Dad looking at a car, need expert opinions
- Thread starter Aod
- Start date
the numbers are straight, they look wonky from the camera angle and the screws above the instrument panel haven't been tampered with. *phew*Well, good luck to him.
I can't help thinking he's paid WELL over the odds for what at the end of the day is a pretty un-remarkable e30, yes it looks tidy, very tidy infact - given its age but disregarding the turrets! - but to my mind (and pocket) not circa £3k tidy, no where near.
Was it a 323 / 325i or even a 318is then hell yes!
The trouble with that is by using it he's going to very quickly devalue it, given he's already paid (imo) over the odds then he's onto a loss straight away.
Another thing,given I remember e30's from back in the day when they were new, the numbers on the odometer don't seem to sit straight, whilst I accept it may be the camera angle, were I looking at a similar BMW, I would assume it had been clocked. The screws at the top of the dash pod are also - again, it may be the camera angle - visible, they should be black unless of course a screw driver has been at them at some point. Given its the sort of speedo that can be wound along with a power drill (afaik) again, I suspect a clocked one.
By all means take a photo of them - if they are black then its unlikely they have been disturbed (unless by a plastic lined screwdriver....)
I am extremely dubious of the supposed fact that M20 (the engine) has only covered 45k over its life, an average of circa 1800miles p/a....
Done? Alas, I fear he has been.
Parents eh?
As I said earlier in the thread, I'd sincerely love to be proved wrong.
Dad paid full and on the spot (contrary to my advice!).
On the other hand, the car has full MOT history (which i'm going to check shortly) which supposedly indicates that the mileage is genuine.
I will also perform an HPI check shortly.
From the initial description it sounded decent.
I didn't think anyone would have the bare faced cheek to ask for 3.3k for a 320i unless it was nothing short of absolutely mint.
I still want to know exactly you mean when you say rust on both 'rear suspension braces'? I hope to god you don't mean the turrets are starting to rot. That would be so much fail it wouldn't be vaguely funny.
3.3k for an e30 that could potentially fail its MOT on corrosion issues.
let me describe the rust at the back, the precise technical terminology is not known to me.
At the rear suspension, the shock absorbers travel upwards into hollows in the lower frame. where the shock absorber meets the lower frame, there is a 3mm thick piece of steel between the top of the shock' and the lower frame. it is this small piece of steel that has rusted *slightly*
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
The odometer does look a little off to me, but it could be the camera angle. Whilst the screw heads is one way of checking, it's not 100%, a soft cloth stops any marking to the heads.
I was told the best way is to check the alignment of the first digit against the last digit. Although it was easier to buy a replacement cluster showing lower miles from a scrappy.
If I remember rightly the speedo's were easily disconected by removing the sensor from the rear diff to stop the miles going on.
Too much to pay for a 320i imo, unless it has some interesting history or was owned by someone famous.
Jack
I was told the best way is to check the alignment of the first digit against the last digit. Although it was easier to buy a replacement cluster showing lower miles from a scrappy.
If I remember rightly the speedo's were easily disconected by removing the sensor from the rear diff to stop the miles going on.
Too much to pay for a 320i imo, unless it has some interesting history or was owned by someone famous.
Jack
Soldato
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Joshy you have posted countless times on threads saying "Im out" "Im done" yet you still reply.
You took the thread OT by turning it into a "old cars are good look honest!". So if you are "out" please stop posting in here, simple!
You took the thread OT by turning it into a "old cars are good look honest!". So if you are "out" please stop posting in here, simple!
[TW]Fox;19932064 said:
No idea? i've never bought a car before
why do you think i'm asking for advice? 
I advised my dad to wait or at least put a deposit on the car so i could ask you guys about the rust but there was another buyer there so my dad decided to buy it outright and i couldn't dissuade him.
I'm looking at the MOT's that we have for the car now:
- 1995 - 44,359M
- 1996 - 44,594M
- 1997 - 45,003M
- 1998 - 45,280M
- 1999 - 45,385M
- *gap in MOTs*
- 2011 - 45,301M
*NOT A TYPO!*
the MOT's starting 8 years after the car was bought is odd, as is the 12 year gap in the MOTs
this is the original sales Ad;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3138110.htm
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I am 'out' of further arguing my point. Not I was 'out' of this thread entirely.
@ The lack of MOTs. Ouch
.Either way you are damned.
The car has either spent a more than a decade standing, and who knows what level of recommissioning has (or more importantly, hasn't) been done to get it back on the road), or you've paid a considerable premium for a clocked 320i.
Either way, you've not ever going to get anywhere near that money back. Typically as soon as someone sees a hole in the history that large on a car with suspiciously low miles they run a mile
Did you not ask the seller the history of the car at all?
The car has either spent a more than a decade standing, and who knows what level of recommissioning has (or more importantly, hasn't) been done to get it back on the road), or you've paid a considerable premium for a clocked 320i.
Either way, you've not ever going to get anywhere near that money back. Typically as soon as someone sees a hole in the history that large on a car with suspiciously low miles they run a mile
Did you not ask the seller the history of the car at all?
Either way you are damned.
The car has either spent a more than a decade standing, and who knows what level of recommissioning has (or more importantly, hasn't) been done to get it back on the road), or you've paid a considerable premium for a clocked 320i.
Either way, you've not ever going to get anywhere near that money back. Typically as soon as someone sees a hole in the history that large on a car with suspiciously low miles they run a mile
Did you not ask the seller the history of the car at all?
the guy said it had "full MOT history" and my dad didn't enquire.
i only got my hands on the MOT history *after* my dad had bought the thing.
I looked up the MOT history on the DVLA website. there are no MOT's on their system before the current one from 28/03/2011 meaning the car wasn't used between 2006 and 2011
the online MOT also has details of the Advisories issued with the MOT;
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
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With the V5C and VIN you can check all MOTs since 2006 on VISA / DVLA website.
Either it's been SORN for a decade or your dad's been seriously done (as opposed to just done if the mileage is legit).
Refund or small claims court if checks show it's pear shaped?
Either it's been SORN for a decade or your dad's been seriously done (as opposed to just done if the mileage is legit).
Refund or small claims court if checks show it's pear shaped?
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I looked up the MOT history on the DVLA website. there are no MOT's on their system before the current one from 28/03/2011 meaning the car wasn't used between 2006 and 2011 i suppose?
the online MOT also has details of the Advisories issued with the MOT;
Nearside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Yes. the warranty covers the engine, gearbox and brakes for one month from the date of sale.
The warranty information is on the back of the receipt.