BMW E30 (4cyl) common issues?

Akagi

Akagi

Akagi

Caporegime
Joined
29 Jul 2011
Posts
37,187
Location
In acme's chair.
Could anyone tell me common issues with these cars?

On the pre 1987 models with carbs and the post 1987 models with fuel injection as well if at all possible :)

Just to get an idea of the potential faults that could develop, potential repair/maintenance costs of owning such a car etc.
 
F355 said:
Rust is going to be a issue for these, plus finding a nice example might be hard. You're better off looking for a 6-cyl.

Have a look here:
http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/bmw/3-series-e30/?section=buying
Click to expand...

Thanks :)

I was wondering more about mechanical issues and such, I know rust will be a potential issue.

I'm quite young, so insurance will be an issue with the 6cyl cars. I could only realistically get a 316 or a 316i. It would only be to last me a couple of years before it gets sold on, scrapped, or worked on and engine-swapped.

All I need really, is for it to not die :p
 
Last edited:
Hi , I used to have an E30 with a M40 B16 engine and there were three things wrong with it .
Firstly : the clutch release bearing was noisy ( normal fault )
Secondly : Was a bit tappy from the valve area ( normal for the M40 )
Third : The rubber pipe that spans from the throttle body to the airflow meter had perished causing a rough idle and poor drive quality .
 
wingman said:
Have you thought about a Fiesta? A 2006 example might be right up your street.

/sarcasm :p
Click to expand...

That would make everything oh so much easier, cheaper, safer, more comfortable and less stressful :D

But I would be far happier in a clapped out E30 :p
 
Do you want to be doing some major rust repair/repair work in general? Get the E30

Do you want to drive the car and not worry about it? Get something newer/not French/not German/not Italian
 
acemastr said:
Do you want to be doing some major rust repair/repair work in general? Get the E30

Do you want to drive the car and not worry about it? Get something newer/not French/not German/not Italian
Click to expand...

Doing major rust repair work is something that I would consider, however I would try and get an example with a good price to rust-severity ratio :p

As for 'repair work in general' that depends entirely on what you mean, which is why I made this thread. i was unsure as to what common issues with this car are.

I would have course prefer to drive the car and not worry about it, but I don't expect to be in constant worry if i'm driving an older car.

As for advising me to get something newer, fair comment. technology moves forward, quality control and engineering improve, safety features improve, fuel economy improves etcetera, but i think that advising me to buy something "not French, not German, not Italian" was a bit of an over generalising sweeping statement :rolleyes:
 
I wish my heart and brain would get along :p

I could realistically either pay out £1500 to £2000 for a decent modern small runaround, or pay £1000 for a good example of a 316, and have money left over to help if anything goes wrong with it further down the line.
 
Last edited:
acme15 said:
I wish my heart and brain would get along :p

I could realistically either pay out £1500 to £2000 for a decent modern small runaround, or pay £1000 for a good example of a 316, and have money left over to help if anything goes wrong with it further down the line.
Click to expand...

It's unlikely £1k would get you a decent one to be quite honest.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121114694607

That is the only 316 I've seen for sale that I'd class as decent...and it has 8 days left, it will most likely go well over £1k.

Get on E30zone though, read the buyers guide, ask questions etc. you'll get a lot more specific (and accurate) information and advice from there than you will from here. As with all one marque forums, it is full of idiots but they are knowledgeable idiots which is very handy.
 
I got my £1000 figure from the buyers guide. That was the figure I got to for a base model 316 in 'good' condition with bottlecap alloys. (but of course it depends entirely on one like that coming up, which is advertised honestly and has an agreeable owner) :rolleyes:

I would call the E30 you linked better than 'good', it looks very good. I would be incredibly happy to call it my own, even though it's red. (which to be honest is a bit off-putting)
 
E30s can look lovely but turn out to be rotten so 'decent' is as far as I'd go on any internet ad without viewing the car in person. The guide is also a bit old to be honest, the cars are appreciating slowly and steadily.
 
InvaderGIR said:
E30s can look lovely but turn out to be rotten so 'decent' is as far as I'd go on any internet ad without viewing the car in person. The guide is also a bit old to be honest, the cars are appreciating slowly and steadily.
Click to expand...

I would defo view the car in person. If I go through with this. Which i'm of course, not sure if I will.

Theres no way I would buy that kind of car (or indeed any kind of car come to think of it) through ebay...
 
acme15 said:
Doing major rust repair work is something that I would consider, however I would try and get an example with a good price to rust-severity ratio :p

As for 'repair work in general' that depends entirely on what you mean, which is why I made this thread. i was unsure as to what common issues with this car are.

I would have course prefer to drive the car and not worry about it, but I don't expect to be in constant worry if i'm driving an older car.

As for advising me to get something newer, fair comment. technology moves forward, quality control and engineering improve, safety features improve, fuel economy improves etcetera, but i think that advising me to buy something "not French, not German, not Italian" was a bit of an over generalising sweeping statement :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, currently owning a German car that I expected to be faultless(German reliability, remember?) I was sorely disappointed!

French cars have their problems, as do Italian cars, as do all cars tbh, but I don't think it was that sweeping
 
acemastr said:
Well, currently owning a German car that I expected to be faultless(German reliability, remember?) I was sorely disappointed!

French cars have their problems, as do Italian cars, as do all cars tbh, but I don't think it was that sweeping
Click to expand...

The image of german reliability was built decades ago and many of those cars were built to last. These days most cars are pretty reliable, even the cheap ones.
 
Owning a 20+ year old vehicle from any continent is going to be far from plain sailing as far as reliability is concerned, not to mention compared to most small ish modern cars, fuel consumption is going to be worse than running a modern 3+ litre petrol, easily!

A good example, when I owned my old e38 728i I let a mate have use of it for 4-5 weeks whilst I ran his e30 318i touring, over my regular route to work and running around, I found I was putting more fuel in the 3 than I usually put in the 7!

Whilst his was a tidy example, well maintained by a well known BMW specialist, it was still troublesome.

My own experience of the 318i in e36 form was much nicer, the e30 316i,especially an old one, won't be particularly nice to drive, his certainly wasn't.

Look at an e36 instead , it's a far better car to drive and early but sound ones exist and are not subject to anything like the e30 "scene tax" as such.
You'll get a lot more for your money in more ways than one IMO.

Bear in mind this was back in 2005, I dread to think how that particular e30 drives today, 8 years on - assuming of course that its even still on the road!

Your in for a real shock if you think running an e30 316i will be either relatively trouble free reliability wise or you'll actually enjoy driving it long term.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom