what do u think bmw could have done to make e30's better!!

[e30geezer]

I've never had a problem with the panel above the pedals as long as you get the left hand side in above the vent from the heater and use plastic screws that are in good condition.

On the improvment side of things, a boot that you can actually use would have been nice

same here , i never had a problem .

[e30geezer]

RHD M3 and 320iS.

how good would this be !!

[e30geezer]

on the standard gearbox's sort out the rediculous jump between 2nd and 3rd. Im sure I could do 0-60 in 5 seconds in my 1.8 cab if it wasn't for the g'box! I'd also resolve some of the build quality issues, everyone goes on about how well built they are, and compared to some cars maybe they are but beemers are meant to be the best! I'd get rid of anything that clips and pops on, like steering column panel, seat backs, trim, mirror triangles, and make something robust and good in its place. Other than that I can't complain, I love e30s.

great

i noticed this with all manuals, i can be cured with a quick shift kit i think , but i bought an auto this time.

[Chaos]

As for heavy clutches, I have just moved from an Auto m535 to a manual one... that has to be the HEAVIEST clutch i have EVER had

i used to have a 2 x pulsar gtir
the clutch in the 2nd one was the heaviest clutch that 2 roling road places had ever felt and both places have rr'd all sorts of things.


On my old 325i sport the clutch was very heavy, buton my old se and my current convertible its featherlight

[Chaos]

on the standard gearbox's sort out the rediculous jump between 2nd and 3rd. Im sure I could do 0-60 in 5 seconds in my 1.8 cab if it wasn't for the g'box! I'd also resolve some of the build quality issues, everyone goes on about how well built they are, and compared to some cars maybe they are but beemers are meant to be the best! I'd get rid of anything that clips and pops on, like steering column panel, seat backs, trim, mirror triangles, and make something robust and good in its place. Other than that I can't complain, I love e30s.

great

i noticed this with all manuals, i can be cured with a quick shift kit i think , but i bought an auto this time.

not sure if hes taling bout ratios or shift m8.
if its ratios then a quickshift wont help at all.

[e30geezer]

on the standard gearbox's sort out the rediculous jump between 2nd and 3rd. Im sure I could do 0-60 in 5 seconds in my 1.8 cab if it wasn't for the g'box! I'd also resolve some of the build quality issues, everyone goes on about how well built they are, and compared to some cars maybe they are but beemers are meant to be the best! I'd get rid of anything that clips and pops on, like steering column panel, seat backs, trim, mirror triangles, and make something robust and good in its place. Other than that I can't complain, I love e30s.

great

i noticed this with all manuals, i can be cured with a quick shift kit i think , but i bought an auto this time.

not sure if hes taling bout ratios or shift m8.
if its ratios then a quickshift wont help at all.

that's a very good point mate , i didn't think about that. cheers (rob)

[e30geezer]

i noticed this with all manuals, i can be cured with a quick shift kit i think , but i bought an auto this time.

not sure if hes taling bout ratios or shift m8.
if its ratios then a quickshift wont help at all.

that's a very good point mate , i didn't think about that. cheers (rob)

hi, chaos do you still have any e30 part's for sale as i noticed you sometime's break em, for parts cheers (rob)

[320Touring]

Wider track

LHD

Built of Ally or CF

More comfortable standard seats

3.64 diff on 320's

Free Garage with every car-so you never get caught out by the rain again.

LSD as standard

rear lights in bootlid rather than on panel (so had long, low, WIDE loading area for boot)

[StuBeeDoo]

Built of Ally or CF
3.64 diff on 320's

If you had it that light, you'd get away with a longer diff than that Neil!!

[320Touring]

Built of Ally or CF
3.64 diff on 320's

If you had it that light, you'd get away with a longer diff than that Neil!!

oh, ok fit the 2.97 out the 525e then!!!

niiiinnnnnggggg 1400rpm at 70mph

[Adammcf]

Heads that arent made of chocolate,
take about 1 turn out of the steering lock to lock,
shorter gear throw,
better brakes,
better lights.
Those are the only things I wish they had changed. I love everything else about them.

[William]

i noticed this with all manuals, i can be cured with a quick shift kit i think , but i bought an auto this time.

not sure if hes taling bout ratios or shift m8.
if its ratios then a quickshift wont help at all.

that's a very good point mate , i didn't think about that. cheers (rob)

yeah dude probably didnt make that clear, was talking about the ratio jump no the length of the physical shift. Although that is almost as much of an issue, as all of us that have done the short shift mod know, it makes a huge difference for very little effort and you would have thought they could have done it from the factory, especially on the sports where some performance is expected!!

