Lookin at a 91 318i

[urbancynic]

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.

[blalor]

Sounds a bit risky if you "need" a daily driver, but I'm sure you're a big boy. :) The temperature thing *could* be a poorly-bled radiator. The first time I did mine, I didn't get it right and the temp would climb to near the 75% mark at speed on the highway. Now that I've drained and refilled it a couple more times and bled it with the front end raised, I haven't had a problem.

[ReallyDirtyThirty]

Sounds a lot better than my '91 318i. I don't overheat but thats about it. How much is the guy asking?

[urbancynic]

I don't mind doing some work, I expect to do some on a 20 year old car.

I figured I'd have to drain the coolant system anyway because it needs a the radiator hoses replaced - theyre pretty hard.

Guy is asking 1200.

[urbancynic]

Sounds a bit risky if you "need" a daily driver, but I'm sure you're a big boy. :) The temperature thing *could* be a poorly-bled radiator. The first time I did mine, I didn't get it right and the temp would climb to near the 75% mark at speed on the highway. Now that I've drained and refilled it a couple more times and bled it with the front end raised, I haven't had a problem.

It doesn't *have* to be a daily driver because I have my MGB too, but by summer it needs to work for me at least 3 days out of the week for work because I suspect that the MG won't like the summer heat... and I know I probably wont either in it.

[dj01540i6sp]

Lookin at a 91 318i

Sounds like a good deal if you want an E30 Get cash in hand offer less and see what happens, Maybe you should look at title see if it's a Salvaged / Rebuilt car. They all need work just like any 20 year old car. Is it a slick top if so it's even a better deal - any Cancer? - GL - dj

[urbancynic]

No cancer or rust anywhere. It has a sunroof.

[alwaysinabimmer]

Sounds like a decent deal, but w/o pics, hard to say. I don't think you could go too wrong with this one.

[urbancynic]

I was mistaken - 2400.

[///digitalme]

2400? Too much for 220k you would worry about timing. Remember there's always hidden problems. The thump can be many things from tranny mounts, to subframe, shocks mounts etc. I think that's a 1k tops kind of car. I wouldn't buy it for more.

[urbancynic]

I think ill pass. Back to looking for an e30. :(

[///digitalme]

Keep looking you'll find something that suits you. I bought my e30 for 1100 and had many problems I'm still sorting it out and it's been a year and 5 months. Also spent around 3.5k on it.

[urbancynic]

Well, I've got about a week to figure it out. After that I gotta have something regardless if its a BMW, VW, or whatever

[freeride53]

If they want that much, it better be in top nick.
I'm confident that my 318i could fetch upwards of $3k.
That's only because I've gone/and am going through almost everything possible. ;)

[urbancynic]

Ended up with an 86 325es for 1100.