Do alot of e30s smoke?

[conceps]

So i am looking at this 87 325is to buy and it is pretty mint and runs pretty good. But, it smokes a bit. The owner says it has always smoked a bit and i asked my friend and he said alot of the older cars smoke and its not a big problem. Any imput on this? Thanks.

[SpecM]

-how many miles on car? Is the smoke blue-ish or black?

[sticksdaman]

where is the smoke coming from whats the condition of the car is it a five speed?

[browntown]

depends on color, white smoke is coolant (probably head gasket)

[conceps]

Sorry i left out some details. It has 233,xxx miles and it is a five speed. The smoke seemed more white maybe blueish. I didnt pay too much attention to the smoke. i should have.. Thanks for the replies!

[conceps]

by the way, i might go check it out agian today. Anything i should look out for? Thanks agian!

[Brew]

Blue-ish smoke is oil. Probably bad rings or valve seals. Do a leak down test to narrow it down.

[yozsi]

Blue-ish smoke is oil. Probably bad rings or valve seals. Do a leak down test to narrow it down.

a leak down test wont determine if the oil control rings are shot.

[chuckybob]

if the smoke stops after a while, its just water vapour in the exhaust

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

test drive it.. then don't turn off the engine and look if it's still smoking if/what color... blue - oil cause: lots of miles.... any engine would smoke if not rebuild... other kind of smoke is coolant in the cylinders - bad head gasket/cracked head.

[conceps]

Thanks for all the replies. definatly helpful. i think im gonna go check it out agian wendsday.

[conceps]

Here are pictures of the car. i still havent gotten a chance to get over and check it out agian but he said he would take 1500. Originally wanted 3000. Would you buy it? Details are above.

[Adrian_Visser]

the interior looks decent enough form waht i can see are those leather seats? i like the front lip too..

make sure u ask/find out when the timing belt was replaced also you could open the oil filler cap an look at the heads of the head bolts if theyre hex head not torx then theyre the old style and could break on u other then that look for rust on the under side of the car and the condition of the rubber hoses and what not under the hood other than the rust these are all things u wmight wanna fix if they are in bad shape but wouldnt be a reason to not buy the car

1500 is a pretty good deal if u ask me. i just paid $1400Can for an 84 325e in good shape with 288000 kms on it which i thought was a pretty good price

[delatlanta1281]

that's alot of miles.... be ready to drop atleast a grand if there are suspension problems. When was the timing done? How bout the clutch?

[chuckybob]

id buy it, but im an utter whore for tan interiors