I'm buying a 91' 325is E30 (187,000 mi) for my son

[Speeder 553]

I'm buying a 91' 325is E30 (187,000 mi) for my son (16 years old.. God help us all) from my mech, Bavarian Mastercare, for $3,600. They sell cars too and bought this one from one of thier customers and say they have maintaned it and it's in good shape. The run a good business and I trust them but want to make sure they have throughly checked out the car so I'm giving them the following list of things to check out:

1. Check the usual items like brake pads (how much pad is left), rotors (I felt a large lip on the back of the rear rotors and they need to be replaced)
2. Leakdown/compression check
3. Lower control arms (ball joints) and lower control arm bushings
4. Radiator? Water pump?
5. Plugs (when was the last time it had a tune up)?
6. Be sure to go over the metal fuel and brake lines and inspect the rear subframe barrel bushings
7. Driveline: guibo, driveshaft, cv-halfshafts, diff
8. HVAC, heater core, etc. (when was it last serviced)?
9. Fuel pump/relays (can and will leave your son stranded on the side of the road)!
10. Filters (air, oil, interior cabin, when were they last changed)?
11. Steering rack (likely will need new one soon with that high mileage)
12. Instrument cluster (SI batteries fail causing gauge issues), odometer gears die; easily replaced, but die nonetheless?

Can you think of anything I've overlooked??

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

To avoid teen pregnancy.

[JonE]

timing belt...

[SharkmanBMW]

that's a lot of miles for the money isn't it??
I am just thinking of my 94 540 with 125k for 6k$.....
I love those cars tho, if it checks out clean then it is a good find.... any warranty from the mechanic?

[krzysiom5]

There was no 91' 325is although you could get 325i sport pkge ;)

[SRR2]

Timing belt.
Timing belt.
The radio in those is pretty crappy. Check the volume control for noisy operation. The antenna is a problem area too. Usually can be fixed with a new mast, but if it's been neglected too long, you might have to put in a whole new assembly. The grommet on the fender will be bad by now too. When that goes bad, the antenna motor gets a bath every time it rains, and things get rusty in there.
Sway bar links will probably be bad if more than 30-40K on them.
Shock mounts go bad every 80-90K
If it's a manual, the AFM will probably have to be replaced if it hasn't been already.
Did they change the brake/clutch fluid annually?
No cabin air filter on that model. Unfortunately.
Did they ever change the trans and diff juice?
Motor mounts will be dodgy by now.

[Derek A.]

Cars of that vintage in the snow belt are starting to have fuel tank failure. If it needs to be replaced - its gets expensive as there is a lot of stuff there that also has to be replaced.

[billb]

To avoid teen pregnancy.
...put on a downing S/C, and let 'er rip! What fun that would be!!

[Rigmaster]

Did someone mention Timing belt?? :)

Make sure to check records on the Timing belt, and if there are no records, or they are sketchy- then get it done right away.

If the gas tank is rusty- they're not THAT hard to change- maybe an hour or two at most, and it's a good time to change the hoses that run above the tank (it's just more $$$)....

E30's are GREAT cars........ :)

Bret.

[Speeder 553]

Cars of that vintage in the snow belt are starting to have fuel tank failure. If it needs to be replaced - its gets expensive as there is a lot of stuff there that also has to be replaced.

It's a SoCal car so no rust that I can see.

[Speeder 553]

timing belt...

Thanks, I'll have them check it. How ofter does it need to be replaced?

[Speeder 553]

that's a lot of miles for the money isn't it??
I am just thinking of my 94 540 with 125k for 6k$.....
I love those cars tho, if it checks out clean then it is a good find.... any warranty from the mechanic?

Yes it's a lot of $$ but they are checking it out today and I will hold them accountable. 30 day warranty.

[wingman]

Thanks, I'll have them check it. How ofter does it need to be replaced?

About 60,000kms/40,000 miles. Change the tensioner as well. If there is no record do it straight away. The consequences of breaking one aren't worth thinking about.

[wingman]

Listen for top end noise. If it's tappetty they might not have been adjusted in some time. It's an Inspection 1 job on the M20.

[Speeder 553]

Listen for top end noise. If it's tappetty they might not have been adjusted in some time. It's an Inspection 1 job on the M20.

Thanks Wingman, BTW my 94' 540i sounds tappetty when it's cold (about 5 min. after start up) then goes away??????????