Need advice on bmw e30

shimmy09 · 05-10-2011, 08:40 AM

Looking to buy a used bmw e30...can anybody give advice on what to look for..

ejheverest · 05-11-2011, 10:53 PM

Go to E30tech.com or R3vlimited.com and search for the common issues they have.
Aside from rust and timing belts, the 325i's are a tough car for a 20+ year old automobile.
Been searching myself for a nice E30 to pick up, all the swapped ones seem to be in California or Washington state.

DrivenByE30 · 06-08-2011, 05:09 PM

very tough to find one in good condition...

it would seem that the good copies, by now have vanished from the market:
either because:
1) they were abandonned and not well treated, left for rot
2) very well kept in someone's garage and never allowed to set foot outside until 2025.

The rare times i saw one on the streets, seems to be falling apart or starting to. They continue to last, but most of them are not in good conditions.

They need more work than most people are willing to give.

if you find one at around $1500, you can bet that you would have to put in at least $3000 to make it look like it's been cherished for the past 5 years.

To answer your questions, the e30 last very long with simple regular maintenance.
- radiator update
- Coolant systems update (flush, thermostat etc etc)
- engine rework (head gaskets, oil change,
- Brake, bearings, and suspension joints to update
- electrical wirings are probably all cracked at this point
- body panels issues would be obvious for you to locate.

I am personally always on the look out for the good deal... but it's close to hitting the lottery jackpot...

I do have an E30 320i that my parents are keeping for me in France, so i am set for now :P

05-10-2011, 08:40 AM	#1
shimmy09 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe, 2011 BMW E Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	Need advice on bmw e30 Looking to buy a used bmw e30...can anybody give advice on what to look for..
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05-11-2011, 10:53 PM	#2
ejheverest First Lieutenant 29 Rep 395 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mass, NH, Maine, Virginia iTrader: (0)	Go to E30tech.com or R3vlimited.com and search for the common issues they have. Aside from rust and timing belts, the 325i's are a tough car for a 20+ year old automobile. Been searching myself for a nice E30 to pick up, all the swapped ones seem to be in California or Washington state. __________________ SOLD......E90 SG, ColdWeather Pckg, Sport Pckg, Logic7,H R Sports, Rogue Ikon, M sport shift knob/boot
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06-08-2011, 05:09 PM	#3
DrivenByE30 Brigadier General 597 Rep 3,870 Posts Drives: '12 F30 Lux 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: OC - SoCal iTrader: (0)	very tough to find one in good condition... it would seem that the good copies, by now have vanished from the market: either because: 1) they were abandonned and not well treated, left for rot 2) very well kept in someone's garage and never allowed to set foot outside until 2025. The rare times i saw one on the streets, seems to be falling apart or starting to. They continue to last, but most of them are not in good conditions. They need more work than most people are willing to give. if you find one at around $1500, you can bet that you would have to put in at least $3000 to make it look like it's been cherished for the past 5 years. To answer your questions, the e30 last very long with simple regular maintenance. - radiator update - Coolant systems update (flush, thermostat etc etc) - engine rework (head gaskets, oil change, - Brake, bearings, and suspension joints to update - electrical wirings are probably all cracked at this point - body panels issues would be obvious for you to locate. I am personally always on the look out for the good deal... but it's close to hitting the lottery jackpot... I do have an E30 320i that my parents are keeping for me in France, so i am set for now :P
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