Beemer 3 series E30-Yes or No?

RoundyMooney

Hi gurus,

Have been offered the above. As per title, aye or nay? It's rust free, 130k on the clock, serviced on the button, NCT'd...

Downside-seats are worn so I'll have to source some (4 door), and it needs new shocks 'cos it floats like a rubber dinghy. Also a suspect noise (like a worn alternator bearing or sumthin) that I need to check out. It's an '87.

What do you good people think? Can get this car for no financial outlay although I will be spending a bit on it of course.

Thanks folks.

R

mike65

If you can get your mits on a decent example for nothing, then I'd say yes.
Kbannon is the man you need to speak to here and check out the bmw forums

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=1b3deaad488f05dbabd0a415c6b0cd9c

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20

http://www.bmwboard.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Mike.

junkyard

You can't go wrong with a BMW they really are a great car. So much has been done with this model at this stage any problems are well known. Parts aren't that expensive at this stage and most stuff is available spurious too. If your looking for parts Jerry Horgan in Midleton has a few scrapped and had a good 4 door interior the last time I was there, I'll get his number for you if you want it.

adam01

RoundyMooney wrote:

Hi gurus,

Have been offered the above. As per title, aye or nay? It's rust free, 130k on the clock, serviced on the button, NCT'd...

Downside-seats are worn so I'll have to source some (4 door), and it needs new shocks 'cos it floats like a rubber dinghy. Also a suspect noise (like a worn alternator bearing or sumthin) that I need to check out. It's an '87.

What do you good people think? Can get this car for no financial outlay although I will be spending a bit on it of course.

Thanks folks.

R

send us pictures. i uesd to own a E30 325i convertible,1987 model, lovely beat of kit......ADs

PaulK_CCI

like everyone says, if it's in genuinely!!! good nick, and the money is peanuts, why not, but if you are considering it on the basis of that it is or will soon become a classic, i.e relatively sought after car, then I would say 'nay', not for another 5 or 6 years at least.

If it was an E21, then I would have said yes!, these are currently still lurking in the background waiting to come out. In Holland prices for good e21's are already on a very strong rise (helped by the fact that cars have the tax free classic status when they are pre-1980!!). So a good 1st series 323i or original Alpina go for strong money!

RoundyMooney

Thanks for all the input guys. It gives me a bit to think about. It seems the seats aren't as bad as I thought, just covered up with natty covers. I'll give you a shout tomorrow Paddy (still have your number from the classic meet thread) cos, if his interior is better than mine, I'll run with it. I have to say, for anyone in the same boat, it's a very refined motor for its time, and built like a tank! The wander at speed seems to be play in the steering somewhere, be it joints or the rack itself (non-pas) so I'll do a bit of investigation asap...

Fan is viscous coupling, making a small bit of noise-again, not a deal breaker and I'm sure a replacement can be sourced.

@Paul, tbh I'm not getting it for its classic pedigree, although they are getting unusual on this side of the water. My last car a TR7, was a major headturner, but sadly about as reliable as asking Georgie Best and Oliver Reed to mind your bar for the week :rolleyes:

@ Adam, a fine bus sir, shame you got rid. I'll try and get a pic or two up soon.

@ Mike, thanks again for those clickies, appreciated

Con_316

Any E30 with a decent engine and half decent body is good. Loads of parts for them as they're a massively popular car in england, and now here too. 130k is to a bmw that been well serviced as 60k is to a normal car. suspension is known to go floppy after 100 k though easily replaceable.
Damn fine cars them.