Advice on potential 1985 318i wanted... should I buy this car?

[rThor432]

I'm agree with everyone that the car isnt worth more than $700.

If I had $1500 to spend on a car I would go for a 6-cylinder.

[medik212]

Walk away.

My bimmerforums post details it.

Thanks for the input! Much appreciated. Anyone else wanna chime in?

[Jean]

what i find humorous is guys who buy these cars for too much, drive them for a couple months and then wonder what they can do to make them faster. you cant unless you pull an otis. i wouldnt mind having a 318 as a commuter. i love the m10 as its a fucking workhorse but its not real exciting unless its boosted

what can I say I woke up one saturday morning, and decided I had to have one.

[blunttech]

what i find humorous is guys who buy these cars for too much, drive them for a couple months and then wonder what they can do to make them faster. you cant unless you pull an otis. i wouldnt mind having a 318 as a commuter. i love the m10 as its a fucking workhorse but its not real exciting unless its boosted

[Jean]

Don't do what I did, thinking back I don't know what the hell I was thinking paying $1700 for mine.....lol

[StereoInstaller1]

I think the Diamondswartz E30 selling for $1K right down the street from me sounds like a better deal.

I haven't even bothered to stop and look at it.

Unless it were in fantastic shape I say a early 318 is worth no more than about $750. Absolutely cherry condition might be $2K, max.

JMHO. YMMV.

Luke

[kencopperwheat]

It's not worth a dime over $700. The early metallic paints are pretty damn resiliant... it must have taken a beating to get that bad.

Walk away, seriously. This is from a guy who owned an 84 318 for seven years.

[Wolfgang]

How many miles were on your car when you bought it? From looking at your pics, I'd say yours looks like a 10, while the paint on mine looks like a 3-5.

Something like 189,000. It's got over 214,000 now. The paint and body aren't perfect (plenty of dings and marks all around), but the color is in pretty good shape.

If it wasn't for that nasty vibration I'd tell you to just go for it. A rust-free E30 with a good engine and drivetrain would be well worth $1300.

[blunttech]

Maybe not for you, but thankfully everyone out there isnt like you.

my mother says the same thing. i have an early big bumpered car so im not railing on something i dont have. they arent worth as much and especially a 318 m10 car. but im glad you are willing to pay too much for a pos. makes my car look that much better.

[hendrixvodu]

nobody will give him 1300 for that thing. tell him 700 and have him call in a few months when its turning into a flower pot.or tell him youll give him 1300 if he fixes the vibration. the m10 is a good motor but there is nothing desirable about a big bumpered m10 powered early car.

i 2nd....there great little cars....plus you get the higher red line that the said E doesnt have ...i agree non over 700 they arent worth shit even in premo condition.

[Jean]

Offer 500-1000 or save up and buy a much better car for 2-3k.

Unless you are going to spend a shit load of money and time making it into a track car or restoring it, I would not bother.

You said it's got vibration, no a/c, crappy interior and bad paint are not small items. Vibration could be bad guibo or csb, it might need all new suspension and / or brakes and/or clutch too. Figure you'll spend just as much as the car at the minimum on it and you are already better of buying something else

just my 2 cents.

[Ablice]

Walk away.

My bimmerforums post details it.

[medik212]

QFT.

Aside from the awful vibration and non-working odometer, that pretty much sounds exactly like my car, even down to the color.

I'm not sure what the vibration could be, because a driveshaft problem wouldn't be related to engine speed. Perhaps it's just really, really bad engine mounts?

Assuming the car is pretty good aside from the problems you noticed, it shouldn't be a money pit as long as you can withhold spending money on "frivolous" things like the shifter bushings and more-comfortable seats. All the important bits that are crucial to the car being able to move and drive should be rock-solid, apart from the more integral electrical stuff (electrical has always been a BMW and European manufacturer weakpoint). The M10 will run forever and although parts of the drivetrain may need replacement soon, their replacements will likely outlast your ownership of the car.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I paid $1750 for my 318i almost three years ago. I've never regretted it.

Thanks for the replies, guys. How many miles were on your car when you bought it? From looking at your pics, I'd say yours looks like a 10, while the paint on mine looks like a 3-5.

I'm still wondering about the vibration... any of you guys have experience with this? It did worsen when I got on the gas, so motor mounts are a possibility I guess. Thanks for all the input!

[Wolfgang]

Maybe not for you, but thankfully everyone out there isnt like you.

QFT.

Aside from the awful vibration and non-working odometer, that pretty much sounds exactly like my car, even down to the color.

I'm not sure what the vibration could be, because a driveshaft problem wouldn't be related to engine speed. Perhaps it's just really, really bad engine mounts?

Assuming the car is pretty good aside from the problems you noticed, it shouldn't be a money pit as long as you can withhold spending money on "frivolous" things like the shifter bushings and more-comfortable seats. All the important bits that are crucial to the car being able to move and drive should be rock-solid, apart from the more integral electrical stuff (electrical has always been a BMW and European manufacturer weakpoint). The M10 will run forever and although parts of the drivetrain may need replacement soon, their replacements will likely outlast your ownership of the car.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I paid $1750 for my 318i almost three years ago. I've never regretted it.

[86espowa]

but there is nothing desirable about a big bumpered m10 powered early car.

Maybe not for you, but thankfully everyone out there isnt like you.