Discussion
. Any feed back greatly received.Biggest issue is tin worm on the scuttle and rust. These cars are getting on and many are not that well cared for. Look for big money spent over the last few years, look at who has actually serviced the car and beware of certain imports and crash damage. Otherwise drive each one carefully and really look at what available. DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE FIRST ONE OR TWO YOU SEE AND USE YOUR HEAD NOT YOUR WALLET/HEART.
Rust rust rust check all over inside/out. Many have been modified, some done well, some spoilt. Engines are strong if well looked after. Tensioner is a weak spot but easily sorted. Most parts still available. Not too expensive to run and maintain depends where you go, obviously a dealer will be expensive and most have lost the product knowledge and dont have the time to service these cars properly anymore. With regards to how it relates to a modern car. It's 20 years old so there is a huge difference but the feel, response and control they provide is something BMW have yet to recapture. Don't rush into buying one, have a look at a few, check the history, just general condition. Has it been looked after, abused etc, you know the score. Drive it, open road town have fun took me over 2 years to find what I was looking for.
Look for something special like very low mileage, or a special version like Cecotto, Ravaglia, Evo II or III. They'll always fetch higher money but also interest.
Look here on the classifieds, every now and then shows up a good one but very carefull inspecting it and take it to a specialist for inspection. If the owner disagrees walk away.
I'd honestly recommend Bexley Motor Works (www.bmsport.com) for their knoledge, they're M3 E30 specialists. I'd also call them to ask for cars for sale. Talk to Jags or Nigel.
I recently bought an Evo 2 and they were SUPER, inspecting her and sorting some niggles afterwards.
Look here on the classifieds, every now and then shows up a good one but very carefull inspecting it and take it to a specialist for inspection. If the owner disagrees walk away.
I'd honestly recommend Bexley Motor Works (www.bmsport.com) for their knoledge, they're M3 E30 specialists. I'd also call them to ask for cars for sale. Talk to Jags or Nigel.
I recently bought an Evo 2 and they were SUPER, inspecting her and sorting some niggles afterwards.
Edited by kiko on Friday 27th April 22:45
Rust,in a word. Speak to the owner and find out how long he's owned it, if its been in daily all weather use and if its lived in a garage etc etc. These cars can rust seriously badly,so check every inch of the car. Scuttle panels are a fave,so lift the trim on the windscreen and have a look.Check around the strut tops and under the fuse box too. Check the front floor pans around what looks like a jacking point ( its far from ) as this rots if used as such. Other rust traps are the rear number plate lights and rear wheel arch lips. Some of the more serious areas for rust you won't be able to check as it would mean removing the carpet and sill trims and rear bumper,although check the carpet to see if its wet ( usually in the front foot wells ) as this often means water ingress via a rust hole.
If you are looking for a good clean car and spending the 6K upwards its going to cost, don't buy one without getting it up on a ramp and having a damn good look.
If you are looking for a good clean car and spending the 6K upwards its going to cost, don't buy one without getting it up on a ramp and having a damn good look.
apart from the rust issues on the body other problem areas are
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
pikeyboy said:
apart from the rust issues on the body other problem areas are
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
Very well put!
kiko said:
pikeyboy said:
apart from the rust issues on the body other problem areas are
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
inlet manifold gaskets leak giving poor running when cold - cost 250 quid to sort, as do a lot of the other little vaccum hoses. HT leads cap, rotor arm all break down giving annoying miss fires, can be more expensive than you think to fix as the leads are special for the m3 as is the rotor cap is same as 944 i think and is avail from euro car parts.
The cables from the fan switch in the stat housing to the elc fan run under the rad and get hot and break down meaning the fan wont cut in. copper nuts on the exhaust manifold to the head loosen off
suspension stuff is mostly std e30 stuff so listen for clonking rear beam bushes. check for worn rear wishbone mount bushes and ball joints.
brakes and hubs are e28 5 series so are cheap from euro car parts et al, check for worn front disks.
engine wise, one thats had a timing chain on is a good buy but they are all pretty tappety any way and go on for ages if looked after and not hammered from cold or starved of oil on trackdays due to surge in the sump.
beware of anything on big or wide wheels (17" upwards) they dont drive nice,same for lowered and hard suspension. the thing about these cars is they are so delicate and easiily screwed up standard stuff is pretty damn good unless you are doing lots of trackdays.
exhasuts std bmw ones are good, super sprint better, scorpion one's dont have the x over section in them and are very noisy.
watch for accident damage.
get one that has been cherished and you will love it, buy a nail and you'll regret it - an inspection at bexley or another E30 M3 specialist is an excellent idea.
Very well put!
thanks very much, i had my e30 M3 for approx 4 or 5 years and loved it to pieces - would have another tomorrow if i didnt have a race car to support.
yep search out a good one and you'll see what all the fuss is about. They are much more how cars should be than modern sports cars, when you drive one you can feel so involved in what is happening and actually feel it through your backside and the steering wheel. Every time you get in the wrong side of the car and pull the gear lever backwards for first and it idles like a dog when its cold is an event, you feel special.
may be i could get an old transit to tow the racer, sell the 530d and get another one......must be strong and resist
may be i could get an old transit to tow the racer, sell the 530d and get another one......must be strong and resist
pikeyboy said:
yep search out a good one and you'll see what all the fuss is about. They are much more how cars should be than modern sports cars, when you drive one you can feel so involved in what is happening and actually feel it through your backside and the steering wheel. Every time you get in the wrong side of the car and pull the gear lever backwards for first and it idles like a dog when its cold is an event, you feel special.
may be i could get an old transit to tow the racer, sell the 530d and get another one......must be strong and resist
may be i could get an old transit to tow the racer, sell the 530d and get another one......must be strong and resist
You know you want to
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