[placey]

my list reads:

- 6.5 inch driver mounts in the front doors and in the rear

- better rhd conversion design so brakes don't travel across to the passengers side footwell and make a noise when used

- slightly heavier steering - lightness is disconcerting past the ton

- better pick up on the m40 engines, especially from cold

- more accessible engine coolant drain plugs on 4 cylinders and oil filters on 6 cylinders

- more sturdy exhaust heat shields - they always break - they're naff

- better rhd conversion so the handbrake lever isn't too far away

- rear hinged bonnet for easier servicing and repair access

- gas strutted bootlid eliminating those silly torsion bars

- more conventional seat adjustments so passengers don't try to move the seat back and end up hitting heads on roofs

- slightly more legroom in the rear

- slightly lower roofline

some already mentioned ideas are superb - including deadlocks from remote alarm and a gong for lights left on....

paul

[Simon13]

but in the 80's 5 speed boxes and electric windows were serious options on serious cars! elipsoid lights were ground breaking stuff started on bmw's back then.

These cars were the pinnicle at the time and are still better than a lot of new cars now!

[Chaos]

hi, chaos do you still have any e30 part's for sale as i noticed you sometime's break em, for parts cheers (rob)

what u after m8?
let me know by pm

[Stevin]

a damn cup holder would have been nice!

The South Africans used to build a half Ally E30...

Yeah the 325iS Evo1 had all Bonnet, fenders, doors and boot (trunk)

The E30 should have some out with 24v head, like the racing dynamics heads... on a stock engine that head boosts it too 100bhp/ per litre.

Also gotta agree cup holders, and Dashboards that don't crack in the sun

[e30geezer]

hi, chaos do you still have any e30 part's for sale as i noticed you sometime's break em, for parts cheers (rob)

what u after m8?
let me know by pm

passenger side front fog late spec, recaro interior . cheers (rob)

[e30geezer]

a damn cup holder would have been nice!

The South Africans used to build a half Ally E30...

Yeah the 325iS Evo1 had all Bonnet, fenders, doors and boot (trunk)

The E30 should have some out with 24v head, like the racing dynamics heads... on a stock engine that head boosts it too 100bhp/ per litre.

Also gotta agree cup holders, and Dashboards that don't crack in the sun

yep i agree.

[e30geezer]

but in the 80's 5 speed boxes and electric windows were serious options on serious cars! elipsoid lights were ground breaking stuff started on bmw's back then.

These cars were the pinnicle at the time and are still better than a lot of new cars now!

also agree totally , they are superbly engineered car's

[Simon]

E30geezer are you on a misson to get as many posts you can in as little time as possible?

[e30geezer]

E30geezer are you on a misson to get as many posts you can in as little time as possible?

hi mate, i just think it's fun to ask these sort of question's as i wanted to hear other zoner's opinions on the e30's.

[Daryll]

I'm more than happy with mine, if BMW had built it to perfection where would the fun be in that? Part of the thrill of the ownership of an E30 is adding your finishing touches to it...although they could have thrown in a liscence to pick up any fine young hotty to be your passenger as I normally only have hippocrocapigs in the passenger seat of mine!

[e30geezer]

I'm more than happy with mine, if BMW had built it to perfection where would the fun be in that? Part of the thrill of the ownership of an E30 is adding your finishing touches to it...although they could have thrown in a liscence to pick up any fine young hotty to be your passenger as I normally only have hippocrocapigs in the passenger seat of mine!

no that would be a great idea, very true the fun would be removed i think.

[georgen]

Machine guns behind the grills, number plates that change according to the country that you are in and a thing for making oil slicks ?

[320Touring]

I'm more than happy with mine, if BMW had built it to perfection where would the fun be in that? Part of the thrill of the ownership of an E30 is adding your finishing touches to it...although they could have thrown in a liscence to pick up any fine young hotty to be your passenger as I normally only have hippocrocapigs in the passenger seat of mine!

so you basically want a hoover fitted??????

[Cotty]

They could have made an M3 touring with wide arches etc but would have to be right hand drive. I know a couple have been built but would be good if they came from the factory that way
http://www.s14.de/0111/0111.htm

[Fushion_Julz]

on standard cars better interior lights, especially in the front, would be no1 priority...

better rustproofing, especially around the front and rear screens

the gearbox linkeage is prone to wear and annoying rattles

interior trim is poor in quality, really...especially the cloth seat covers and the sports seats are not hardest wearing, in general...

finally the OBC is a bit primative...the e34 one is a whole heap better, for example...

on M3s better rear suspension adjustment, a more robust electrical system and they should have come with adjustable suspension as standard. Also the slot for stereo fitting in the dash has extremely limited clearance to the loom/firewall if your unit has pre-outs hard-wired to the back!

