Is the E30 a genuine 'classic' car?

[Guest]

well for me...the E30 is already beginning to become a real classic car. E30 M3's seem to be holding their value more than ever.
A good Sport makes good money every day!
But try to answer with a objective response...will it be worth restoring a vanilla E30 in ten years time? old school rules IMHO, and my vote is a definate yes! Teutonic styling at its very best. Over engineered and a classic "three box" shape (bonnet/ passenger/cell boot)

[Adammcf]

I voted for yes. They have a real quality look about them which I dont think the E36 has.

[325dude]

well i can honestly say that as all of those rusty uncared for e30s start to die off (the ones you see grandads and school teachers driving) the looked after ones, the ones driven by enthusiasts will become fewer and rarer i have all ready seen a drop in the amount of them on the road i think due to winter (i saw two upside down in different feilds!!!!!! due to ice opps ) i think the e30 has a style that bmw tryied to copy on the e36 and failed LONG LIVE THE E30

...................................J

[6potWil6pot]

Yeah id agree! The E30 is on the cusp (sp?) of Classical car status. Give it a few more years for the crap ones to die off!
Not sure about the overengineered bit tho, if youve ever looked at a period 5 or 7 series those are really well built!

[Turbo-Brown]

I reckon it must be a classic. It's even featured in Practical Classics magazine

Also, mine's almost 20years old now: gotta be a classic.

Other than classic cars, name one other era of motoring which gave us the oh-so-fashionable BROWN interior!

[Dom]

don't see why not, my defender was a classic and they're still making them!

[Simon]

Officially, the E30 isn't yet a classic except for the E30 M3, but it's on the verge of it...well the rarer and more desirable version first off, but after a certain amount of years it will automatically become one anyway.

Ron Parish has been campaigning for a while now to get the E30 on a classic status, and it's thanks to Ron that Practical classics featured the E30.

[johnono]

iԚ´d say yeah.

[Jesus325iTouring]

Gotta be a classic,the "scene" is growing,prices for Sports and M3's seem to be growing,its a car thats here to stay,and in my book that makes it a classic.

[H35-IAN]

i have to hartges and the one is 19 years old and the other is 20 years old as of now!!

[BMK]

I agree, classic status for me!!

Whose decission is it?

[Karan]

classic but modern enough for day to day is my verdict

[Turbo-Brown]

classic but modern enough for day to day is my verdict

Yeah, that sums it up quite nicely

[keith52]

The trouble with the word classic is that it means different things to different people imo i would have say yes because the model has something special about it which brings a large and varied type of person together all with nearly! the same goals and that is to preserve ,maintain and enjoy the model , I've had the (mis) fortune to own a large amount of cars all at some point have been classed as classic which other people may consider rusty cr*p and to others true classics Anyway long live the e30 ( until the next classic)

[325Ron]

First of all yes it is me Ron Parish from BMW CC, I have been unable to log since last Friday. Still cant log in so have opened new account, hope I can get my old 325i Ron back.

So is the E30 a classic YES the trouble is what makes a car a classic, as far as veteran and vintage its I think pre 1940 and post 1940. There are no dates for a classic. As far as I can see the only way is to check out the price guides in the Classic mags. After the article in Practical Classics we are in their price guide "325i Saloon 1985-1990 price Ԛ£300-Ԛ£2500 well its a start. What amazes me is you see 2CVs Maestros Cortinas and Escorts as classics so I see no reason that the E30 should not be thought of as a classic. I did suggest on Car Club forum if some one asked what car you had you said a Classic 325i Sport or a 328iS Classic! Thanks for this poll Ithink I mite try this on the club forum.

I missed the zone; can I have my old account Back.


Ron Rarish E30 Chairman BMW CC

[Jimbob]

I think it'd be pretty easy to write an entire article as to why the e30 should classed as a classic.
I have a feeling that there's gonna be a bit of a biased response from here too

It's down to have you define classic though, classic to me is a car that's old but is sought after - Sport's have a high price for a car of it's age, and the M3 is in a class of it's own.

[Zayyan]

Instant classic

[320Touring]

ok-lets review the situ-

Its German (so therefore well built)

Its rear wheel drive (therefore a delight to drive)

Some have a 6cyl engine (goes like S&%t off a shovel)

These are the things i want in a car, in fact its a 'classic' approach to building a car, so HELL YEAH, its a classic

[E30WEZ]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

[Jesus325iTouring]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

First to do what?

[Paul325i]

I'd say the sport and the M3 are the 2 most likely 'classic' models, maybe the cab to, might take longer for the other models to become 'classic' in status.

On rarity things like the Alpina/Hartge/Schnitzer would be classics but they're not a factory model so i don't think they're really included in it.

[CiLK_WuRM]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

First to do what?

He means to make an "estate / touring" car. But i'm not so sure on that fact.

