Selling your classic car? It's FREE to list your car on Honest John Classics | No thanks

BMW 3-Series (1975 - 1983)

Item: BMW 3-Series (1975 - 1983)
Rating: 3
Author: Honest John

Last updated 10 May 2017

Buying Guide

Bodywork

Although rust-proofed, there are plenty of crusty examples around. Worst hit areas tend to be floorpans, jacking points, and door bottoms.
Front strut-top mounts can rot, as can the rear suspension towers. Worn boot seals also lead to the boot floor rotting.

Engine

Four- and six-cylinder engine are durable - a long as the oil is changed regularly to prevent camshaft wear.
Engines that have covered more than 100,000 miles will often need a top end rebuild.
The 323i featured a Bosch K-Jetronic which can be troublesome to set up and hard to fix if parts wear.

Transmission

All gearboxes are tough and can take 200,000 miles.
Metalastik couplings can wear, as can universal joints so listen for a klonking sound when drive is taken up.

Steering and suspension

All E21s got rack-and-pinion steering, but not all of them got power assistance.
If the steering isn't as sharp as you'd expect, check for worn bushes.
It's the same for the handling - if it's wayward (and the tyres are good), check for worn suspension bushes.

Trim and electrics