reliability of e30

[terible1biker57]

hello everyone I'm new to the forums. I used to own an srt-4 but had to sell it for unfortunate reasons. Anyway I have always been intrigued by the e30. Its ~20 years old but still looks current.

Could someone point out things to look out for when buying one.

I would prefer a xi but have noticed the outrageous prices for parts. So I am set on a 325 I/Is/Es. What parts were known to go out. Are these cars reliable or am I buying something that is going to require Alot of quirks.

[ayemattyyy]

It depends. If you buy a car that hasn't been upkept, you'll be getting a few quirks. If you're going with the 325, I recommend asking the last time the timing belt was replaced. That's one of the biggest problems. Overall, pretty solid built cars. I know plenty of others on the site will have more stories to tell, but just keep your eyes peeled for something in good shape. If it looks well kept it probably was, and if it comes with documentation and records even better.
Matt

[87e30]

it's not a new car. and it's not a honda. It can be reliable but it does require a little attention. Overall I wouldn't say that it's unreliable but I wouldn't own one unless I loved cars.

[nickpdx]

Very reliable in the way that it will never leave you stranded, will start every time, and probably run strong until 300+k miles, but yeah, it's not a Honda. Don't neglect basic maintenance items, and you'll probably need to address a few other issues from time to time, but they are easy and cheap cars to work on.

Oh, and if you get an e30 you'll become obsessed with them, guaranteed, so you probably won't care one way or another. ;)

[StereoInstaller1]

Oh, and if you get an e30 you'll become obsessed with them, guaranteed, so you probably won't care one way or another. ;)

I get LOTS of comments about my car, every day. People driving brand new BMWs just openly gawk at my damn 22 year old shiny little loud-ass pile of shit.

Young girls, older women, guys of all ages, bikers to ministers...anyone who acts serious about getting an E30, I tell them all the same thing: If you cannot work on cars, do NOT get an E30.

These cars require relationship, not just "fuck'em and forget'em" (SRT4 is a perfect example. Great car, quick as hell, just no soul at all) so if you lack tools, patience, or a place to work on them, get something else.

Oh, and aside from a few pain in the butt parts, these cars are VERY easy to work on.

Well documented, too.

The obsession I quoted above is quite true. You get to where you will have a couple of buddies who think the car is cool, you take them for a quick spin, you let them drive and all of the sudden, 3 or 4 of your buddies have E30s too. All of a sudden you are parting out 2 or 3 cars a year, can tell an ETA throttle body from an I from 30 feet, know just by a quick glance if the cam is OK...all of that shit.

I love every damn minute of it.

So yeah, welcome to R3V.

Luke

[Bimmerman325i]

The obsession I quoted above is quite true. You get to where you will have a couple of buddies who think the car is cool, you take them for a quick spin, you let them drive and all of the sudden, 3 or 4 of your buddies have E30s too. All of a sudden you are parting out 2 or 3 cars a year, can tell an ETA throttle body from an I from 30 feet, know just by a quick glance if the cam is OK...all of that shit.

He's not wrong on that. When I got my E30, I was the only person I knew who had one. Since then, two car guy friends of mine have bought them. Good luck in your search!

[delatlanta1281]

These cars require relationship, not just "fuck'em and forget'em" (SRT4 is a perfect example. Great car, quick as hell, just no soul at all) so if you lack tools, patience, or a place to work on them, get something else.
You get to where you will have a couple of buddies who think the car is cool, you take them for a quick spin, you let them drive and all of the sudden, 3 or 4 of your buddies have E30s too.


Luke

QFT.
I have an e30 B/C of my best friend. Unger, Huff, and Elan have them B/C of us.

[m3_eater]

Worth the time to own, drive and work on - but work on it you will.

[TexasTerp]

My e30 has been extremely reliable, but remember, like Luke said, this is more a religion/relationship than anything else. I'm going on 300K this year with super minimal maintainence (1 tranny, hoses, oil, plugs etc). You will get hooked in. This year I decided to finally restore my e30, between the parts car and heading to the junkyard to being on this forum literally 10 times a day, you get hooked.

If you're not ready to spend time on the car, don't buy it. These cars aren't for the faint of heart, they're addicting

[brandondan1]

It depends. If you buy a car that hasn't been upkept, you'll be getting a few quirks.

Truth.

My 87is, which had no records, and little more than a shiny paintjob was a true PITA sometimes. I was ALWAYS fixing something on that car, although I'm somewhat grateful because I learned a lot about cars that way (that I probably wouldn't have learned if I was given a new Honda or something.)

My 89 on the other hand, I haven't had to do anything to it through my year of ownership, except replace a wheel bearing.

These are great cars if you're an enthusiast in general. However, if you want a truly carefree car, then look elsewhere.

[hoveringuy]

My '90 325is, I drove it for YEARS without any major complications when I was too busy to work on it regularly. The only incidents I had spanning about 7 years-- remember, this car had 110,000 when I bought it-- were a bad clutch throwout bearing and the throttle body sprung a coolant leak.

I did the regular maintenance and have a good ear and feel for when something's about to crap out. I check for new leaks, listen for new sounds. It will talk to you if you listen.

[thereisnoyun]

You have to love the car, or else you'll drive it to the ground. Tons of upkeep and regular maintenance. If you dont like wrenching, and you dont like to pay attention to what your car is telling you, it will be parted out soon enough.

That said, my has never ever let me down. Granted I give her alot of love.

[nando]

I don't get how people think E30s are unreliable - mine has 216,000 miles, been my daily driver for 7 years and has never let me down.

sure, things have broken - any car will need work over 200,000 miles - but nothing that was a show stopper, and half of the time it was related to driving the car too hard or mods that didn't work out.

Don't buy one that has poor maintenance history and where the engine bay looks like it sat in the bottom of a lake for the last 15 years; get one with records that was owned by a fanatic and you won't be let down. If the engine bay is clean chances are somebody actually looked under the hood once in a while to replace stuff and keep it running right.

I do a little bit of work on it during the summer (usually upgrades or regular things like brakes and waterpumps) but during the rest of the year it's just gas and oil changes.

[terible1biker57]

Sounds Great, I would say I'm definitely qualified to work on cars(I'm driving a 98 dodge dakota 6.4 mpg on the overhead) talk about fixing something religiously.

Anyways I think Im good on that part and also I know ill become obsessed because cars are rad!!!!!!!!!
I just want something that I wont have to repair OFTEN after I have done all the maintenance items(timing,water pump,radiator,cv's,etc)

I'm most likely going to attend Loma Linda University Medical School which ill be commuting ~60 miles round trip a day, So I would like it to be semi reliable.

Thanks for all your responses, I Can tell this is one of the better forums :D

[maximumangle]

The obsession I quoted above is quite true. You get to where you will have a couple of buddies who think the car is cool, you take them for a quick spin, you let them drive and all of the sudden, 3 or 4 of your buddies have E30s too. All of a sudden you are parting out 2 or 3 cars a year, can tell an ETA throttle body from an I from 30 feet, know just by a quick glance if the cam is OK...all of that shit.

Luke

i too, own an E30 now because of my best friend/old roommate who is now on his fourth E30. now im workin on my cousin, trying to get him to buy an S52 swapped M3 ;)