-Spot of very early history.
11/1990 – The car was purchased at L.J.K. Garages Ltd in Essex for the grand sum of £16,379.81. It then proceeded to live out its first couple of years in London. Unfortunately the tell tell signs of being kept in a busy city such as London do show, annoying small door dents and even a door that had been torn off when opened into busy traffic! But that being said it was regularly serviced at both L.J.K Garages Ltd and BMW Park Lane for the then common ‘body inspections’.
-Where do I come in?
I was gifted my car on my 21st birthday in June 2017, what an unexpected surprise that was! Open my card and out falls the V5 and a sale contract for £1, making it a more legal transaction. My Dad had owned it for roughly 10 years beforehand, so it’s been very much part of the family for nearly half of its life.
But let’s wind the clock back even further for a spot of context as to why he lovingly gifted me the car. My little Vauxhall Corsa had been written off and there was no option but to wheel out the e30, the then only spare car in the family. It had been gathering dust in my Uncle’s garage for some years but myself and Dad swiftly retrieved it. From there I immediately changed the decade old tyres, replaced the shot bushings, replaced the rotor arm and distributor cap and then just kept fettling. It passed its MOT with flying colours and from there I was hooked and Dad saw that. I will be forever grateful to have received such a lovely gift.
Since then I have driven 50,000 miles and it has never let me down. In fact quite the opposite when I let it down and foolishly crashed it in December 2018. I have often dreamt of owning a 6cyl variant such as an Mtech1 325i or even the daddy, the M3! But to be honest I would never have been able to create so many memories in them, simply due to mileage anxiety and how it would affect the ever increasing price tag. But one day I plan to convert mine into a 4 door IS, swapping the M40 lump with an M42 retaining the lightness and peppy characteristic of a 4cyl.
The bad stuff:
• It’s a sedan (the least loved variant of an e30)
• It’s an automatic (enough said)
• It’s got some bruises and scars
• Recently developed a PS fluid leak
• Needs the diff servicing
• And probably lots more….
There is lots more to tell both since I have owned it and before, a crash, modifications, adventures and even being on display at the recent 2020 London Classic Car Show. But rest assured it is an honest and loved example, far from concourse but it’s cherished.
Let me know if you want to see and hear more
Original invoice
L.J.K. Garages Ltd
Second day of ownership at Silverstone Classic
Isle of Wight 2017
Stance Midlife Crisis
M40
On display at London Classic 2020 for 4 days with BCCGB
