Tell me about...old(ish) bmws

ash_scotland88

ash_scotland88

ash_scotland88

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What are these likes?

I kinda like the exterior styling and think 3series of 1980/early 90s have something about them, especially in white.

So yeah...what models (across the bmw range), costs. insurance etc.

Or should these be avoided by a 20y/o with verty limited mechanical knowledge...and limited budget!
 
They break constantly, rust, and cost a fortune to keep going, and most of them look like bangers. Those that are not old bangers are very expensive to buy becuase minters are now rather sought after.
 
Like mine? :D (in response to OP, hehe, not Fox)

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17933655&highlight=bmw

IMG_9027.jpg


I would get your insurance checked out first before going any further - just because it can be a bit tricky as there's so much negative history with regards to the 3 series and accident claims - so much so that my insurance company, who previously covered me a a group 20 Corvette valued at 6k, with 300BHP, ran for cover when I told them I was looking at a 3 series worth 1/6th of that and around half the BHP :D

Try it on a basic 318, maybe a 318 iS (the one with the potent little 4 pot) and then maybe a 325 - to give you some idea of what you're looking at. Could start by looking at Confused to get some ballparks then looking to more specific companies like Bell and Greenlight.

Parts seem relatively cheap for general stuff, which you can get from GSF but I'm not so sure about more complex or rarer parts cost. A fair few specialists around that can deal with them - like a cambelt change and full, comprehensive service is ~200-300 quid so not that bad at all.

I'm sure others will have better input on that side, mind - as it's not something I've had to do much yet :)

Tough cars though, especially if you find one that's been well cared for .
 
Everything else is covered here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E30

Owner's forum here:

http://www.e30zone.net/

:)

And yea, what Fox says rings true - many rusty as hell, totally ruined examples out there. So be wary. Get a good one and it'll be great. Get a thrashed one and prepare for trouble! (Although saying that, I know peeps who've bought tatty 318s/iS' etc and they've never given any real grief, just run and run. Not a chance you want to take, mind!).
 
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yeah, i think it was yours that made me have to get a mop and clean up the drool.

yeah, insurance is usually my 1st place of call (althought i found elephant to quote cheaper than confused, or tescos comparison etc so tend to use that)

i think it may just be one of those only a dream thing
 
To all those that want to know, Iam basically looking for a car that gets me kinda excited, and the only thing that seems to do it so far (after looking at insurance and costs) has been the astra bertone, only in 1.8i 16v guise tho =[

i dont know, theres just something about the looks (which makes me sound that looks are more important but i would say driving is the more important to me, but being a budding designer i need to have somethig to get moist over when i look at it), but ive got in mind that the driving experience isnt that great in them
 
[TW]Fox;12780105 said:
They break constantly, rust, and cost a fortune to keep going, and most of them look like bangers. Those that are not old bangers are very expensive to buy becuase minters are now rather sought after.
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Relative to the running costs of a new one, factoring in depreciation, the vast majority by comparison represent value for money, if your willing to take the plunge.

In this current climate, larger engined older BM's are dropping in value along with most other large engined older cars. Far from sought after, people are running screaming from them.

As for breaking constantly,as is the same with any relatively "modern" vehicle of whatever the mileage - with preventitive maintenance, no, generally they don't.

ash_scotland88 said:
Or should these be avoided by a 20y/o with very limited mechanical knowledge...and limited budget!
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If at that age your sensible, yes. ;)
 
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ash_scotland88 said:
What are these likes?

I kinda like the exterior styling and think 3series of 1980/early 90s have something about them, especially in white.

So yeah...what models (across the bmw range), costs. insurance etc.

Or should these be avoided by a 20y/o with verty limited mechanical knowledge...and limited budget!
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e30 318iS is win. Produced between 1989 and 1991, 142bhp and great handling.

Standard 318i is crap, and the 320i isn't really worth it unless you can get it cheap. 325i's are good, but a little nose heavy.
 
commited said:
e30 318iS is win. Produced between 1989 and 1991, 142bhp and great handling.

Standard 318i is crap, and the 320i isn't really worth it unless you can get it cheap. 325i's are good, but a little nose heavy.
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I agree about the 318is, but think you've got your take on the 318i, 320 & 325 wrong.

Sure, the 325 is nose heavy, but thats more than ofset by the added power and grin factor!

I'm sure a few may disagree with me on this but imo, the 318i is a far better car than the 320i ever was - in both e30 & e36 variants - you don't have the extra weight of the 6 pot in the nose,nor the thirst. I've always found a 318i to be as quick as a 320 on back roads.

Shame it just sounds crap compared to a 6pot. :( :)
 
There is little point to the 318i when the 318iS exists! Don't get me wrong, 325i's are great, but my old iS had 325i performance and better handling with a few choice mods.

As for the noise, I quite like the revvy twincam 4 pot noise, but it doesn't sound as good as the 325i.

It's a pity that there aren't more affordable good ones out there. I imagine people will be saying the same thing about the e36 in 10-15 years.
 
commited said:
but my old iS had 325i performance and better handling with a few choice mods.
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Most 4 pot owners seem to think this. I wonder how true it really is?

My 2.0 Mondeo was nearly as quick as an ST24 when I had a new exhuast and stuff on it. Honest! No really!!!
 
commited said:
There is little point to the 318i when the 318iS exists! Don't get me wrong, 325i's are great, but my old iS had 325i performance and better handling with a few choice mods.

As for the noise, I quite like the revvy twincam 4 pot noise, but it doesn't sound as good as the 325i.

It's a pity that there aren't more affordable good ones out there. I imagine people will be saying the same thing about the e36 in 10-15 years.
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Nooo! I'm not diss-ing the iS,its (imo) more the 320 thats made the pointless one. :)

But a 325i is much more fun ,again, given a few choice mods..... :D

Was not the e30 318is 134BHP and the later e36 140 odd?

Imo vastly under rated - the 318is.
 
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[TW]Fox;12799077 said:
Most 4 pot owners seem to think this. I wonder how true it really is?

My 2.0 Mondeo was nearly as quick as an ST24 when I had a new exhuast and stuff on it. Honest! No really!!!
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We've been through this several times in the past - people with no experience of the e30, please leave thread if going to post crap like this.

It was as fast, on a private track *cough* from 40-120 as the 325i. This had a lot to do with a few engine modifications and a shorter final drive. At 120mph, the 325i took off like I was standing still. Then a shoe hit my foglight.

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Nooo! I'm not diss-ing the iS,its (imo) more the 320 thats made the pointless one. :)

But a 325i is much more fun ,again, given a few choice mods..... :D

Was not the e30 318is 134BHP and the later e36 140 odd?

Imo vastly under rated - the 318is.
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Tbh, I wish they had just scrapped the standard 1.8 engine when the twincam became available. That would mean that 1.8 saloons and estates actually had decent performance.

IIRC, the e30 318iS had the same engine as the early e36 318iS's, and the later 318iS's had 100cc more, but no extra power. 142bhp was the power.

I just really like the 318iS, always done it for me more than the 325i, I just think the car suits a lighter engine.

That said, if 325i Sports weren't all ragged to crap or overpriced, then I'd happily drive one of them ;)
 
commited said:
We've been through this several times in the past - people with no experience of the e30, please leave thread if going to post crap like this.

It was as fast, on a private track *cough* from 40-120 as the 325i. This had a lot to do with a few engine modifications and a shorter final drive.
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Did your few engine modifications include a supercharger or something?
 
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