Old cars

[HenryM3]

I’ve noticed that there are still plenty of people buying or looking for e30’s. Doesn’t matter if it’s an 316 or m3 although m3’s are out of most people’s reach now a days. If I didn’t have one I certainly couldn’t afford one today. What other car from the 80’s has a following like the e30. I’m an old man, what is it that attracts today’s young man to an e30.

[ocde30]

Good question.
As an "old" man myself I am not sure why younger drivers are so interested.
I guess young drivers see it as a cheapish route into rear wheel drive drifting ? The "older" driver may be re living a "yuppie" past. Then there is the speculator hoping to make quick buck - usually starting their ads with "appreciating classic"
However the E30 does seem to attract interest and admiration from most who see them - young and old. My own son who is 17 is not really interested in the family cars that we have had but he really likes the E30 and takes any opportunity to ride in it with me whenever he can. My 14yr old daughter and her friends all think it is "cool" - I'm just not sure why? They both call my Audi avant an "old man's" car and my wife's ML "the tank". It can't be the any association with life in the 80's / 90's. It certainly isn't the badge as every other car is a BMW so it must be the shape ? Who knows ?

[Vez010]

Well I’m not sure whether I can shed any light on the subject but what I can say is that I’ve got a few cars in my garage and my 2 year old is always drawn to the E30!

For me personally it’s the aesthetics and the drive. From my recollection the E30 Sport was the car that epitomised cool back in the day and I think that’s still applicable today.

[coopman]

I'm not an old man, but I'm not young either. For me, I've always liked the look of the E30. I remember my friend's mum had a red convertible 325i that she used to drive us to swim lessons in - it was amazing compared to my mum's dilapidated old Mazda. For a lot of my age group I'd say nostalgia plays a big part.

I also have a two year old who is drawn to the E30. He cries when we make him get in the F48 instead!

[asward]

I may be able to give a small insight to this. Im 24, and purchased my E30 back in November 2020. As an owner, I like the fact that if something goes wrong its probably easier/cheaper to fix than a 3 year old Yaris or Corsa. Being able to actually work on the car, improve it slightly (I got mine a bit cheaper because of dents and missing trim) increases the value of the car to me as an owner, which makes it all the more special being my first car.

As an on-looker, what drew me to the car is that it reminds me of the toy die-cast cars I used to play with as a kid. Every time I see the car I am reminded of those times. I grew up seeing slightly more 'boxy' cars, which in my opinion look 1000x better than the round curvy econo-boxes that are around today. It makes me happy to see something a bit different on the roads, and I wanted to be part of that.

I love my E30. Owning it makes me feel happy and proud, the same way I can imagine owning your first house is. Nostalgia is a big part, so are the aesthetics. I have no interest in getting into drifting, or making a 'quick buck' from the car. I wanted something that makes me feel happy, and makes my family and friends feel happy when they see it too. (Unfortunately the latter hasn't happened yet because of current events)

The car just makes people smile.

[Satan]

It doesn't depreciate like a modern turd.

[chatstar123]

I'm in my late 30's so of an age where you could get these as "old bangers" when i was in my late teens for about £500 (obviously not very good condition) i had a 316i first which i later sold and got a 318is which someone crashed into on a roundabout and it was written off.

Other than the crash these cars bring back good memories of a time when i had a lot less things to worry about so definitely a +1 for nostalgia.

I also think that the E30 is a great looking car compared to whats around today which explains why young people who weren't even born when this car was still in production are interested in them.

[JungleGus]

The E30 is approaching proper classic status - as in cars are more expensive and parts getting harder to find (at least for the nice stuff) which makes me grateful for getting into them earlier. If I was to do it all again, I'd likely just leave everything bone stock - but then that's the hard thing with E30's, a few tweaks and they are much better.

It's a very easy car to work on and keep running - and they don't rust toooo badly. Kind of. So a fairly achievable classic, and as they rise in value it makes spending money on them easier to justify. Although that may just be me.

[martauto]

My youngest drove his brother and wife in mine on their wedding day and just loved it to bits!!
At my last place of work, a young girl came up to me and asked if I was the "car man" having gone to work in both BMW`s . I said yes I was and she said all the guy`s in inspection felt the older one was soooooo cool.
I asked her why and she said it was very different to the cars in the car park but still looked "very pretty"

For the older guy (me) , I bought my first e30 in 2004 for £450 from my best mate because it had loads of tax and test on it, but coming home from work one day after two months of driving it I said "this is a really good car to drive" and the rest is history.

