What is the best thing about owning your e30?

[tomtomiS]

the fact that for an old car it still feels fresh. and my 2.5 auto touring held its own against an e36 323i convertible complete with lexus lights and aftermarket wheels on the a31 hogs back last nite til we caught up with a police van. i had great pleasure in the fact the police laughed at his car when we passed them

[touringandy]

Price....mine costing to date 1600 quid

seriously though...

the way they look,

the way they drive,

the way they change a work commute into a journey you look forward to....

a never ending scope for mods,

cheap mods,

DIY,

time pass,

the investment (most are worth more than e36's already)

and so many more things....not forgetting....The Zone!!!

words taking from my mouth says it all

[magnumlove]

For me it's when driving up and down the motorway and you pass new cars broken down on the side off the road. The reliability just seems great and after every long journey it just gives me more and more confidence in it as it's never broken down.

[tonybtonyb]

I just love em!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Versatility.

Based on one in decent fettle,you could do the following..........

Monday: Attend a business meeting,and not be afraid to park next new Mercs,Jags etc.

Tuesday: Do the school run,without the kids asking to drop them 3 miles from the school.

Wednesday: (If you have a Touring) Pickup your new washing machine,after taking the old one to the tip along with half the crap accumalated in the garden shed.

Thursday: Give it a service & fit some new front brake pads all in under hour and costing less than £40.

Friday: Do a 300 mile round trip in your "old BMW" and pass much "newer and therefore better" cars broken down on the hard shoulder awaiting recovery because the relay that runs the FTR on SJU that makes the LTR on the DWR run has fried and a new one isn't available,accept from a main dealer costing £654 ex Vat ex fitting......has broken.

Saturday: Attend a trackday,and thrash the daylights out of it,without looking like a prat in a Corsa. Then drive home.

Sunday: Take a bride to a wedding,without her looking poor and couldn't afford a decent wedding car.


Long live the E30,old skool cool all the way,without looking like a cheap skate w4nker.

Jesus with the 13th Gospel there.

[BD76]

ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE
simple as that

[stormhunt3r]

the design, the front end, still learning to love the rear, the evergreen/ always nice looking design (for me)

nvr fail to amuse me..haha..it puts a smile on me everytime i walk towards it..

can someone record the sound of the 6 cylinder and pm it to me..i have a 323i, but it sound very mechanical and the sound of the transmission tends to cover the sound of the engine..my bro says that it sound old..

[hubble]

The SEX cylinder sound
The style
Quality of build
The old school look

Second that

[G524]

The seats. The grey velour hugging seats. The mint grey velour hugging seats. I also like the seats.

[hubble]

The seats. The grey velour hugging seats. The mint grey velour hugging seats. I also like the seats.

I take it you like the seats....

[G524]

The seats. The grey velour hugging seats. The mint grey velour hugging seats. I also like the seats.

I take it you like the seats....

I think you may have the same ones....and your not gonna second that?!?!? You have five minutes before your interior will tun into that of a Peugeot 106 Zest 2...

[hubble]

OF COURSE I'LL SECOND THAT. Ahhh those sports seats...

[Stiggler]

Being able to sleep in the back of a touring with the wife when the tent leaks

Being able to park next to a Porsche and not feel ashamed/embarrassed/sick

Being able to mock owners of vehicles by inferior makes

[tannerman8807]

That when i see my wage packet i know all of it will be spent on my e30! ..............oppps wrong thread

[josh-hocking]

ermmm the prices! there very cheap!

[march109]

The best thing about owning my E30 is all the fit women I meet on the bus.

I'd still rather be driving it though.

[bigmattpowell]

Before owning an e30, mechanics was like witchcraft to me, now it's like big mechano!

[Gene_Genie]

I love taking mine into the dealer car park and parking right in the middle of the 'Approved Used' cars, all modern models.

When i go inside, to the parts dept., invariably a salesperson will ask me if i'm interested in a new car and i just love getting them to TRY to explain why i should. On every count, i can reply with "But my E30 does that and for a fraction of the cost with 100 times more style". They hate it because they know i'm right and just when they think they may have me, i tell them my Wife drives an E46 and says it's ok but nothing like as good as my E30. After that i ask them to accompany me to the parts desk and tell me how much my parts list would cost if it were an '07 320i - they have never once done me the courtesy and always scurry away to thier little hole at the back of the showroom muttering stuff about me.

There is always another E30 in the staff car park though, belonging to the mechanic !

[blyoss]

I've owned a 1989 325i for coming up to a week now, and i just love it. after 6 months of searching, i know have a dream car. i just wonder how many of todays cars rolling out of the factory will be around in 18 + years, and have a community dedicated to them? not many is the reality. its that community spirit and respect for the e30 that makes it more special, but it wouldnt exist with out an awesome car in the first place.

Also my father has just placed an order for a brand new 325i so its going to be interesting to see the difference 18years has made. Wont be surprise if i prefer mine!!

[Gwynleym10]

People get out of your way on the motorway!

