M3 Evo Will I/Wont I

[monsport]

I know a guy who is selling an E30 M3 Evo its dolphin grey 1989 with 140k (95mls) on the clock.Private Reg (M3 EVO) it has 17" alloys on it and the original bbs 16" alloys there too. Problems: Manifold is blowing out, new brake pads neded, Slight rust around one corner of the sun roof and one of the arches, Leather is a bit shabby no holes just worn.
The price Ԛ£3500.

What do you guys think not worth the hassle or go with it.

Need help as Im going for another look at it tomorro.
Cheers

[E30Adam]

For that price I'd expect it to be an absolute dog.

Either that or the seller as no idea what he's selling. If it turns out to be a goodun then snap it right up!

[Jimbob]

That plate alone has to be worth Ԛ£2k? Seems like a great price, have you seen it yet?

[E30Adam]

Blimey, didn't notice that bit!!!

Let me know if you don't buy it

[Hap]

i cant see how the M3 Evo plate can be placed on this car sincre it hiding the true age of the car which is 89/90 spec??

[Davenotouring]

If it is a 1989 then it can't and I would place lots on that not being the actual plate, but something modified to look like that. You cannot put a plate which represents a newer car on an older one. That plate would be worth almost as much as this car is selling for if it really was M3 EVO.

Sounds like its got a couple of problems, make sure there's nothing serious with a proper check over and it could be an awesome car when sorted!

[monsport]

Rang the guy there its M8 Evo with the screw hole making it look like a 3. Still worth money i would imagine. As far as I can see Adam he hasnt really got a clue about bm's he deals in jap imports. My mate got a full OBC for his sport off him for Ԛ£20. Getting a proper look tomorro will get a really good look at it. Any problems I should look for. Know the usual ones for 325i's as i have one myself. Any other ones I should look for.I dont know if it the Evo model or Evo Sport model. Will take pics tomorro and post them up when I get home.

[mysteron35]

Hi Monsport , I'd check the car carefully as its been re'registered as a later car ( M ) and its the wrong colour and that may suggest a rebuild !.
Steve .

[bootyman]

That cant be right mate, cause you can't put a M prefix plate on a F/G Reg car. M prifix can only be put on cars starting from M Reg and newer. You need to ask him again cause i think he's trying to have you on with the plate

[monsport]

Will sus him out tomorro dont worry. Will check the V5 form and i wont be long finding out.

[E30Adam]

Make sure the timing chain was done recently, an expensive job if it wasn't!!

[CaesarBob]

Definitely sounds suspicious with an M plate on an 89/90 M3. And shouldn't it be Nogaro Silver rather than Dolphin ... i think.

Also, thought you were an auto-man Monsport?

[Jhonno]

does sound a bit dodgy.. the plate esp. But for 3.5k if its straight, not rotten or crashed then hey gotta be worth a gander

[Simon]

Yep another here that agrees that sounds well dodgy, for one they never did the E30 M3 in Dolphin, the leather if original shouldn't be shabby for a 95k car, and it's been registered late for an EvoII, and like the guys say it should have a prefix of F or G OR earlier and not an M!!

[monsport]

I'll see how it goes tomorro and let you all know what its like etc. and what the Reg is.

[Nostrils]

Monsport,

Confirm all of the above, be very suspicious! M8 EVO is registered to a Lancia Intergrale and the present owner has had that car since 1997.

Before your trip tomorrow, may I suggest you read this page, which will tell you all you need to know about the various models.

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=8

Good Luck

[Rich_W]

Wouldnt touch it with a barge pole. In fact I wouldnt even waste time going to look at it if I was you

Make sure the timing chain was done recently, an expensive job if it wasn't!!

Adam, Timing chain has NO set interval. Parts are circa Ԛ£500 plus whoever decides to do the job for you labour. To date there have been NO proven cases of the chain snapping. Most common and by common I mean less than 5 cases WORLDWIDE in the past 3 years. Is the chain jumping. Thats down to wear on the tensioner and guide rails primarily, not down to the chain giving up or stretching that muh.

