BMW320i

[scooters]

E30 model -any ideras what these are like - looks like a nice example locally - never driven one - are they a nice ride?

[trigger]

I know there's a few guys on here with then, from what i've driven of them they seen like a nice car, the 2.0i are a good pick with a gutsy 6 cyl engine which sounds nice.They can be a bit basic inside, It's not uncommon to still have keep fit windows, wheel trims and even no central locking on late, bigger engined models, so It's worth looking for a Lux spec and i think they suffer from rust quite badly as well in the common places like from wings, bonnets and wheel arches.

[scooters]

cheers fellah - I will watch the auction - looks like the seller might be a tad optimistic pricewisebtw - found a 1993 520i in great nick with no rust for £400 in edinburgh - owner is MOT'ing tonight which is when I will pounce - great dail for me - 150k on the clock

[pogweasel]

OK, but don't expect either earth-shattering performance or thrifty economy. Really not much less juicy than a 325i, and only 120-odd horsepower. Either go the whole hog and get a 325i, and scare yourself silly (and bankrupt yourself, as you cannot help but boot it everywhere to get that heavenly exhaust note) or seek out a 318iS for sharper handling and more go than the 2.0Still, any E30 is a pretty nice way to potter about. Well, except maybe a 316 Auto.

[Pete-M]

Very smooth, not even slightly quick, shit on fuel. Sound good. Gutless at low revs.Rear top mounts are always knackered, water pumps don't seem to last that long (may as well do the belt while you're there).520i will be slightly better on fuel than the E30 from my experience, the 520i 24v jobs are a fair bit better than the 12v and don't seem to suffer from chocolate head / gasket syndrome half as badly.I had a 5 year old 520i 12v SE and absolutely despised it. Kept it for two months and lost about £500 on it just to get the bloody thing out of my life.

[shite_meister]

I've had a few 320i E30s as well as many other E30s and currently own a 318is and a 325i.The 320i is a very smooth engine, in fact every one I've ever owned or driven has been smoother than the 2.5 however the main problem with the 320i is that although they sound nice and are smooth they use as much fuel as a 325i and are as slow as a 318i 8-valve so really you're not getting a great deal with the 2.0.I've bought the 320i in the past for either cheaper insurance or because the car was very very nice and cheap and they're about the only reasons why I would recommend one, unless its something really nice at a bargain price I would be on the look out for either a 318is which was the 16v version which is a very nice compromise on power/performance/fuel economy or a 325i just look for one that isn't covered in Tramp Drift/M-tec badges or that hasn't had the shit driven out of it-they're not quite as bullet proof as their reputation might suggest.As for buying one apart from the usual places that you would check on any car E30s tend to rot on the scuttle panel where it meets the front wings, the rear valance either above the rear lights or bottom and the roof-any rot on the roof and its walk away time as they have a metal sunroof tray bonded or welded to the roof skin and its a hard expensive repair. Sunroof panels rotting out are very common but are still avilable new.Interiors are usually ok with the exception of torn seats and driver's seat bolster wear and cracked dashes, instrument faults like service lights and iffy guages could be mean it needs a replacement instrument cluster but they're available secondhand for anything up to fifty quid so no bigee there.Sports seats on any model are good and leather sports seats are very sought after especially in black.Engines-the 316/318 8-valve M40 engines are belt driven and nothing special, 318is 16v M42 engine is a honey and chain driven although they can suffer from stretched chains, 320i/323i/325i all M20 engines are belt driven 12v straight sixes, 323i dropped in about '85 and replaced with 325i then all sixes had a better Motronic injection system after about 1988.A word of warning-the six cylinder cars have a habit of cracking heads-if it has any cooling issues then insist that its checked out or budget shit-loads for a replacement head. The steering has a low ratio that is to say lots of turns lock-to-lock and a horrible vague feeling from the rear could be rear beam bushes. Lots of fake 325i Sports about, I have a genuine one but they don't really justify the price premium as they're just a normal 325i with alot of extras, a quick check is the headlining was black on sports and black only. The great thing about old BMWs is you can buy pretty much anything from BMW still and there is loads and loads of info on the interweb, I know these cars inside out and there is a vast amount of knowledge out there on these cars.

