New to the vert world

[shellback]

Hi everyone. I’ve been exploring the idea of picking up a vert as a DD. I did test drive one yesterday and here are some of my observations/questions:

-Back window was cloudy and torn
-Top was in great shape (exterior)
-Top had to be coached into up/down position. As top was lowered with motor, it had to be pushed into the storage area. Also, the rear portion of convertible had to be raised manually to fold in order to then store into recessed area.
-130K + miles
-1992
-5 speed
-Very weak performance. I’ve never driven a 6 cylinder E30 so I can’t compare it to any other 6. However, I owned an E36 compact and a 1991 318i and they performed much better (acceleration, highway passing, …). Engine seemed to be running fine but maybe I’m missing something. I really suspect there is something wrong with the engine.
-I noticed the “strange” cockpit design. Again, never ridden in a BMW vert before. As you get in, the area that joins the floor and door has a raised edge. Is this for reinforcement?

[steinbachphoto]

Hi everyone. I’ve been exploring the idea of picking up a vert as a DD. I did test drive one yesterday and here are some of my observations/questions:

-Back window was cloudy and torn
-Top was in great shape (exterior)
-Top had to be coached into up/down position. As top was lowered with motor, it had to be pushed into the storage area. Also, the rear portion of convertible had to be raised manually to fold in order to then store into recessed area.
-130K + miles
-1992
-5 speed
-Very weak performance. I’ve never driven a 6 cylinder E30 so I can’t compare it to any other 6. However, I owned an E36 compact and a 1991 318i and they performed much better (acceleration, highway passing, …). Engine seemed to be running fine but maybe I’m missing something. I really suspect there is something wrong with the engine.
-I noticed the “strange” cockpit design. Again, never ridden in a BMW vert before. As you get in, the area that joins the floor and door has a raised edge. Is this for reinforcement?

could just need a tune up, find another one to test drive and compare the feel. that should clear things up, and do you have pics of that raised edge?

[bmw325csi]

The raised edge is extra reenforcement. That car seems sketchy, It should pull harder than both of your 318's. I'd get a compression test done if I were you.

[3bvert]

agree on compressoni check, yes it should out pull a 318
yes reinforcement, there are several little differences to help stiffen the verts up
ripped rear window could cost up to several hun to get fixed depending on who does it
get rid of the electric top and convert to manual

one old saying, "its not the age , its the milage"

but what its really all about is past maintanance, how its been dirven and where

[steinbachphoto]

Fixing a window costs almost as much as getting a new top after labour.

[ubernasty]

i just dropped $450 on tension straps and a top for my manual... and thats not including adhesive and others tools to put it on, plus the time and pita job of actually doing it.

[idanity]

2 types of tops (soft tops, not hardtops)

1 type window is sewn in,
1 typs is zippered in...
the zippered is easy, and best.
the sewn in is impossible to replace the rear window without a shirtload of work.

a few things to note.
is the top manual or automatic (manual is preffered)
5 speed is preffered
4.10 LSD is prefferred and on many verts

verts have stiffer sway bars and springs.

other than that, its mostly the same for the is models.