How many miles you got?

[gusT_EthirT]

I just wanted to know what you're driving and how many miles its got...

Here's why:
I'm still looking for an E30...and trying to factor in the mileage of a car when looking to buy it... Is there a difference in engine life between an early 318, a 318iS, a 325, a 325e, a 325es, a 325iS and a 325i??? I've heard rumors of eta's going on forever...but is this really true? I'm not looking for a car to have trouble with. Is it more risky to buy a car with high miles that has been treated well...or to buy lower mileage car that has been driven hard? What should be my cut off point for miles on a car that I'm looking at and should it vary from car to car? I'm looking for a late model E30, hopefully a 325iS or a 318iS...but am still searching and considering other options... Persuade me!

[bimmerphile]

this is the second time i've looked tfor the original thread and have been unable to find it.
Hell, I can't even find the thread that caused me to go looking the first time. it wasn't that old eiter.

1991 318iS - 144431 miles

[peteM3power]

I've heard rumors of eta's going on forever...but is this really true?

I believe that the eta's are very reliable (if looked after) and even though they are a low-revving car, their economical and durable nature can be quite an incentive to buy one. My cousin currently has a 1987 325e sedan that has approximately 150,000km's (under 100k miles) and gets driven fairly hard each day and hasn't had any problems with the exception of a blown head gasket.

Even though my cousins 325e has reletively low km's for its age, I remember reading (a while back) that someone had a 325e either here or back at e30sport that had in excess of 450,000km's on it and was still running with the original engine - not sure if 450k is exact but thats what I can remember at the moment!

Even though I am still searching for an E30 (and haven't yet owned one), I have been around here, e30sport and few other message boards and heard a lot about the lives of E30's and their engines.

What I gather from everyones experiences and opinions is basically that: E30's are very reliable IF looked after adequitely. Most E30's provide adequite power for most people (depending on what you want it for) and most of the time, E30 engines WILL last if you continue to do proper maintenance regularly with your E30.

Is it more risky to buy a car with high miles that has been treated well...or to buy lower mileage car that has been driven hard? What should be my cut off point for miles on a car that I'm looking at and should it vary from car to car? I'm looking for a late model E30, hopefully a 325iS or a 318iS...but am still searching and considering other options... Persuade me!

Very good couple of questions. As far as miles are concerned, I would suggest that you find the model you like and in the condition that you are looking for and worry about the miles later. That's not to say I recomend you buying a 200k miles + E30 but just to put things into persepective, I once had an interesting experience in my search for an E30.

I checked out a 318iS with about 75k miles and even though it looked very clean, a compression test revealed that the pressue in the forth cyclinder was down "significantly" and in order to fix the problem, a mechanic that I spoke to recommended an engine rebuild as my best bet.

Because the driver was of old age and only used the car (to my knowledge) to commute to work around the city, I am guessing he drove it slowly and never really fired the engine up and got things flowing properly. Now because I initially looked at a low mile car to avoid a rebuild straight away, this stopped me buying the car and I now believe that a higher mile car wouldn't be so bad. Sure everything has a little more wear and tear but on the whole, most people drive their cars often and ones that are driven often get the fluids flowing regularly - which all helps in making an engine live long!

I'm looking for a late model E30, hopefully a 325iS or a 318iS...but am still searching and considering other options... Persuade me!

Besides the E30 M3, those two models that you mention would have to be the most sought after around.

If you want good fuel economy, cheap(er) insurance and nippy handling, go for the 318iS.

If you are after more luxury features, a faster, smoother engine and love the sound of a BMW straight six, go for the 325iS.

They are both great cars and it really depends on what you want when you consider those factors.

Have fun in finding your E30 and I hope that helped! :D :D :D

--Pete

[nando]

I'm just at 152,000

original engine & transmission, no problems so far.

[rayz]

just passed 148000 yesterday in my 1990 325i

[Erick]

God knows how much I have, my odo has been broken at 121k since before 1999.

all I know is that it still pulls strong. 8)

[e30Matt]

'91 318iS; just clicked over 188,700.

[Bill 84 318i]

God knows how much I have, my odo has been broken at 121k since before 1999.

How come nobody ever fixes this? TMU really fucks the resale value of a car.

143k, bought it at 85.

[Erick]

I need to buy a whole new cluster. I changed the gears once already but it keeps breaking not even 100 miles after. And I payed like 40 bucks for those small ass 3 gears.

[Stu]

236

[e30Matt]

I need to buy a whole new cluster. I changed the gears once already but it keeps breaking not even 100 miles after. And I payed like 40 bucks for those small ass 3 gears.

Yeah, my twofive's instrument cluster went through 3 sets of gears before I just bought a new cluster. Cheap off eBay, I just recorded the actual miles and then use the new odo to do the math.

[kansas-ix]

the 88 325ix has 241k orignal engine, and drive train, no prob.
wife's got a 84 528e w/ 277k reading the the odometer has been on the fritz for a year, original, engine , one rebuild. I think first to 300k gets a new car.

[boricuabimma']

1987 325e
113,842 miles

[325is_e30]

89 325is 204,500 miles

[GaryE30]

160K running strong