Still looks mean in the rear mirror..

[HairyScreech]

how nice the old bmws are to work on. iv just taken my exhaust off, the air box, radiator, wiring, the bonnet and its only taken me about 2 hours and that includes stopping to watch tv and eat icecream.

and posibly the timeless design, there prety rare around here so it still gets lots of looks and coments.

[e30bmlover]

The SEX cylinder sound
The style
Quality of build
The old school look

Second that

third it...
sound
The style
Quality of build
The old school look
quality tuning companys like schnitzer(beyond the standard) and alpina
easy to work on(so my mechanic tells me)
the ability to chuck money at it and not care

[stormhunt3r]

OF COURSE I'LL SECOND THAT. Ahhh those sports seats...

Is there a arm rest for E30? which car is it from and how much does it cost?

been looking for one..

[touringandy]

dealer still do the arm rest i was told will find part number an put it up ...
rare as rockin horse poo though to find 2nd hand price is about 140 i think
prt number is 82119416202 thats wat i was givin any way hope its right

[Gene_Genie]

I have seen one a few years ago - it uses a big metal bracket that goes onto the centre tunnel console, down the side of the seat. I'm just not sure though if the one i saw was a Genuine BMW one or an aftermarket.

I have definitely seen one though, i too will dig about and try to find it on net.

[Gene_Genie]

Ok, found it and i was right.

It SAYS it's original BMW and it looks ok i suppose,

click the link and it's almost at the bottom of the page, however it's a mail order job - when you click the contact page, they are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Stormchaser lives there and he might be able to verify these people).

Anyway, no prices but there you go, that's the one i remember seeing.

Hope this helps.

http://www.eurocarmotorsport.com/frame.htm

If the link doesn't work, copy and paste the main web address and it's under BMW Products, interior styling.

[stormhunt3r]

gene, i'll contact them tmr to enquire bout the parts i need..

cheers

stormchaser? is he another zoner? wonder if i could meet up with him someday..

[BD76]

im staring out the window at work looking at my zimma
how sexy r these cars

[bmwe30mtech]

I love taking mine into the dealer car park and parking right in the middle of the 'Approved Used' cars, all modern models.

When i go inside, to the parts dept., invariably a salesperson will ask me if i'm interested in a new car and i just love getting them to TRY to explain why i should. On every count, i can reply with "But my E30 does that and for a fraction of the cost with 100 times more style". They hate it because they know i'm right and just when they think they may have me, i tell them my Wife drives an E46 and says it's ok but nothing like as good as my E30. After that i ask them to accompany me to the parts desk and tell me how much my parts list would cost if it were an '07 320i - they have never once done me the courtesy and always scurry away to thier little hole at the back of the showroom muttering stuff about me.

There is always another E30 in the staff car park though, belonging to the mechanic !

When i go to the dealers i always get a small crowd of people gathering arround it, looking in the windows, crouching on the floor and looking at it from all angles. They all work for BMW, and all comment on how great the old e30's/sports are, even the receptionist comes out to look. All the people at the dealers are really nice to me, and they love asking questions about the E30's! Thats respect!

Always makes me grin when i walk towards it in the car park also.

Oh, and they are a mean mean car

[Gene_Genie]

gene, i'll contact them tmr to enquire bout the parts i need..

cheers

stormchaser? is he another zoner? wonder if i could meet up with him someday..

LOL - i meant you, i just wasn't looking at the screen properly - sorry i meant Stormhunter.

No confusion meant, especially not with the Alter ego purge on at the moment !

[alane]

i drive a 07 mondeo for work and its so boring, the e30 make me smile every time i drive it

[DavieP]

.... easy to work on(so my mechanic tells me)
the ability to chuck money at it and not care

Thankfully my garage owning mate loves these and only hates changing the cam belt. I loved the car with a passion before, but now the dizzy cap and rotor arm (seriously worn and corroded) have been changed, she's running smoother, quieter and better than ever. Love the sound of of those 6 pots and the soft burble of the exhaust rising to a subtle howl as you pass 4K revs. It's a proper car with proper handling. Mine's a power-deficient 2L auto, but can still surge out of sharp bends with a great sense of purpose and and near perfect poise. She pootles along serenely and in a dignified fashion in ordinary traffic, yet kicks down to something far more meaningful at the wiggle of my toes. I wouldn't want anything else.

[DRIFTBOY]

I was on my way home from work this evening, stopped at in a trafic jam.
A battered Vauxhall Corsa with three lively looking young guys in was stopped almost next to me.
As they drove off one of them leaned out and shouted at me... "Old school cooool..... recogniiiise!"

Made me smile!

[mark_i]

Style, for me, the e30 shape and design is a timeless classic.
oh! and the M42 engine.

[gaszman]

i have read all the comments on this thred and as i only have a 320i i agree its knowing that at any time i can just get in and the smile just creaps up on my face . even when the other car on the drice is a skoda octavia vrstt i still will take my girl every time