Should I go for it? 1991 BMW 318is content

[fryerfighter94]

Looking for some advice, talked him down to 900, the thing that worries me is that the chain tensioner broke, and it would need a paint job, along with other stuff that I am sure I would find along the way.

Anyway, has low-ish (low for an e30) miles, good interior, but I am wondering how much the repairs would run me. Any help and input would be appreciated.

Here is the link: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/1722716398.html

And the details for if the link goes bad:

For sale is my 1991 318is in Alpine White. The car has low miles, 140K. If your an E30 enthusiast you can really appreciate that!

The Good:
Awesome interior, great condition.
New brakes.
New tires.
Low Miles.
Solid iS suspension.

The Bad:
Passenger side is pretty ugly-bondo job in the rear, primered white front quarter panel (only noticeable from up close), and a window from a junk yard with the tint still on it.
Needs an alignment desperatley! Rear passenger tire camber problem, the tires just wear funny-nothing noticeable.
Core support is bent, radiator's just fine though and it has been.
Timing chain tensioner broken, makes a funky noise.
It'll need a new throwout bearing on the next clutch install.


All in all, if your not to worried about the cosmetic factors this car's great. It starts up and runs just fine and drives even better and has been fine since the day I bought it. If you get that timing tensioner fixed you'll be in the clear for another 100K miles at least..

How much would repairs be? Is it even worth it?

[kenika65]

Chain tensioner is $90 at the dealer and is a simple one bolt install and I highly recommend doing it before u drive away, what might have happend if he has been running with a bad tensioner is that the chain, guides, gears might be worn to hell. So it might be with it to pull the valve cover and give it a look if he won't come down on the price, now it has a lot of problems like ull have to pull the trany to replace the throwout bearing and no telling if the waterpump and Thermo is replace all need to be done sounds like a good start but expect problems

[Simon S]

Ug. Tough call there.
Knowing what I know having gone through my m42 car - I can forsee this one turning into a $12K slippery slope real fast.

With the body damage and questionable engine health, I'd lose passion to fix this one up and wait for a straight one to come along.

[fryerfighter94]

I am not a mechanic and do not have access to any special tools, but I am sure that I could do the chain tensioner. What I am worried about is that the car would only cost about 900 but then how much would it be to have the throwout bearing/other misc. stuff to be replaced before it is driveable? I dont want to spend more than the car in parts alone, but if its worth it then I may have to.

[BigTe30]

When your buying a car for $900 its not that hard to "spend more then the car in parts." The condition of the motor is basically impossible for anyone on here to tell without seeing it, so its pretty hit or miss right from the start. You could fix what the PO says needs to be fixed for nothing outrageous (for a 900 dollar car) but who knows if thats where it will end. I guess this expense would not be included in getting it running, but the bodywork and subsequent paint job are gonna cost a ton.

[KenC]

That car isn't worth $500.

[ayemattyyy]

I looked into that one, and said screw it. I have an m42 car as well and none of that sounds fun, even for $900. The timing system is pretty worn to hell, and the body doesn't sound good either. More work than it's worth unless you know how to do a variety of different things.
Just my two cents.
Matt

[the fil]

Seems like the dude is relatively upfront about the condition, seems like it's priced as a project car. And I think I bought the updated timing chain tensioner for around $45 tops from Tischer BMW online. There's also a almost new or brand new clutch in the for sale section for $200

And if you do end up buying it, I've got an Alpine 91 318is as a parts car if you need to buy some parts :p But if this is your only means of transportation or you have no space to work on it or funds to pay someone else than you may want to pass.

[grantlacey11]

id say just offer a G for it, it would be a fun project car!

[fryerfighter94]

When your buying a car for $900 its not that hard to "spend more then the car in parts." The condition of the motor is basically impossible for anyone on here to tell without seeing it, so its pretty hit or miss right from the start. You could fix what the PO says needs to be fixed for nothing outrageous (for a 900 dollar car) but who knows if thats where it will end. I guess this expense would not be included in getting it running, but the bodywork and subsequent paint job are gonna cost a ton.

I understand, what I dont want to happen is end up paying for other random shit that fails and have a money pit.

Seems like the dude is relatively upfront about the condition, seems like it's priced as a project car. And I think I bought the updated timing chain tensioner for around $45 tops from Tischer BMW online. There's also a almost new or brand new clutch in the for sale section for $200

And if you do end up buying it, I've got an Alpine 91 318is as a parts car if you need to buy some parts :p But if this is your only means of transportation or you have no space to work on it or funds to pay someone else than you may want to pass.

That would be cool, but Ya I dont have the space/ funds to do a project.

[idanity]

imo "no no no no no no no ! "

i read the post, and they state how great the car is, and then list 40 things wrong w/it and say "its fine if you don't mind"..

well..thats bullshit.

especially, " the next time you do the clutch, i recomend the throw out bearing" ..WTF !

damit. they should've replaced the t.o.b. every time the clutch was replaced. (also resurface the flywheel, replace rear main/ input shaft seals- etc)

sounds to me, this is a basket case car, and not worth more than a few hundred.

think about the line "Needs an alignment desperatley! Rear passenger tire camber problem, the tires just wear funny-nothing noticeable.
Core support is bent, radiator's just fine though and it has been.
Timing chain tensioner broken, makes a funky noise. "
- omg thats horrid.
tires just wear funny.... (no...its called "crashed, and just bolted on a new fender),
"nothing noticeable...really, why is it typed, and how did "they" notice it than ?
"core support is bent, but its fine ? "

run--- i say run and never look back

remember, they are trying to sell the car, and who knows what is NOT being stated.

[Jean]

It's an old car, of course it will need a butt load of parts. IT all depends on how anal you are about things. Like others have said when you are only paying $1k for a car, it doesn't take much to spend another 1k on just parts for it.

[fryerfighter94]

not worth it.

[rustybullet]

not worth it. i bought a 91 318is in way better shape for 1000 bucks.