E30 Zone

noticed some nice touring e30's. on here, abit different too ...

what are they like on handling? and any other difference from the saloon apart from the weight?

Advice appreciated, as i'm either in the market for a nice m3, or a touring as a project.

thanks all

Mines lowered on -40mm PI Springs, and handles really well.

In my opinion, I could keep up with most E30's round bends bar the properly set-up ones.

The good things about the tourings is that they have 50/50 weight distribution. (M3 esque! )

have a 320 touring-handles beautifully!

some say it handles better than the saloon as it has almost 50%50 weight distribution... certainly neither myself or most owners have had any problems.

most tourings originally came with mtech suspension and if you can find one with it still on, then you are onto a winner

as with all e30's rear subframe bushes need to be tip top to make it nice and tight.

also watch if the touring has had rear springs off a saloon fitted (these are not firm enough to support the extra weight correctly.

have a look at davetouring's car to see whats possible!

Is there many parts available for the tourings, ie the correct sports suspension to handle the weight. I'm kind of fond of the old coilovers as you can adjust them till you get it just right.

Was just wondering if they are available for the touring.

Both your cars look sweet, i used to see one years ago, modified on the bath road, hounslow, in black, and just been a fan of the estate version too, ever since.

[quote="Lowm3"]Is there many parts available for the tourings, ie the correct sports suspension to handle the weight. I'm kind of fond of the old coilovers as you can adjust them till you get it just right.

Was just wondering if they are available for the touring.

Both your cars look sweet[quote]

as far as i'm aware-you can get uprated spring/damper combo's for the touring no probs and coilovers work well tooo!

as for my car looking good---my avatar is a photochop!

car is actually white/white with rust and has BBs alloys on!

mind u dave's car is the dogs danglies-mine will get somewhere near that oneday

Cheers for the compliment Neil!

It's getting there.

You can put the H&R Cup Kit on a touring, there is a 'group buy' happening at the moment.

That suspension kit is the dogs nuts.

photoshop? thats cheating

Yeh Daves looks quite evil,

Dave there's no point in me getting the bits, as storage is not good at the mo, thats the whole reaon i haven't bougt the e30 yet, parking.

I'll get it sorted soon though

Just thought i'd get a good idea of whats available and what each e30 is like, the 50/50 balance has kind of tipped me towards a touring though

Touring all the way, much classier and less 'popular' than the saloons. More practical and less likely to have been abused, you see lots round here driven by middle class, middle aged housewives.

housewives? not the ones that do nothing but pick up the kids? Better make sure its an auto then, i've seen some of them drive ( not all ) but some

Dave i noticed your putting a 3.5 engine into your touring, which model is that from, e36?

How much would a total cost of one of them conversions be, and how difficult would you say the conversion is to do, taking into account that maybe your a rocket scientist when it comes to vw's but havent dabled with a beema before?

Hi mate,

The engine is from an E34 as in the Five series.

The total cost I'm hoping will be under a grand.....hoping being the operative word.

But doing the stuff with help from others (Karan/Si/Demlot/Jhonno - you're all roped in now) and not paying for a garage to do it, it keeps the cost down.

Plus it'll be good for 210bhp and lots of torque when it's done.



In terms of difficulty, it's hard to say. I'm getting advice from people on here who ahve done it before, and people who know what they're doing. Which makes it a hell of a lot easier. From scratch I wouldn't even try, but with the help on here, you should be ok!

Sounds great, i'm sure the lads are going to enjoy helping you with that .

Talk about me getting rusty with BMW's, did i actually say e36 for a 3.5 engine? yeh mistake noted

Is your car going to be running automatic transmission. or manual?

I'm going to have to find out when the bmw meets are on, so i can come n have a look.

One thing i must say is im not fond of the e36 and 46 drivers attitudes but the e30 guys are great.

Last year on the m1, there was a vw show the same day as a beema one, and my brother has a very euro style mk2, on 9 x 16's, and 3 e30 m3's were passing.. but they just held level and we had a little convoy, then they all passed with a thumbs up for the golf, while we were drooling over the m3's.

It'll be running manual...

