Looked at a 91 318i today for daily use.
Car has an indicated 220k on it, but the odo doesn't work so who knows how much it really has.
Fired up immediately. idles smoothly, revs freely. Pulls pretty good. Much better than I was expecting.
a/c works, blows ice cubes, and doesn't seem to put any load on the engine.
Transmission shifts smoothly and clutch feels good.
Shifts between 1st and 2nd create a sort of bump noise in the rear end, but not in any other gear. I figure its the mounts?
Body was decent. Nothing major, just missing the valance in the front.
Interior was good with normal wear.
Here's where I get worried:
I took the car on the highway and the temp gauge started climbing up to the point of just before the red. But immediately after getting off the highway it shot right back down to the middle. It didn't go back slowly, it was really quick.
Both radiator hoses felt hot, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The sensor on the radiator was disconnected and the wires looked to have been cut. However the electric fans ran immediately when the car was started. I figure it was hard wired like my MGB?
Engine looks a bit greasy, but not excessively so, and nothing looked like a recent leak.
While driving the car did a quick double beep. What the heck is that about?
Owner said the car failed emissions on NOX and HC and wasn't sure why. My last e30 did the same. A denatured alcohol treatment solved that, but wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on this.
Can I get some opinions on this thing? I need a daily and right now its between this and a 2002 Jetta 2.slow. I really want the e30, but not if its a POS.
Car has an indicated 220k on it, but the odo doesn't work so who knows how much it really has.
Fired up immediately. idles smoothly, revs freely. Pulls pretty good. Much better than I was expecting.
a/c works, blows ice cubes, and doesn't seem to put any load on the engine.
Transmission shifts smoothly and clutch feels good.
Shifts between 1st and 2nd create a sort of bump noise in the rear end, but not in any other gear. I figure its the mounts?
Body was decent. Nothing major, just missing the valance in the front.
Interior was good with normal wear.
Here's where I get worried:
I took the car on the highway and the temp gauge started climbing up to the point of just before the red. But immediately after getting off the highway it shot right back down to the middle. It didn't go back slowly, it was really quick.
Both radiator hoses felt hot, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The sensor on the radiator was disconnected and the wires looked to have been cut. However the electric fans ran immediately when the car was started. I figure it was hard wired like my MGB?
Engine looks a bit greasy, but not excessively so, and nothing looked like a recent leak.
While driving the car did a quick double beep. What the heck is that about?
Owner said the car failed emissions on NOX and HC and wasn't sure why. My last e30 did the same. A denatured alcohol treatment solved that, but wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on this.
Can I get some opinions on this thing? I need a daily and right now its between this and a 2002 Jetta 2.slow. I really want the e30, but not if its a POS.
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