"" How Much To Pay For A Clean E30 ? ""

new member · 08-02-2011, 11:52 PM

What should I pay for a clean E30?

The car is a '91 318is NO RUST at all.

Solid underbody

All original and maintained. No aftermarket crap at all.

170k 3 owners

Thank you.

E30M42cab · 08-03-2011, 12:09 AM

First, tell me where it is so I can buy it out from underneath you.

$4500 would probably do the trick.

craz azn · 08-03-2011, 12:13 AM

Sounds like a good car. All original paint too? I want. Scott is right on the money for price. Anything more than 5-6k for a stock car is a bit much. And a 318 at that (sorry Scott

)

new member · 08-03-2011, 04:42 PM

I'd love to show the car, but I really like it and hope I can get it.

The car was repainted a factory color. I wouldbt want an original paint anyway, 20 years of sun does preserve the paint well...

I also wanted to ask about E30 in general. Not really concerned about maintenance or reliability but more about integrity of the car itself.
How are the front and rear subframes? do they hold?
How much power you think the rear will hold (diff and subfloor).
Front/rear towers ? any known issues.

It could be a dumb question but Ive been so busy focusing on newer BMWs that Ive completely neglected the old ones.

Thanks

**T.Dot_E30** · 08-03-2011, 04:53 PM

Since it is repainted the value is lowered. I'd take rust free original paint even if it is faded. It could have been a crappy paint job just to cover up rust.

new member · 08-03-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

Since it is repainted the value is lowered. I'd take rust free original paint even if it is faded. It could have been a crappy paint job just to cover up rust.

I will check on that for sure as well.

But assuming its not the case, what would the value be?

craz azn · 08-03-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new member

I'd love to show the car, but I really like it and hope I can get it.

The car was repainted a factory color. I wouldbt want an original paint anyway, 20 years of sun does preserve the paint well...

I also wanted to ask about E30 in general. Not really concerned about maintenance or reliability but more about integrity of the car itself.
How are the front and rear subframes? do they hold?
How much power you think the rear will hold (diff and subfloor).
Front/rear towers ? any known issues.

It could be a dumb question but Ive been so busy focusing on newer BMWs that Ive completely neglected the old ones.

Thanks

Most of this is gathered from seeing what happens to E30s with track experience:

Front subframe: motor mount ears crack off long before the sway bar brackets break off (which can happen with monster bars). You can buy reinforcement plates from Turner, BW, etc much like it is for the E36/46.

Rear subframes are fine, unless they are rusty. Rear floor failures don't happen to E30s like they do E36/46. Worst that happens is the diff mount tab tears out, but you need an abusive driver and a ton of HP to make it happen. More commonly seen on M Roadsters and such.

Front Towers are more less the same strength as E36/46. The tops can mushroom if hit hard enough. Look around for rust near the towers... good places for it to hide. Rear towers don't have much problems, maybe if driven with broken shock mounts for a long time it may start to crack, much like E36/46.

new member · 08-03-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craz azn

Most of this is gathered from seeing what happens to E30s with track experience:

Front subframe: motor mount ears crack off long before the sway bar brackets break off (which can happen with monster bars). You can buy reinforcement plates from Turner, BW, etc much like it is for the E36/46.

Rear subframes are fine, unless they are rusty. Rear floor failures don't happen to E30s like they do E36/46. Worst that happens is the diff mount tab tears out, but you need an abusive driver and a ton of HP to make it happen. More commonly seen on M Roadsters and such.

Front Towers are more less the same strength as E36/46. The tops can mushroom if hit hard enough. Look around for rust near the towers... good places for it to hide. Rear towers don't have much problems, maybe if driven with broken shock mounts for a long time it may start to crack, much like E36/46.

Great info, Thanks. If I get this car it probably wont see much track use but I cant speak for the future.

So, how much power you think the diff will take or the subfloor will take? I only ask because I might swap something interesting down the road. There are 2 voices in my head, one says get a clean E30 and keep in stock , other says make it a stock looking monster.

I've got a variety of motors that can go in there if I wanted to raging from 190 to 360hp. just wanted to know if the rear end will take it before being totally reinforced and without buying a new diff.

craz azn · 08-03-2011, 08:53 PM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 318 has the smaller 168mm diff... so you might as well swap right from the get go to the 325 188mm sized diff. Same sized internals as the E36. I don't think any 6 cyl motor will tax any driveline components majorly, even the Euro S50s, S54, etc...