mint condition.

The car was rebuilt a few years ago by e30 Zones own Adam and was also featured in UsedCarBuyer magazine. I'm no expert but I do love this car and Adam reckons she's "one of the best around".

So. I repeat. What do you reckon? Keep her and spend the money or sell her and try and get a replacement instead?

I'll post some pics when I figure out how.[/b]

[munky30]

whats wrong with it thats going to cost 1200 to fix?

[ajm-e30]

i think £1200 is a bit steep for mot repairs! they must have quoted for alot of stuff

[dinwoodie]

Front light.
Wipers.
Brakes abs warning light.
All tyres (not essential but...)
Welding on front suspension.
Something to do with the suspension arms (sounds like they're f%*cked)
New dash circuitboard.

+ labour of course as I'm useless.

[dinwoodie]

Here's some pics...

http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l275/daviddinwoodie/

I'm adding more as we speak.

[munky30]

Front light.
Wipers.
Brakes abs warning light.
All tyres (not essential but...)
Welding on front suspension.
Something to do with the suspension arms (sounds like they're f%*cked)
New dash circuitboard.

+ labour of course as I'm useless.

That doesnt sound like over a grands worth of work!

If you dont need the tyres, I would wait, get them when you need them and concentrate on the mot for now.

Doesnt sound like its a lost cause though. Shop around for quotes on the work and see if you can get it cheaper but dont sell it.

[E30BeemerLad]

mate, you've probably got about £150 worth of parts to buy there, not including the tyres. Sounds like the place who quoted you the £1200 simply don't want the work.

Get an alternative quote or contact trusted zoners like Nelly, Ant or Pacerpete etc, depending on your location as they are all daaan saarf

[oakey]

is the "abs warning light" the one to the right of the handbrake light? if so..... mine passed mot the other week with this light on.
welding is cheap.
put a wanted post for the "suspension arms" and youll get some for cheap
whats wrong with the wipers? (motor gone? if so an easy repair)
whats wrong with the "front light?"
dash curcuit board- again put a post up and i'm sure youll get a good one for cheap.
are the tyres barely legal then?

[Jon_Bmw]

It shouldn't have passed with the abs light on. Oil pressue switch trick

[oakey]

It shouldn't have passed with the abs light on. Oil pressue switch trick

i was expecting it to fail on this and was gonna do the "oil pressure switch trick" but it didnt fail on this
it is the warning light thats to the right of the H/brake light yes?

[dom-1984-320i]

That looks like a nice car, shop around for a better price, as already said sounds like the garage dosn't want the work. i would say about £700 for that sort of work. Good luck with it mate it looks like a nice car and worth saving!

[Jon_Bmw]

It shouldn't have passed with the abs light on. Oil pressue switch trick

i was expecting it to fail on this and was gonna do the "oil pressure switch trick" but it didnt fail on this
it is the warning light thats to the right of the H/brake light yes?

I haven't got an e30 to check...but i seem to remember it being yellow in colour.

[E30Mark]

Certainly does not sound like £1200 worth of work... E30Adam beat me to it when he bought this car! I had been to view it and by the time i had got hold of the seller again he had sold it to Adam..

The car was in VERY VERY good condition, plus it had stacks of Bills / invoices, the previous owner before Adam spent a fortune keeping this car in excellent condition.

[eko]

My guess at the cost to put right is

Front light - approx £15 on here maximum
Wipers - £10 for a pair of blades or free motor repair
Brakes abs warning light - Wheel sensor or relay £10 on here
All tyres (not essential but...) - either buy another set of wheels from £50 upwards or just buy new tyres for around £50 each!
Welding on front suspension - £100 maximum?
Something to do with the suspension arms (sounds like they're f%*cked) - £45 each new
New dash circuitboard - £20 on here

All the above work is easy to put right,weekends work DIYing maximum!

Wish i was in a position to make a good offer for the car but already got 4

If your anywhere near South Devon then ill do the work on it for you

[Templ8e30]

Didn't think you were allowed welding within 12" of a major suspension component ?

Cheers,

Iain T

[Barx325i]

Dinwoodie where are you based?

Get the welding done 1st - As per eko it should be £100 max - IMO it's half the battle when the chassis is sorted. The other bits are in-expensive and easily sorted with some help from the parts available here..

The most complex will be the suspension arms & unless you have a ramp it may be a bit too much of a pain in the ass to do on your drive way - I had mine changed for £70 + parts (ECP £30)

Don't commit her to an early grave

[greentouring]

I'm no mechanical genius, but I think that price seems excessive to say the least. Sure you could get the parts and do some of the work yourself, and if not, just get the parts and get quotes from someone else to do the labour. I wouldn't take it there again for an MOT!

Get the tyres when you need them, two at a time or something. That way when they start to go again, you won't have to fork out for 4 at once.

Clean-looking car.

[psychochild187]

i agree 1200 could mot that car twice over

the car is definitly worth repairing.

the abs light is a mot failer

but they just dont spot it all the time

mine passed as they didnt notice

[rebelcruiser]

i agree keep it just take it to a diffrent garage.

[mash320i]

Didn't think you were allowed welding within 12" of a major suspension component ?

Cheers,

Iain T

you can weld anywere its a mot failiure if the corrosion is within that! weld it up n then it will pass

[e30bmlover]

keep it mate! take her to another garage. gotta keep em on the road!

[beemer_twins]

That car is absolutly mint, mate that is gonna cost about £500 top i was a mechanic like 9 months ago they are very P*&$ easy jobs, were r u based mate?

i hate mechanics that try to ripp out you a£Â£ hole!
_______________________________________________________________________________________
LOKKIN FOR 2 DOORS BOTH DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER RIGHT DOORS ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH )APPRIETIDED! EMAIL ME AT louisloizou16@hotmail.co.uk)

[JONUK]

David, OK heed the voice of experience (I am sure this will sound all too depressingly familiar to a few here).

If I had spent the money I have spent on subsequent cars on the first car I had, I would by now have the most truly amazing car. But no, I am now back to a car in worse condition than one I started off with years ago, NNrrrrrrr. The good ones are dissapearing fast and once gone you won't be able to replace it.

KEEP IT