O/T any experiences of an E30?
Turbo Mini Forums

tinking of buying one, any advice on what to look out for, stay clear of, must haves etc.

cheers, Mark.

walk the other way...

edit,
sorry i was thinking e36,
i swapped one for old rs took it round a corner and the rear diff mounts didnt,lol

Edited by rubicon on 31st Jan, 2008.

They do rot, inspect carefully.

boot seal leak like hell regardless it was a design fault so drill a small hole at each end of the boot. also maff problems occur with em, but other than that a good retro motor, make sure you put the mk1 mtek kit on it and the alpine 17's :) i had a 320 cabrio for a while.

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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...:MEWA:IT&ih=021

you missed this.

water leaks through rear light seals as well, diff mount bushes - clonky drive, snapped studs in the rearmost exhaust manifold points - difficult to repair, good excuse to put a 6 branch on mind! other than that get a good one and have fun

If Carling made Mini engines
it would probably be like this one!

Sunroofs do leak aswell

Rust around wheel arches

Also, inside the battery tray can fill up with water and somehow gets inside the car if it rots.

Good cars, although wouldn't get any less than a 2.0 unless it was a 1800si.

loads of good info there cheers!

for the money i have to spend i just cant bring myself to get a newish shopping cart, want something a bit retro.

A good solid 6cyl E30 with FSH will have many miles left in it.

Edited by MiniKid.. on 31st Jan, 2008.

petrol tank rusts at the back where the filler neck joins and a real bugger to change it

will post some pics up if i grab a good one! should be shopping this weekend!

Im now looking at buying my 3rd, started on a 1.8, had a 2.5 sport, and now buyng my mates tourer, they are really solid motors, look for rot on rear arches, a piller where it meets the bonnet, usualy rots due to blocked sun roof drains, if a 6cyl, then the battery is in the boot so check for rot under it, and all the usual places. the usual bushes and bearing can fail, but its the same any car of this age, seals do leak, probs wit central locking are common, usualy the module in the footwell by the throttle. Milage, my 2.5 had 138k on when I sold it, you will struggle to find a low milage one but dont worry, they are very robust engines, the 1.8 8v units need a top end over haul at around 100k, the IS best unit t go for but these hold value. If you can find an ISE as these have a slip diff and a few other toys, I would go for a sport but these again hold their money, only gain is they have a closer ratio box, bilstiens as std and 5hp more than a stock 2.5, if you fit a larger tb to it, more banans are available, 2.0 would be a good compromise, 6cly torque and a loverly sound, better fuel economy than the 2.5.
But one last ting I wil say is, DONT FORGET TO GET THE DIFF WELDED! (if not an lsd), this is the best thing you can do to an e30, some serious drift action,
sorry about the long post.
Good luck.
Shane.

E30's rule. They are my favourite cars. Im on my fourth which is a 318iS 16v. 136bhp and its good fun. You have to rev it like hell to get the power which makes it a right laugh. Also handles really well.

Check every where for rust, inner arches inside boot, front footwells, scuttle, cubby holes in boot, sunroof, drains etc etc.

Im sticking with them for life. Best ones to get are 318 iS (m42 16v engine, they handle great and are quicker than the 320), 325i or M3.

Oh and dont put 17" alpinas on, they tramline and wobble like crap. 15" BBs or 16" alpinas or hartges.

Going to be buying an M3 version in 4 months time.

Heres my iS:

Edited by hammoj28turbo on 1st Feb, 2008.

in short there a rot box
and most of them have had some COSH..co!

heed toms advice

It quite funny hearing "they are rot boxes" coming from a mini site.....lol. No offense of course. I have a mini too.

well i wanted to say that, but...................................................................................
i dont take my mini out in the rain, dry miles Only!

and it still is degrading in a dry stored garage

Lol, tell me about it. They rust like buggery. But its worth it. Every old cars rust i suppose.

Yes, some E30's rust but in comparison with most vehicles of that age they have stood the test of time extremely well. They are really well made cars and drive really well. Plus they look amazing.lol

comapred with any other car of the same era they hardly rust at all lol

AlexF

its basically to get me to work and back so im not to bothered about speed etc.. have a new st turbo for that

shane, hammoj28turbo thanks for the info

what do you think of this, looks like a bargin on the face of it..

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/358628.htm

btw hammoj28turbo, you car is mint!!

Edited by MarkGTT on 1st Feb, 2008.

what you need is my rust free T5 so i can stop being poor !

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MarkGTT wrote:

again i must stress mk1 Mtek kit and 17" alpina wheels.

and no Nic twas not a gang bangin pimp drug dealing homey. but they look friggin bling with that kit on.

also the bonnet brow and light wiper kit SWEET !!!!

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Im not envious at all!!! I promised myself one when I sold the 2.5, but the x missus had got her teeth in and said no way, no woman now, so no problem!!
The e30 is definatly a cult car like the mini, has a huge following. I really miss both of mine, really looking foward to taking delivery of the tourer, but that wont be till early week after next.
The car in the ad looks pretty genuine, some do get looked after well, I picked my 1.8 up wit 70k on a few years back, the 2.5 wasnt mint but I didnt buy it for that.
No worries fella, glad to be of help, if you wanna chat further bout it Pm me and ill send my no.
Remember, get that diff welded!!
Shane

On 1st Feb, 2008 hammoj28turbo said:
E30's rule. They are my favourite cars. Im on my fourth which is a 318iS 16v. 136bhp and its good fun. You have to rev it like hell to get the power which makes it a right laugh. Also handles really well.

Check every where for rust, inner arches inside boot, front footwells, scuttle, cubby holes in boot, sunroof, drains etc etc.

Im sticking with them for life. Best ones to get are 318 iS (m42 16v engine, they handle great and are quicker than the 320), 325i or M3.

Oh and dont put 17" alpinas on, they tramline and wobble like crap. 15" BBs or 16" alpinas or hartges.

Going to be buying an M3 version in 4 months time.

Heres my iS:

yeah best join www.planete30.com i was a member when i used the 320.

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