The BMW E30 and the nutty kids that drive them

[Vin-barrett]

So I bought a $300 BMW E30 for a runabout commuter and second autox car....
Reading the forums, lookin for parts etc I am shocked at some of the things I see.
Went to an E30 show that was local to see whats doin and see no shortage of cars with rustholes through rocker panels, engine "swaps" with scary wiring, giant chunks of spraypainted bondo....

The craziest thing imo though is this thing they call "fill and drill" to adapt boltpatterns from other cars to the 4x100 bmw pattern. This is mindboggling to me that a shop would actually do this for a customer. Sometimes they actually fill the old lug holes but this one has got to be the worst I've seen with the new pattern so close to the hub... Wheels like this are everywhere in the classifieds...

just plain nuts.

[Vin-barrett]

speechless

[speeder]

That takes "hooptie" to a whole 'nother level. Wow.

Why people even bother with a rusty POS little metal box like an E30 in that part of the country really baffles me. We crush them in nicer shape than any car in that state.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Cheap fun car + teenagers = stupidity. Just try finding a decent but fun Japanese car for a driver. Vtec yo!

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Cheap fun car + teenagers = stupidity.

Been going on since at least the 1920s.

[Rot 911]

On the other hand it is a testament to the durability of those wheels that you can drill so many holes in them and they don't break.

[McLovin]

I'd at least stick some JB Weld between the wheel and the hub.

Just to be safe, ya know.

[VincentVega]

We crush them in nicer shape than any car in that state.

You know how much we east coast guys hate to hear this, right? Send one my way next time!

[klaus]

A nice e30 is a wonderful thing, too bad they are getting harder and harder to find. Tons have been turned into race cars (spec e30 or lemons), other have been killed by kids who have run out of tallent on the street, and others are just rusting away due to time and neglect. E30s and 944s have suffered much the same fate over the years, maybe prices will start to rising sparring the few remaining nice ones from the same end.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think prices for good ones will start to rise simply because there are so few of them left. I have tried on several occasions to find a cheap but nice E30 for a driver, they are very hard to come by.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by klaus

A nice e30 is a wonderful thing, too bad they are getting harder and harder to find. Tons have been turned into race cars (spec e30 or lemons), other have been killed by kids who have run out of tallent on the street, and others are just rusting away due to time and neglect. E30s and 944s have suffered much the same fate over the years, maybe prices will start to rising sparring the few remaining nice ones from the same end.

nice fuchs.

those wheels, in the OP, are damn scary.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I think prices for good ones will start to rise simply because there are so few of them left. I have tried on several occasions to find a cheap but nice E30 for a driver, they are very hard to come by.

You don't go duck hunting in the desert. If someone was looking for one of these cars, he would be wise to look where A) They don't rust, and B) They sold more of them than every other place put together.

It's the same place for both things. They are a dime a dozen out here. And they're nothing to write home about, really. Decent cars, even great cars in the realm of compact cars of the era, but just OK driving cars. I've owned a few, including a really nice 325es with 5-speed, and they are not even my favorite BMW model of the era.

[speeder]

In regions where cars rust, they are worthless schit. The shock towers and other structural parts disintegrate.

[Hugh R]

Agree with Denis, you can buy them in LA all day long with ZERO rust anywhere.

[klaus]

Originally Posted by speeder

And they're nothing to write home about, really. Decent cars, even great cars in the realm of compact cars of the era, but just OK driving cars. I've owned a few, including a really nice 325es with 5-speed, and they are not even my favorite BMW model of the era.

I would agree that the eta cars (325es / 325e) are just OK driving cars, but that has to do with the slug of an engine they put in them to make them more efficient. The M20B27 motors just suck all the fun out of an e30, mostly due to the 4800 rpm redline, some 1900 rpms earlier than the M20B25 motors that were in the i cars (325is / 325i).

[VincentVega]

Agree with Denis, you can buy them in LA all day long with ZERO rust anywhere.

What a tease! 325is w/ working AC please. Decent shape is ok, I'll add suspension bits as required. When can I fly in??

[beepbeep]

Hehe...then I'm also a nutty kid been driving 318is E30 on track for 4 years now. Stock engine but lightened chassis + go fast bits. It just gets faster and faster every year...

[A930Rocket]

My stock 1991 318is has the M42 engine. While not a rocket sled, it fun to drive and fuel efficient at 30 mpg (compared to my 2001 F150 at 15 mpg).

[speeder]

Klaus, I've owned them all including the more powerful i-motor. I was just mentioning the 325es because it was the nicest one, really like new. They're good cars, but too small inside and just super-common here. An ordinary car. I've never gone to bed at night dreaming about a BMW e30.

[VincentVega]

Agree 100%, but they are rwd, decent quality and simple. I put a lot of happy miles on an e36 and would get another but they are getting beat or rusty here too. Plus, I prefer the round headlights.