how would you have designed the original E30???

[Gwynleym10]

have the bonnet hinging at the windscreen for better access

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be worse access, the bonnet protects you from wind and rain when your working on the car!

Have you ever have a bonnet open on the motorway at 100mph?????

I have and all I can say i'm glad it was and e30 as I wouldn't have been able to see anything or the bonnet would have flew off...... and hit another car. it just popped up a little bit and acted lick a big spoiler.....

E30 bonnets open the right way, every thing else open's the wrong way.

[Fushion_Julz]

yep, know what he meant,

still adds considerable weight to the car and my 325 DOES have fully retractable rear electric windows!

Is your 325 two door??

My sig says it all ;)

[Moofles]

have the bonnet hinging at the windscreen for better access

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be worse access, the bonnet protects you from wind and rain when your working on the car!

Have you ever have a bonnet open on the motorway at 100mph?????

I have and all I can say i'm glad it was and e30 as I wouldn't have been able to see anything or the bonnet would have flew off...... and hit another car. it just popped up a little bit and acted lick a big spoiler.....

E30 bonnets open the right way, every thing else open's the wrong way.

in that case, what every e30 should have come with is a big structure like:



bit like bigger engine crane. It actually allows you to access the engine bay properly, lol

or perhaps a car that did this:



haha!

[Andy325i]

As mentioned already:

Galvanised bodys (were some panels galvanised?)
5 stud
Better brakes as standard

and....................

When they discontinued the 325i (m20) in 1992 they should have fitted
the M50 in the final couple of years. Before any one says it, I don't care if
it would have taken sales from the E36 Thats not really a bad thing

Andy

[stevetigger]

yep, know what he meant,

still adds considerable weight to the car and my 325 DOES have fully retractable rear electric windows!

Is your 325 two door??

My sig says it all ;)

Well he was on about a two door with rear electric windows, I think it's a great idea!! My cab has rear electric windows!!

[Fushion_Julz]

but your cab has no door pillars

and how much extra does a cab weigh?

The E30 was intended to be a small, sporty aspiring saloon...sold at a (fairly) moderate and competitive price to enable a "first rung" on the BMW ladder.
If you wanted extra "luxury" items, then there was the E28 (later E34) 5 series, the E24 6 series and the E23/32 7 series. Or you could have bought an E30 4dr in SE spec with full electric pack and aircon....

Compared to other early 1980 cars aimed at a similar market, the E30 was well equipped...More importantly, perhaps...and certainly to most who bought it...against similarly sized cars (say Ford Escort/Sierra, Alfa Alfetta, etc) the E30 offered better performance and economy. (I know I used to run an Alfetta)...
Adding extra weight items would have stunted the performance (as it did on the cabriolets)...

Personally, I think BMW got the mix, more or less, right given the era that the car came from.

It was an all-round improvement on the E21 with more power, more options, more equipment and better handling AND performance....

[stevetigger]

but your cab has no door pillars

and how much extra does a cab weigh?

The E30 was intended to be a small, sporty aspiring saloon...sold at a (fairly) moderate and competitive price to enable a "first rung" on the BMW ladder.
If you wanted extra "luxury" items, then there was the E28 (later E34) 5 series, the E24 6 series and the E23/32 7 series. Or you could have bought an E30 4dr in SE spec with full electric pack and aircon....

Compared to other early 1980 cars aimed at a similar market, the E30 was well equipped...More importantly, perhaps...and certainly to most who bought it...against similarly sized cars (say Ford Escort/Sierra, Alfa Alfetta, etc) the E30 offered better performance and economy. (I know I used to run an Alfetta)...
Adding extra weight items would have stunted the performance (as it did on the cabriolets)...

Personally, I think BMW got the mix, more or less, right given the era that the car came from.

It was an all-round improvement on the E21 with more power, more options, more equipment and better handling AND performance....

I agree with all that you say, It just would of been nice to have electric rear windows!! Cab's don't weigh much more than a hard top! Plus slip a 3.5 into it and BANG fast as f**k!!

[Dan318-is]

electriv window motors wrigh a tonne, an you would need two!

plus do any of us lot sit in the back when driving an e30?

a lot of options that are on modern day cars such as cruise control and air con are available for an e30, theyr just a rare find

besides a quicker rack, and galvanized body, the only other mod would have been one touch electric windows(which can be fitted anyway), and discs all round. i dont care what anyone says, drums r shit, shit 2 work on look shit and work shit when trying to deal with heat

perhaps a bit more aerodynamics could have been involved with its design?

[jonbuoy]

Has anyone thought about how much we all go on about the E30 being a great car and here you all are changing everything!!!

Just remember this was alot of car in it's day and had alot more extras than most so stop changing and think how lucky you would have been to own one in the 80's.

