Author Topic: Potential 318is Buyer (Read 3146 times)

e30is? · « **on:** November 27, 2006, 08:05:55 PM »

I've been looking for a nice daily driver (work from home) for errands. I have a pickup but don't like driving it and getting 15mpg just to get a sandwich every once in a while. So I want to get a nice older sedan that is fun to drive. Nailed it down to a 325is or a 190E but came across the 318is. I'm not displacement adverse as I used to run a 944 in the 944 Cup and now field a 110hp Honda Civic in the Honda Challenge.

I found a 1991 318is close to me that looks in good condition but has 229k miles on it. I'm concerned it maybe too much for it. It's a corner dealer (meaning they are as trustworthy as a mugger) so I'm going to give it a look and if it looks to be in good condition I'll make an offer. He's asking $2,450 so I think I can talk him down if I waive a wad of cash in front of him.

I'm also out in Kansas City and wonder if there is a bunch of wrenchers who fix up e30s. I hang out with 944 guys and we help fix up members cars - fun group.

tia

sheepdog · « **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2006, 09:10:55 PM »

Quote from: e30is?;14533

I've been looking for a nice daily driver (work from home) for errands. I have a pickup but don't like driving it and getting 15mpg just to get a sandwich every once in a while. So I want to get a nice older sedan that is fun to drive. Nailed it down to a 325is or a 190E but came across the 318is. I'm not displacement adverse as I used to run a 944 in the 944 Cup and now field a 110hp Honda Civic in the Honda Challenge.

I found a 1991 318is close to me that looks in good condition but has 229k miles on it. I'm concerned it maybe too much for it. It's a corner dealer (meaning they are as trustworthy as a mugger) so I'm going to give it a look and if it looks to be in good condition I'll make an offer. He's asking $2,450 so I think I can talk him down if I waive a wad of cash in front of him.

I'm also out in Kansas City and wonder if there is a bunch of wrenchers who fix up e30s. I hang out with 944 guys and we help fix up members cars - fun group.

tia

I have hung with the KC bmw guys, a great bunch, but not many e30's. Only a couple nice ones (that I know of, no offense to those guys). You do however have a pretty good BMW following, and can actually find parts in salvage yards for them there, as opposed to here.

As for mileage, if it is in good shape, mileage is not a big deal on these cars. That is not to say it will not have problem, just that these cars eat parts regardless of age.

There are a few buyers guides around, I am working on a nice one in one of the forums here. Follow those, and once you have it, pull the lower pan.

Bolts in the pan are a weakness for these cars. When the chain gets bed, it loses rollers, which jam up the oil pump. The loose bolts then push those peices into the oil pump and then you have lots of (expensive) work to do. Th chain will make noise, but as long as there are no loose bolts in the pan, odds of it causes a serious issue before you can get to it are slim.

Also, keep in mind these cars are not the cheapest to maintain or the most reliable. If you are expecting Honda reliability, don't. They are however much more fun and decent in reliability.

Since this forum began, we have narrowed down most of the serious problem areas and ways to fix most of them, so that is really not a huge issue.

I do have one worry though. That price.
For a dealer in this part of the country, that is actually low for a decent car even with that mileage. Maybe he does not know what he has, I do not know, but I have seen other small dealers buy up older 3 and 5 series for that much to sell on their own lots.

Read up on it, do some looking around, and then go talk to him. As I said, these are not Honda's.

Oh, these have forged internals, they really should be warmed up a bit before you take off, so going for a quick sandwich may not be best for it. BMW also does not recommend this car for lots of short city drives either, for every 10 minutes in the city, they recommend 1 minute on the highway to keep carbon out of the engine.

D. Clay · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2006, 09:37:45 PM »

I would only go that much if it was a solid rust free body and drove straight with no vibration. A good E30 318is makes you want to go out to where there's no traffic or police!

e30is? · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2006, 09:17:05 AM »

Thanks for the replies. I live out in Kansas so there's lots of open space to open it up. I'd be driving it for longer than 10 mins at a time at least.

I'm going to give it a look at in the next couple of days. I also found a nice 944 a couple hours drive away for less and I know how to fix them. But the e30 has a much more useful backseat.

