Looking To Buy A 85' 318

[ChevyIIMan]

Hi im new and looking to buy my first BMW.

- BMW 318
- 5-speed
- 2-door
- grey
- manual moonroof
- power windows
- rectangle headlight conversion
- E30 body kit
- aftermarket wheels

needs a battery relocation kit, or a new battery tray put in
runs and drives great
Driver seat needs repair

They are asking $1050 this would replace my current daily driver which blew a headgasket recently. The odometer stopped working at 118K but i hear this is a known issue with these? Although ive never had a BMW I am good with cars. Anything from building motor to setting up rearends and even body work, so having to do some work on the car is not an issue.

Ive read the buying guides and will be looking at the car soon. Can these cars be good daily drivers? Does the Price seem to low? I know the guy and his wife is making him sell the car cause he has too many already. Thanks.

Here is a pic

[87 325iS]

Holy shit those headlights look horrible.

[93 325i]

haha, nice looking car (except for those horrid lights)..

[german-speed-demon]

seriously, who put those headlights on? they need to be shot. Nice rig, but get some rounds to fix the lights. Looks and sounds like a good buy. every e30 ive seen, and the two ive owned both had damage on driver seat, usually right next to the door. maybe when ya get out or something. anyway, i'd jump on it, especially if you have experience with body and mechanical. happy motoring

[e30fanm3]

id say no. look for your self a 325 with round head lights

[85-325e]

That headlight conversion is absolutely the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by 85-325e@Mar 31 2005, 01:15 PM
That headlight conversion is absolutely the ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life

[snapback]322339[/snapback]

Its a euro headlight option. You see them alot more in germany/greece/switzerland. And yup, theyre ugly. =)

[85-325e]

BMW actually offered that as an option? Or do you mean it's an aftermarket option that's common in Europe?

[e30fanm3]

aftermarket, it was actually pretty big in the late 80s

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by e30fanm3@Mar 31 2005, 04:02 PM
aftermarket, it was actually pretty big in the late 80s

[snapback]322460[/snapback]

yea, i know ive seen three seperate e30s here in az with them. i thought the car was a sentra til i saw the propeller badge and did a double take.

[offabroadway]

*shoots fellow responsible for headlights*

Now that that's out of the way....

It's a great looking car otherwise. Weigh your options, however. You can get a 318 or a 325 in that year. Fuel economy isnt really a factor, because while the 318 has four pots, it revs higher and pours its guts out more to keep up compared to the 325, which has a lower redline, and generally revs much lower in general. Plus when you DO nail that gas pedal, you're in for one hell of a ride.

Then again, you don't have to deal with Motronic on the 318i. So you've got options. Most of the cars did have odometer problems, I know mine bit the bullet at 114,000kms because I have the paperwork detailing the replacement of it.

If you are good with bodywork, do the world at large a favour and put the stock grille and headlights back in.

Unless, of course, you like it.

By the way, welcome to the family.