WHAT TO LOOK FOR

FINGER-LIGHT STEERING

Most E30s came with powerassisted steering, which should be light and precise. It’s generally durable but leaks can occur so check the gaiters and hoses and ensure that the fluid level is up to the mark. Vibrations at speed could be down to worn inner or outer track-rod ends; replacements are £20 apiece. Vagueness in the steering points to worn ball joints, which cost £50 each and take an hour to replace on each side. Significant play in the steering is likely to be down to a perished flex disc on the steering column next to the universal joint; this eventually wears but replacements are easy and cheap at about £10.

FIGHTING FIT

Driving a 3 Series should be a joy thanks to the suspension design, but wallowing in corners is usually because of worn front anti-roll bar drag links; new ones are £15 each and take an easy hour to replace. The two rear subframe mounting bushes can wear badly after 100k miles. The symptoms are clonks and bangs when accelerating, braking or driving over bumps. New bushes are £20-35 each but a special tool is needed; a specialist charges around £100 to replace each bush for you. By this stage, the dampers will probably be worn, too; new ones are £40-120 each, depending on specification.

GIZMO GREMLINS

Failed window motors are common, as are corroded central locking connections – there’s a 21-pin connector in the A-pillar. Central locking control units can also rust; it’s accessed by removing the speaker in the driver’s footwell. The instrumentation can also play up thanks to problems with its circuit board. Erratic tacho readings are down to poor earthing because of a dry joint; a magnifying glass helps identify the culprit and a soldering iron soon fixes it. Problems can also be caused by the rechargeable battery that powers the instruments failing; pre-1985 cars especially prone.