Just rode in an E30 for the first time ever

"E90M3" (e90m3)
06/27/2018 at 12:51 • Filed to: None

Specifically this E30. It’s a 1992 E30 convertible with an M50 swapped into it and it’s owned by one of my coworkers. Despite being a massive BMW fan, I mean I own two of them, I had never ridden in, let alone drive, an E30. It was pretty awesome, despite the lack of AC and the South Carolina heat. If I needed any more encouragement to get a vintage BMW.

DISCUSSION (43)

diplodicus > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 12:57

Do you know what spring/shock combo he runs? I’m curious about driving one with an m50 swap because on paper it just doesn’t seem worth the effort to swap out the m20.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:02

I drove an E30 for the first time ever this past weekend. I’m hooked and need one asap. (or a rwd volvo)

Kinja'd!!!

E90M3 > Eberle-Hills-Cop
06/27/2018 at 13:03

That looks like a lot of fun.

E90M3 > diplodicus
06/27/2018 at 13:03

I’m not really sure. I can probably find out.

Tripper > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:19

My first time in an E30 was as a valet. An older guy had owned a 325 since new and was reluctant to valet it, it was mint. I told him he could park it himself next to my E46. He said, “I f that’s yours, you can park it.” Then stuck a $20 bill in my hand.

It was some fancy art auction/party thing at an arboretum and the drive to the lot was a winding driveway about a half mile long through a garden. I didn’t even drive it fast but it was perfect! Clutch grabbed right off the floor, steering was laser accurate the way that it is in your E90, but with that “ analog” feel. I fucking loved it.

An E30 is definitely on my itch to scratch list. Right above an S2000, and right below a 2002.

functionoverfashion > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:29

The first one I drove was an automatic 325 back in 2005, and it was still a moment where I was like, “Oh, now I get it. This is a good little car.”

Oddly, the only other E30 I’ve driven is an automatic 320i wagon.

edit: sorry, I drove one at Team O’Neil a few years back.

jasmits > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:34

A friend of mine in college had a beater 325es that was his outlet for stupid mods to prevent them happening to things he cared more about . It had a massively cowled hood, no reason to be cowled he was just bored and had an angle grinder and a rivet gun, straight piped side-exit exhaust, tiger shark side graphics , silly LED light bar, a Ricky Bobby-esque Fig Newtons windshield decal(until a cop nicely asked him to get rid of that) and perhaps best of all a tap on the edge of the trunk lid that was plumbed to accept his j ocke y b ox(basically a cooler constructed with a cold plate and nitrogen system for a keg tap) along with a circular hole cut in the trunklid to create enough clearance for said keg(what more do you need for a tailgate? ) . He let me borrow it from time to time and honestly that was probably the most purely fun car I’ve ever driven.

I seem to remember you were looking for a reliable daily to keep miles off of your E90 M3 in the form of another E9x M3. An E30 is n ot reliable, but cheap and easy to repair and if you have a reliable weekend car as a backup who needs a reliable daily?

diplodicus > jasmits
06/27/2018 at 13:40

I’ve been dailying e30s for about 1.5yrs and I’ll have you know I’ve only been stranded on the side of the road twice ok.

404 - User No Longer Available > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:41

When you’re in a convertible, there’s no such thing as lack of AC. It just means you aren’t going fast enough.

diplodicus > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 13:59

Did you let him know I’m triggered by his blacked out kidneys?

E90M3 > jasmits
06/27/2018 at 14:10

I’d have to sell my 328i, and for the amount of money I’d lose doing that, it’s probably not going anywhere.

E90M3 > diplodicus
06/27/2018 at 14:10

Nope.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 14:15

I usually drive an 05 Sti which is tons of fun, but this was a whole new kind of fun.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > diplodicus
06/27/2018 at 14:22

I’m with you; it’s about the same amount of work to stick in the S(50/52?) engine; and as much as people want to rag on it, with some minimal mods(m50 intake on s52 if I remember right) that engine revs pretty high and makes more than enough power for that car.

jasmits > diplodicus
06/27/2018 at 14:34

See, there are levels of reliability. When I was a student either at college or living with my parents o ld but reliable cars w orked. Every so often they’d need to go down for a few days to stay ahead on maintenance but that was okay, at school most of my daily activities didn’t require a car and at home worst-case I could get a ride from a parent or borrow a car. Now I have a long commute, a job I’m not willing to jeopardize for car issues and often busy weekends meaning I can sometimes go an entire month where I need my car every single day with no time for anything past a minor project.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 14:36

They are prett great. I’ve only driven an 85 325e, the one with a soft suspension, slow steering rack, and engine that revs like a diesel but without a turbo. However it was still an absolute blast. Such a fun little chassis. Also Big windows+small car=good

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jasmits
06/27/2018 at 14:38

That sounds awesome. I’m currently thinking about getting a beater v6 Camaro so a similar purpose. Having a nice car I can’t do stupid mods to is kinda boring lol

jasmits > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 14:39

Fair, more of a joke than anything. Although I have personally been considering something like an E30 or Miata because I miss having a car that handles, I miss wrenching* and I can split some miles off my truck I’m planning to keep a long time with something more disposable.

