Lookin to get a e30

Hey guys I'm looking to buy a e30 325ix
Just wanted to know what I should look for in it?
Are the Awd models a pain?
A lot of problems?

The one I'm looking at has 250k on engine & chases
3 owners
Bone stock
All electronics work
All lights work
No leaks
Body has minor rust
5spd
What should I offer?
I, a e30 noob

Hey, Where is this car? I need one for BMW CCA Oktoberfest at Laguna Seca in August.
A repair shop owner who has one like that said his was worth $5500 but it probably did not have so many miles on it.

Bob in Lake Havasu

Western coast
I would tell you but I don't want youto buy it haha
I'm pretty surewemarent talking about the same one he is only asking 3750

Quote
Ib1043
Hey guys I'm looking to buy a e30 325ix
Just wanted to know what I should look for in it?
Are the Awd models a pain?
A lot of problems?

The one I'm looking at has 250k on engine & chases
3 owners
Bone stock
All electronics work
All lights work
No leaks
Body has minor rust
5spd
What should I offer?

I, a e30 noob

The IX is the single greatest E30 fun you can have, in my opinion. Especially in the snow. I'd take one over an M3 any day.

However, if you're strapped for cash and you're going to keep it as your daily, I would suggest staying away.

As an E30, it's bound to be riddled with secret problems, especially with 250K.
Add to this the rarity of specific parts, (drive train related especially) and you're looking at a pretty penny once the problems start piling up.

However, if the body is mint, the drive train is solid (be wary in the front end) and the transmission feels normal, by all means: JUMP ON THIS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY.

Up here in the northeast, an IX that is rusty as hell with 200K goes for around $3000-$4000 easy.

Is a fair price, considering you will want to touch-up the rust.
The ix is a collector's piece now, and has it's own legion of fans.

If you can spare the money, and have a daily driver, it may be a very interesting project!
If you take good care of it, you certainly can pass it on with a profit in the future.

Please keep us posted!

The big thing to consider when buying an iX is the condition of the viscous coupling in the transfer case. They are tough as nails and last forever if treated well, but have an Achilles' heel if they're abused. By "abused" I mean towing with only two wheels on the ground, or any other action that forces the front and rear wheels to turn at different speeds. If that happens, the VC overheats and loses its ability to lock. Over the years, this has happened to a lot of them, and it's an expensive repair. A good center diff will cost around $1000 for just the part. Unfortunately the only good way to test it is to jack up the rear of the car and ask the front wheels to move the car. With a good VC, the rear wheels will turn about the same rate as the fronts. With a bad VC, the rear wheel will spin a lot faster. Here are a couple of videos:

Good VC (mine):
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cbGeSJ9dHc[/video]
Bad VC:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQr-sNXZps[/video]

When I bought my iX it had 120K miles, no rust, and I paid about $5000. That was a little on the high side. Prices are a little higher now as they get scarcer, but for one with 250K miles and some rust, $3750 seems a bit high, but if the VC is good and the rust isn't bad, not outrageous. I've seen them for less than $3000, but most of those have some bigger problems.

BTW, there's a Yahoo mailing list where lots of iX owners hang out, and there are iXes offered for sale there pretty regularly. You can subscribe here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/thebmw325ixclub/

__________
Dave
'91 325iX



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 01:46PM by Dave_G.

Here's an alternative to the jack test for testing the viscous coupling on an iX, from the 325iX Club Yahoo list:

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apply handbrake and jack up front of car (AT in park Manual in neutral) and see if you can turn the front driveshaft (might need a pipe wrench or strap wrench)if it takes a lot of effort or wont turn at all VC appears good ,if it spins easily VC is toast. your basicly locking one output shaft and trying to turn the other and the VC is the locking device between the two .

I've never tried this, but by all accounts it's a good test, and probably easier to do with a car that you're testing out before buying.

__________
Dave
'91 325iX