E30 m3

[Edev]

i highly doubt i am going to get it, its an 88 M3 with 250K. yup, thats right, 250 thousand miles. i havent talked to the owner about its history record..but if it all checks out good..would i be good to get it? he said everything seems to work surprisingly well. but it will need work to be perfect (idk what that exactly means yet..the picture looks clean). and its 100% stock except for H&R sport springs and Blistien sport dampers.

its just a thought. i doubt ill end up getting it..but he is taking offers on the car.

[Jean]

6-8k if there is no rust, and interior/exterior isn't trashed.

[george graves]

s14's need rebuilding a lot sooner than say an m20. I'd be concerned about the motor. Chances are it's been rebuilt once if not twice in it's lifetime. Ask a lot of questions about the motor - and take someone with you that knows m3s if you at all can.

[uofom3]

Timing system replaced? Rod bearings? rear main seal?

My car had 199k hard miles on it when I tore it down for rebuild and it was in suprisingly good shape (although one rod bearing was in the process of going out).

If the bottom end has been freshened at some point and the timing system has been replaced then you probably have a solid runner there. The s14 is a very strong, reliable motor. I don't care what people say about it, mine NEVER left me on the side of the road ever and it got abused when I was younger.

You need to realize what you're getting yourself into though. If the timing system hasn't been replaced, you're looking at 2k to get that done at least. I'm not sure what it would cost to get the rod bearings replaced but I would guesstimate at about 2k as well for that piece of the puzzle. Seals are more just to stop the leaks than being a catastrophic problem of any kind. These motors are buzzy and do tend to leak; particularly in higher mileage examples.

I'm not a guru but have owned my s14 powered m3 for almost 8 years... if you have any questions specifically about the car, PM me and I'd be glad to help answer your queries to the best of my ability. I've been through everything from the shifter rattle, right up to a wild 2.5 rebuild on these things.

[Edev]

hey thanks for the quick responses everyone. very informational. and uofom3, i might take you up on that after i check it out. ill try to gather all the info about it.

[Raxe]

Swap an M20 into it. :D

[Edev]

lol. but wouldnt that be defeating the purpose of owning a true e30 M3? :)

[Jean]

Well, you either buy one with records/history and pay a pretty penny for it or buy a high mileage one and put money into it to make it up to par.... 15k rule , get to know it :)

[Edev]

haha ok ok. youre right. i can find a really pretty penny..very shiny (aka mint condition) as well..and try to give it to the owner for the M :D

[uofom3]

Well, you either buy one with records/history and pay a pretty penny for it or buy a high mileage one and put money into it to make it up to par.... 15k rule , get to know it :)

True, and it's becomming more like the 18-20k rules.

BUT, that's for a clean, straight, deadnuts solid driver. If it has cosmetic issues that you can live with, etc, then you can certainly have one for cheaper.

Just remember, "The e30 M3: Cheaper than a cocaine habbit.... maybe"

[Edev]

yeah..im not really a perfectionist. but it cant be a pile of junk. so, some where in between will be just fine :)

hahahaha. thats a good one. lol.

[John1180]

Check mine out, it's a really nice car!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/805018646.html.

[YAN-3]

i say go for it. once you buy it, drive it and look at her and know that you own a piece of motorsport history, you wont even think twice about the millage or the crap loads of money it will take to rebuild her.

[Edev]

Check mine out, it's a really nice car!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/805018646.html.

haha ive already seen that like 5 times. i was going to email you last night about that meet up at Griots Garage. even though i dont own an M :)

if i had 12k. id buy it. but, im a senior in high school..working at a pizza place..and having to pay for everything. fun!

[Edev]

i say go for it. once you buy it, drive it and look at her and know that you own a piece of motorsport history, you wont even think twice about the millage or the crap loads of money it will take to rebuild her.

true. but im always short on funds. in high school. making pizza for a living, as of right now. so if something were to break, id be screwed. my parents dont help with my addiction :D