Late 80's BMW 3 series?

Exar Khun

Hello,

I've been looking around for an older cheap car to get. I was looking at this http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1341274.

What does anyone think? Its got 100k. miles on the clock? Should i avoid it like the plague?

Thanks

kdevitt

Looks in lovely nick - and cheap too. 100k is nothing on a 21 year old car, may have had a haircut though!

I'm restoring an 83 3 series at the moment with 49k on the clock - they're a nice car, easy enough to work on too.

EPM

looks pretty straight but be very wary. Lots of there have been thrashed by young fellas after cheap rear wheel drive fun. Get it checked thoroughly. Dont expect it it to be cheap to fix. Parts should be easy to get new or second hand but if you need to get new it is a BMW so prices can reflect this. If you want old-ish and cheap look for a carina E or a mk1 mondeo if you can find good ones

unkel

What they said. Be wary and check it out. It does seem very cheap as these cars have been going up in value over the last year or two.

Fishtits

"Parts should be easy to get new or second hand but if you need to get new it is a BMW so prices can reflect this. If you want old-hpi and cheap look for a carina E or a mk1 mondeo if you can find good ones"

You obviously don't source parts for a BMW... for that model, genuine parts prices have been similar to Opel/Fiat price wise for years ...

The model stated should be injection (previous year 1.8 was the 316, 1.8 carb model - chrome bumpers) only downside is the timing belt, later models reverted to a chain.

Nasty rear snapping handling in wet/low friction environments aside, this model was the last BM to stand above the crowd in terms of quality IMHO. It was light years ahead of its peers at the time, nowadays an Avensis offers similar comfort to a non enthusiast driver as a 3 series.

Johnboy Mac

Ok, it's a long time since I was involved with E30's as this model is known. First off it's 318 with the better M10 engine than the later M40, imo. these tend to be bullet proof, bar valve stem oil seals - common problem on a lot of cars after 100k but no a big job. Colour is good, mileage very reasonable. Look out for rust - good inspection advised, rear shock top mountings (cheap) and fuel pump relays pack up, cheap also.

as already mentioned parts are cheap from say someone like Otto, the cars drive very well, 1.8 engine is ideal for everday use and it's a modern classic for less than 1500 sobs. You can't go too wrong. vital as these tend to be a tail happy fit premium tyres, well woth it.

go for it if you happy about cars overall condition.

rebel.ranter

Would have loved to have hung on to my e30. Sold it 8 years ago, still think that was a mistake.
It is a DIYers dream, very easy to work on, plenty of specialist forums out there to help you. In fact I wrote loads of technical articles for the (now defunkt) website http://www.bmwe30.net about 10 years ago.

wheeliebin

These 3 series were great cars just get it checked. A nice set of Mtec alloys will set it off. If anybody is interested there is an 1989 3 series sitting outside our work on the road. The guy who owns the car bought another one from england and crashed the english one 2 days later. Tipped the back of a beetle but the irish one we used as a donor car for the bumper and grille and possibly the grille covers. Its a 2 liter 6cylinder gun barrel grey. I need to get rid of it. Bar the bumper and Headlamps missing The bonnet is slightly dented from someone sitting on it the rest of the car is clean. 200euro and its anybodys. It has not been started in 6 months

homer90

Exar Khun wrote: »

Hello,

I've been looking around for an older cheap car to get. I was looking at this http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1341274.

What does anyone think? Its got 100k. miles on the clock? Should i avoid it like the plague?

Thanks

At that price and condition (from pics) it would be rude not to !!

Some good advice given so far.......

Don17

Theres an Irish e30 owners site if your lookin for even more advice

http://www.e30owners.com/

mvpr

Watch out for rust around the windscreen

Says its an Irish car. Wouldnt be too sure...