E30 325/318is or Merc 190 Cosworth?

Aidan_M_M · 11-02-2012 02:36PM #1

Howdy folks , more of a lurker than a poster in this section . I sold my Corrado , and looking for a retro RWD car again , ran one for 7 years and loved it . Not that I want to be donutting or "diffing" or any of that nonsense , just love the feel of a RWD car with an LSD .
Anyhoo , what caught my eye are the classic E30 BMW , and the Merc 190 Cosworth .. I considered AE86s , but as much as I like(d) driving them , you get branded a boyracer if you're a young male seen in one .

Any suggestions for me? Especially from owners of the above cars . Bear in mind , I have a van for daily use and work , so it's only weekends or going for a spin that I'd need it . Also I'm a mechanic with a garage , so sensiblr maintenance isn't a concern .

Thanks in advance.

bbsrs · 11-02-2012 07:02PM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

Howdy folks , more of a lurker than a poster in this section . I sold my Corrado , and looking for a retro RWD car again , ran one for 7 years and loved it . Not that I want to be donutting or "diffing" or any of that nonsense , just love the feel of a RWD car with an LSD .
Anyhoo , what caught my eye are the classic E30 BMW , and the Merc 190 Cosworth .. I considered AE86s , but as much as I like(d) driving them , you get branded a boyracer if you're a young male seen in one .

Any suggestions for me? Especially from owners of the above cars . Bear in mind , I have a van for daily use and work , so it's only weekends or going for a spin that I'd need it . Also I'm a mechanic with a garage , so sensiblr maintenance isn't a concern .

Thanks in advance.

Whats your budget?

Jammy Donut · 11-02-2012 09:30PM

I'v a MINT E36 318is Coupe but I'd want good money for it as it ain't really for sale.

bbsrs · 12-02-2012 02:48AM

Jammy Donut wrote: »

I'v a MINT E36 318is Coupe but I'd want good money for it as it ain't really for sale.

Retro and LSD , doesnt really remind me of an an E36 (yet)

Seweryn · 12-02-2012 12:05PM

A nice Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 or 190E 2.5-16 would be my choice (they were never named "Cosworth").
The thing to watch out for is the rear suspension, as this car have the self leveling system and if I was buying one I would make sure that the system is still there. Some people remove the SLS and replace it with standard springs and shock absorbers, which make the car pointless, IMO.
Other stuff as usual - rust on wheel arches, side channels, rear bulkhead, etc.

Good Luck with your research.

Tzar Chasm · 12-02-2012 03:14PM

Retro & RWD
think (Slightly) outside the box

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2923070

Sierra

in fairness Clarkson had he same Idea in one of those TG race special, Slow went for the Cossie Merc being touted here and Hamster wentfor an E36 M3

bbsrs · 12-02-2012 09:01PM

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

Retro & RWD
think (Slightly) outside the box

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2923070

Sierra

/QUOTE]

2.0 on the logbook therefore cheap insurance the add says , don't people realise you effectively have no insurance if you tell lies to the insurance company and with a V6 instead of an in line 4 any assesor or investigator would cop it. I wonder how many vehicles are out there uninsured in this way?

Big Nasty · 12-02-2012 09:12PM

E30 M3 would be nice!

bbsrs · 12-02-2012 11:54PM

MCMLXXV wrote: »

E30 M3 would be nice!

They are but if its not vrt'd the nice people in revenue want 4k for an average example ! So if you're going to buy one you're limited to whats available in Ireland, in my opinion.

Seweryn · 12-02-2012 11:56PM

bbsrs wrote: »

They are but if its not vrt'd the nice people in revenue want 4k for an average example ! So if you're going to buy one you're limited to whats available in Ireland, in my opinion.

Not necessarily, as we don't know Aidan's budget.

bbsrs · 13-02-2012 01:38AM

Seweryn wrote: »

Not necessarily, as we don't know Aidan's budget.

Why would you go outside the state to buy an average condition E30 M3 for the same price you would pay for an average condition irish reg'd E30 M3 ? Say 14k euro here or abroad.
If you have 14k+4k vrt to spend,why wouldnt you just pay 18k for an above average/very good condition E30 M3 on Irish plates?
So in my opinion the crazy vrt makes it economically unviable to buy an E30 M3 without vrt paid unless its for less than 7k sterling and then it will be a money pit for sure and end up costing 18k anyways.

