Which E30 is the one to go for?

[eltax91]

Hi guys, sold my Golf Estate at last and have always loved the styling on the E30.

So, i have a budget of 1k max and really want an auto (lots of traffic on my commute).

Now i've done some research buit can't decide whther it should be a 318, 320 or 325. I would really like the 325 as i've heard wonderful things about the straight 6 engine. Is it the same straight six in the 320 just smaller? Also, would anybody who's driven one tell me if it is worth hunting one down with Leather interior or is the cloth one ok?

lastly, i think finding a 3er with Aircon is quite rare (feel free to put me straight). Can you buy retro fit aircon units for the E30?

Paul

[m3evo2]

Has to be a 325i. 318i would be better than the 320i with auto box, 320i is slow and with auto would be a slug and uses the same amount of fuel as the 325i. Yes the 320i and 325i have the same 6 cylinder engine obviously different CC. Leather is always nice but not essential I feel as it can wear and look quite tatty. As for A/C, not sure some did have this as an option but quite rare.

[Mr_Sukebe]

I'd suggest none of them.
If you have a budget of £1k, then clearly you're not that loaded. My experience with my own E30 was that it cost more to run than any other car I've owned. The simple fact is that they're old and things go wrong on them. After owning my 325 for 6 months I remember asking a question on the E30 forums of "does anyone have an E30 without faults". No one gave me a positive response, but I got a whole heap of "mine has this problem...". Wait till you have more budget, then look at one.
If you really do insist, then the 325 is the obvious choice. None are stunningly fast in a straightline (including the 325) and an auto will just blunt the performance even more.

[m3evo2]

I've owned a 320i for 9 years with no major problems, a 323i for 3 years again with no major problems and a M3 for 4 years and you guessed it, no major problems. Guess I've just been lucky then.

[Spokey]

A 318is is a good call if you're on a budget.

[Mustard]

I wouldn't worry too much about the engine, although 325i Autos are pretty common

If you've only got £1k to spend I'd just concentrate on getting the best example you can for your money, which by nature of the buyers they attract is most likely a 318i or 320i off some old dear thats had it from new or near new and loved and cherished it

Leather? Air? Sports seats?? very much the luck of the draw, if you find the car you like has them them, then its a bonus!

A 325i or 318is at this level is going to most likely be a dog

Though you can get lucky, and get a 325i manual with leather sports seats and a roof that comes off for not that much more

Edited by Mustard on Sunday 3rd June 20:25

[eltax91]

Thanks for the answrs guys. Anyone had any response as to retro fitting air con? Sounds silly but my Mrs is saying she refuses to use it in the summer if it doesn't have Air Con, in which case i won't get to drive the '5!!

[bob1179]

E30's are cracking cars, though people talk about the 320i being slow and having the same consumption as a 325i (it does btw) you can get round this. The 320i was the best seller of the range so there are loads about, the engine sounds great and you can a nice little increase in power (and a bit better mpg) by fitting the throttle body from a 325i, it's a fairly quick and easy job too, my first E30 was an auto and it wasn't that bad (though I soon stuck a manual 'box in it.)

As for Air-con, I've seen one or two E30's fitted with it in years of looking through the classifieds and on Ebay. It was really only popular on US spec cars (did it come as standard over the pond?) You could retro fit it but first you would have to get all the right parts and to be brutally honest, I wouldn't bother.

Other thing to look for is rust, they rust badly. Especially the jacking points, bottom of the bulkhead, A-pillars, scuttle, rear arches, boot floor, sunroof, and sunroof drain holes and the front bumper mounting points.

I've seen a couple of nice cars go for around 1k on Ebay recently, though they were 316's. Just keep sniffing about and see what you come up with, and buy the best you can within your budget. With these cars its now condition, rather than mileage or even engine size (unless M3, 325i sport, 318is etc.)that determines their value as loads have been ruined by the 'modders'.

[Pork_n_Beem]

Been rallying the 325i now for three years nearly. I have bought many examples to feed the need for a constant supply of spares and shells. If it was me i would.

Go for a 325i - the engine / box / prop / diff are bullet proof
Get the head skimmed and fit a new toothed belt and she will be a gem. If you are around the midlands area i know a clever guy who will do this in a day.

Be very choosey about the car, many were waxoiled from new - the ones that weren't will be rust buckets. I have seen some fantastic examples in 1987 on cars that only require a small amount of welding around the footwell, the rest of the body being mint.

The 2 door cars handle better than the 4 door

The electrics become the weak spot - central locking etc and guages, they are an easy fix if you can be bothered, the elec windows can become a problem but rarely is it more than a switch, connection or motor issue.

Its easier i think to get cloth and since air conn is going to be a challenge better than going for leather and being cold in winter and sticky in summer.

Again after rallying 325s we know the trouble areas and overall its a solid car, spares you may think about carrying with you are:
Fuel pump relay, ECU and crank sensor - nothing else much will stop the car, oh and check the cam for wear, if worn change it with new follows to avoid a follower breaking.

for a £1000 i bought an absolute minter two years ago, 2 door auto in white with mtec spoiler, zero rust shell....

£1000 is enough to get a good one, but spend say £750 and then do all the necessary to make sure its reliable.

cheers