e30 opinions

green-blood

hey guys

having gone thru a pair of SAAB 900s and a late mini cooper, I went all paternal and added a Mondeo to the Focus when bubs 2 arrived, I'm never selling our 66 mini though. Anyway we can now let the focus go as the Mondeo plays the family car brilliantly, its superb piece of kit,takes all the baby gear but we really dont need 2 sensible family cars (so I've been trying to convince her with the cheque book). So I'm after a reliable modern classic if ya know what I mean, I'll park the SAAB thing for a bit I want a T16S convertible next, so for now I'm thinking E30 BMW. I want a 6pot, so thats 320 or 325, taking fuel economy and annual tax and putting them aside as neccssary evils, has anyone got any tips, hints, experience with especially the 325. I know about avoiding rusty shock towers under the bonnet and rusting rear arches, failing seats and tatty metallic colours.

Basically just tell me i'm doing the right thing (no I do not want a 316 or an M3)

Daxklynsmith

I've had both 320i and 325's.
The 320 takes a bit of time to get there but once she's into her power-band it's as much fun as a 325.However, more suited to Highway driving(140 kph cruising) than the 3rd gear/4th gear driving on Irelands Roads.
Fuel economy averaged out at 10/k/litre on the 320 as opposed to 8 k/litre on the 325.
Both Engines are made to last.
The 320 had a full heat sieze at 70,000 k's after driving a hundred k's without any water (Yes! I do believe Slick 50 works), Drained the oil, refilled with water, bled it and drove it to 285,000 k's when I sold it.New owner did a head gasket and it's still going.
325 is much more fun,especially the sport or 325iS,and I'm sure they will be future icons.
Problem is that most of them will have been cained to bits and Main dealer charges like a wounded Buffalo to work on them.
What kills these cars is not speed ( They love cruising)but short Traffic light to Traffic light bursts.
Just my 02c worth

The 325 is more fun

green-blood

cool

thanks for that.

I imagine then you'd approve of a 1986 325i Sport, close ratio box, slippy diff, recaro interior and 15 inch BBS alloys.... in black!!!

Chuffed <- does that adequately sum up how I feel...nah

mike65

We demand pix!

Mike.

green-blood

I promise loads more pics, once I have the beast, trust me you'll be sick of me going on about it

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4646052701&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

it was ended just for me, and no I'm not telling how little

1275gt

green-blood wrote:

I promise loads more pics, once I have the beast, trust me you'll be sick of me going on about it

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4646052701&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

it was ended just for me, and no I'm not telling how little

:eek: good man!! thats gorgeous man. do you need a navigator :rolleyes:

green-blood

thats what the bro is for.

dont tell anyone, I might be able to get it to Mosney!! last year the cooper LE was the suprise!!!

1275gt

green-blood wrote:

thats what the bro is for.

dont tell anyone, I might be able to get it to Mosney!! last year the cooper LE was the suprise!!!

woops too late i wont say a word

Daxklynsmith

Veery Nice Green Blood!! Definitely approve!!
Word of advice! If she's been in a heated Garage for awhile,then some of the seals may have dried out.
Drive her as if she's brand new and still has to be run in for the 1st 2-300 miles.
I know the heart wants to see what she feels like and what she will do but get her used to working again and she will last forever.
Check when the Cam Chain was last done, Valves are expensive
Wear well and enjoy
Dax

green-blood

Cheers for advice, gonna take it nice and easy on the way to the boat, its insured, but has no UK tax so I dont want to be getting any attention.

she was laid up with oil down the cylinders on axle stands and has been run daily for the last 2 weeks, so all "should" be well. Must get a BMW spanner man in the dublin area to take a look - tappets, bushes, wheel bearings, shocks, that sorta thing

MercMad

Nice car indeed !

Take it handy in the wet though, I spun one once, very easily, and just manged to avoid trhe tree and the kerb !

1275gt

green-blood wrote:

Cheers for advice, gonna take it nice and easy on the way to the boat, its insured, but has no UK tax so I dont want to be getting any attention

no speed metal in the changer now best of luck dude :cool:

qz

Fair play green-blood! Congratulations, she's beautiful. There's an e30 320i waiting for me, which I'll get in a couple of year's time, so expect a lot of the same questions from me around then

Enjoy the car!

commited

Nice one Brian - was wondering how long it'd take you to get bored of the Mundano

green-blood

oh no we still need the Mondeo, its a superb family car. Samll kiddiesa dn cars without air con just do not mix.

Its bye bye to our beloved Focus though, after 4 years of brilliant service.

green-blood

bloody VRT, I wont be able to sit down for a week. On the good side it turns out my car is worth just about twice what I thought it was so I'm even happier now.

Anyone recommend some good indy BMW mechanics

Con_316

Just had to say congratulations on getting that 325. Fantastic cars,. have a bit of an addiction to these things. Currently have two 91 325's (one sport ans one SE), a '88 E30 320i (for sale, white with 17" azevs, mtech kit, scorpion exhaust, 325 sport diff, koni shocks and eibach springs, m3 evo rear spoiler if anyone interested), and up until last monday two E30 318is's (both sold).

hMM... i think i'm obsessed!

And by all means, please do listen to speed metal on your cd player!!!

mike65

Anyone recommend some good indy BMW mechanics

http://www.bmwcarclubireland.com/contacts.php

Mike.

green-blood

surely you dont recomment all of them mike !!!!!!

found my man off SCR

MercMad

That SCR guy............Alan Carroll, I think I went to Bolton Street with him, tall thin guy anyone know?

unkel

Best of luck with it, green-blood. Looks mint

Go on, how many sterlingos did it set you back?

green-blood

more than a few and less than a lot !!!

MercMad

That much...................!

Jeeeeez jou woz robbed !!

jozi

Great looking car.

Hope good ones wont be to scarse 3 years from now when i finish college been eying them up for so long now