HELP!: Should I bother with this car?

[bmwstephen]

Friend is selling his black e30. I thought I should pick up a second one. He's selling it for $2500.

Judging by the picks and the history, is it worth checking it out? He lives 30 miles away from me btw.

There's a bit of rust in the battery/jackstand tray. He did the brakes recently, but it was done at midas.

[recall]

Ask him to take the battery tray out and check below, providing pictures. The jack side doesn't look too bad, all of that could be from the jack. Mine looked the same when I first picked up the car, but there isn't any rust on either side.

[Need4Speed1299]

The rust is totally repairable. Do you have pics of the rest of the car?

[bmwstephen]

i will later. How do you go about repairing rust like this? would this be expensive? (newb here)

I'm really not hoping to break 3k with this car. Already i have to replace the timing belt/water pump. possibly the control arms and bushings.

[george graves]

He did the brakes recently, but it was done at midas.

Midas=sucks

That is a negative for the car. Midas uses the cheapest parts known to man kind. You'll want new rotors and pads.

[TexasTerp]

That rust is probably basic surface rust, a wire brush and some Por-15 or Rustoleum Rust Stopper would be fine. Midas does suck, new pads asap, check the rotors. Are you planning on doing the timing belt water pump work by yourself or paying someone to do it? I would probably say that in the end you'll probably xpect about $3500 when it's all said and done.

[bmwstephen]

great, I appreciate the info guys.

i'm going to turn this car down. It's jsut way too much of a headache. I dont really have time to DIY + i lack any mechanical confidence with these issues. Considering all this, I should pass.

plus, he's moving out of the country soon. if there are any problems im scrweed

[325ix]

that doesn't look to bad at all i woulda gone for it

[brydon]

that rust is not bad at all

[iignite]

i had a huge hole in mine when I bought it, that looks like nothing