First-time e30 Purchase. Rust?

[hawaiie30]

Hi all,

Looking at purchasing my first e30, a 1986 325es. There are a couple of rust spots, but being new to the scene I just wanted to see if I should be concerned about them. Photos linked below. Thanks for your help!

Rust/corrosion in spots on the driver's door
http://tinypic.com/r/10nt17k/9

Rust hole above passenger door:
http://tinypic.com/r/2mfxg02/9

[Reichart12]

Move to the northeast and you will realize what rust on an e30 typically is like. This is nothing.

[jgilber0]

Here is the definitive illustrated guide to e30 rust.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

I found this page very helpful in assessing my car. Fortunately I didn’t find any issues of consequence. Mostly minor surface stuff.

Good luck and enjoy your new car!

[hawaiie30]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[jgilber0]

Awesome, thanks guys!

[jeffnhiscars]

My understanding of cars in Hawaii is that it matters which side of the island it lived on. The salt air from the windward side gets in to every nook and cranny and is quite different than on cars on the lee side which get mainly surface issues

[hawaiie30]

It had one owner from 1986 to 2015, and it lived on the windward side. I'll see it on person on Tuesday. It looks really clean, though! Here are a few more photos:

http://i68.tinypic.com/zkqseh.jpg

http://i65.tinypic.com/2j18w1x.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/259l46t.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/e66c07.jpg

[325e '87]

That’s pretty clean but an es isn’t the same as an is. Please don’t overpay.

[hawaiie30]

That’s pretty clean but an es isn’t the same as an is. Please don’t overpay.

What would a fair value be to shoot for? 88k original miles. They're asking $5500.

[ttrousdell]

If that were an IS in a more desirable color combo with those miles it would be a 10k car. It looks to be in good shape. If you paid 5 for it I would say you did ok.

[hawaiie30]

If that were an IS in a more desirable color combo with those miles it would be a 10k car. It looks to be in good shape. If you paid 5 for it I would say you did ok.

Thanks, I was going to shoot for $5k or below. But yeah, Bronzit, haha. Not many options out here for e30s, so that factors into the equation too.

[1843lamp]

Buy it.If that silver paint with pinstripes is the original paint,the car must have been well protected ,88,000 is very low ,you do not describe the condition of the rest of the car,try and find another with this potential .I bought an 87 ES for 3400.00 that was described to be an excellent car ,but was very misrepresented and have spent about that much again over two years with me doing all of the work and it still needs more work ,it is an automatic car .my car had only 101,000 but was completely original with nothing being done ,no records as had been promised ,beware of ebay.

[hawaiie30]

Buy it.If that silver paint with pinstripes is the original paint,the car must have been well protected ,88,000 is very low ,you do not describe the condition of the rest of the car,try and find another with this potential .I bought an 87 ES for 3400.00 that was described to be an excellent car ,but was very misrepresented and have spent about that much again over two years with me doing all of the work and it still needs more work ,it is an automatic car .my car had only 101,000 but was completely original with nothing being done ,no records as had been promised ,beware of ebay.

I've been assured the miles and paint are original, and they have all of the records going back to 1986. The original owner had it until 2015. Planning to check the sunroof when I get there, but they said that there was no other rust present other than in those photos they sent. The seller isn't an E30 enthusiast, though, so I'm not sure exactly what I'm walking into. I'm hoping they kept it garaged most of its life!

[325e '87]

Yeah, folks here have more experience than I on judging the value of a good car and for what it’s worth I think $5k is good. I paid $5k on each of our cars, both are well cared for and my ‘89 I got from the original owner which was really cool.

[hawaiie30]

Thanks gents. Tuesday can't get here fast enough! I'll report back with how it goes.