Mart.

[steve_k]

my son is 8 & loves the e30, he call mine dad's race car (because of the noise it makes & the fact his grandad (my father in law) has a mk1 golf rally car), his half brother (5) is just as mad about the sport, they both keep asking my to rake them out in it when i can,

my son has got a hot wheels e30 m3 the same colour as my sport (white) & he keeps it hidden when he's at school, he says he wants one the same when he's older.

[HenryM3]

We’d also have to say that theirs not many manufacturers who provide the same level of spare parts for 30 year old cars. My son an he’s 50 has threatened to disown me if I sell mine.

[Lemon98]

Good question.
As an "old" man myself I am not sure why younger drivers are so interested.
I guess young drivers see it as a cheapish route into rear wheel drive drifting ?

For cheap drift cars most people use mx5s or e36/46s and weld the differential.

I'm 22 and bought my E30 in February last year and have owned two classic minis before and also an Mx5 lol. I've always been interested in older cars and learned to work on them with my first mini and I enjoy the satisfaction and challenge of fixing and maintaining the car I drive. I did my placement year working at Swiftune the historic mini engine builders and have very little interest in modern racing.

For the last two years I had a 2007 Seat Ibiza after selling my 2nd mini because I couldn't afford the insurance while at uni and while it was a good car, it was so bland and had no character. I'm also a massive petrolhead though and am in my final year of motorsport engineering (was going to be modifying a 731 cylinder head and dyno testing it for my dissertation but I no longer can due to 'rona)

Also for me the meets and the community are a big reason behind my desire to own a retro car. I was lucky and had a really good mini club and did the London to Brighton twice, mini action days etc so this side of the ownership made me happy and it's something you don't get with modern cars.

As for why I wanted an E30, my mum had a brand new e36 323i which I got driven home from the hospital in after being born and then a e46 328i which I got taken to school in. So I've always liked BMWs and the rear wheel drive was indeed a huge pull as well.

Unfortunately insurance is a killer for us young guys with E30s so it definitely isn't a cheap way into anything hahahha. Most of the young guys I know with E30s (18-25) it's either their project car, or they own multiple E30s, one guy is restoring a 2002. So mainly it's BMW enthusiasts who like classics. As a bit of background I love watching GT racing at Brands which is close to me, have been to the Goodwood Revival and had tickets for the member's meeting and revival again for last year, and went to the Spa Classic 6 hour two years ago.

However I do think there is going to be a rise in younger people buying E30s from seeing them in music videos and the "hype" from them.

[ah]

The E46 could still be around,

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[Be30]

I think its how simple but good looking they are. Im 18 and daily drive mine and love it. Also think i grew up when they were cheap.. so as a kid i was always seeing them being ragged about in and probably thought that was quite cool

[ah]

I’m old enough to remember the E30 being launched,I thought they were a cool car then.when I saw the M3 for the first time I was blown away.it was so in your face,but with beautiful lines.

[Be30]

I’m old enough to remember the E30 being launched,I thought they were a cool car then.when I saw the M3 for the first time I was blown away.it was so in your face,but with beautiful lines.

Police chases must have been cooler

[Satan]

I’m old enough to remember the E30 being launched,I thought they were a cool car then.when I saw the M3 for the first time I was blown away.it was so in your face,but with beautiful lines.

Police chases must have been cooler

[Satan]

I’m old enough to remember the E30 being launched,I thought they were a cool car then.when I saw the M3 for the first time I was blown away.it was so in your face,but with beautiful lines.

Police chases must have been cooler

IMG_7160.jpg

Don't ask me about the Ford Orion Ghia i and Polonez Police car in Poland back in the 80's........ lol

[tha881]

The E30 has a cult following by all ages, and it seems to transcend class boundaries. Something that not many cars achieve.

I think a large part of it is that people reminisce about having a car you can service yourself on the driveway. They are from the golden age of analogue motoring, before technical computer systems, complexity and cheap materials took over in the family saloon segment.

Having a broad range of models and trims also makes people more inquisitive. From a 316i to a Sport Evo, from £500 to £100,000.

For me, it's the balanced rwd handling and silky smooth straight 6 that keeps me addicted, along with the classic boxy looks and unique styling.

[Cypriotgeeza]

Ill be honest I believe my E30 passion started when I was 6 yrs old my dad came home with an immaculate Black and chrome E30 to replace the battered Ford Granada, I've been hooked ever since.