Bear in mind its a Duplex chain. (Double) so its VERY strong. Its the lesser engines from various 5 and 6 series' that have the problem with their SINGLE chain.

Basically, theres a lot of BS surrounding the timing chain issue. Various people seem to want to instill in owners that it will break at 100,001 miles. Clearly it can break, but its VERY VERY unlikely!

HTH

[M3RAGS]

agreed rich, it always makes me laugh when people just quote the 'Munich Legends' myth.
The best preventative method is to replace the oil fed tensioner with an e36 m3 evo part.
The chain condition is the important factor and this is governed by how well the car has been looked after.
IT IS NEVER GOING TO SNAP, only jump teeth,at high revs,for example.

the myths of e30 m3's eh!

[monsport]

Ok guys, Back from my look at this M3 heres the run down....


1986 M3 EVO
170k kilometers (roughly 108000 miles)
16"x8.5 Rear and 7" Front Borbet Alloys V.nice and mint condition
The registration is BI6 EVO as in BIG EVO just to clear that up.
4 branch manifold looks pretty new. But wasnt put on at all rite because its blowing out badly.
Mtech Wheel Gear Knob Leather has the usual cracks but no holes.
Gear box felt very tight and clutch wasnt too heavy.
OBC all electrics
Koni Shocks and springs all round
full tool kit interior in good condition.
Comes with 4 new discs and pads

Now for the body work:
(1) Two front jacking points need repair
(2) Kit needs to be taken off and rust to be repaired.
(3) Boot letting in water
(4) Rust around the rear lights and number plate lights
(5) Extensive Rust around the sun roof letting in water badly. All foot well carpets wet...

So Ideally IF I buy this car I would need to strip it down completely and get all the rust patches done and a full respray.
Could be an ok project but have to ring him later and let him know so let me know what you guys think.

Put it this way would you buy it if you had the money????

Price Ԛ£3500!!!

[Davenotouring]

Definately sounds like a project with that rust!

Didn't someone else go and see this car recently? The plate rings a bell.

6 branch manifold?

[Ant]

the sunroof would be the biggest concern for me, the rest is not to bad or expensive to do IMHO, Ian Haynes would be the man to talk to with regard to getting the roof sorted Dude, I know he's had his replaced recently and was happy with the final result.

for the Ԛ£Ã”šÃ‚£ though... V V tempting innit

Oh ,had a though on the exhaust blow, maybe a 4 branch would work better , j/K sorry couldn't resist.

Whats you gut instinct ??

Will she replace or suppliment the 2.7 beast ?

[monsport]

Just to clear things up a 4 BRANCH manifold is what I meant to say. Ive had a sport too long...
Its just hard to know I was adding it up if its a complete bucket when I start taking the kit off it I could always break it and make over half the money back on the parts on the car at the moment

[Simon]

Knock him down to 3k and I think that's a pretty good buy, if it all goes Pete Tong, like you say you could break it and I reckon you could easily make your money back, especially with the private plate etc.

If it's an evo it will have an E cast into the head.

[monsport]

Will try and get him down. Will check the head simon for an 'E'. Doubt it has the EVO reg if it isnt actually an EVO wel see. Think I might just go for it and see how things pan out...

[Rich_W]

b16 evo is registered to a Harley Davidson!!!

b18 evo is not registered to anything at the moment

Seriously, wouldn't bother. M3s are expensive enough to run as it is, let alone a "project" like this one.

My advice. Keep saving and buy a good one.

[mysteron35]

I'd leave it ! , but if you did go for it why not put all the good stuff in a standard E30 body ? I know of a local car to me like this , its silver and looks like a 325 but has all the M3 running gear ! and if I'm honest I like it more than my M3 it just looks very cool ! .
Just my two pence worth , Steve .