However they got most things very right...
The handling balance is superb...the right mix of power and grip (especially the 325 and M3s).
the ergonomics is not bad (for a 80s car...the e28 is just as good, too) although the LHD cars are a whole step ahead again, especially with regards to pedal positioning...

I disagree about the M20 heads, too...I've now had 3 different cars, over the years, and never once had a head problem (I did encounter a cracked head on an M30, though, due to a dodgy temp sensor/gauge and subsequent overheating!)
Also, for a compact saloon, the boot is of adequate size....The loading lip could have been lower with the number plate panel being part of the boot lid (a la e34) rather than part of the body...

As for the stereo.....I've always been able to squeeze a 16cm drivers into the kick panels (with a small modification), but there is little difference between a 13 and a 16 mid-driver...If you want bass, you need a sub and that means finding a way to get a decent amount of bass into the cabin rather than just venting the sound out of the back of the boot....

[e30geezer]

Machine guns behind the grills, number plates that change according to the country that you are in and a thing for making oil slicks ?

ah, mister bond!!

[e30geezer]

on standard cars better interior lights, especially in the front, would be no1 priority...

better rustproofing, especially around the front and rear screens

the gearbox linkeage is prone to wear and annoying rattles

interior trim is poor in quality, really...especially the cloth seat covers and the sports seats are not hardest wearing, in general...

finally the OBC is a bit primative...the e34 one is a whole heap better, for example...

on M3s better rear suspension adjustment, a more robust electrical system and they should have come with adjustable suspension as standard. Also the slot for stereo fitting in the dash has extremely limited clearance to the loom/firewall if your unit has pre-outs hard-wired to the back!

However they got most things very right...
The handling balance is superb...the right mix of power and grip (especially the 325 and M3s).
the ergonomics is not bad (for a 80s car...the e28 is just as good, too) although the LHD cars are a whole step ahead again, especially with regards to pedal positioning...

I disagree about the M20 heads, too...I've now had 3 different cars, over the years, and never once had a head problem (I did encounter a cracked head on an M30, though, due to a dodgy temp sensor/gauge and subsequent overheating!)
Also, for a compact saloon, the boot is of adequate size....The loading lip could have been lower with the number plate panel being part of the boot lid (a la e34) rather than part of the body...

As for the stereo.....I've always been able to squeeze a 16cm drivers into the kick panels (with a small modification), but there is little difference between a 13 and a 16 mid-driver...If you want bass, you need a sub and that means finding a way to get a decent amount of bass into the cabin rather than just venting the sound out of the back of the boot....

wow you really know your e30's mate, pretty impressive answers to say the least,

[e30geezer]

They could have made an M3 touring with wide arches etc but would have to be right hand drive. I know a couple have been built but would be good if they came from the factory that way
http://www.s14.de/0111/0111.htm

stunning pic's dude that touring look's sweeeeet!! , why couldn't they do this from the factory this would have been a top performer,

[Cotty]

better rustproofing, especially around the front and rear screens

and touring boot lids from what I have heard

[e30geezer]

I see you ignored my last post e30geezer......for once have you nothing to say?

i have loads left to say, cmon it's all good fun!!! isnt this what the zone is all about. lol!!

[georgen]

Machine guns behind the grills, number plates that change according to the country that you are in and a thing for making oil slicks ?

ah, mister bond!!

Aye, Sean Connery though. Best Bond dont'cha know !!

[HotboxDeluxe]

For what they are, an early 80's saloon, they're really impressive. A few "modern car" touches would be nice though, like

Interior lights that light more than the back of your 'ead

Some interior bits that don't fall off (i always rip the under-dash bit off as a precaution)

Proper rustproofing

Decent headlights

Bigger wheels!!

But part of the fun, I'm sure it's been said, is adding the bits you want to make it yours. Even if they were a pile of crap I'd still love 'em because what other smallish, lightish, powerfulish, and most importantly, RWD car can you get for similar money? There's a couple of choices (200sx springs to mind) but none of them drive as good as a BMW, period! (I'm slightly biased because I won't drive anything else mind

But if i was to insist on something it'd be standard LSD!

[e30geezer]

Machine guns behind the grills, number plates that change according to the country that you are in and a thing for making oil slicks ?

ah, mister bond!!

Aye, Sean Connery though. Best Bond dont'cha know !!

dead right sean connery rock's!!