[Martinaston]

I did

And boy did it sting

It was and still is hard to find a car to replace it

[MONSPORT42]

Interesting thread. I've had an E21 320, an E30 323i and an E30 325 Sport and no other car since 1982. I love 'em. I've done quite a few engine, suspension and brake mods to the Sport but that's just because I wanted it to do more than it was made to do. I'd probably have been better off spending my money on an M3 but they are not as everyday user friendly.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the offset driving position we have to endure in right hand drive cars. I'm sure my spine's permantly E30'd after so many years! I think with the UK being such a big market for the E30, BMW might have brought the rhd need more into the basic design. Drive a lhd model and you really notice the difference - the steering wheel is straight on to the driver's seat and there's more room around the pedal box. Never driven an E36/E46 so I don't know if they made them better.

[jonbuoy]

The E46 is worse mate, you can't get a big pair of boot's in there cos you just press the brake pedal and the throttle at the same time

[JoeP]

I'd forgotten about the offset driving position.
I don't think I'd change anything, except maybe the tailgate as you can't fit anything in the back! There is always going to be somethin to moan about. For a design that's over 20 yrs old the fact that there are som many still about is testament to how well made they were in the first place. I love my car!

[hoshy]

...
could go on forever!!!

You did....

My list is short:

Adjustable steering wheel and/or pedal box
Heated rear window switch illumination
Interior light delay
Ignition barrel light

And then you wasted everybody's time shooting down pretty everything that HE wanted in an thread that ask what you (not just YOU) would have done differently.

fwiw..

quicker steering
maybe brake servo relocation
inside door handles.. (everybody who gets in my car comments about that!)
rear arb std on *all* models (unless there's a technical reason not to ?)
better standard steering wheel.

[Martinaston]

If it was to be re-designed i'd have it carved out of a solid aluminium ingot

It would have to be a couple of inches wider and longer for a bit of leg room. Have an ali block and lighter rear suspension arms with upside down shocks to reduce the sprung mass even more and wider wheels to get the ponies to stick.

Traction control for lazy driving (with an OFF switch)

AND A CUP HOLDER

[stevetigger]

Interesting thread. I've had an E21 320, an E30 323i and an E30 325 Sport and no other car since 1982. I love 'em. I've done quite a few engine, suspension and brake mods to the Sport but that's just because I wanted it to do more than it was made to do. I'd probably have been better off spending my money on an M3 but they are not as everyday user friendly.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the offset driving position we have to endure in right hand drive cars. I'm sure my spine's permantly E30'd after so many years! I think with the UK being such a big market for the E30, BMW might have brought the rhd need more into the basic design. Drive a lhd model and you really notice the difference - the steering wheel is straight on to the driver's seat and there's more room around the pedal box. Never driven an E36/E46 so I don't know if they made them better.

I drove my friends e36 m3, and it felt like I was about an inch from the side window!!

[Martinaston]

I think the interior door handle is a safety thing so you grab the door to stop the wind whipping it open and pop the latch with the other hand, that or so you don't open the door by mistake when trying to open the window

[Dan318-is]

hoshy what du mean about the door handles?

im confuzed

[hoshy]

hoshy what du mean about the door handles?

im confuzed

lol. it happens to me all the time dude

I (and a few others it seems) don't like how far back the door handles are, personally I've gotten used to it but it pisses passengers off a treat

It may well be a safety thing but who do BMW think they are? the British nanny-state government... I doubt it else they'd be doing fwd!!!

[JoeP]

If it was to be re-designed i'd have it carved out of a solid aluminium ingot
It would have to be a couple of inches wider and longer for a bit of leg room. Have an ali block and lighter rear suspension arms with upside down shocks to reduce the sprung mass even more and wider wheels to get the ponies to stick.
Traction control for lazy driving (with an OFF switch)
AND A CUP HOLDER

Did anything have all that 20-25 yrs ago?
I like the fact it's narrow, easier to thread down country lanes and through town. Which is why i got the E30 touring and not an E34. I have plenty of leg room, 6'-4".

[Martinaston]

Joe at 6'4 you must sit in the back

I have the seat as far back as it will go but as high as it will go to get a comfortable grip on the wheel. But when its like that you can steer with your knees

[JoeP]

Joe at 6'4 you must sit in the back

I have the seat as far back as it will go but as high as it will go to get a comfortable grip on the wheel. But when its like that you can steer with your knees

Yeah, means you can read the map, roll a fag etc and still steer!
I have mine all the way back , all the way down with a very upright back.

