[TW]Fox;17166977 said:
Based on the above, would you say that its worth 1,500 for a runaround (not main), or would it be to expensive to maintain?
Thanks
What are E30 BMW's like
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Based on the above, would you say that its worth 1,500 for a runaround (not main), or would it be to expensive to maintain?
Thanks
confused . com gives me a quote of 3,500 3rd party fire and theft and I lied and said im 21 (whereas im 21 in a month).
Comparison sites are just about the worst place for a young person looking to get insured on a specialist car could go to.
If you're dead serious you're going to need to set aside a few days for some hardcore phone action with some specialists.
I've got a G reg 320i SE E30 and really like it
I got it when I was 19, and couldn't really afford insurance on a 2.5 back then, and to be fair I would probably have killed myself if I had got one..
There really isn't a lot to go wrong, and most replacement parts can be sourced very cheaply, either new or second hand, and if you're any good with a spanner it's a very easy car to work on, just get yourself a Bentley manual, and find a good E30 forum..
As for 320, I suppose there really isn't much point in them when looked at against the 325. I suppose. But the engine is lovely, sounds very nice, does go well (partially due to lower gear ratios). The engine is NOT crap as you say, just lower power (40bhp), it depends on what you want, I find it sufficient, it's is definately not slow, it similar power to the 318is engine, but 6 cylinder and makes a gorgeous sound. The car itself is a joy to drive, i've only got mine back on the road recently due to it being SORN for over a year (silly attempt to save money), and I'm sooo glad I have it back.
Obviously I am very biased, I love E30's and own a 320, but don't discount it just because it's slightly lower powered, it is still a brilliant car, and i'd definately prefer a 60k mile 320 to a much higher mileage 325.
edit - Insurance. Some classic car insurance companies class the E30 as a classic, but all the ones I found that do are 25+ only. Which is a bugger.
I got it when I was 19, and couldn't really afford insurance on a 2.5 back then, and to be fair I would probably have killed myself if I had got one..There really isn't a lot to go wrong, and most replacement parts can be sourced very cheaply, either new or second hand, and if you're any good with a spanner it's a very easy car to work on, just get yourself a Bentley manual, and find a good E30 forum..
As for 320, I suppose there really isn't much point in them when looked at against the 325. I suppose. But the engine is lovely, sounds very nice, does go well (partially due to lower gear ratios). The engine is NOT crap as you say, just lower power (40bhp), it depends on what you want, I find it sufficient, it's is definately not slow, it similar power to the 318is engine, but 6 cylinder and makes a gorgeous sound. The car itself is a joy to drive, i've only got mine back on the road recently due to it being SORN for over a year (silly attempt to save money), and I'm sooo glad I have it back.
Obviously I am very biased, I love E30's and own a 320, but don't discount it just because it's slightly lower powered, it is still a brilliant car, and i'd definately prefer a 60k mile 320 to a much higher mileage 325.
edit - Insurance. Some classic car insurance companies class the E30 as a classic, but all the ones I found that do are 25+ only. Which is a bugger.
Footman James - Call them. Ignore the 25 limit on their site. Claim you are a member of a club (you will have to invest in a tenner a year club membership) and they will quote anything over 15 years old as a classic to anyone who is legal to drive 
Phone them up. Potentially it's because it's the touring (estate) version, I guess, but there aren't really any performance changes so I don't really know why it'd be different.But they are like a drug...
Thanks to this thread I want another one.
Really? The Admiral group refuses to quote be on an E30 325i until 21... But has no issues with an E36 328i!?
Soldato
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It's probably because the E30 has a reputation for being twitchy and a lot got written off previously (so they have poor history), plus they're less secure and proper thief/racer magnets.
That's why Adrian Flux told me insuring mine was 50 quid more that my 300BHP Corvette, anyway, and I saw what they were driving at.
Had two E30s, both excellent cars - will update this post a bit later as otherwise engaged at the moment
That's why Adrian Flux told me insuring mine was 50 quid more that my 300BHP Corvette, anyway, and I saw what they were driving at.
Had two E30s, both excellent cars - will update this post a bit later as otherwise engaged at the moment
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My 325 sport with the LSD and a mild 2.7 build was VERY lairy in the wet, where as my E36 328 sport with an LSD was much easier to play around with.
After I sold my E30 it got crashed the same week in the rain by a guy driving on a straight dual carriage way. Says it all!!
After I sold my E30 it got crashed the same week in the rain by a guy driving on a straight dual carriage way. Says it all!!
Associate
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A lot are reversed of roundabouts etc in the wet, I have had the back end out on the duel carriage way over taking a lorry in the wet.
As for insurance I had a 325 at 20, just got some quotes at the age of 26, as I think I need another one, wanted 750! Fortunatly lancaster managed to go for 230 on a classic policy. Footman james wanted 1500! And I have 2 other policies with them already!
As for insurance I had a 325 at 20, just got some quotes at the age of 26, as I think I need another one, wanted 750! Fortunatly lancaster managed to go for 230 on a classic policy. Footman james wanted 1500! And I have 2 other policies with them already!