*on my terms. I don’t miss staying up till 3AM because something took longer than expected and I need my car back together to go to work at 7.

diplodicus > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
06/27/2018 at 15:07

I’d honestly probably just buy an ITB kit and headers for my m20 before swapping anything in. I don’t care about going fast, and I find the m20 endearing.

E90M3 > jasmits
06/27/2018 at 15:16

I mean, I could do a somewhat unreliable daily, because I would have another car. I just don’t have a place to work on it.

jasmits > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/27/2018 at 15:26

Man I feel you there. I’m in the same boat actually, I have a nice, reliable daily and am semi-seriously looking for a beater just for kicks, currently (and very un creatively ) leaning towards an E30, a Miata or maybe a Fox Body. Not yet seriously searching but have the cash and the space so I’m keeping my eyes out if a seriously good deal comes along on something fun.

It’ll be the first time in my life I have a clear reliable and towing-capable daily that leaves me free to buy/modify a beater without having to somewhat restrain myself to things that can serve daily duty.

jasmits > E90M3
06/27/2018 at 15:36

That’s valid. I just moved into a place with a two car garage, space for two more in the driveway not to mention free and available street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. First time I’ve had access to a garage with adult income(actually first time with reliable access to more than one parking spot with adult income) and first time I’ve had one to myself, as opposed to a high school/college summer job budget and parents who (understandably) didn’t really appreciate being evicted from their own garage. The bad- idea temptation is way too real.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jasmits
06/27/2018 at 15:44

Nice. Those three are the Tri Force of Beaters. The only reason I mentioned a Camaro was there’s a 4 th gen with a Manual trans down the road that I could probably get for a grand. It’s got hail damage from nose to tail, but that’s all I can see that’s really wrong with it, and considering I just want something to tear up dirt roads that’s kind of a non factor.

jasmits > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/27/2018 at 16:44

I want to be more creative haha, especially because being the defacto fun beater for a car guy has driven the prices on those up a bit. But for fun, manual and rear-wheel drive there still isn’t much out there that does better for less.

4th gens do look fun, I would consider an LT1 at the right price(LS1/T56 cars seem to go for more than I want to spend). The V6s look like they could be fun too but I want this to be somewhat of a platform to make my own and honestly I’m not even sure free would be cheap enough to make one worth putting time and money into.

ihm96 > jasmits
06/28/2018 at 05:11

If you’re an e30 fan look at the e34. Less sought after in general but they’re nicer cars, are comfy but are also fun as hell and solidify reliable

ihm96 > Tripper
06/28/2018 at 05:13

Inline six Z3 > S2000

Tripper > ihm96
06/28/2018 at 08:19

Z3 m coupe and roadsters are two of my favorites. I got a lot of time behind the wheel of an M roadster in HS/college as a very lucky friend had one. Then I was in a bad wreck in it as a passenger. While I’d still go for a coupe, I’m considering the roadster as “checked”.

I’ve come so close to owning an S2000 twice, but I’ve always ended up with something with 4 doors instead.

ihm96 > Tripper
06/28/2018 at 13:49

I have a 2.8 coupe. I wouldn’t want the roadster but I love the shooting brake. The car handles well and the dinan chip really helped give the car some low end grunt

Tripper > ihm96
06/28/2018 at 14:35

I see that you had a sub frame failure, what did that cost to fix? I’m asking because I’ve got an E46 M3 and might have another one by days end haha. The one I’m shopping is going to need the repair/reinforcement.

jasmits > ihm96
06/28/2018 at 16:32

Eh, I’m not opposed to an e34 I guess but I’m really after a more basic/raw experience than even what I had with my e36. I’d get an e28 before an e34. I mean this is the first time I’m getting to buy a car where I don’t have to compromise at all because I don’t need to worry about dailying it

ihm96 > jasmits
06/28/2018 at 20:38

Yeah e28s are sweet as well. My car is pretty similar in rawness to my friends e30 I’ve driven. It still has that old school 80s steering and no traction control

ihm96 > Tripper
06/28/2018 at 20:42

It hasn’t been fixed yet. It’s been sitting at west German bmw because I wasn’t hoping they would repair it and help out a lot with payment considering the failure happened 12 months after I purchased the car. They want 6k to fix it after first denying they’d ever seen the issue on a z3. I’m having it towed soon possibly to vac motor sports who said it shouldn’t Ben much more than 1500. I think the e46 subframe issue is similar to it but different so I wouldn’t know mich

jasmits > ihm96
06/28/2018 at 21:34

Yeah, I know. They are good cars but I just don’t really want or need a full size sedan as a toy. An NA Miata is probably my other likely candidate, prices have come up a bit but both are still really pretty cheap and not getting any cheaper. The tail end of the 80s/start of the 90s really are that perfect intersection where you still get that old school feel without feeling old. If I had a little more skill and a lot more time or a lot more skill and a little more time I could have the best of both:

