E30 318i Pricing

[Muel]

Hi guys,

I've been reading into E30's for a short time now (6months) and I've thought about getting one as a sort of project car, not only to 'do up' or 'fix', but learn along the way. I currently drive a Toyota camry altise 2007, so the car wouldn't be used daily (yet).

I've been browsing adds around my area and I've found a cheap e30 318is?
Im not very experienced with cars yet, but a few areas of the advertisement seem to bug me, such as:
-Kms
-Amount of views / add being up for a month for a cheap price with no sale.
-Saying the car is 'Running', which seems to mean there are extensive problems with the car
-No rego, so probably not roadworthy
-And no model number, although it seems to be a 318is

I've really just made this post to see what more experienced people think about this add and to ask: What should I look for when I'll be inspecting the car?

What other issues should I be looking for besides the ones on this list?
-common rust spots?
-engine noise?
-sticky gears?
-Owners?
-Servicing
-Sitting time
-Running Problems
-Engine kms
-Squeaking brakes
-Cost
-How often driven

Link to Advertisement

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/oakford/cars-vans-utes/bmw-e30-3-series-2-door/1099724779

Thanks

[Kershaw]

Looks like a solid deal if it were local to me. I'd probably try to pay less just because he says it's negotiable. $1200 maybe. Use the lack of interior carpeting as a bargaining chip. Seats are cloth so they are most likely good to go.

Probably not a 318is because it has black bumpers, I'm not sure of things outside of Freedomland, but I thought that black bumpers denote a base model. Also it doesn't have sport seats. Which also means it doesn't have a limited slip diff.

Not registered, does he have a title? Obviously not worth it if he doesn't have a title.

[flyboyx]

for that price, i would buy it.

the front right fender and hood appear to be a different color than the rest of the body and the panels don't line up right. probably was in accident. the bumpers are the wrong color so they were replaced.

for a car that age, finding a decent body with no rust is an uncommon thing.

it needs work without a doubt. probably lots of it. if this is a problem for you, pass on it and look for a better one but the price will be higher.

[Kershaw]

Black bumpers came oem outside of the USA. Body matched painted bumpers were an option.

[Stanley Rockafella]

OP should buy this one instead

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kingsley/cars-vans-utes/bmw-1988-e30-325-lx-2-door-coupe/1102435551

ijs

[RoyalW/BlauCheese]

color mismatch is a red flag probably got hit. agree with flyboyx. good price though.

[Kershaw]

OP should buy this one instead

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kingsley/cars-vans-utes/bmw-1988-e30-325-lx-2-door-coupe/1102435551

ijs

That's a really nice ix. And they only made early model ixs in 87. Comes with the rare 3.64 gearing.

Would it have hurt him to put more pictures in though? I feel like if you ask for $15k you should be putting in some effort into the sale. Like 20 pictures, with multiple engine, all angles of interior, trunk, underside, and all angles of exterior... Seriously.

[Muel]

Looks like a solid deal if it were local to me. I'd probably try to pay less just because he says it's negotiable. $1200 maybe. Use the lack of interior carpeting as a bargaining chip. Seats are cloth so they are most likely good to go.

Probably not a 318is because it has black bumpers, I'm not sure of things outside of Freedomland, but I thought that black bumpers denote a base model. Also it doesn't have sport seats. Which also means it doesn't have a limited slip diff.

Not registered, does he have a title? Obviously not worth it if he doesn't have a title.

Thanks for the reply.
Would there be a way of checking the type of model it is? I have not heard of a 'base model', or are there any specific ways to identify a M42 engine?

[Muel]

for that price, i would buy it.

the front right fender and hood appear to be a different color than the rest of the body and the panels don't line up right. probably was in accident. the bumpers are the wrong color so they were replaced.

for a car that age, finding a decent body with no rust is an uncommon thing.

it needs work without a doubt. probably lots of it. if this is a problem for you, pass on it and look for a better one but the price will be higher.

Thanks for the input, I hadn't noticed the difference in panels.

[Muel]

OP should buy this one instead

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kingsley/cars-vans-utes/bmw-1988-e30-325-lx-2-door-coupe/1102435551

ijs

Haha, a bit out of my price range xD

[Kershaw]

Thanks for the reply.
Would there be a way of checking the type of model it is? I have not heard of a 'base model', or are there any specific ways to identify a M42 engine?

Get the VIN and put it in a BMW vin decoder. Tons of them online, just Google.

[exhaust]

If it's not rusted out, that would be a good deal. Check the rockers, battery compartment, trunk and jack points. There are good guides all over this site for what to look for, those are just off the top of my head.

E30s are good project cars, my friend picked up a 318i as his first project and is having a really good time with it.