Buying an e30

[Giormelo]

Okay so im pretty set on buying an e30 for my first car, considering everything i want it to be a manual preferably coupe doesnt matter, i want it to be a 325 but i want a lsd.. So would i be better off just getting a 325is or just a 325i and throwing the lsd on?

My budgets anything under 2500 and i live in toronto, i know what problems to look for i have a thread i saved somewhere but what problems are OKAY upon buying the e30 and which ones are just "walk away". Oh and what is an okay ammount of kms? Because all the ones im seeig are 150km which i find hard to believe but what would be an ideal km range?

I tried searching for a thread but i couldnt find any prob because im on my iphone but if this is an abp sorry!

[devon.818]

you can find the 325i with a LSD on it...mine is a 325i sedan with a 4.10 LSD.
but go with the 325is because you get all the IS goodies.

as far as problems....depends on how good you are mechanically really.
i mean its a 20-25yr old car, its not gonna be perfect.
i'd say rust is the big killer. i mean if the motor is blown, fine swap in a good one. if the suspension is shit, thats cool just fix. if the trans is fucked or steering is shit, fix it.
but rust, if its aggresive, i think would be the worst problem to address. CLEAN SHELL is always good, endless possibilities.

[Giormelo]

Say okay my perfect example is that i found an zinno e30 325is for 1500 but it has 300km and i found a 325i same condition except no lsd just around 150-200km and same price is the lsd worth the extra kms or vice versa, if the kms were same and price was higher on the is are the goodies and lsd worth it?

[devon.818]

the LSD? lol
the diff would only cost a couple hundred, at most, to switch.

do you want performance or looks, or both?
cause if i were you i'd grab that zinno, save save save, then drop a m50 in the sucker.

[Giormelo]

Flat out honesty i pretty much nothing to little about cars, although im willing to spend as much time learning. Thats why im asking for a high school student working part time, what kind of problems on the e30 are acceptable? Yes i ask because i know the e30 is an old car thats why i wanna know what are okay stuff to deal with

Edit
I dont plan on upgradin or doing snything major with the engine other than maintenance, other than that im probably just upgrade suspension, if theres no LSD and yeah then id go into looks, but i dont like rust either ahah

[blefevre]

The only real killer besides rust is the timing belt. If it hasn't been done you must get it done. Either pay a shop or do it yourself. The rest is honestly just normal car stuff, bushings go bad, shocks go bad, change fluids, etc.

[devon.818]

bro im a senior, just bought my e30 over a month ago.
it needed oil change and tune up bad.
knocked that out in a day.

mine has 200k+ miles. my main concern was similar to yours now i think, "can i drive this daily and fix it up"

what will make it not driveable:
center support bearing(driveshaft part) bad, steering rack fucked, broken suspension bits(broken not worn, worn will be annoying-bushings, shocks ect, broken like broken sway bars or blown shocks). the belts are huge, if those are worn then thats a tedious 2-3hr job and something that would need immediate attention. if it overheats, that could be pretty bad, depends on reasons. if it leaks LOTS or burns LOTS of oil then you'd likely be dumping a quart in every few weeks, problem would need addressing. if the engine sounds all fucked up then it probably is. if it slips in gear, you might want to back off if you can't afford to fix it.


things you can deal with
rusted up exhaust, fix it when you can, otherwise its "accept". worn suspension. worn brakes*replace when you can*. oil change, plugs, wires, maintanance....just do it when you can.

some of the stuff i listed as "back off" could be handled if you have the tools and friends to help.
hope my list helps you man.

[Giormelo]

Thanks so much thats helps alot when looking for an e30 and considering my budget i dont think id want to tread anywhere in the stay away list unless the car is hella cheap.

Really 200+ km? Hm how much did you pay and whats a good km range to look in?

[devon.818]

i paid 1200.
clean clean body is what i wanted it really for, i knew i'd be mod'ing it, idk i might sell though for a manual coupe lol.

i dont know KM to miles man.
good milleage is relative, if the car was taken care of well then theres no reason it wouldn't be running great at 400.000 miles.
but the 300.000 one would worry me, i'd buy it knowing im gonna swap the motor and drivetrain.

i say go for the 325i, then swap in a LSD.

[Giormelo]

Shittt 200mi is about 300km that is alot, so i guess the goodies arent worth it unless theyre the same price and km, whats a good way though to tell if the odometer isnt working or rolled by checking the actual car?