Tripper > ihm96
06/28/2018 at 21:34

Gotcha, also what up local!? I’m in Malvern

ihm96 > Tripper
06/29/2018 at 05:15

Ayyy it’s always nice to see a fellow local. I went to high school in lower merion, but I live over in wyndmoor/chestnut hill now. You apart of the local bmw club? I’ve been meaning to join forever

ihm96 > jasmits
06/29/2018 at 05:23

I feel you. The big reason I enjoy the full size over my z3 or my friends e30 that I’ve driven is that it just seems much easier to powerslide controllably which is a ton of fun. The z3 is always a bit sketchy if I try to slide it lol

Tripper > ihm96
06/29/2018 at 08:11

Small world , I went to R adnor, grew up in Wayne.

I was a BMWCCA member for a year when I first joined O ppo. Another Oppo “BKRM3" (doesn’t post much anymore) got me signed up but I never got linked up with him.

ihm96 > Tripper
06/29/2018 at 09:20

I wanna do it mainly for the license plate cause the design is kinda cool, plus a grille badge. Maybe I’ll see you at a cars and coffee or something. Did you end up buying that e46 m3 lol?

Tripper > ihm96
06/29/2018 at 09:35

Yea man, I make it to the C&C in West Chester if the weather is really nice. Can’t miss me as my M3 is Phoenix Yellow.

No I chickened out on the additional M3. It was making a clunking noise in the back which is, sub frame, differential, or both. I’ve had mine almost 12 years I know the car inside and out, and I just couldn’t see myself starting all over again with another one. Plus I’ve really got the hots for a 997.

Also, I’m sitting on 4 cars and a motorcycle in one lane driveway with no garage. So I really need to lose one to get one at this point.

ihm96 > Tripper
06/29/2018 at 10:59

Yeah probably best to stick with the one you know. 997s are awesome. I probably won’t be buying any cars for a while but when I do it’ll either probably be an e34 m5 or an amg gtc in bright yellow if I do well enough and they depreciate haha. If I’m at cars and coffee I’ll be in either a green loud e34 or a green z3 clown show which is easier to spot haha

Donkeyshins > E90M3
06/30/2018 at 02:02

I’ve had pretty much every flavor of E30 except the M3. I started out with a 325eS, which, when chipped, was a hell of a lot of fun for cheap. When it was wrecked (rear-ended by a doofus in an F250), I replaced it with a 1990 325iS which I drove the hell out of for several years until I had kids (it was sold and ended up as a PRO3 car, which is still being campaigned successfully). Finally, I had a 318iS which was underpowered, but almost perfect otherwise . I drove that for several more years but reluctantly sold it when we needed to get a station wagon.

The E30 is definitely something special.

Now, several years later , when I’m not driving a TDI wagon in the winter months , I’m driving a used 128i, which is a bit less analog than the E30, but is just as fun and with actual creature comforts (and goes like a scalded cat) . The only thing truly missing in the 128i (other than lightness), is that perfect E30 driver-oriented cockpit.

E90M3 > Donkeyshins
06/30/2018 at 08:16

I drove that for several more years but reluctantly sold it when we needed to get a station wagon.

Solution :

Kinja'd!!!

I would love to have an E30, I just don’t have a place for it. I thought about getting an E30 M3 when I got my E90 M3, but I was planning on DDing it, and I figured the E90 would be better suited for that.

I used to have a 128i, it was a pretty great little car. I just wish mine had been a stick. I drive a 328i every day now.

Donkeyshins > E90M3
06/30/2018 at 13:14

Yeah. I thought of that, but unfortunately they weren’t available for import at the time (2011) , and my wife wanted something she’d drive (e.g. automatic transmission, all the airbags, bluetooth enabled, etc.). It worked out OK, though - I got a Golf Mk6 TDI SportWagon , which got recalled for near the amount we paid for it (which we ended up parlaying into a Mk7 SportWagon with a DSG for about $1500). I use it for family road trips and winter driving months when I don’t want some dipshit in an AWD who thinks that makes them bulletproof in the snow sliding into my BMW (they’re everywhere in the PNW).