E30 motorsport Logbook question..

[beautymeanswheels]

Have been speaking to a chap re his e30 which is selling. It is a cabriolet with the mtech2 kit, bubble interior and auto box in Macau Blue.

I would have thought its a motorsport. However, the logbook just states '325i cabriolet'
The owner has told me it has it's service book with it which states that it is a motorsport?
May seem a silly question but I find it all very confusing!
I know I'll need the vin number to call BMW etc BUT I am hoping that I can get an answer on here from you boffins beforehand!
When I done a simple text check using the number plate it again came up as a 325i cabriolet?!

So, your help would be very appreciated!

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

Only way is to get hold of the VIN and check what it was when it left the dealer.
If it had said 'motorsport' in the V5C, it still wouldn't mean anything. Up to a few years ago changes could be made in the logbook without anyone seriously querying what and why.

[B7]

Motorsports just stated 325i on the V5.

As above, take the last 7 digits of the vin to a dealer and ask for the option list. That will tell you.

[csl]

On that dealer spec sheet that has been mentioned,you need to look for "798 Motorsport Edition"
Then buy it and put some pics up.

[beautymeanswheels]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-BMW-E30- ... 2690506%26

[beautymeanswheels]

That is the car I was referring to. I'm not sure how accurate his description of no rust maybe as mot guys don't usually check everywhere!

[Quaser]

Seems to have all the right bits - colour, bubble leather, leather centre console, unique door cards, electric roof....

[beautymeanswheels]

It is a genuine motorsport, spoke with BMW.
It hasn't been welded in the past and owner does say its not got rust but he hasnt looked under the boot carpet etc.

[beautymeanswheels]

Viewed this car. Stunning bit of kit, original alpinas, did have some wear to interior, rust on one arch. Seller had 10 other cars ranging from Bentley continental to rang rover sport etc.
Then we decided to look at the paperwork together.

Present were almost all mots but 2. What we discovered was that the service book had a service at around 70k (approx) miles around 1997. However the mot from 1996 had around 60k miles on it!

6 previous owners. Current owner had the car since 2000. Needless to say deal fell through as he was very embarassed and said he wouldn't sell anymore.

[pacerpete]

The eyebrows and other assorted pikey action are clues that it's past may be murky, like most

[Rtaylor2208]

Present were almost all mots but 2. What we discovered was that the service book had a service at around 70k (approx) miles around 1997. However the mot from 1996 had around 60k miles on it!

Thats 10K in year, not that unrealistic.

[beautymeanswheels]

10k is not unrealistic but the mot and service record just didn't match up.

[GE3OFF-77]

Its a 20+ year old car, why does stamps in a book matter so much?
Most cars are lucky to get 3 or 4 dealer stamps in the book.
You're looking at an old car thats had half a dozen owners, buy it on condition and how it drives etc not on how many stamps the previous owners paid too much money for at a main dealer.

[Sanchez]

Present were almost all mots but 2. What we discovered was that the service book had a service at around 70k (approx) miles around 1997. However the mot from 1996 had around 60k miles on it!

Thats 10K in year, not that unrealistic.

True but 20k in the last 6 years.

As a genuine Msport ide buy it. Very rare motor and some basic cabbys go for 5k.

[HairyScreech]

Viewed this car. Stunning bit of kit, original alpinas, did have some wear to interior, rust on one arch. Seller had 10 other cars ranging from Bentley continental to rang rover sport etc.
Then we decided to look at the paperwork together.

Present were almost all mots but 2. What we discovered was that the service book had a service at around 70k (approx) miles around 1997. However the mot from 1996 had around 60k miles on it!

6 previous owners. Current owner had the car since 2000. Needless to say deal fell through as he was very embarassed and said he wouldn't sell anymore.

Surely it would only be an issue if it had lost 10k miles?
Regardless mileage is not a thing on these cars, condition is the killer, if it is less than a million miles and in good mechanical/metal cancer nick then buy it.

[B7]

Most cars are lucky to get 3 or 4 dealer stamps in the book.
You're looking at an old car thats had half a dozen owners, buy it on condition and how it drives etc not on how many stamps the previous owners paid too much money for at a main dealer.

1. I'd walk away from any car older than 4 -5 years old with only 3-4 stamps in the book.
2. Servicing stamps show an owner was not shy of servicing or spending money. A car with no stamps does not.

We can all argue about whether servicing at a dealer is worth the money, whether the work you pay for is ever actually done, if a non dealer stamp is as good as a dealer etc. etc. etc. BUT:

At least the car had half a chance by seeing a workshop once in a while.

[Brianmoooore]

True but 20k in the last 6 years.

Not at all unrealistic. With the kind of summers we have had lately in the UK, that's more than mine is likely to do in six years.

[Sanchez]

Mileage could be spot on, just difficult to believe 10k in a year and 20k in 6.

I could have been off the road for repairs, but ide think that same owner for 13 years and some money spent on BMW services is a good thing.

Ebay auction has ended so did it sell then anyone know?

[Brianmoooore]

20k in six years suggests to me it was a weekend toy, only out in sunshine, and the rest of the time garaged.

[beautymeanswheels]

Again, was a stunning looking car. The owner said he had never taken it out in the wet so wasnt sure whether the roof would leak or not. Was not mint in anyones book but a decent example. I just don't like buying cars that have been clocked, I know you'll say most have been but knowing when one has had its mileage put back and buying it and not knowing are 2 different things.

[sunnysr]

It is funny how most car when they get over a certain age all seem to have done between 100 and 150k miles , i have had and been in quite a few e30s now and non have had more that 150k miles on

[Reelizmpro]

In the US, even the full M Technic cabrio is referred to as a 325i and mechanically it is.