Anyone got/had an E30 325i Sport?
26-05-2005, 08:32 AM
#4
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Yeah ive had a couple of them. 1000 times better than any E36 model. Great ass end action (got 4 point for getting it sideways!! 
).
Look out for the usual rust areas, plus inside the boot above the rear light clusters in the corners. HPi it as well (im sure you will anyway!). Things like rear top mounts go on them but not dear etc, and check that all electrics work as you can imagine BMW parts arent cheap.
Chris
).Look out for the usual rust areas, plus inside the boot above the rear light clusters in the corners. HPi it as well (im sure you will anyway!). Things like rear top mounts go on them but not dear etc, and check that all electrics work as you can imagine BMW parts arent cheap.
Chris
26-05-2005, 08:36 AM
#6
Team HOTHOT!
had one of them on an E plate - fanatsic motor, amazinly balanced, very very good handelling in the dry and wet, but in the wet it was very tricky to keep the rear wheels inline with the front ones - every roundabout was great fun, the drive to work in a morning certainly woke me up.
all the sport ones had LSD, electric windows, parts failure module (same as a bulb out indicator on a sierra, but has low oil level too), some had the fuel computer, make sure you gert one with power steering as the non power steering one is very heavy, however, it can be retrofitted using the rack from an E36 beemer
bought mine from tony on here when he lived down saaaf, the fooker is stalking me now by living in bolton
only problem i had was i locked myself out of it
all the sport ones had LSD, electric windows, parts failure module (same as a bulb out indicator on a sierra, but has low oil level too), some had the fuel computer, make sure you gert one with power steering as the non power steering one is very heavy, however, it can be retrofitted using the rack from an E36 beemer
bought mine from tony on here when he lived down saaaf, the fooker is stalking me now by living in bolton
only problem i had was i locked myself out of it
26-05-2005, 08:36 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by chip-3door
Bit underpowered if you are used to a cossie, but very nice motors and well put together, make sure you get one with an LSD
Sport model came with LSD as standard
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26-05-2005, 08:38 AM
#8
Team HOTHOT!
forgot to add also - i'm after another one i was that happy with it 
nearly all of them had the M-tec kit fitted too - check the front chassis legs, the front jacking points, rear arches, engine mounting points, front wings on the leading edge, bonnet on the trailing edge, boot lid seal and door seal areas for rot and rust - get yourself a late one and there really shouldnt be much wrong with it apart from high miles, but the M20 engine can go forever - i've head some of them running sweet for well over 200k
nearly all of them had the M-tec kit fitted too - check the front chassis legs, the front jacking points, rear arches, engine mounting points, front wings on the leading edge, bonnet on the trailing edge, boot lid seal and door seal areas for rot and rust - get yourself a late one and there really shouldnt be much wrong with it apart from high miles, but the M20 engine can go forever - i've head some of them running sweet for well over 200k
26-05-2005, 08:40 AM
#10
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Its near impossible to get one under 100k unless you pay BIG money 
They are all holding their money well anyway, seems you have to pay atleast 3k for a good one
They are all holding their money well anyway, seems you have to pay atleast 3k for a good one
26-05-2005, 08:42 AM
#11
Team HOTHOT!
oh, and another fave problem is the fuel and temp gauges - they like to stop working and can be a pain in the arse to cure
if the speedo fails, check the fuse as its driven off a transducer fitted to the diff.
the rev counters like to vary their readings depending on what day it is too.
the gearboxes on the Sport model are close ratio - check for notchiness, but as with all bmw boxes, they wear very little and are a good box.
the rear diff can whine after high miles - but this is mainly down to lack of maintenance and abuse
if the speedo fails, check the fuse as its driven off a transducer fitted to the diff.
the rev counters like to vary their readings depending on what day it is too.
the gearboxes on the Sport model are close ratio - check for notchiness, but as with all bmw boxes, they wear very little and are a good box.
the rear diff can whine after high miles - but this is mainly down to lack of maintenance and abuse
26-05-2005, 08:42 AM
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get a sport version of one of these
535i, good cars and quicker than a 325i i think, well i had a blast with a 325i round my way and i was sitting on his bumper all the time lol
215bhp as standard and the sport does look a bit better with side skirts and front bumper spoiler etc, they aldo come with the lsd.
They go for as cheap as 1.5k up to around 2.5k.
535i, good cars and quicker than a 325i i think, well i had a blast with a 325i round my way and i was sitting on his bumper all the time lol
215bhp as standard and the sport does look a bit better with side skirts and front bumper spoiler etc, they aldo come with the lsd.
They go for as cheap as 1.5k up to around 2.5k.
26-05-2005, 08:45 AM
#14
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As nice as the 535i is, i definitly want an E30 325i Sport. It HAS to be that one!!