[whitevanman]

The ones I have tried I found to be gutless thirsty and very poor handling...so much so they have put me off BMW's forever and yes I have tried other models, newer, etc, etc just can't get on with them at all

[shite_meister]

The ones I have tried I found to be gutless thirsty and very poor handling...so much so they have put me off BMW's forever and yes I have tried other models, newer, etc, etc just can't get on with them at all

Odd, although the 130bhp 320i is hardly a powerhouse I wouldn't say it was gutless.Like with any car-drive a tired example and it will be horrific especially once those rear beam bushes are past their best. Rear wheel drive on a damp road is either one of those things you either love or hate.I've had 14 BMWs and I'm not oblivious to their faults by any means but only two of them had iffy handling...caused by worn bushes the rest had quite good handling and none of them were/are newer than 15 years old.

[whitevanman]

The ones I have tried I found to be gutless thirsty and very poor handling...so much so they have put me off BMW's forever and yes I have tried other models, newer, etc, etc just can't get on with them at all

Odd, although the 130bhp 320i is hardly a powerhouse I wouldn't say it was gutless.Like with any car-drive a tired example and it will be horrific especially once those rear beam bushes are past their best. Rear wheel drive on a damp road is either one of those things you either love or hate.I've had 14 BMWs and I'm not oblivious to their faults by any means but only two of them had iffy handling...caused by worn bushes the rest had quite good handling and none of them were/are newer than 15 years old.

I think the early one was a bit worn, not sure what engine was in it, the later ones were fairly newish when I tried them...as for RWD, been driving them all my life and enjoy the handling but I just never felt I could trust the BMW's...might just be me of course

[alfetta]

I think they're about 9 seconds to 60. I could live with that....318i was more like 11.5 so it's not bad...

[Rusty Pelican]

Ive got a 86 318i and the economy isnt great around town , steering is vauge and on mine heavy to park as its got keep fit steering ( along with the windows ) performance isnt mindblowing either , that said the build quality seems really good , no rattles or squeeks , feels solid and is better to drive than my old 51 Astra .Shite-meister , Is mine chain or belt driven , cant seem to tell , oh and where can i get a bonnet ram stay thing , bloody thing nearly knocked me out tother day Soz for the hijack BTW

[scooters]

bonnet ram - go to Homebase - buy a broom with a wooden handle - remove broom head and discard - trim handle to about 3.5ft - job done!

[shite_meister]

Ive got a 86 318i and the economy isnt great around town , steering is vauge and on mine heavy to park as its got keep fit steering ( along with the windows ) performance isnt mindblowing either , that said the build quality seems really good , no rattles or squeeks , feels solid and is better to drive than my old 51 Astra .

Shite-meister , Is mine chain or belt driven , cant seem to tell , oh and where can i get a bonnet ram stay thing , bloody thing nearly knocked me out tother day

Soz for the hijack BTW

Rusty I'm pretty sure you have the M10 engine, a slightly course but very strong engine that was used for years-right from the '02s of the sixties to the E30s/E28s of the mid eighties. You will have a timing chain on that me ole cocker although the chain tensioners and guides may wear and become noisy and the chain may stretch but you'll hear it a mile off.

 

The M40 1.6/1.8 replaced the M10 units in about '87 and these used a belt.

 

You can tell straight away from the rocker cover what engine you have, I would say being an '86 car Rusty's is like this albeit with injection and in an E30. M10:

 

rather than the '87 onwards M40:

 

 

 

 

As for the bonnet gas strut the BMW part number you need is 51231906286 and is somewhere between £21-£25 quid from memory.

[Rusty Pelican]

Cheers for that , its an M10 then , with only 61K from new it should plod on a good while hopefully , il go to the main dealers and get a stay as soon as , bloody hurt that did

[Owain-328i]

OK, but don't expect either earth-shattering performance or thrifty economy. Really not much less juicy than a 325i, and only 120-odd horsepower. Either go the whole hog and get a 325i, and scare yourself silly (and bankrupt yourself, as you cannot help but boot it everywhere to get that heavenly exhaust note) or seek out a 318iS for sharper handling and more go than the 2.0Still, any E30 is a pretty nice way to potter about. Well, except maybe a 316 Auto.

Sound advice, either a 318is or a 325i, the same principles apply with the e36 range also