e30 daily drivers

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jimbob29
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:12 am

do many e30 owners actually use ther good condition e30s a daily driver or do most of the good ones get stored away for the winter?
Kieran_n22
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 4:53 am

Bought my car last August used it during winter but it wasn't ideal for me as my journey to work is short and I'd have to warm it up for at 5 minuts so the temp guage came out of the blue otherwise it'll drink more petrol. And then it got written off in December when it snowed. So I fixed it sprayed the whole car and I'm never gonna use it in the winter again lol. And for it to be off the road gives me time for my M52 conversion :D
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Brianmoooore
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:17 am

Kieran_n22 wrote: I'd have to warm it up for at 5 minuts so the temp guage came out of the blue otherwise it'll drink more petrol.
Not the best way to treat an engine, and factually incorrect. Start it and drive it.
GemE30
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:18 am

I used mine last year and will be using the coupe this year.
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hongkongfuey
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Location: portsmouth

Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:22 am

Not having the luxury of having more than one e30 yes its my daily
if there wern't people like me,
with cars like mine,
who would you put down to make yourself feel better?
Alex
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:24 am

My touring is coming back from paint and will be used throughout the winter, winter wheels on route too winkeye
kolee
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Location: Painswick, Gloucestershire

Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:27 am

I use mine daily. My commute is around 15 miles and i enjoy the healthy 28mpg she gives.

This will be the first winter the car has seen in a long while, I'm hesitantly looking forward to icy roads.
clipper
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Location: Madrid

Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:41 am

I use mine more in winter than in summer because my commute of nealy 50 miles daily is shared between my motorbike and the E30, so logically it gets used more in bad weather.

Last winter I was well lucky when I span 180º on a slip road covered in sheet ice... I came to rest about 4cm away from the barrier facing the way I'd came....
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
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mattrs
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:45 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
Kieran_n22 wrote: I'd have to warm it up for at 5 minuts so the temp guage came out of the blue otherwise it'll drink more petrol.
Not the best way to treat an engine, and factually incorrect. Start it and drive it.

Agreed but I had an e30 that was horrendously juicy until it was warm and employing the same tactics was the only way!
cool_ram_in
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:54 am

I use my e30 as a daily driver. My 316 LPGed is a nice thing! I use 175/70 r14 tires that make it more nimble, economical and also tail happy (the LPG tank makes it less tail happy...)

Oh i make a bit long 150 km commute... (93 miles?) :D

It happens to be very cheap to run on LPG, and parts and maintenance also...

Always puts a smile on my face.

(I also have a e36 318 tds touring for traveling with my kids and wife...)
Ellwood
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:07 am

Have just bought this (325 moredoor - learning the lingo already ;) ) to use as my new daily. Have a new job, so giving the company car and back in two weeks this is my transport. Am sure it's going to be juicy, but it will be worth it!

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greg124
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:36 am

Both of our E30s are year round daily drivers.
Not liking driving them in the snow though.
Schadenfreude - the German's haven't got a word for that.
Morat
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:30 pm

Not quite daily, in bad weather I'll take the Jeep. On long family trips we'll usually take the E46 because it has airbags, side impact bars etc.
E30 Touring 0.35 cD - more slippery than prison soap :)

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Praise the Lard... and pass the dripping!
e30topless
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:35 pm

AVO has been in daily service most of the year, I have just parked her up for the winter because i needed an estate car :(

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daimlerman
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:38 pm

Cabbie was in use from April until the end of October,touring has been taxed all year but saw little use in the summer.But this last week the touring ran close to 400 miles. :D

How much use the touring will get over the winter will depend on the availability of the Fiat,if 'er indoors is not using that,I use it for work! :o:
Youth is wasted on the young.
magpie
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:43 pm

hibernation , :D
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m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds :)
Barx325i
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:06 pm

bring on the snow 'n' ice
Green
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:30 pm

I don't own another car since the work horse was stolen last year so a daily driver M52 E30 is the only way I'll be getting about this winter!
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bpowell555
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:34 pm

Used mine as a daily in last years bad winter. Best and worst experiences a plenty, 1 near crash, 1 lucky escape, plenty of power sliding in thick snow- awesome. Even getting away at lights was a right laugh.

Lucky escape was changing down approaching a roundabout - adopted a 30 degree angle I majestically powered out of. Would have been severe if anything was coming the other way 8O

Near crash when the idiot in front stopped dead down a hill, had to swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid him - again nothing coming the other way - then swerve again to avoid a concrete bollard on the other side of the road. Ff-ing angry with the knob infront :x

Just keep it clean - the salt gets everywhere.

:cool:

Edit: just to clarify all of the above on compacted snow covered roads.
1990 325i touring
She's a minter! Best 3 years of my life - bye bye baby :D
kieran325
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:31 pm

My E30 will be the only car running this winter, the rest will be parked up :)
adamski80
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:36 pm

Garaged until april as always. Gave it a good wash today before tucking it up for the winter.
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bmwbobby
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:57 pm

just bought a 325 more door for my daily driver my other toy hibernates for the winter winkeye
kieran325
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:59 pm

Catch the loser cruiser it's easier.
Ajsingh
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:29 pm

Have used mine daily since having it :) it puts a massive smile on my face and i enjoy driving it day in & day out....
E30 Crazy!
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bhups
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:15 pm

Mine is a daily as well.
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Tom_Maverick
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:23 pm

My tech II 25i is a daily too.. doing around 16 miles on an assortment of roads.. wouldn't drive anything else :) and although I have just had her resprayed etc she was built to be driven...
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cee
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:57 pm

My e30 is my only car, it's not a minter so I drive it every day, everywhere. I see no reason not to really, it's not vintage or anything, easily capable of lasting through the winter as long as you watch out for rust.
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1990 Sterlingsilber 318iS - 146 bhp / 192 Nm
J_A_C_K_Y_D
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:52 pm

Used mine daily till it was written off, was fine in the snow, only got it stuck once all winter

Loved it :D

Hopefully get the new one going by this winter :D
Silverfang
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:57 pm

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Proof my E30's out in all weathers, this year should be fun with the coilovers :mad:
BMW and Opel, both RWD, both german, both good fun
http://www.clockservicing.co.uk/ For any clock repairs try here.
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mosh86
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:39 pm

I use mine all year too. it is getting a bit rusty but saving up for a full respray hopefully in the next year or two. Only time i couldnt use her last year in the snow was when there was about 8 inches in front of the garage door and all the way along the access road.. Loved the look on the boy racers and the pensioners faces when i was gently driving sideways up almost every road tho. Just had to wash it every second day if the pipes werent frozen at the car wash for the salt tho.
325i SPORT M-TECH 1(sold 😭)
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parkin10
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Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:19 pm

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this is the most recent pic i have
bin my daily for the last 4 1/2 years
not a minta just trying to have a tidy e30
drinks fuel on the school runs but thats 6 pots for you
looking forward to the winter driving again winkeye
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