OP6

Contact Jesse at http://eurometric.com. He makes almost every poly bush you might need for the E21. Based in Portland Oregon. Really helpful guy. Also checkout Bimmerforums, I know it is USA, but their cars have a lot in common with your 316.

Good to see another E21 on bimmersport!

Hi Ray, good on you for asking about the M3's I am sure many will pitch in soon.

I assume you mean the E30 M3.

Where are you based?

Finally, welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum. Where are you?

Getting quite a few E39s!

Welcome to the forum, and yes you are right, they are good bunch. this forum will give you all the info you will most likely need.

Re the photos, try reducing to 800 by 600.

5

Well done - not always an easy job !

Check your fuses and relays are fitting tightly, then check your earths. Failing that start looking for worn wiring.

As an owner of an E21 for the last 4 years - this one looks tidy, they are getting rare, especially rust free ones, parts are not too difficult to find here, and there is plenty of support in the USA and UK.

The engine is the M10 found in 2002's and E30's.

The transmission is robust and pretty easily sourced, same as the M10 engined E30s but with the speedo driven from the gearbox.

Interior is simple and common to all other facelifted E21's (318 320 323)

Those headlights are not often seen and look great.

E21's can be easily upgraded to include some e30 parts, - engines are an easy swap, there is enough room for most BMW engines even V8's.

Suspension parts are not interchangeable without modification.

E21's are lighter than E30's so go better for a given engine size.

So, this looks to be a nice car, maybe a little overpriced, but they are worth whatever someone is prepared to pay.

As to rarity, they are becoming rare, but are also the forgotten 3 series. Unlikely to be as desirable as the 2002 and will probably never be loved by so many as the E30.

Prices in the USA and the UK are increasing quite quickly, however in NZ they seem to be staying pretty static - for the present.

I think I have seen one other bodykit like that - in silver, in Christchurch. Those 4.4's go well and can be surprisingly economical. Enjoy and welcome.

Yeh, what you experienced is the norm ! Had plenty of experience in the last few weeks driving on ice and snow here in CHC. Chains just don't look right in town! Several times it has taken a whole light sequence just to get through an intersection. In the last snow (20cm) I couldnt even get up the rise from my driveway to the crown of the road - had to be towed. Lots of fun though, today going to work travelled nearly a km on opposite lock!

Need skinny tyres and lower pressure to get any traction ( I'm running 235 45 17s that could do with some tread))

We have run out of dead bodies to pull out of cars so don't worry about that.

Mark basically says it all. It will be an adventure and you only live once.

Do it.

I think you did well too.

Do not buy this car.

If your deposit was the cost of the AA inspection then I doubt if you will get a refund, but if your deposit was more than that, then you have every right to demand it back.

Good on you for checking with this forum and following everyones advice.

Share

E30

I have never had the handle as bad as that, but I have had success with lock lubricant in the key lock and WD40 sprayed inside the external and internal door handles when held open. Worth a try.

Canon.

Check out the prices at Duty Free and in Aussie - you may be able to upgrade to a 600D or add a lens to the 550D

Only 4 for an M20 ?

Do some of the simple stuff first, such as reverse flush the radiator, and flush out the block too, there could be 30 years of accumulated sludge in there, check your fan is working properly, that it has all its blades, that there are no kinks in the hoses etc. replace the water with coolant, you can reuse the coolant if you have to drain it again. Then get onto the other stuff - thermostat, waterpump and so on. It would be unlikely that you would need to replace the gauge and the sender unit.

All the best

Hi there, where are you in New Zealand and what year is the E21? Like the E30's, there is basically a facelift and prefacelift model with different front suspension and mirrors, but as antil33 says, decent shocks and bushes.

Has the same wheel as my 1997 NZ new 328

Nice looking car, looks very tidy and a good price. Well done. Keep us informed how you get on regarding the tramilning.

Auto I presume?

How about the swivel/U joint in the steering column? If one of the joins start to seize then that will give a sticky/stiff spot when turning the steering wheel.

Mine has been like this for at least the last 11000kms with no ill effect. Originally designed so that at low revs and part throttle the exhaust is quiet, then as power and revs rise the flap opens allowing better breathing.

I have had good results from Andrews and Gilmore - Welles St CHC. They do many of the BMWs in CHC and pricing is competitive