I can echo the insurance side of it as (mainly on my 3.5 conversion) I was getting quotes of £5,000 when I declared all mods and younger than 25.
(This is all in my project thread - link in my sig)

But it still didn't put me off buying my 318is when I was 20 and I'm now on my 3rd E30.

Its the way it looks, it drives, the smell, the sound, the feeling that you rarely feel with any other car! especially when you've customised as much as I have, and then you feel connected with the car mentally! I couldn't imagine not owning an E30.

Oh and you could never get bored of the reaction / thumbs up you get from people out and about! from the "isit a 325?" to the "My dad used to have one of those" and how can you not slightly get irritated with the "Are you selling that?" but its all good!

[paultv]

I also reckon the fact that E30's show up as cool cars in movies and TV series over and over again gives them a kind of cult status...all the way from Giles in Buffy ( after his Citroen ) to feature films like Man Up with Simon Pegg or all the way way back with Deadpool ( Dirty Harry movie )

Paul

[Cloggy Saint]

I also reckon the fact that E30's show up as cool cars in movies and TV series over and over again gives them a kind of cult status...all the way from Giles in Buffy ( after his Citroen ) to feature films like Man Up with Simon Pegg or all the way way back with Deadpool ( Dirty Harry movie )

Paul

Not forgetting Kylie driving around in one in her I Should Be So Lucky video. Not sure if that's a good thing.

[Tzantushka]

Not forgetting Kylie driving around in one in her I Should Be So Lucky video. Not sure if that's a good thing.

I had to Google that.



I think that is coopman driving around Sydney in his E30.

[paultv]

Very Cool!

more movies here:

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-BMW_model-E30.html

Paul

[Cypriotgeeza]

Not forgetting Kylie driving around in one in her I Should Be So Lucky video. Not sure if that's a good thing.

I had to Google that.



I think that is coopman driving around Sydney in his E30.

Can you get anymore 80s than that? And it's a baur lol

[Blanca]

I bought mine as a a temporary replacement when my 1987 Mercedes 23.-16V Cosworth packed up, the Mercedes has long gone and I now love my E30. Easy to work on, easy to drive -I'm a lazy old bugger and like my automatics- At least once a week I get tooted and a thumbs up from those who appreciate it. getting approached in car parks is another thing, so many people seem to have had one and wish they still had it instead of their 'modern' euro-box. Also value goes up not down each year which is cool, 1,200€ to 4,000€ in 6 years not bad. We don't do rust here so it should last forever.

My Mercedes A170 Cdi auto must be the worst car ever made, Automatic gearbox 1st clutch gone for the third time in ten years and I don't have the 900€ to fix it, plastic trim just snaps or falls off, hard ride, horrible and can't even sell the dam thing.

[coopman]

Not forgetting Kylie driving around in one in her I Should Be So Lucky video. Not sure if that's a good thing.

I had to Google that.



I think that is coopman driving around Sydney in his E30.

Ha, I think my E30 was still in the factory when that video was released. Cool to see though, especially as I drive a lot of those roads on a regular basis - not much beats a cruise across the harbour bridge on a nice day. The location of my wedding also features in the video.

[Bonymaenjack]

Not forgetting Kylie driving around in one in her I Should Be So Lucky video. Not sure if that's a good thing.

I had to Google that.

So did I , dear god I feel old

[asward]

Recently shows up multiple times in a new Dua Lipa Video too:

Starts with a neat OutRun-esque beat which unfortunately fades throughout. It also gets defaced/bejeweled towards the end.

[DanThe]

Ill be honest I believe my E30 passion started when I was 6 yrs old my dad came home with an immaculate Black and chrome E30 to replace the battered Ford Granada, I've been hooked ever since.

What a hero!!

[Cypriotgeeza]

Ill be honest I believe my E30 passion started when I was 6 yrs old my dad came home with an immaculate Black and chrome E30 to replace the battered Ford Granada, I've been hooked ever since.

What a hero!!

Here it was next to the poor old Granada

[Dlb26]

Looks awesome but then it would being much younger than now. How old was it in the picture? New?

[Cypriotgeeza]

Looks awesome but then it would being much younger than now. How old was it in the picture? New?

Yea compared to the car it replaced it did look brand new!

D reg is an 1985 and he bought it in 1995 so it was already 10 years old at this point!

[Speedtouch]

D-reg would more likely be 1986/1987.

[Cypriotgeeza]

D-reg would more likely be 1986/1987.

Sorry you're right He had a C reg baur which has always stuck in my mind as that was the 1985 model