e30 M3?.. prices,running costs,experiences,etc...

[HearingAidBeige]

Any Ph'ers have experience of the E30 M3?(fond memories of 80's beemers),looking to change the 944 in the near future and roughly £11000 budget. Cars for sale, problem areas,and any other relevant info would be much obliged.
Cheers J.

>> Edited by HearingAidBeige on Monday 23 May 19:05

[mindgam3]

All LHD, 11k will probably get you a very nice standard model or a nice EVO - don't quote me on that i'm no expert

I think the main problem they have is the timing chain goes at about 100k which can lead to serious engine problems so best to find one which has it replaced already.

That's all from memory tho so get a second opinion

[HearingAidBeige]

Oops,
just noticed an e30 m3 thread on the bmw forum

[Marquis_Rex]

If the chain is going to be changed using the timing chain tensioner from the S50/S52 can reduce timing chain rattle on start up.

[rlk500]

mindgam3 said:

All LHD, 11k will probably get you a very nice standard model or a nice EVO - don't quote me on that i'm no expert I think the main problem they have is the timing chain goes at about 100k which can lead to serious engine problems so best to find one which has it replaced already. That's all from memory tho so get a second opinion

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....this is a fairly tale. The timing chain does not snap, jump teeth, or anything else at 100K. This "legend" has been trotted out by a well known supplier/mender of M3's that most magazines seem to take as gospel. I have an E30 M3, I know plenty of overs who have e30 M3's and I don't know a single person who has has had a chain snap or has ever heard of a chain snapping. It is a duplex chain and you will need some pretty dramatic occurrence to snap it. They can be noisy at start up if the tensioner is a bit tired, but they never were quiet like a 6.

HTH.

[chippy17]

HearingAidBeige said:

Any Ph'ers have experience of the E30 M3?(fond memories of 80's beemers),looking to change the 944 in the near future and roughly £11000 budget. Cars for sale, problem areas,and any other relevant info would be much obliged. Cheers J. >> Edited by HearingAidBeige on Monday 23 May 19:05

one thing I will say is I am sure you can get a good clean example for less than £11k; problem areas, I would say normal wear and tear, parts are not that expensive but labour can be, and rust (they are getting on a bit now) in the front scuttle below the windscreen and in the wheel arches, apart from the fact I had to change the clutch this year (£500 all in, not bad for London) I have only had one service costing me £170 and I don't expect it to need anything else until beginning of next year, famous last words.

[Hongkongfooi]

I am on my third one so I must love them....


11k will get you a good one, try for a late 215bhp model or maybe an evo2 (220 bhp) or evo sport (238bhp) , something interesting that will hold its value better.
As has been said before they are starting to rust in the front scuttle and where the number plate lights sit.
Get one, luv it, appreciate it and don't scrimp on looking after it and you will not regret it for a second!

[fergus]

use a specialist to service them as dealers don't have a clue about how to set them up properly.

ask ANY specialists to quote any actual examples of chains snapping, etc and I don't think you'll get an answer. The only time this may happen is when the ignition is being setup from scratch where the engines can sometimes try and run backwards when turned off.

Just use an E36 or E46 chain tensioner and don't use fully synth oil thinner than 10W at the thick end of the oil viscosity spectrum.

By carefully setting the cam timing on the stock cams and interoggating the stock ECU, you can get a better torque curve, which means you don't need to cane the car to make it shift.

Parts prices are expensive, but it's really false economy to not use OE stuff.

Oh yes, you have to cane the thing to make it shift.