New here thinking of getting an E30

[rebelgtp]

Hey guys new to the board, I was actually referred here by VacMan over at bimmerforums. I'm currently on the hunt for a new commuter/fun car and the E30 is high on my list of cars to get.

One of my biggest questions though is how hard are they to work on? I live in eastern Oregon (go to EOU) and lets just say shops that can work on a Euro car that I would trust are far and few between out this way. So I figured it would be a good idea to find out how easy or hard it is to work on a E30. Particularly the 325i/is cars are what I'm looking for. There is an ix on craigslist that I've contacted the owner about as AWD would be nice out here but how hard is it to get parts for the AWD system if something breaks?

So anyway the hunt begins

[Kruzen]

Can you tie your shoes?

You can work on an e30

[smonkbmw]

There is an ix on craigslist that I've contacted the owner about as AWD would be nice out here but how hard is it to get parts for the AWD system if something breaks?

So anyway the hunt begins

if youre speaking of the red one. he broke the timing belt on it yesterday and the car is stuck in albany.

[rebelgtp]

Can you tie your shoes?

You can work on an e30

Gotcha, glad to hear I've worked on a couple cars that were a pain to do anything on.


Actually the 325ix was a black one. The driver side fender had been replaced and not painted. Guy wrote back said the PO hit a pole. Something that makes me very leary of that particular car he said he just bought it a couple months ago and is already selling it. Makes me wonder what else is going on with it.

[TwoJ's]

Compared to the 2000 Cherokee and the 1994 F150 I've worked on, the e30 is very simple. It's an old car, and the mechanical systems on them are really quite simple. The engine and suspension are especially easy to work on (save the rear subframe/trailing arm bushings; they can be a bitch).

To give you an idea, I bought my car in high school with a broken timing belt and smashed out windows. I had never even changed the oil or really done anything to a car besides install stereo systems. I got a Bentley, registered on the forums and got to work tearing it apart. I had a small amount of guidance from my girlfriend's dad, but I did 95% of the head swap myself with zero experience.

So yeah, they're easy to work on.

[smonkbmw]

Actually the 325ix was a black one.

oh yeah i saw that one. if this is your first e30 i might recommend not starting with a IX. standard 2 wheel drive is a lil bit easier and cheaper to mess with if necessary.

[sticksdaman]

if you dont mind getting your hands dirty... and have some patience then the e30 is the car for you

[JJe30]

Welcome

[BBY1104]

I would say working on an e30 is really easy just takes time and you gotta know what your doing and getting into.

My #1 recomendation to you is when you get an e30 grab a Bently

[rebelgtp]

Yeah I was kinda leaning to the regular 2wd cars as I figured easier and cheaper to work on.

Sounds like I should have no problems working on the E30. I managed to keep my old 944 and 240SX running and on the road, not to mention doing several engine swaps in a friends corolla gts.

Now I just need to find one. How is the performance of the 318is compared to the 325is? thinking maybe I should expand my net to cover those as well, so long as I could still have fun with one at an autocross.

[Devil Inc]

Get the 318is for economy/possible engine swapped track car, or the 325is for dd/weekend track car.

[rebelgtp]

Yeah that is kinda what I was figuring. The 325is is still the one I'm shooting for. I have all summer to find something cause come fall I'll be way to busy to shop around with school and all.

[Jean]

I've never worked on any cars ever in my life and e30s for the most part are easy to work on and learn. Having the right tools (some are specialty of course) and shop manual make the job easy as well.

Personally I would try and find an 89+ car only or 88 with maint. records or plan on working on EVERYTHING in the car lol.