nathan_hill 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) I am a passionate E30 fan. For the past 6 months I have been on trademe going latest listing for almost everyday. I'm 18 years old. So yesterday morning I did the usual and I come across an unbelievable site: An 325i E30 for $1600 o.n.o. The owner filled out the description wrong so I knew he/she was actually unaware of the value of the car. I picked up the phone and arranged to look at the car within a few hours. She had a few bits of rust (as expected being 1991) and need new brake pads from what I could tell. Apart from that, the 6 cylinder 2.5 or as the owner thought it was a 4 cylinder 2cc, was in very good condition. My car money is in my fathers account (prevents me from spending it), he refused to give me my money in till the car got an AA check. I explained to him that the owner's phone was ringing off the hook as other people were leaping at the same opportunity I was. But still he said no, trust me. So I paid and organised a pre purchase inspection for today $150. Last night at 9:37pm I get a call. The car has been sold. Lost $150 and the car. Somebody out there is a very lucky man. The car either has serious issues (although it just got a W.O.F, and from my experience of looking at 7 cars since i've been looking, I couldn't find anything wrong with it) or the owner really didn't care about the money. I'm sorry to vent. But I need to get it off my chest to someone who understands. I'm not blaming my father, as AA checks are important. But what is your opinion on getting an AA check on E30's? or just in general? What should you check for in a E30 when buying? Thoughts on 320i vs 325i? both E30's Has anyone else ever experienced such a good deal? Did the seller just get ripped off? Will there be anything wrong with that car? Had sunroof, so maybe leakage? If anyone has a 325 or E30 for sale text me 021 2540437, auto, manual whatever! I want a summer project and planning on manual converting. This is my first ever post. I hope the new owner appreciates the bargain he just got, and I hope for his sake there is nothing wrong with the car. So for me, I guess its going back to trademe and waiting for an old lady to put up her well treated E30 or another opportunity like that one. Cheers, Nathan Auction still up http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=530756644 Edited November 8, 2012 by Nathan.H Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubman 39 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 Welcome! PM "Niraj" (his names AJ), i think he's selling his prefacelift 325i auto http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index.php?showuser=16871 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nathan_hill 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 Welcome! PM "Niraj" (his names AJ), i think he's selling his prefacelift 325i auto http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index.php?showuser=16871 Cheers William! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 Cheap E30s used to be very common, I paid less than $1300 for each of the 2 320i manual sedans I've bought so far. 325i's cost a bit more normally, but not necessarily heaps more especially if they are Auto. Just gotta wait and see. As to the AA check, most people will tell you it's a waste of time on an E30 because they WILL have a list of issues 3 pages long. But in a way it does let you know exactly what you should focus on fixing. I've never actually done a check on any car though, and only got burned once when I bought a 70s Ford sight unseen. Everything I've looked at has turned out pretty good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscar90 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 AA checks are a waste of f**king time, haven't and will not put my cars through them, even made my parents see they are a waste of money and theyre in the 50+ bracket so think the AA are still king of the block with car inspections. You dont need a pre purchase inspection to tell you theres a bloody scratch on the bumper ...they're hopeless. E30= old and all of them are gonna need fixing in your price bracket. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Etwenty1 45 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 +1 on the AA report. That could easily gone the other way. If it had painted over rust or something major mechanically wrong you would be thanking your old man. Did you get a stolen check/carjam report? carjam has down as green not grey.....? I suggest you tuck away enough cash for a deposit so next time you can put some money down and buy subject to a clean report. So did you get the AA report in the end or did it sell before the inspection? if you had to cancel see if they will refund or transfer it to another car. I'm sure there will be more good buys coming up as people try to free up cash for Xmas and the GFC continues to bite...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 In my experience Nathan, AA reports are an utter farce and waste of time/money especially on such an old car. If I personally was going to slam $150 on a 1600 dollar car for an inspection, you'd be better spending it at the dealer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1043 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I suggest you tuck away enough cash for a deposit so next time you can put some money down and buy subject to a clean report. This and eberything else people have said. E30's are a great car, but always have things wrong with them because of age. Even mine which has had most things replaced with new parts still has stuff wrong with it. *cough*Electric radio aerial*cough* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 In my experience Nathan, AA reports are an utter farce and waste of time/money especially on such an old car. If I personally was going to slam $150 on a 1600 dollar car for an inspection, you'd be better spending it at the dealer. Agreed! Most AA checks aren't worth the money spent - they're often inspected by someone who has NO CLUE what they are looking at! E30's have their own set of problems, and I'd doubt there's an AA inspection man in the country who'd know what to look at. Bad luck dude! Try to find a good one for your money then tidy it up. Rough ones can be money pits! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