[MaK-71]

I think that the E30 is BMWs greatest achievement thus far. If you look at the current different manufacturers cars on the road, you will not see many stylish and individual looking cars about,including most of the new bimmers(I think they are losing it personally speaking!!!)

The E30 stands out from the crowd.

Also if the E30 had not been built and the masses not recognised the advantages of the baby bimmer ,then BMW may not have survived during very testing times. Previous to the E30 there was no other BMW produced that succesfully crossed over into the smaller car market and dominate with such affordable desireability.....(what have I been reading!!!)

Dominate they did as well on the track.....great publicity....race bred on the street......I love em.

So Definatly a BIG YES truly a MODERN Classic, but not for long.....enjoy.

.......question is which is the one E30 that you put away in the garage for summer/weekend use as an investment? M3, Sport, Alpina, Hartage, Convertible,IS,Tourer or simply highly tuned?.....Mak

[Zayyan]

I've been thinking about this a bit more...

The 2002, E21 3 series and E30 were all lightweight, fun, RWD cars, which until the overweight E36 appeared was what BMWs were about.

So I think the E30 should be regarded as a classic in that it was the last "real" BMW.

S'what I reckon anyway

[6potWil6pot]

Overweight cars are a sign of our times more than anything else. The masses want big comfortable and safe cars Its hard to find stuff thats raw and lightweight nowerdays!

[Zayyan]

Ariel Atom anyone?

I don't see why safe but lightweight cars can't be made.

My E30 for example has taken out a couple of other cars surviving with just a few scratches, and has survived a few run-ins with various walls and bridges as well.

Plus all the pics of E30s in accidents that I've seen have been very encouraging (you know what I mean, I don't like seeing crashed E30s), in that the engine/boot compartments have been crushed without damage to the passenger compartment.

I suppose it's not so great in side impacts, but still it's a bloody safe car for the weight and the amount of fun you can have with it

If only they made all cars like E30s eh?

[6potWil6pot]

I dont think theres a mainstream demand for lightweight handling cars! Everythings been getting heavier and more comfortable over recent yrs and it doesnt look like changing! Lightening a car and keeping the same lvls of modern safety would cost serious $ $ too i think

[SCOTT325SE]

I think that it should be called a classic. Reasons are multiple and comprehensive, but i simply dont have the time to write an article about why they should be classed as classics. My vote goes to yes. E36? Never in 100years!

[Richy325iTouring]

What is a classic.

In my eyes its raraty, desirability and demand that makes a classic.
Good E30's are getting harder to find.
They are desirable cars and the demand for them is getting greater.

Inmy eyes these factors are what make the E30 a classic in my eyes at least.

Sports and M3 are shooting up in value and it wont be long befor the rest of the range follow.

Just my bit

Richy.

[Jesus325iTouring]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

First to do what?

He means to make an "estate / touring" car. But i'm not so sure on that fact.

Thats why I wasn't sure,estates and tourings have been around for years,even BMW had a Touring years ago.......

[SCOTT325SE]

Jaguar had the "Eventer" which was a touring. That was round in the 60's. Dont know when BMW first did tourings, but someone else can do the reasearch. lol.

[SeamanStaines]

A couple of years back I rescued a gloss black C reg chrome bumper 325i from a car auction. It was a lovely straight rust free thing on steel wheels (2 door) and when polished up it looked incredible. I drove into town to get a heaircut and the only place I could park was outside the barber's shop. I'm not known for vanity but I was amazed by the number of passers by who gave the thing a second and third glance.
The E36 was really a better car - I think an unmodified Coupe in a nice bright red looks very pretty and still contemporary - but the E30 was just THE car to have in the eighties. This is why they still have a huge following whilst the E21 and the 2002 are just about buried and forgotten.
The E36 will not be a classic for another ten years or more - if ever. The reason is that a lot more were sold and BMW learned a lot about rustproofing, hardly the E30's greatest forte so there will be a lot of E36's around for years and years to come. Even now, an iffy white H plate 316i will still make Ԛ£1000 and you don't see many driven into scrapyards or dumped do you?
But looking at the crap BMW are making now, I still think the E30 was their finest moment. It wasn't perfect - useless rear seats, slow four cylinders, low geared steering and poverty spec. But as a car, they're just so appealing.

Classic? Oh yes.

[StuBeeDoo]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

In the mid-'70's BMW did a '02 Touring, it was more of a hatchback though. I would say that the E30 Touring is far more practical. So in that respect, it probably is BMW's first.

[Jesus325iTouring]

What about Tourings as i think i am right in saying Bmw were the first to do it with the E30

In the mid-'70's BMW did a '02 Touring, it was more of a hatchback though. I would say that the E30 Touring is far more practical. So in that respect, it probably is BMW's first.

Thats one i hosted a pic of Stu,pretty cool car too

[StuBeeDoo]

Thats one i hosted a pic of Stu,pretty cool car too

Sorry Rog, didn't see your post 'til after I put mine up!!