I have brought a nail :-(

[dj]

I am gutted but happy if that makes sense!! I decided to buy an 325i touring about a month ago, Looking on e-bay etc then asking around at work for advice I found out someone was selling one there. In my hast I brought the car with out even looking around at others.

Now dont get me wrong its the first e30 Bmw I have ever owned and to be honest I really love it!! The sound, the quality and I have never owned a car that can be so smooth and a great ride but can also handle so well at speed and bloody move!!

Now the problems are starting to show...I have found since giving it a good wash that two slight paint blemishes are now holes!!! The rear bushes are shot (only really noticeble when going over humps etc), The engine seems to be lumpy ( lurching feeling) when holding a low speed ( 30mph etc) not that bad but you can notice it. The speedo has now packed up!! ha.ha, There is now a clunking sound from the running gear inbetween gear changes!! It goes on........

Sounds like I am having a right old moan!! But having only owned the car about 4 weeks I have become a little dishearten but the silly bit is as soon as I get in it I can not stop grinning!!!! I really really love driving it but I am just a little confused as to what to do??!?!?? keep it and try to sort the problems or just run it into the ground?!?!?

Dj

[johnono]

get prices mate.....

if u dont want the hassle then sell it, but it probably wont get what u paid for it

but i reckon it can be sorted at a price

[Davenotouring]

It seems like you have uncovered one or two problems with your car, but I think we all do that.

Things get uncovered which you don't like or are broken whenever you buy a car.

My advice would be to take it to a specialist, get a quote to have all the problems fixed.

Consider doing some of the work yourself if you can to save money, if not then get them to do it. Alternatively, sell it for parts if you have the time/space, or sell it on with the problems it has.

They don't sound like major problems, although the bushes can be difficult and time consuming.

Where are you based? Do you know of any specialists?

You can't win them all!

Good luck!

[dj]

Cheers for the advice chaps...Think I just needed to let it out !! ha.ha

I live in the cotswolds but was really trying to avoid having to splash out loads on my work runner as the race car tends to hammer the bank balance . To be honest I really do like the car and like you have said nothing is fatal at the moment so while I am still grinning while driving it I think I will try and slowly work my way through it.

Thanks again Dj

[Lordschleife]

The speedo has now packed up

Could be worth checking where the wires go into the diff, this happened to mine and it was just a cracked wire - quick strip/resolder/tape up job.

[Jesus325iTouring]

Quite often these things can work out ok,a friend of mine has just bought a Transit Tipper for Ԛ£500,needing in the words of the seller " abit of welding on the foot step for the MOT.
On closer inspection,the repair bill will in fact brush a grand,but what he'll end up with is a structally sound Tipper for Ԛ£1500,pretty bloody good buy in the end.
So Fella,even if your car does need a bit of work here and there,your still end up with a nice tidy motor.

[Richy325iTouring]

I paid Ԛ£350 for my touring. body isnt the best but its easyly sorted.
Just had it mot and the worst was brake pipes which ment the tank had to be dropped which then led to a new tank. However if i paid what they are going for then who is to say i wouldnt have had these problems come mot time so it worked out i had a bargin as the engine and running gear are sound.

car being resprayed for Ԛ£700 in a cpl months so it still works out a cheap mint car then.

All in all i have a solid E30 which cost me little money and the only that needs would need to be sorted are the rear axle bushes but they fine for now.

garage that does my work said i have a bargin, my boss keeps caling it a nail however lol

[BMW_Tourer]

Reading this thread sounds exactly like my situation too....

My touring is great to drive, I dont see the bad side when I'm behind the wheel, but it needs cosmetic work, electric fixing, and trim falls off it when driving along (see my other thread elsewhere)

But...I keep thinking...I know it has potential....it can look and drive great with a little bit of time, effort and money. My only problem is at the moment I lack two of the three elements needed to get the car nice.

However, it gets me to work and back, drives great around town....and am overall happy (at the moment) For the money I paid I cant really moan.

The Mrs hasnt quite taken a shine to it yet...Feels like a trotter...thats what she said she felt like the other day in it . I wont be disheartened though.

The main problem I have at the moment with it is that the exhaust is really throaty...headturningly so.....people turn and see whats coming down the road...and there's me in my not-so-shiny tourer with trim missing!

I would say, if you have the time and that little spark that you get from driving such a great car, then you should stick it out. Make it nice enough that you are content with it...then maybe buy it a little present every so often to keep it happy and looking nice, and you'll have a great relationship together

[andyp]

my touring is the same needs a few jobs doing on it, but its getting there with a bit of time and money,, drove it for the first time in 2 months today and it feels much better and ive only changed the rear suspension so far, next job is the front,

[placey]

i don't think there is a car on the planet that doesn't benefit from regular owner attention - including brand new ones.

my advice to dj is to wash it every week and do one job on it at that time too - fix a wire or secure a piece or trim or clean an underbonnet component whatever. let a couple of weeks turn into a couple of months then the summers gone and before you know it you'll have a right nice sorted motor.

as for the bigger jobs that take too long - save a little money each week too and they'll soon be done. before you know it you'll have a minter that drives as good as it looks.

paul

p.s. it'l never be finished though.

[johnono]

that sound like a plan baby!!

exactly what im on, wash it regular, do the small things i can whenever the oppertunity is there, and save plan for the expensive stuff

[dj]

Thanks chaps!! I have to say I do feel alot better about it all now ..And tourer man your comments cracked me up!!!

Thanks again

dj

[Richy325iTouring]

I couldnt have said it any better placey.
each week there somthing else done to the hearse.
Allthough the main thing i want to do is get my cliffird on, but i just dont have the time lol