How bad was your e30?

[isaiahliepold]

I bought my 89 325is with 190k non-running for $2500 and then put a total of $2500 in repairs and snow tyres.

[Das Delfin]

bad:

seat belt mount bolt was missing
seats didn't adjust
shifter boot was torn
OBC computer LCD lights were out
front turn signals didn't work
drivers headlights didn't work
blower motor didn't work (resistor was out too)
power side mirrors didn't work
recirc button didn't work
a/c doesn't work (but was I really expecting it to?)
tires are dry rotted
spare tire is shredded
no jack
rats nest inside hood lining complete with roasted acorns
passenger window switch didn't work
car leaks oil like a mofo
no cover for the fuse box
check panel was on the fritz
rear shock mounts were shot
shocks are shot
springs are old and dead
interior is a lost cause (sport seats though!)
center front convertible seal leaked
brakes were shot
there was a shitton of dead dry grass in the air intake filter
alt whine would come through the FM
CD player ate CD's
cruise control doesn't work
only one side marker bulb worked
windshield fluid jets didn't work (one had a screw drilled into one of the holes)
ash tray lights were out
glove box was fubar
power antenna was seized shut
tie rods and boots are done
trunk shock was dead
convertible lid shocks were dead
convertible top shocks were dead
suspension is shot
interior needs new upholstery
still needs rear plastic window
no power steering
coolant hoses were dry rotted
handbrake barely held the car in place on flat ground
rubber window seals were rotted away
leak under battery tray on the front


Good:
clean title
bass/treble fader still works
not a lot of rust
4:10 LSD
paint looks okay
original BMW top
every time I look for e21 project cars I realize I already have one of those and can save my money

[timmyr77]

1987 325i vert

The bad:
Engine had 6 bent valves
Shot engine bushings.
No springs in the front was sitting on 2x4 blocks
No rear shocks
Trunk was a primered with some broken m3 replica wing
Soft top torn
Top Frame bent
No oil in tranny
Diff was leaking
Guibo was shot
Center support bearing needed replacing
Cracked windshield
All front suspension components needed replacing
Slave cylinder shot
Was missing the carpet
Cracked dash
Cluster from an eta
Ignition switch was not working always
Blower heater didn't work and heater core leaked
Rear blower motor didn't work
No deck or speakers
Seats were torn to shreds front and rear
Exhaust was rusted through

The good:
Absolutely no surface rust
Clan title and all original body panels
Delphin metallic -(probably the only reason I got the car even though it's not all that rare)



Almost 4 years and $10k+ later the car has been painted twice everything has been completely rebuilt with exception to the tranny and diff and I never reupholstered the rear seats. Also still needs rear bushings replaced. Other then that the car is awesome. Probably won't ever sell it. At least not in the near future.


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[Dussen]

I'll just list 1 for each....

BAD: motor mounts were missing the bolts.

GOOD: E30 M3.

[Bullhead]

This is going to take a minute.
The Bad:
Was told the car just needed a slave cylinder. These are what I have replaced so far.
Transmission
Clutch
Slave and Master Cylinder
Guibo
Wheels
Tires
Brakes
Brake Hoses
Shocks
Injectors (redone by MEPEH)
All Hoses
Belts
Windshield Wiper Transmission
Wiper Motor


Needs Done:
Driver seat is blowed up
Paint is horrible
New Window Seals
New Front Windshield
New Fuel Tank
Rear Drivers Floor Board needs a Patch
New Exhaust
Window Regulators

The Good:
It's an E30!
2.7
Body is straight with almost no rust at all
Sunroof Works
Finally Runs Good
Fun Parts Come Next (Hopefully)

[chick]

I bought mine for $250. It was covered in about 1/4" of black mold outside, inside not much better. Dash was cracked, Automatic, tires held air, etc.
Control arm ball joints were shot, sway bar links totally shot, as were the shocks, shock mounts, etc. Sport seats were rats nests.
But I jumped the battery and it fired right up. Drove it on the trailer and hauled her home.
TB, WP, thermostat were done right after 2 days of cleaning. But intermittently would run like crap. I replace the TPS, cleaned the AFM, plugs, etc, still did not fix it. Finally replaced the computer with one from my 89 parts car (RIP Ruby, damn deer) and Voila! Now she runs great, gets 26 mpg, burns less than a quart of oil per 3000 miles. Door locks and cruise work. Odo did not work for 4 years, finally put the gears and new SI board in. Currently reads 286,000 miles so I know she has over 300k.
Fixed all the suspension problems, put on my Borbet Cs (again from Ruby) Alpine stereo, Infinity component speakers, heated sport seats, H&R sport springs.
Clear coat is peeling, and the AC compressor leaks. Get those done and my new DD is ready to go.:p

[illest318i]

Do I even gotta list everything.? Lol



Interior was pretty clean tho..

[estoguy]

Mine was pretty good. To get it certified it did need new brakes and a blower resistor. Also ended up getting the starter done.

Otherwise, it's been mostly routine maintenance and replacing worn stuff as it goes/budget allows.

I did some math on my E30, and if I take all the costs outside of fuel, I've been averaging $352 a month/$88 per week in 25 months of ownership. That included all maintenance, repairs, insurance and licensing costs. Considering that I've driven close to 130K km, I think it's pretty good considering what the payments on a new car would cost me.

[cavpilot]

1990 325ic

I bought this car because:
No rust.
Engine ran strong.
Transmission, clutch and brakes were all good.
Straight body/ no accidents.

What I've had to un-fuck:
Dash had more gaping cracks than a German porno.
All shocks and struts blown more than Ron Jeremy.
Idiot PO spray painted the headlights, wheels and kidney black.
Gracie Academy decals on windshield and quarters.
Every tire was a different brand and size.
Only thing on the cluster that worked was the speedo.
No A/C.
All suspension bushings and links rotted out.
Top was in complete shambles.
Paint faded more than Brittany Spears career.
Cracked oil pan fixed (no) with JB weld.
And much, much more...

[socalife]

86 316, from Germany. Yup, its all pretty much terrible.

[TickHaus]

The bad:
Trunk Cancer
Busted taillight
bent valve
no carpet
ugliest steering wheel ive ever seen
key only worked on ignition cylinder, all other locks were different
no glovebox
tattered seats

the good:
i had everything to swap over from my old e30 :D

[brbahner]

Bad:
Birds nest of wiring
over 300k m20 (lasted a month)
leaky radiator
water leaks everywhere
weather stripping all rotten
passenger lock doesn't work with key
all seats were worn down to the foam
all interior cover were gone (ie: knee bolster, and glove box interior covers)
13 button obc didn't work
front suspension was crap
steering rack was leaking
Sunroof motor wasn't working
window cleaning fluid bottle and sprayers were broken
radiator mount is mangled
cluster didn't work properly
trunk cancer
Brakes and rotors were bad
Control arms were bad
Right side sealed beams were no good
right side running lights were no good
DMV back charges like no other

The good:
Im crossing off the last few things from the list this winter and will be done with the POs crap.