Greetings (and, yes, my first post is asking for input on a car purchase...)

[KingJaffeJoffer]

Greetings, all! Just joined the board a few days ago. Owned a 1990 325is from 1996-2001 and bought my current E39 in 2010. But, I am looking to add another E30 to the stable for the missus. In particular, this one:

http://annapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5391510952.html

The deal is as close to being done (without actually being done) as possible. Specifically, we have agreed on a price and my insurance will cover the car as of this Saturday (we are driving down to get it this weekend). I have been trading texts with the owner and it has been going well. The only issue that he has mentioned which is not listed in the ad is a snapped cable on the passenger seat. Timing belt was done about 20K miles ago and owner says that there is no rust (he has garaged it for the last six years). Ran my Carfax and the owner has also provided service records. So, am I missing anything? I plan on tackling the pads, rotors and caliper on my own, but a buddy of mine will do the wheel bearing as that is beyond my skill set. I will have a go at the tan top in the Spring. Thanks for any input.

[UlrichFennec]

Where the hell is this guy getting 1500 for a wheel bearing and brake job? Sounds like he's getting rooked.

Anyway, I'd personally pay 2k because of the work it needs done. And the timing belt and normal stuff will need to be replaced anyway, even if it was done 20k ago. Better to be safe than sorry.

[kickinindian]

its winter time. time for all the verts to be sold!

[AllydNYC]

Where the hell is this guy getting 1500 for a wheel bearing and brake job? Sounds like he's getting rooked.

Anyway, I'd personally pay 2k because of the work it needs done. And the timing belt and normal stuff will need to be replaced anyway, even if it was done 20k ago. Better to be safe than sorry.

Agreed. Even if the owner said 10k miles, replace the timing belt. That's something many people say to do when you purchase an M20 E30 regardless of mileage and paper work.

Check this out: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...0-buyers-guide . I know you've owned an E30 in the past but it's a good guide to see if you forgotten anything and go over things a 2nd time for the stuff you've already looked at.

[djjerme]

Even at 2K, it seems like a lot for a vert.

Though, in your neck of the woods, that may be a deal.. Honestly, there is a lot of PITA jobs that need to be done (blower motor/heater, rear wheel bearing) which really drive the price down for me.

I would show up with $1500 cash, then leave your number with him.

Maybe I am the only one, but I don't believe that when the top goes down the price goes up. Vert's are fun in the sun, but more headache and noise in the fall/winter..

Your results may vary.

[KingJaffeJoffer]

Thanks for the responses. I have been searching CL and Ebay for a month (within 200 miles), but have come across mainly dogs in my price range for verts (under $3500). For example, this one came straight from auction and has some serious rust on the right rear panel: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/m...380057258.html. I think you folks out west may have a better market than us right now. For the car that I am set to buy, I initially offered $2K, but he turned it down immediately. He does have the service record showing the timing belt was done 20K miles ago, but I guess that I will look to have it done again to be sure.

Also, a question regarding the blower motor. Does the E30 have a final stage unit/final stage resistor like the E39 which, when shot, can exhibit the same symptoms as a crapped out blower motor?

[SmokeE30]

there is a resistor pack for the blower motor that can fail, pretty common, but then again so are bad motors at this point. either way if that guy didn't take $2k hes an idiot. a rough metal bumper vert in the winter is about the most undesirable e30 as you could get.

[KingJaffeJoffer]

^ Smoke, you are about 15 minutes away from me , man. I am going to email you at your Bimmerbuddies address. shortly.

[The München Monster]

Geez. Verts go for $6000 at LEAST where I live, no cheaper than that.. But then again E30 M3's go for $50k

[McGyver]

well poop, I guess this is the weekend that I wash/wax/vacuum so I can take pictures of the 2 verts I need to sell!

[KingJaffeJoffer]

Check this out: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...0-buyers-guide . I know you've owned an E30 in the past but it's a good guide to see if you forgotten anything and go over things a 2nd time for the stuff you've already looked at.

Just printed this out and will take with me tomorrow. Thanks. I did not wrench on my first E30 at all.

[Kershaw]

Geez. Verts go for $6000 at LEAST where I live, no cheaper than that.. But then again E30 M3's go for $50k

M3s go for that much here too. In good condition.

$2500 looks like a solid deal to me for MD. The back seat isn't split like most verts, that's worth something. With the exception of the wheel bearing and the seat (adjuster?) cable, all of that is kind of basic.

The best coast obviously has better deals and less rusty e30s. We take what we can get here on the rust coast.

if you want a project, you could always get this one. I drove it, it runs well, but it has issues. I'm sure you could negotiate $2k as well. That's what he had it listed for originally and it didn't sell. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/n...391793077.html I posted more pics on the MD regional forum.

[Stanley Rockafella]

$725 for a blower motor and resistor replacement?!

..im in the wrong industry!

[KingJaffeJoffer]

The back seat isn't split like most verts, that's worth something. With the exception of the wheel bearing and the seat (adjuster?) cable, all of that is kind of basic.

if you want a project, you could always get this one.

No cracks in the dash either according to the owner. Is replacing the seat cable pretty involved? I already know that I cannot tackle the wheel bearing on my own.

Have to go with the manual transmission. Not a bad price on the Alpine, though.

[McGyver]

Is replacing the seat cable pretty involved?

As long as you have a good cable, it's not bad. Just tedious, annoying, and you'll stab your fingers. But you should only need pliers and a screw driver.