Wanted - M3 E30, needs to be a good one
Discussion
How good do you want to get? And just how much money is burning a hole?...for a proper 'late 215 bhp model'? 
Just had it's most recent Inspec II at Moseley Motorsport with 5 green lights...
www.bmwclassics.co.uk/page_m3.html
Just had it's most recent Inspec II at Moseley Motorsport with 5 green lights...
www.bmwclassics.co.uk/page_m3.html
Do take a look at S14.net, particularly the FAQ sections, and/or have a mate who's familiar with these go with you to look at your potential purchase.
Check for possible rust right below the windscreen, between it and the bonnet. If the car has not been garaged consistently this is more a probability than a possibility and can be rather spendy to fix.
Refreshing the engine on these is rather costly as well.
Try to cop a ride in a known good car, listen carefully to the engine both hot and cold, the valve train should make some noise but should make the right amount of the right kind of noise (impossible to describe for me in words anyway!)
The Evo II sounds like it's worth a look to me.
Good luck!
Check for possible rust right below the windscreen, between it and the bonnet. If the car has not been garaged consistently this is more a probability than a possibility and can be rather spendy to fix.
Refreshing the engine on these is rather costly as well.
Try to cop a ride in a known good car, listen carefully to the engine both hot and cold, the valve train should make some noise but should make the right amount of the right kind of noise (impossible to describe for me in words anyway!)
The Evo II sounds like it's worth a look to me.
Good luck!
www.munichlegends.co.uk
keep checking his stock list mate or email him
keep checking his stock list mate or email him
Great choice!!! Mine was for sale during a half a year but sooner or later a real M3-nut showed up...Pity I don't have it anymore, even TBMW had offered to cover an article on this car in the magazine.
If you can afford, buy a Ravaglia...with only 44 made, the rarest M3 ever. EvoII has longer diff ratio and spoils a bit the fun, good value though. I wouldn't buy a 215 cat...they have 48mm throttle bodies instead of the 46'ers on the earlier engines which makes them low on torque down the revvs in combination with the cat. If you just want good fun, buy a decent 87-88 200 bhp without cat!!! Best and cheapest choice of the entire range...
Good luck,
(jaleous) me :-)
If you can afford, buy a Ravaglia...with only 44 made, the rarest M3 ever. EvoII has longer diff ratio and spoils a bit the fun, good value though. I wouldn't buy a 215 cat...they have 48mm throttle bodies instead of the 46'ers on the earlier engines which makes them low on torque down the revvs in combination with the cat. If you just want good fun, buy a decent 87-88 200 bhp without cat!!! Best and cheapest choice of the entire range...
Good luck,
(jaleous) me :-)
M3 Mitch said:
listen carefully to the engine both hot and cold, the valve train should make some noise but should make the right amount of the right kind of noise (impossible to describe for me in words anyway!)
That's right! You will know what 'sounds right' when you hear it! I looked at many cars before I bought mine (Gosh! nearly 5 years ago now!). Previous owner said he looked at 13 before he bought it! The second the key was turned...it just sounded 'right'...has done ever since!
I'd debate the discrepancy between the various models for road use... a 'notional' 5-10 bhp here or there on at best a 15 year old car isn't something I would imagine anyone could discern on a public road? Some of those 5-10 or more 'horses'may have 'died' for other reasons by now? I've driven all versions on public roads...couldn't really tell the difference.
My advise would simply be: "Get the best condition one you can afford"...period!
There's a guy on the BMWCC forum who's selling his Cecotto (his second E30)on PH. He's a pretty fussy guy about his M3's and I know it took him a while to find this one. He's selling to buy something he's fallen in love with. If you go to the BMWCC forum he's got a thread about selling it. You could do a lot worse.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/61685.htm
Things to look for (not knowing how much you know), rust as mentioned around screen is a PITA, also rust on scuttle where a drain hole gets blocked is a big job to fix. Check also passenger footwell for damp carpets as this could indicate that there is rust behind the glovebox area/wheelarch. They also rust around the number plate lights.
A little grrr rattle on start up if it hasn't had the timing chain tensioner updated to an E36 one (pretensioned) but should go away quickly. Don't listen to some well known garges who tell you it'll need a new Timing chain at 100K it's absolute rubbish.
Gearboxes can be a little notchy around 1st and 2nd when cold but nothing to worry about.
A well looked after and serviced (not necesarily low miles) they're no problem at all. Also don't take it to a main dealer to service as they have no idea about the car.
Also if it has a Scorpion exhaust bin it as they rob power. Cats can be removed if its pre 90 or 91 (I think) hopefully someone will clarify.
Make sure it drives properly and they are the biggest bargain ever.
HTH
www.pistonheads.com/sales/61685.htm
Things to look for (not knowing how much you know), rust as mentioned around screen is a PITA, also rust on scuttle where a drain hole gets blocked is a big job to fix. Check also passenger footwell for damp carpets as this could indicate that there is rust behind the glovebox area/wheelarch. They also rust around the number plate lights.
A little grrr rattle on start up if it hasn't had the timing chain tensioner updated to an E36 one (pretensioned) but should go away quickly. Don't listen to some well known garges who tell you it'll need a new Timing chain at 100K it's absolute rubbish.
Gearboxes can be a little notchy around 1st and 2nd when cold but nothing to worry about.
A well looked after and serviced (not necesarily low miles) they're no problem at all. Also don't take it to a main dealer to service as they have no idea about the car.
Also if it has a Scorpion exhaust bin it as they rob power. Cats can be removed if its pre 90 or 91 (I think) hopefully someone will clarify.