byza213 1 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 are you and your dad talking at the moment.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MD13 494 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I used to always get an AA report. As a result I avoided buying a nice looking MR2 GT that turned out to be two cars welded together and on a car I did buy the AA coughed up to fix the air con and replace the clutch after failing to note they were bad\broken - receipts came to $3k. Over the years though I noticed a general decline in usefulness. The last time I got one for a WRX wagon (that I bought) the "report" contained the following: 1 page of general info that I already had from the dealer. E.g. milage etc 1 page that looked like what you get from a WOF 1 page of very brief body work comments - and the inspector failed to note bodywork repairs that my mechanic pointed out at my first service... 2-3 pages of legalise basically saying they weren't responsible for all the things they failed to note etc... Much better off calling your mechanic and asking him to take a look. Bellars or BM Workshop in Auckland both come highly recommended. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 And again, specialist over AA hands down. they even cost the same, its a no brainer. as for the E30 deals, trademe isnt the place to look and never really has been. Ive had 15 BMWs at last count and only roughly half came from there. keep an eye out on the road for ones that look clean and slip your phone number under the windscreen wiper. Just because they dont say for sale on the back window doesnt mean they aren't and the worst you will get is no response which you would have got anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 There was a study done on them by channel 3 a while back, and they commented on one thing that didn't exist and they commented on a failed battery that hadn't even been checked (car was riddled with cameras) - Can't remember the name of the program it was with that hottie Jeanette Thomas and that other goober who looks like he had his hair done with a bottle of 10w-40 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LOWBMW 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 Sup Nathan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slowe30 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 There was a study done on them by channel 3 a while back, and they commented on one thing that didn't exist and they commented on a failed battery that hadn't even been checked (car was riddled with cameras) - Can't remember the name of the program it was with that hottie Jeanette Thomas and that other goober who looks like he had his hair done with a bottle of 10w-40 i also remember them noting all the compession pressures, but were caught out with not checking them. and out of the 5 things they(tv crew) had left for them(AA) to find they only found 2 or 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 and that other goober who looks like he had his hair done with a bottle of 10w-40 LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 Ha Ha, he normally has more channels of flat shiny hair than that, like a 1960's greaser with 8.2kg of brill cream per square inch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottharvey 60 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 i got my 325i manual for 1700 with wof n reg n all it needed at the time was a ball joint for its next wof but now its gone kaboom but maybe due to the way i drove it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Etwenty1 45 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 LOL his missus is hot tho' go figure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 AA Checks are useless. They will pick up a blown light bulb but completely miss the fact has been repaired from a very heavy crash or that the gearbox is on its way out.. If I am in doubt I take the car to BMW or a BMW specialist or at worst the VTNZ who offer a thorough inspection if you get the right guy, I also drop by my panel beater and have him give it a once over, its amazing what a subjective look from experts can turn up that I miss because I am romancing the idea of owning it and overlook things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nathan_hill 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I'll get back to your replies soon. BUT ITS BEEN RE-LISTED HAHAHA!! THOUGHTS???? http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-531578482.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I'll get back to your replies soon. BUT ITS BEEN RE-LISTED HAHAHA!! THOUGHTS???? http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-531578482.htm Looks pretty tidy but I'd be surprised if the rust spots are 'the only bad point' on a 21 year old car. Nice colour and interior though, would look mint with a bit of TLC. When I was looking I just asked each seller if I could take it to my mechanic as a condition of sale. I'd strongly recommend doing the same. Cosmetic stuff's no biggie and you'll no doubt enjoy, like the rest of us, the constant minor repairs but you want to make sure there's nothing too expensive looming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Etwenty1 45 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I'll get back to your replies soon. BUT ITS BEEN RE-LISTED HAHAHA!! THOUGHTS???? http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-531578482.htm See if he wants to buy your AA report........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nathan_hill 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I'm buying this car today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted November 8, 2012 I'm buying this car today. Good luck. Get it checked by a mechanic! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