Seweryn · 13-02-2012 08:02AM

bbsrs wrote: »

Why would you go outside the state to buy an average condition E30 M3 for the same price you would pay for an average condition irish reg'd E30 M3 ? Say 14k euro here or abroad.
If you have 14k+4k vrt to spend,why wouldnt you just pay 18k for an above average/very good condition E30 M3 on Irish plates?
So in my opinion the crazy vrt makes it economically unviable to buy an E30 M3 without vrt paid unless its for less than 7k sterling and then it will be a money pit for sure and end up costing 18k anyways.

I agree with you, but the only reason to import a car like this is when you have limited choice localy. Sure, no one would bother with importing a rare car otherwise

.

Aidan_M_M · 13-02-2012 01:45PM

bbsrs wrote: »

Whats your budget?

WEll , yesterday I went to look at a 3k E30 , a 7k Ae86 and a 5.5 ish 190-2.5 . So anywhere in around that .

Seweryn wrote: »

A nice Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 or 190E 2.5-16 would be my choice (they were never named "Cosworth")..

Good Luck with your research.

I know , tbh I only said Cosworth as that's what most people know them by! I have to admit , the rear suspension has me concerned , a lot of horror stories about them failing expensively .

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

Retro & RWD
think (Slightly) outside the box

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2923070

Sierra
M3

Not even as much as no interest at all! Hate the Sapphire , and that engine is a boat anchor.

bbsrs wrote: »

2.0 on the logbook therefore cheap insurance the add says , don't people realise you effectively have no insurance if you tell lies to the insurance company and with a V6 instead of an in line 4 any assesor or investigator would cop it. I wonder how many vehicles are out there uninsured in this way?

Ab-so-freaking-lutely , a lot of the reason I turned away from the E30 was the logbook and actual engine size didn't match.... I pay expensive insurance , so as to actually be insured . Not to just have a slip of paper to show a Cop!

bbsrs wrote: »

Why would you go outside the state to buy an average condition E30 M3 for the same price you would pay for an average condition irish reg'd E30 M3 ? Say 14k euro here or abroad.
If you have 14k+4k vrt to spend,why wouldnt you just pay 18k for an above average/very good condition E30 M3 on Irish plates?
So in my opinion the crazy vrt makes it economically unviable to buy an E30 M3 without vrt paid unless its for less than 7k sterling and then it will be a money pit for sure and end up costing 18k anyways.

Agreed , but outside my budget , and I had my fill of LHD for now with the Integrale . E30 M3 isn't really suitable for my needs , I want something I can park outside the cinema without worrying about it! After the weekend I'm thinking maybe an E36 isn't such a bad option , apart from the blandness of them .

Seweryn · 13-02-2012 02:18PM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

I know , tbh I only said Cosworth as that's what most people know them by! I have to admit , the rear suspension has me concerned , a lot of horror stories about them failing expensively .

You just need to inspect the car properly and with the mechanical knowledge that you have, you shouldn't have any issue with servicing or repairing it. Damaged rear self leveling suspension would not put me off, if the car was right otherwise. The price would need to be adjusted accordingly, obviously.

Tzar Chasm · 13-02-2012 03:14PM

Fair enough on the Sierra, that Log book thing gives me the hump too, I recently bought an E36 316i coupe and I also noticed that there were a fair few ofthem advertised as '1.6 on the book' if I wanted a 323 or a 318is I'd buy a 323/318is and suffer the extra cost.

BTW bland :eek: I think they are rather stylish meself

bijapos · 13-02-2012 06:49PM

Of the two you mentioned I'd go for the 190E. Its more discreet, more subtle, not so much of a boy racer image and its still an excellent all round car. As usual you have to sort out the good from the bad, some of them will not have been cared for.

You could also consider a BMW E28 M or M sport version, or an E34 M/m sport version. There are a couple of good E24 6 series Beemers out there as well, early ones are in the cheap tax bracket, and cheap VRT if you import but maybe its not what you're looking for.

hi5 · 13-02-2012 07:55PM

This is what id be looking at,you get the cheap tax and vrt too.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3249902.htm

Aidan_M_M · 14-02-2012 02:06PM

Not looking for anything 5 series sized...yet... th Sunbeam is a one for the dram garage , but suitable for my current needs.

The 190 I saw is 3k over priced sadly .

E30 325/318is or Merc 190 Cosworth?

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