Make sure it drives properly and they are the biggest bargain ever.
HTH
Ditto!
Agree with ALL of the above!
Especially the bit about not going to main-dealers and about Scorpion exhausts...I had one once(can't remember where I got it from but thankfully had kept the original!). They lose power principally because of the lack of the 'crossed pipes' at the front of the centre section. The thing I also had about it was it was just far too loud! It was funny for about 15 minutes...then it just seemed silly!
Agree with ALL of the above!
Especially the bit about not going to main-dealers and about Scorpion exhausts...I had one once(can't remember where I got it from but thankfully had kept the original!). They lose power principally because of the lack of the 'crossed pipes' at the front of the centre section. The thing I also had about it was it was just far too loud! It was funny for about 15 minutes...then it just seemed silly!
g@ry said:
www.munichlegends.co.uk
keep checking his stock list mate or email him
Talk to Tony or Mark there.
Definitely go to the M Power section of the BMW car club forum here... www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk/forum_topics.asp?FID=18
I have just sold my cab in the pic below and use my other for track days, the cars are awesome believe me and most people on the forum are very helpful and know these cars inside out. They will know of cars for sale and they will be a lot cheaper than Munich Legends!
Kev
I have just sold my cab in the pic below and use my other for track days, the cars are awesome believe me and most people on the forum are very helpful and know these cars inside out. They will know of cars for sale and they will be a lot cheaper than Munich Legends!
Kev
This looks a good one on eBay......
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-MOTORSPORT-e30-M3_W0QQitem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-MOTORSPORT-e30-M3_W0QQitem
David
My 450 SEAC was built in 89 I bought it through Dave Haughins in Barrow. It was blue with blue/cream leather. I had a false bulkhead made with 2 big speakers and an amp built in. I had a lockable phone compartment made behind the gear lever, which ended up with a chassis strut being moved to accommodate!
It was made by 2 lads at the time away from the production line who did a great job. It was the first one made from fibreglass as the Kevlar ones were showing a weave pattern on the bodywork that looked awful close up. I kept it for a couple of years and then sold it through Haughins. At one stage I was going to sell it to Martin Lilley who used to own TVR but I ended up getting a better deal with Dave.
I saw the car a couple of years ago at the back home do at The De Vere hotel in Blackpool. A chap called Duncan from the Bristol region I Think had spent a fortune on it having a new chassis respray engine work etc. He took me out in it and it was spot on! He used to post on the "Wedge" forum pretty regularly but someone said he has got a new woman and I have not heard from him for quite some time.
The day I picked up the car it was driven and tested by Auto Express and the pic below was the centre spread.
Regards
Kev
My 450 SEAC was built in 89 I bought it through Dave Haughins in Barrow. It was blue with blue/cream leather. I had a false bulkhead made with 2 big speakers and an amp built in. I had a lockable phone compartment made behind the gear lever, which ended up with a chassis strut being moved to accommodate!
It was made by 2 lads at the time away from the production line who did a great job. It was the first one made from fibreglass as the Kevlar ones were showing a weave pattern on the bodywork that looked awful close up. I kept it for a couple of years and then sold it through Haughins. At one stage I was going to sell it to Martin Lilley who used to own TVR but I ended up getting a better deal with Dave.
I saw the car a couple of years ago at the back home do at The De Vere hotel in Blackpool. A chap called Duncan from the Bristol region I Think had spent a fortune on it having a new chassis respray engine work etc. He took me out in it and it was spot on! He used to post on the "Wedge" forum pretty regularly but someone said he has got a new woman and I have not heard from him for quite some time.
The day I picked up the car it was driven and tested by Auto Express and the pic below was the centre spread.
Regards
Kev
Thanks for that (end of thread hijack)
Nacnud still has it and has returned to the fold ! LOL
Autoexpress article here: www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/road_tests.html
David
>> Edited by cuneus on Tuesday 24th January 00:40
Nacnud still has it and has returned to the fold ! LOL
Autoexpress article here: www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/road_tests.html
David
>> Edited by cuneus on Tuesday 24th January 00:40
Crook said:
There's a guy on the BMWCC forum who's selling his Cecotto (his second E30)on PH. He's a pretty fussy guy about his M3's and I know it took him a while to find this one. He's selling to buy something he's fallen in love with. If you go to the BMWCC forum he's got a thread about selling it. You could do a lot worse.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/61685.htm
Things to look for (not knowing how much you know), rust as mentioned around screen is a PITA, also rust on scuttle where a drain hole gets blocked is a big job to fix. Check also passenger footwell for damp carpets as this could indicate that there is rust behind the glovebox area/wheelarch. They also rust around the number plate lights.
A little grrr rattle on start up if it hasn't had the timing chain tensioner updated to an E36 one (pretensioned) but should go away quickly. Don't listen to some well known garges who tell you it'll need a new Timing chain at 100K it's absolute rubbish.
Gearboxes can be a little notchy around 1st and 2nd when cold but nothing to worry about.
A well looked after and serviced (not necesarily low miles) they're no problem at all. Also don't take it to a main dealer to service as they have no idea about the car.
Also if it has a Scorpion exhaust bin it as they rob power. Cats can be removed if its pre 90 or 91 (I think) hopefully someone will clarify.
Make sure it drives properly and they are the biggest bargain ever.
HTH
I owned this car for 4 years and it is a good one, worth £10k?! Not sure. I spent a lot of money on the upkeep and it has a lovely spec. My only question was how do you destroy a set of tyres in 3000 miles as this guy has?!
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