This is the best one so far, just praying its not automatic
1990 BMW 325i Sport, 118000
miles, 12 months MoT, 2 months Tax, BMW fsh, e-windows, e-mirrors, pas, stainless exhaust, 17 alpinas, k&n, full leather, private plate worth Ł450, house forces reluctant sale. Ł3,450 . ono.
This is the best one so far, just praying its not automatic
1990 BMW 325i Sport, 118000
miles, 12 months MoT, 2 months Tax, BMW fsh, e-windows, e-mirrors, pas, stainless exhaust, 17 alpinas, k&n, full leather, private plate worth Ł450, house forces reluctant sale. Ł3,450 . ono.
26-05-2005, 08:49 AM
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took me ages to find a decent manual 535i lol, so good luck
when i did find a manual it had sky high milage, but mine was the lowest milage manual at the time and paid 1200 for it.
You could always buy a 325i with a clapped out engine for around 1k and buy a 535 engine to go in it
Thats been done a few times i think.
when i did find a manual it had sky high milage, but mine was the lowest milage manual at the time and paid 1200 for it.
You could always buy a 325i with a clapped out engine for around 1k and buy a 535 engine to go in it
Thats been done a few times i think.
26-05-2005, 08:55 AM
#18
Mates got a 325i sport E30 with a 3.2 Evo M3 motor and six speed box and beleive me it goes like fook...
Was a fairly simple conversion as well but the bits weren`t cheap....
Makes an absolutely monster road car though with 321 bhp and instant response..
Was a fairly simple conversion as well but the bits weren`t cheap....
Makes an absolutely monster road car though with 321 bhp and instant response..
26-05-2005, 09:16 AM
#29
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Are they as leathal as a 2wd cossie in the wet?
Obviously less power, but im sure they would have to still be treated with alot of respect?
Im planning to only use it in the dry anyway!
Obviously less power, but im sure they would have to still be treated with alot of respect?
Im planning to only use it in the dry anyway!
26-05-2005, 09:23 AM
#34
Martyn, FAR more controllable in the wet than a rwd cossie, the problem (or best bit depending on your point of view!) with controlling a cossie is that when it comes on boost its such a huge surge of torque that the back just comes out so quickly, but the bmw is a lot more progressive
26-05-2005, 09:25 AM
#35
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We had a dolphin grey one this time last year, love the sound of the straight 6 not to mention the rwd action!
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but true Sports are only 2 door. 100k is nothing on those engines, as long as been looked afer properly - the head had been replaced on ours, and think the gasket was in need of replacing again, so something to watch out for.
They're fetching good money - one around here for sale for Ł2,700 (F plate)
Z
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but true Sports are only 2 door. 100k is nothing on those engines, as long as been looked afer properly - the head had been replaced on ours, and think the gasket was in need of replacing again, so something to watch out for.
They're fetching good money - one around here for sale for Ł2,700 (F plate)
Z
26-05-2005, 09:30 AM
#37
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Sorry Pete, yeah true Sports are two door only.
This is from the BMW forum:
All Sports had black roof headliners, recaro seats,M-Tech steering wheel, 2 door, full M-Tech body kits, BBS cross spoke wheels, LSD, Upgraded suspension, M-Tech badge set in front grill, etc, etc.
This is from the BMW forum:
All Sports had black roof headliners, recaro seats,M-Tech steering wheel, 2 door, full M-Tech body kits, BBS cross spoke wheels, LSD, Upgraded suspension, M-Tech badge set in front grill, etc, etc.
26-05-2005, 09:32 AM
#38
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There are 4-door 325's but the 2-door ones look better!
E30 M3 with Alpina lump isn't that good: too much weight over the front and too much overall weight. Performance wise they weren't any quicker than the standard M3's but they were more relaxing to drive quickly as you didn't have to wring it's neck everytime you wanted to get somewhere in a hurry.
Had an M5 as well, very understated and HUUUUGE fun drifting that big old barge!
Builds up speed at alarming rate but doesn't feel fast
E30 M3 with Alpina lump isn't that good: too much weight over the front and too much overall weight. Performance wise they weren't any quicker than the standard M3's but they were more relaxing to drive quickly as you didn't have to wring it's neck everytime you wanted to get somewhere in a hurry.
Had an M5 as well, very understated and HUUUUGE fun drifting that big old barge!
Builds up speed at alarming rate but doesn't feel fast
26-05-2005, 04:07 PM
#39
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best way to spot a genuine sport is by the headlining. It should be black. The same as the e36.
A lot of people converting there cars to sport spec miss this. Surprising the amount of bm's knocking around trying to pass themselves of as sports due to the price increase on resale.
A lot of people converting there cars to sport spec miss this. Surprising the amount of bm's knocking around trying to pass themselves of as sports due to the price increase on resale.