NooB needs help

[Mars1007]

I have always loved the BMW e30.
Turns out I am in the market for a car. I ride my bicycle a lot so I see no purpose in going to a dealer and forking over 20,000 for a recent model car. Plus, I love a car with individuality...not a cookie cutter 1990s/2000s type car.

Here is my issue. I would prefer to buy a beautiful e30 and drive t with confidence day in and day out, throughout the year, for tens of thousands of miles....BUT, I have no mechanical background or know-how at all...nor do I have countless hours to learn it or countless dollars to pay someone else to do it.

So, do these e30's need constant repair, maintenance, attention, adjusting, tweeking, etc? I could not own a car like that simply because I cannot do those things.

Is the e30 not for me?

Thanks and let the responses pour in!

[Farbin Kaiber]

They are like any 20+ year old car. Stuff will fail.

First things first, buy a Bentley Manual and study it, if it looks too hard, you might want to get something with a manufacturer warranty, or snag a Civic.

[Mars1007]

The civic comment is certainly not what I was looking for....did you not read what I posted?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Yes, I even read it twice. But if you are unable to maintain a vehicle, a more maintenance friendly option will be suggested. You are not a car person, and are asking car people for advise.

[GunMetalGrey]

I think if you WANTED to have one, you could do it. My e30 is my first car, and I have a decent mechanical background but not in cars. I have learned a lot so far, and spent a couple hundred dollars. But after driving it for the first time yesterday, it is all worth it.

[grantlacey11]

now is the time to learn young grasshopper! bentley manual + r3v will give you all of the knowledge you can ever hope to know about working on these cars. or, get a civic.

[devon.818]

i new NOTHING about e30's when i bought my first one. i came on here, asked for help, found a freinds.
first thing i learned was oil change and maintenance. then started learning how to take shit apart and put it back together, then learned use a breaker bar when the bolts are stuck cause slipping and smacking your hand HURTS LIKE A MOFO!

i even got to help do a m50 swap which i thought was the shit.

i feel semi-confident. i feel like i can help with most e30 work, as long as there is a Bentley near by.
useing the bentley makes it all do-able.


and DO NOT buy a honda.
btw, i know of plenty of SWEET e30's up in the NY/NC area...all under 3k.
PM me if you want some links.

[BoxDriver86]

I have worked on a ton of cars as a hobbyist in my short life and I have to admit the e30 is fairly simple and straightforward. I can't think of any job that can't be done with a little motivation, a Bentley manual and a few helping hands. Oh, you'll need to get a decent set of tools if you don't have that either.

Keep your computer close by, I've had to make some posts on here requiring quick answers and have yet to be disappointed.

As far as general cost, I find that e30 parts are significantly cheaper compared to some of the other stuff I've toyed with. I don't have much experience in the Asian car world, nor do I desire to be.

Good luck!

[Mars1007]

So far, so good. Thanks

[ZekeTheSneak]

Get an m3

[Mars1007]

Get an m3

I had one but I lost it in the divorce settlement with your mother.

[Farbin Kaiber]

^ nice.

[Mars1007]

^ danke

[Car Addict]

I had one but I lost it in the divorce settlement with your mother.

I get the feeling noobie will make it just fine here on r3v.

As long as you are not afraid to get a little dirty these cars are VERY good to learn on. As everyone has said get a Bentley service manual, and a decent set of hand tools.

[Massimo]

I will tell you a little about my self which may help you make your decision.

My first car was an E21 318i with 450,000km on it, I had it for 4 years and did nothing to it including oil and water. I had no idea about cars although I loved them, then in the last year the head gasket blew so I got it fixed and sold the car, I originally bought the car for $2000, the head gasket cost me $2000 and I sold it for $800:(

Then I bought my current car E30 318is I bought this car because I had a friend who had one and I feel in love with it. So when I bough it I had started a new job and said to my self I am going to spend the money on this car to make sure it is well maintained. LOL!

Well about a year and a half in I had probably spent about $5000 on repairs not maintenance on a $8500 car. Not very happy with how things were going I decided to start doing my own repairs. So I bought a few books.

101 Performance Projects For Your BMW 3 Series (girlfriend actually sore this in a book shop and bought it for me)
E30 Bentley Manual
E36 Bentley Manual
$150 worth of books

Read the 101 performance book and I use the other two for reference. Then went and bought some tools. Screw driver set, Socket set in metric and imperial, torx socket set, Allen key set, pliers set, 500mm breaker bar and two torque wenches one 5 to 50nm and the other 12.5 to 200nm, about $400 worth of tools

Now when I require doing something on my car I search the intrenets first there is always someone who has done it before me and has written a guide or given info on what to do to get the job done. If there is nothing post it on the forums people will help you out.

2.5 years latter from not knowing shit I have recently done a head gasket, timing case gasket and timing components replacement, and if I had more time and money I would have rebuilt the motor. I have found that although I did not always understand the books or guides once you get in there it all comes clear. I also did this only with the tools mentioned above, it cost me about $1500 according to my old mechainic I would have been looking at around $5000 to do what I did.

As long as you understand the basic mechanical function of your car you can do anything with a bit of reading. I am now planning a turbo build with an after market engine management which I will tune my self.

So if you really like the E30 which you will and and can spare a little time reading then you will be fine. Also if you drive like a grandma then you will find the car will last you a very long time.

Hope this helps with you decision.