[mrLEE30]

thanks hoshy,

was going to waste my time by telling julz to go forth and multiply, but you beat me to it!

and yes i did mean electric opening (or actually folding) rear windows in a coupe like the E46, doubt it would weigh much anyway, and even if it did i was really just wondering what sort of ideal car people wanted if they were designing it as a concept car, clearly some poeple have nothing better to do that shoot others down, sad really. If weight is julz only issue i wonder if he has ICE or a spare tyre, or eats lots of pies??

mrlee

[johnl320]

thanks hoshy,

was going to waste my time by telling julz to go forth and multiply, but you beat me to it!

and yes i did mean electric opening (or actually folding) rear windows in a coupe like the E46, doubt it would weigh much anyway, and even if it did i was really just wondering what sort of ideal car people wanted if they were designing it as a concept car, clearly some poeple have nothing better to do that shoot others down, sad really. If weight is julz only issue i wonder if he has ICE or a spare tyre, or eats lots of pies??

mrlee

Well said MrLee. an excellent thread, I've owned an E21 315 yes 315,a E21 316 with only single headlights as standard and a e30 320i pre facelift all in left hand drive and thats the only issue i have is the rhd conversion is piss poor .Oh and the headlight warning which catches me out at least once a month!!

regards
john

[Rich_W]

This is all M3 stuff

* Illuminated Rear screen demister (with a built in cut off after 10 mins)
* A CSL version of the M3
* Better F brakes. 4Pots would have been nice
* Bonnet opening the regular way (though its not a huge issus as it is)
* Not bothered with the extra reserve tank! I hate trying to fill the car up!
* The ignition switch being lower, so I dont constantly have the alarm remote/other keys going whack-whack-whack on the cowling.

Thats all for now

[JoeP]

* The ignition switch being lower, so I dont constantly have the alarm remote/other keys going whack-whack-whack on the cowling.

Have a seperate key?

[Fushion_Julz]

thanks hoshy,

was going to waste my time by telling julz to go forth and multiply, but you beat me to it!

and yes i did mean electric opening (or actually folding) rear windows in a coupe like the E46, doubt it would weigh much anyway, and even if it did i was really just wondering what sort of ideal car people wanted if they were designing it as a concept car, clearly some poeple have nothing better to do that shoot others down, sad really. If weight is julz only issue i wonder if he has ICE or a spare tyre, or eats lots of pies??

mrlee

Ooh..we are touchy, aren't we?

I wasn't trying to shoot anyone down...However, I thought this was a site for enthusiasts of E30s, in particular (and BMWs in general...)
The design of the E30 was pretty advanced for it's time and it was a well thought out package with features designed to appeal to the target market at the time...
I actually think they got it mostly right..Hence the reason I like the cars and have 2!
I do have some ICE...but it doesn't weigh a lot more than the standar install (one amp and a sub in each car...both items easily removeable for trackdays, fro example, or for reclaiming the boot space.)
And, excuse me, I don't eat too many pies!

Having built my own racing cars, I know that power is expensive and weight saving is cheap (free, in most cases)...Power to weight is what makes a car fast in acceleration (as well as gearing)...Ultimate power only really affects the top end...How fast do you really want to go?
I know that some things cost weight, but add practicality (a spare wheel, for instance), but if you loaded a small saloon, like an E30, with all the available options of a 7-series, then it would weigh a stupid amount...Meaning poorer performance and fuel consumption.

Again, I think BMW got it mostly right (see my small list of requirements)....most of which wouldn't have cost much either in money or in complexity....

Sorry for having spoke, though...Now I know that unless I want all the latest trick options on my 1980s car, I should keep my mouth shut!

[johnl320]

I think its just the way you worded it. Lets all calm down before the mods come wading in . You both have valid points and are obviously very exprienced. I've enjoyed this thread and judging by the response so have a lot of people.
I have eaten all the pies

john

[Moofles]

julz i think he's annoyed because this asks what you would change on the design of the e30 lol...if you don't want to change anything, you don't have any input to the thread!

[Brianmoooore]

Lets all calm down before the mods come wading in .
john

Exactly

[astondg]

I definately don't want the bonnet to open the "normal" way because then I would have to put pins or whatever through it when I go racing but by having it the way it is the rules allow me to leave it standard because it won't open if it isn't shut properly and end up on the windscreen or something. It is a racing thing so it is good the way they have it. Might be nice to have it easily removable though.

Aston

[hoshy]

I definitely wouldn't change the bonnet opening for all the reason others have said but I say that working in windy condition, you've gotta be careful. It's not nice having that lump of metal come crashing down on you.

And on that one I do speak from experience

[Brianmoooore]

I definitely wouldn't change the bonnet opening for all the reason others have said but I say that working in windy condition, you've gotta be careful. It's not nice having that lump of metal come crashing down on you.

And on that one I do speak from experience

Cable tie in the right place deals with that one. It's the saloon boot lid that I have trouble with in windy weather

[johnl320]

You probably know this Brian but you can change the 'hold open" strength of the spring by moving it around to the other hook provided ,I've done it to both of mine and it makes quite a bit of difference.

regards
john

[Brianmoooore]

You probably know this Brian but you can change the 'hold open" strength of the spring by moving it around to the other hook provided ,I've done it to both of mine and it makes quite a bit of difference.

regards
john

Got it as tight as it goes on my runaround. Normally OK, but had me last week when it was really blowing a gale.