Buying an e30...center console question

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  • carter240
    Noobie
    • Oct 2009
    • 7

    #1

    Buying an e30...center console question

    new here...but im thinking about buying an e30 i checked out today, a 91 318is, brilliantrot red. Everything under the hood looks great with very little mess, random wires and such - very clean. It drives nice and quiet on the highway. It has SOME bump steer so the tie rods probably needs to be replaced which is not expensive. Its sitting on basket weaves with good winter tires (important here (Calgary AB, Canada) However when i looked at the interior, the center console shakes side to side so its obviously not attached somewhere. Being this is my first e30 (i've been passionate about this cars for about 3 years...its about time i get one) needless to say im unfamiler with them.

    My question is how hard is it to attach the centner console and is there a common fault with them that'd cause something to be broken and a pain to fix? such as hard to find special clips, or is it held in by screws and its not a big deal?

    The temp gauge reads slightly higher than reg. not in the red but just out of the normal operating temp. He did say he replaced the t-stat with a 190* so could that cause that or is there something wrong here?

    ANother issue is the tach doesn't work, i've heard this is common as well and im wondering if taking it apart is worth while or should i look for a new cluster?

    The rocker panel also has major rust but the owners offered my a replacement panel. I would most likely replace that after i roll the fenders. He wants $1800, would you guys go for it? the paint is in great shape then the engine pulls strong and idles great.

    I should also mention that I am a student and i DO plan to fix all these in good time, projects are fun, however being a student money is somewhat hard to come by. That said this would not be a daily driver, the bus stop is across the street and i C train to school everyday.

    Given these circumstances would you purchase the car? or not, if not please state why. Any help on the issues i've found with it would be great.

    I appreciate any feed back, thanks to those who read all that. :)
  • Sputnik
    E30 Modder
    • Jan 2010
    • 808

    #2
    offer 1600 done and done

    Comment

    • Jean
      Moderator
      • Aug 2006
      • 18228

      #3
      "My question is how hard is it to attach the centner console and is there a common fault with them that'd cause something to be broken and a pain to fix? such as hard to find special clips, or is it held in by screws and its not a big deal?"

      Center console (if you are talking about the shifter console), is attached/secured in 5 points. 2 at the very front passenger/driver side near the firewall (plastic screws), two screws above the front ashtray, and one plastic nut under the shift boot. Easy fix.

      "The temp gauge reads slightly higher than reg. not in the red but just out of the normal operating temp. He did say he replaced the t-stat with a 190* so could that cause that or is there something wrong here?"

      could be many things, is the mechanical fan working ok? try and stop it with rolled newspaper. coulbe be something simple or not. Should have checked the fan clutch though...

      "ANother issue is the tach doesn't work, i've heard this is common as well and im wondering if taking it apart is worth while or should i look for a new cluster"

      Very common, not won't be an expensive item to fix.

      "The rocker panel also has major rust but the owners offered my a replacement panel. I would most likely replace that after i roll the fenders. He wants $1800, would you guys go for it? the paint is in great shape then the engine pulls strong and idles great."

      Out of all these problems, this one should be the one to worry about. I hate rust. Where is the rust exactly and what is the seller offering again?

      How is the rest of the body? How is the interior?
      Look at the major items in the car, things that cost the most to fix/repair. (body/paint etc). Is there hidden rust somewhere else in the car?
      Mtech1 v8 build thread - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=413205



      OEM v8 manual chip or dme - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho....php?p=4938827

      Comment

      • thereisnoyun
        R3VLimited
        • Feb 2007
        • 2301

        #4
        if the rocker rusted through, its almost never as simple as what it seems even with another replacement piece at hand. More likely than not, there is ALOT more rust some where else near. I be careful with that. you should have him cut out the rusted section and make sure the replacement piece is all that you need.

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