Buyers guide help?

[v6power]

Hi,

I am a complete newbie having just sold my Capri and looking to buy a E21 Baur. I am going to look at a 1982 320 manual tonight and wondered if there is anything I should look oout for. Obviously rust & rot, is there any particular places that are common for this?

Thanks for any help
Ade

[Reck]

Everywhere!

Inner and outer sills all the way along, inside the wheel arches. Floorpans. Boot. Around petrol filler pipe. Fuel tanks. Underneath chrome trim. Around windows. Probably more but I can't think atm..

[e21-Mark]

rust, rust and rust really. Mechanicals can easily be sorted. Hood condition too as a decent roof can cost £900 fitted.

[Jeroen]

Ever tried this website?

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=38

[Reck]

To be fair that guide isn't very comprehensive. Maybe we should put together a proper buyers guide as this topic seems to come up every couple of weeks. Who knows, if new buyers can be more confident about buying an E21 then we might see our car values go up as a result of increased demand!

[Jeroen]

Agreed, and well yeah we can make a new one together.

Further, the forum has a search function...

[e-einundzwanzig]

maybe we can make one with a collection of foto's taken from this forum with places of rust etc?.

[Jeroen]

Good one!

OK what do we do, open a new sticky here on the forum, or make a web page?

[drjim]

Needs a wiki page

[e21-Mark]

Needs a wiki page

Definately. I did start putting one together a while back but got distracted.

[murran]

if i can provide anything........ its pictures of rust!

[Millar]

haha yeah i have a nice one of the one in my boot/rear wheel arch

[E21meister]

From the 'articles' section (for the saloon). Pays to peruse the site...

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=9337

[Jeroen]

Perhaps we can assign a few specialists that each cover a topic to divide the load, for example:

Chassis
Engine and fuel system
Driveline, suspension and brakes
Interior

Any volunteers? Pls copy the list and add your name...

Don't forget to check this websites' buyers guide, the one from Practical Classics and I think there was one in TBMW as well (?) to make no issues are forgotten and add photos. I can then combine it all in one sticky topic...

[E21meister]

Perhaps we can assign a few specialists that each cover a topic to divide the load, for example:

Chassis
Engine and fuel system
Driveline, suspension and brakes
Interior

Any volunteers? Pls copy the list and add your name...

Don't forget to check this websites' buyers guide, the one from Practical Classics and I think there was one in TBMW as well (?) to make no issues are forgotten and add photos. I can then combine it all in one sticky topic...

+1. I've a fair amount of experience in all areas, as far as 323is go, having owned 4.