Reliability of an E30 325i?

[speedydragon]

Hey everyone, I'm currrently looking at an E30 325i 5sp. manual with 234k miles as a daily driver. The maintainence records have been perfectly kept up, every button in the car still works, all the belts and hoses, control arms and other suspension components have been replaced within the past 6 months. Do you all think this car is going to be reliable? My current beater is a 92 Celica ST with 235k miles (bought at it 210k about 2 years ago), and I feel that it's tiem to move on.

Thanks in advance!

[woofster]

Let's see...all maintenance records, no electrical problems, newly replaced parts...sounds good to me! E30s that have been well-taken care of will be extremely reliable, not to mention pretty fun cars to beat around in.

[bigbro]

JMHO I've heard tons of these things ticking from the engine everytime I'm next to them in traffic. Its a loud ticking too, doesn't sound normal. Be carful and make sure you go over everything in the e30.

[Videlov]

Yeah that ticking could be from the engine... When it starts getting messed up it's starts making noises from the engine.

[pyro]

e30 love

[O 16581 72452 5]

They just have noisy rockers, even if adjusted right, they're still loud. If the car seems sluggish however and it seems inconsistantly loud, it probably has a broken rocker arm.

[speedydragon]

ahh thanks for all the replies. I am actually looking at another E30 now. His cragislist AD expired, but he emailed me and told me that everything has been replaced in the past 20-30k miles

1990 BMW 325i. Great condition. whte on black

I am selling my 325i. Fully loaded. 216k miles and been taken care of meticulously. I still have all the paperwork from when the car was originally bought in 1990 as well as the manuals and other documents.




Exterior is in great condition. Paint is great. There are some scratches, but remarkably in great condition considering it's age/mileage. I'd give it an 8.5/10.




Interior: perfect. No tears or fades or stains. Very nice interior. A/C and heat both work great and all vents/defrost, etc work just fine. Even has some of that new car smell sometimes when it's very clean. 9/10.




Every button and every everything works. Here are the perks:


Rare 15" Euroweave wheels


Euro ellipsoid headlights with city lights. City lights wired to blink with turn signals.


Rare center armrest with integrated slide out dual cupholders.


Power sunroof - works perfect


Power windows - all work perfect


Power locks - works perfect


Tinted windows


New polk audio front component speakers, behind stock grills and panels so you still get the stock look.




Parts that have been upgraded or replaced (have all service records):


New driveshaft with all bearings/joints


Coolant sensor


fan and fan belts


radiator pressure test battery


clutch


brakes


water pump


New alpine cd/mp3/wma player. Amber lights match dash exactly.


Strut bar


e30 M3 Bilstein shocks


3.73 LSD




The car is in great condition. The engine sounds awesome and it's been a very reliable commuter. Oil is changed every 3000 miles. Clean title. No accidents.




The bad part:


Fog lights burned out.



California buyer preferred. Any questions please email or call me at 707-718-2807.



More Pictures:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010038.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010057.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010055.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010041.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010040.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010036.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...i/P1010050.jpg

[O 16581 72452 5]

Yum, euroweaves, those are $800 in themselves.

The ellipsoids are around $200.

[golovemd]

Thats a nice looking car. Usually that high a mileage scares me off with any car, but I do know the e30's typically go for a good while. How much is he asking? If it's reasonable I say go for it.

[woofster]

The car looks great. I'm quite curious as to how much a car like this would go for in California too. Locally, there are E30s that can be had for fairly cheap but once you see the condition of them, you understand why. A good example here can fetch quite a bit but, as with any older car, there is a very limited market for E30s.

[O 16581 72452 5]

There's actually a huge market for e30s, kinda like the MKII GTIs. The mileage wouldn't even give me a second thought, i bought mine with 225,000+ miles and never had a problem with it until i stuck 20psi in the bone stock motor and cracked the headgasket.

[speedydragon]

the seller is asking for $5500 and he told me that he is going to replace the wheel bearings this upcoming weekend, i'll probably shoot him an offer of $4500 and hope he'll abide to it or go somwhere under $5000.

[O 16581 72452 5]

the seller is asking for $5500 and he told me that he is going to replace the wheel bearings this upcoming weekend, i'll probably shoot him an offer of $4500 and hope he'll abide to it or go somwhere under $5000.

That's the high side of the market. Yeah, they do sell for that, but i'd offer more around $3,500 due to our economy at the moment plus the mileage is high and hurts the resale value.

[speedydragon]

Ernest,

Sounds good. We can meet in Napa at 5:00pm sharp if you want. We can meet near the entrance to Napa near my work which is very easy to find.

My brakes and rotors were replaced at around 185k miles. They have at least 30k miles on them but no more than 40k. When I change the wheel hubs this weekend i'll take a good look at the brakes and let you know.

One last thing to note, I am firm on my price. In the past month, I have spent about $400 to fix up odds and ends on the car including the wheel hubs, so I wanted to let you know that I am not willing to go any lower at this time.

Thanks!

-jon

man...that's pretty expensive :[ I don't feel like shelling out $5500 for this car. I'd rather get a MkIII GTi for the money :|

[MacDaddy]

way too much money, E30 owners got some real weird ideas about what their old ass BMW's are worth. i'd rather have a beat E36 M3 for $5k than that thing.
I know which car i'll have more fun with.

[jdaigner]

E30's are awesome. I miss mine. The m20 block is bulletproof. Bottom end will easily last over 300k mi. The top end usually has to be rebuild every 100k. The rockers are loud, that is NORMAL. Like skeletons humping on a tin roof....The info on these cars is ridiculous. www.r3vlimited.com

The prices on these cars are inflated, but that is b/c all of the decent i/is' are being held on to. those wanting to get rid of a clean example know that they are one of a few out there. For 5500 you could probably find one w/ an s50 or s52 (E36 ///M motor) in it. I think there is a crazy one w/ a TCD turbo kit (~4k just for parts) on sale on the forum for 5500 that pulled a 12.7s 1/4 mi.

[epyx]

I bought my 88 325is for 550 with 234k on the odometer that had stopped working. So far the only thing I have done to it is the timing belt and water pump. BTW I have put about 900 miles a week on it since I bought it 9 months ago. Best car purchase I have ever made!

[damionphillips]

I've got an 87 e30 325is. odo broke at 218,300. I bought it in 96 with 106k. I've had some problems with driving it to currently around 275k miles. Replaced suspension, brakes, etc. Lots of fun! I've still got it, and it's a "fun" toy as opposed to my A4 daily driver. Great car, I love it! =)

[speedydragon]

haha I gave up looking for e30's. I ended up getting a mk3 golf.