E30: what to check for?

tc20

Hi all,
I'm hoping to view an '89 316 auto over the weekend, and as its the first E30 i'll have checked out, what specifically should i be looking for?

Are there any specific rusting areas?
Any particular mechanical issues?

thanks

bbsrs

tc20 wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm hoping to view an '89 316 auto over the weekend, and as its the first E30 i'll have checked out, what specifically should i be looking for?

Are there any specific rusting areas?
Any particular mechanical issues?

thanks

Rust , especially in the front bulkhead areas and under the fuse box, check for wet carpets in the front, could be just blocked sunroof drains but most probably rust letting water in. Check all over for rust though anything mechanical isn't usually an expensive fix if you DIY it and buy 2nd hand or spurious spares. Go to e30owners.com.for a comprehensive buyers guide , it's an Irish site with very helpful members and a useful place to get parts and cars for sale. That 4 door you're looking at if the mileage is genuine and supported by its condition and service history seems like good value to me, 4 door 316 , navy and auto would probably be the least desireable spec though.

W123-80's

bbsrs wrote: »

Rust , especially in the front bulkhead areas and under the fuse box, check for wet carpets in the front, could be just blocked sunroof drains but most probably rust letting water in. Check all over for rust though anything mechanical isn't usually an expensive fix if you DIY it and buy 2nd hand or spurious spares. Go to e30owners.com.for a comprehensive buyers guide , it's an Irish site with very helpful members and a useful place to get parts and cars for sale. That 4 door you're looking at if the mileage is genuine and supported by its condition and service history seems like good value to me, 4 door 316 , navy and auto would probably be the least desireable spec though.

I'll second that. Drove one for over two years in the early noughties until I wrote it off..! Two door coupe. Absolutely loved it.
The one you are looking at looks nice. Best of luck if you buy it.
Simple classy car.

tc20

bbsrs wrote: »

That 4 door you're looking at if the mileage is genuine and supported by its condition and service history seems like good value to me, 4 door 316 , navy and auto would probably be the least desireable spec though.

well hopefully we'll soon find out
thanks for the tips, much appreciated
the car has to be auto, as my wife will also (occasionally) be driving it, and she only has an auto licence. It'll also be the family daily runabout, so 4 doors suits better. Sometimes, not having the coolest car of the bunch works in your favour

tc20

W123-80's wrote: »

I'll second that. Drove one for over two years in the early noughties until I wrote it off..! Two door coupe. Absolutely loved it.
The one you are looking at looks nice. Best of luck if you buy it.
Simple classy car.

Ouch, hope you got out ok from the crash.
As above, we'll see how it goes. I've been on the look out for a decent W201 for the last 6 months or so, and with none coming up to scratch, the E30 caught my eye.

tc20

so i viewed the car today and armed with some tips from e30owners, here are my initial findings:

starting with common rust problem areas
1. the (manual) sunroof is clear, the cassette seems fine
2. the firewall seems pretty intact behind the fusebox, though some of the (soundproofing?) material has perished
3. the square pads under the accelerator pedal seem pretty strong
4. the battery tray is good
5. door sill are good
6. bonnet scuttle appears ok
all ok so far but
7. the rear skirt on the drivers side was previously filled, and also a bit on the boot pocket on the same side
8. the boot lip above the rear passenger light cluster has some bubbling/flaking, but not too serious


the boot and spare wheelwell are dry
the cabin is dry, as are the footwells and under the carpets
interior is clean (could do with a good valet)
electric (front) windows & mirrors work
all 4 fan speeds work fine
no crack in the dash

The gears shift ok with no clunks, reverse engages fine

The car has a fresh NCT until 06/14, and i've asked the seller for a copy of the results sheet.

One issue which concerns me is the with the brakes. Although the car stops fine and straight, when i pressed the pedal, there was a 'hissing' sound from the passenger footwell - is this an indication of a vacuum problem, or a master cylinder issue?

Overall, for the price she seems a decent enough motor. Given that this is the first E30 i've looked over and driven, i didn't get the bank-vault feel of solidity that any of the W201s i've driven had, the car just 'seems' lighter. Is this just me, or do any of ye good folk have experience with both?

Is there anything else i should be checking? What is the recommended cambelt change interval?

thanks

bbsrs

tc20 wrote: »

so i viewed the car today and armed with some tips from e30owners, here are my initial findings:

starting with common rust problem areas
1. the (manual) sunroof is clear, the cassette seems fine
2. the firewall seems pretty intact behind the fusebox, though some of the (soundproofing?) material has perished
3. the square pads under the accelerator pedal seem pretty strong
4. the battery tray is good
5. door sill are good
6. bonnet scuttle appears ok
all ok so far but
7. the rear skirt on the drivers side was previously filled, and also a bit on the boot pocket on the same side
8. the boot lip above the rear passenger light cluster has some bubbling/flaking, but not too serious


the boot and spare wheelwell are dry
the cabin is dry, as are the footwells and under the carpets
interior is clean (could do with a good valet)
electric (front) windows & mirrors work
all 4 fan speeds work fine
no crack in the dash

The gears shift ok with no clunks, reverse engages fine

The car has a fresh NCT until 06/14, and i've asked the seller for a copy of the results sheet.

One issue which concerns me is the with the brakes. Although the car stops fine and straight, when i pressed the pedal, there was a 'hissing' sound from the passenger footwell - is this an indication of a vacuum problem, or a master cylinder issue?

Overall, for the price she seems a decent enough motor. Given that this is the first E30 i've looked over and driven, i didn't get the bank-vault feel of solidity that any of the W201s i've driven had, the car just 'seems' lighter. Is this just me, or do any of ye good folk have experience with both?

Is there anything else i should be checking? What is the recommended cambelt change interval?

thanks

Sound about as good as you could expect for a 24 year old car that's not advertised as concours and not priced badly.

unkel

tc20 wrote: »

i didn't get the bank-vault feel of solidity that any of the W201s i've driven had, the car just 'seems' lighter. Is this just me

Not just you

Base E30 about 1200kg, base W201 about 1500kg

So yes only one of these two cars is built like a tank

tc20

for piece of mind, it looks like a TB change would be required - would anyone be able to out a ballpark figure on that kind of work?
(my last couple of cars have all had timing chains, so its been a good while since i've had to think about a belt change)

Also, i reckon the 'hissing' sound i mentioned above when the brake pedal is depressed is most likely the servo. Again, is this a reasonable fix?

thanks

ants09

tc20 wrote: »

for piece of mind, it looks like a TB change would be required - would anyone be able to out a ballpark figure on that kind of work?
(my last couple of cars have all had timing chains, so its been a good while since i've had to think about a belt change)

Also, i reckon the 'hissing' sound i mentioned above when the brake pedal is depressed is most likely the servo. Again, is this a reasonable fix?

thanks

I have a 320i E30 and i was charged around 120 euro's to change the timing belt including the water pump and all the tensioners etc

I havnt a clue about the servo tbh but the guys on e30owners should give you a ideal if it is the servo thats gone and how much to replace it.

If they dont know try e30zone

bbsrs

tc20 wrote: »

for piece of mind, it looks like a TB change would be required - would anyone be able to out a ballpark figure on that kind of work?
(my last couple of cars have all had timing chains, so its been a good while since i've had to think about a belt change)

Also, i reckon the 'hissing' sound i mentioned above when the brake pedal is depressed is most likely the servo. Again, is this a reasonable fix?

thanks

I've had a good few E30s and that servo noise sounds normal to me, if the pedal doesn't require excessive force to stop you I'd doubt the servo is faulty, the servo is on the left with a linkage going across below the dash joining the pedal to the servo. 316 brakes wouldn't be the greatest anyways , does that e30 have drums on the back? An upgrade to 325 brakes would be a useful upgrade.

tc20

ants09 wrote: »

I have a 320i E30 and i was charged around 120 euro's to change the timing belt including the water pump and all the tensioners etc

that seems very reasonable, can i ask where you had this done? PM if you wish

bbsrs wrote: »

I've had a good few E30s and that servo noise sounds normal to me, if the pedal doesn't require excessive force to stop you I'd doubt the servo is faulty, the servo is on the left with a linkage going across below the dash joining the pedal to the servo. 316 brakes wouldn't be the greatest anyways , does that e30 have drums on the back? An upgrade to 325 brakes would be a useful upgrade.

thanks again bbsrs, i didn't have to stomp down on the pedal by any means, but they didn't seem overly sharp. The car has had minimal use over the last couple of years though, it hasn't been abused, nor would i say it has been neglected, but maybe not as cossetted as some.

Also, can either of ye recommend a BMW indy in the greater Dublin area (i'm in north wicklow)

kdevitt

tc20 wrote: »

thanks again bbsrs, i didn't have to stomp down on the pedal by any means, but they didn't seem overly sharp.

E30 brakes are never sharp - I have a BBK fitted to mine and it definitely stops better, but the pedal is still pretty spongey. You can fit a 750i MC which stiffens up the pedal a bit - it won't help the braking power itself, but some people prefer the pedal feel.

tc20 wrote: »

Also, can either of ye recommend a BMW indy in the greater Dublin area (i'm in north wicklow)

I've been using Coolmine Motors in D15 for loads of work on mine - they've been great so far and very reasonably priced. A lot of the BMW indy's will charge you extra because they're 'specialists' but the E30 is such an old tech car that theres little point paying a premium.

tc20

just an update, the car has been bought, but not by me.
I felt it needed a bit of work (don't they all says you) so i was happy to let it go, and also it's given me a bit more of an idea of what to look for next time round.
Linky:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/316/201327215781484/advert?channel=CARS