I wouldn't wanna have auto to be honest, not that it's bad, I just prefer manual by a long way.

Most E30 owners, enthusiasts anyway respect other cool retro cars, like the MK1 Golf! That's why it's so cool!

Definately catch up with the e30 zone lads at some of the shows then, we'll bring the golf down too, as just almost finished putting the vr6 engine in.

Looking forward to going in a few tourings

I'll no doubt be doing the 'passenger rides' thing once mine is 3.5

Where are you based?

The Lakeside meet is a good one, you can look around the car, chat to everyone and go for rides sometimes!!

coventry mate well not so

Any meets round the midlands?

There's a Rolling Road day in June, on the 12th I think.

Gaydon also, which is a pretty big meet. Around the middle of August...

Cool i'll keep an eye out on the dates..

Hey just noticed, your a student Dave? Not bad collection of cars for a student.

Well....

I got a decent pay out on a car which got written off, so I bought the touring.

The civic is tatty and was cheap....

The Sport needs a head, and was cheap!

Got a few cars, but they were all cheap....

And I have lots of debt! Need a job!

At least you have started early with the cars, i was like that when at uni, as i used to run doors and teach self defence at the same time, but dont know where it all went? WOMEN!!

So had to start again, now the Brabus is the first, got my caddy van for my work, and looks like a tourer and a jeep of some type in the near future. Money should grow on trees, be so much easier for us car enthusiasts.

My touring handles the boll0x - i love it - you can have to rear out if you wish too (and i do like to every now & again), or you can drive it like miss daisy and cruise a bit of late 80's retro style

& It the best fishing car i've ever owned

just out of interest you after 16 inch azev a's?

Lowm3 wrote:just out of interest you after 16 inch azev a's?

What on earth makes you say that?

Just a wild guess Dave

Lowm3 wrote:Sounds great, i'm sure the lads are going to enjoy helping you with that .

Talk about me getting rusty with BMW's, did i actually say e36 for a 3.5 engine? yeh mistake noted

Is your car going to be running automatic transmission. or manual?

I'm going to have to find out when the bmw meets are on, so i can come n have a look.

One thing i must say is im not fond of the e36 and 46 drivers attitudes but the e30 guys are great.

Last year on the m1, there was a vw show the same day as a beema one, and my brother has a very euro style mk2, on 9 x 16's, and 3 e30 m3's were passing.. but they just held level and we had a little convoy, then they all passed with a thumbs up for the golf, while we were drooling over the m3's.

Dude,im all hurt now!!!!!I drive an e36 and love all you e30 guys,so much so,that i went and bought my own one just the other day!!!!Most of my mates drive e36's and are just as enthusiastic(might have made a new word there!)about e30's as there own 36's,we're not all snooty gits!!!!

davetouring wrote: But doing the stuff with help from others (Karan/Si/Demlot/Jhonno - you're all roped in now)

Just noticed this.. (lol)

Good group mincing session last time got it done, shame the head was fooked!

Mincing?!!

We got two engines out that day, a prop changed and the 2.5 in! That's not mincing about! (lol)

whens the next lakeside meet?

Yet to be arranged mate.

Will be sorted soon.

I want to have my touring sorted by then whenever it is!!

Will be cool to have 2 m-tech tourings there.

yes 2 m-tec's will look the bizz. cant wait for the next meet. i went to the BMW show last weekend in coventry. what a crap show. stayed 20 mins and left in a strop

Oh really?

The Stoneleigh one?

There were some good photos of some nice motors, but I didn't go so I can't comment really.

Lakeside is always a laugh, loads of nice e30's. Get a ride in Karans 2.7 for a bit of drifting if you're lucky.

We'll have to try to get a double feature in Total BMW when our tourings are both 3.5. That would be awesome!!

double feature in Total BMW no problem as i know most of them. when your ready let me know. mine should be ready by aug

Brilliant stuff.

Hoping to have mine ready before the start of August for Ultimate Street Car.

what size wheels do you have on your touring dave and what make?

Just got BBS's mate, normal 15's. (my sig pic is photoshopped)

Getting some new ones soon, but it's secret!

Your 'pinas look well nice.