Froos · « **Reply #4 on:** November 28, 2006, 09:41:43 AM »

I hope you are thinking about using the backseat for what i think you are thinking of using it...hehe....I dont need my backseat (do that in bed) so I just stripped mine out! Than its the same as the 944!!

e30is? · « **Reply #5 on:** November 28, 2006, 02:33:12 PM »

944 has a backseat...well for kids under 8 (my son is 5 and the 944 back seat is quite comfortable for him - doesn't even need a booster seat as it's so small and almost contoured to small frames).

I'm hoping to go check out this 318is sometime this week.

sheepdog · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2006, 06:32:59 PM »

Compared to the 944, the e30 is cheap to repair.

e30is? · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2006, 06:49:51 PM »

Alright just got back. Car has seen some better days. Things I noted that will definitely need repair (anyone know how much this might cost?):
- A/C doesn't work and the compressor makes a funny sound
- Brake Lining light was on in the car (means pads are low?)
- Brakes had a shimmy when stopping (wheel vibrated)
- Front struts are gone (bouncy/bouncy)
- Interior is well worn with rips and tears abound
- Front seatbelt won't rewind

I didn't notice any major leaks (a small little bit of oil was under the car but looked kinda old and could have been from another vehicle - I checked again when I got done test driving). I tapped the oil pan and didn't hear any thing rolling around in there.

Dealer is asking $2500 for it but says will entertain an offer below that (his price I can tell is not firm). Car has been sitting for over 2 months on the lot so I have some wiggle room if I give a low offer.

e30is? · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2006, 06:51:02 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;14625

Compared to the 944, the e30 is cheap to repair.

Heck yeah...$500 for a clutch kit for a 2.5 liter 150hp 944 (and that's the lowest you'll find). Not to mention all the strange crazy tools you need such as the timing belt tensioner (little gauge that costs $500), cheesehead bolts on the axles and flywheel, etc.

sheepdog · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2006, 01:10:23 AM »

Quote from: e30is?;14631

Heck yeah...$500 for a clutch kit for a 2.5 liter 150hp 944 (and that's the lowest you'll find). Not to mention all the strange crazy tools you need such as the timing belt tensioner (little gauge that costs $500), cheesehead bolts on the axles and flywheel, etc.

Check out a water pump or steering rack for an S4.
YIKES!

sheepdog · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2006, 01:17:34 AM »

Quote from: e30is?;14630

Alright just got back. Car has seen some better days. Things I noted that will definitely need repair (anyone know how much this might cost?):
- A/C doesn't work and the compressor makes a funny sound
- Brake Lining light was on in the car (means pads are low?)
- Brakes had a shimmy when stopping (wheel vibrated)
- Front struts are gone (bouncy/bouncy)
- Interior is well worn with rips and tears abound
- Front seatbelt won't rewind

I didn't notice any major leaks (a small little bit of oil was under the car but looked kinda old and could have been from another vehicle - I checked again when I got done test driving). I tapped the oil pan and didn't hear any thing rolling around in there.

Dealer is asking $2500 for it but says will entertain an offer below that (his price I can tell is not firm). Car has been sitting for over 2 months on the lot so I have some wiggle room if I give a low offer.

Honestly, I would not pay more than $1500 for it and even that is a stretch, but out there, he may actually get $2k, sad to say.

That will will need some bucks dumped into it.
Brake lining is easy.
The wheel shimmy, could be warped rotors or a bad wheel bearing, or tie rod or steering rack.With the struts bad, it could even be a combination. Suspension is cheap, but it adds up fast due to all of the little parts. Look around for a rack, they range from cheap, to crack smoker.

A/C, get a compressor (it is shot) and get some Freeze12 from Ebay. Expect several hundred for a compressor.

Tonyb · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2006, 02:04:10 AM »

Keep shopping!

e30is? · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2006, 03:27:23 PM »

Yep...not worth the trouble. I found a 325is that looks in much better condition with only 150k on it...guy wants $3000 for it

I'll likely pick up a 944 near me for $1600 (got the kid down a lot) as it need some engine work (leaks), etc. but I can fix it pretty easily (have access to a bunch of 944 gearheads).