RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 3 Series Touring (E30)
Discussion
Had a 325i touring around 1990 and absolutely loved it. Sold it to my mum after about 12 months and she kept it until the day she died in 2005. at this point it came back into my possession, and felt better then than it had done all those many years previously, so much lighter and responsive than current machinery. Although space wise the interior was pretty laughable. Sadly the ex Mrs S took through a large puddle and seized the engine.
J4CKO said:
Get it, tidy it up and then think about what decent engine to put in, V8, 200 odd barking twin cam ? there are loads of options, plenty of space, doesnt even have to be BMW, an E30 M3 is 30 grand plus, create something that does a passable impression for five, and you can get stuff in the back.
For me a 3.5L M30 in there (ala Alpina B6) would be lovely. A bit heavy maybe, but period and with a nice slug of powerDoesn't do it for me, sorry.
E30's HAVE to be I6's.
This is the 1993 equivalent of wanting a 335i but buying a 320 diesel with big wheels an an M Sport package.
Ah'm oot.
And I did drive a brand new 318i back in the day. Was expecting "the utimate driving machine" but felt more like I was driving a posh Cortina. It was boggo spec - plastic wheeltrims, cloth, skinny tyres, bouncy suspension (well under-damped). Underwhelming.
Jumped back in my Alfa and breathed a sigh of relief.
E30's HAVE to be I6's.
This is the 1993 equivalent of wanting a 335i but buying a 320 diesel with big wheels an an M Sport package.
Ah'm oot.
And I did drive a brand new 318i back in the day. Was expecting "the utimate driving machine" but felt more like I was driving a posh Cortina. It was boggo spec - plastic wheeltrims, cloth, skinny tyres, bouncy suspension (well under-damped). Underwhelming.
Jumped back in my Alfa and breathed a sigh of relief.
Edited by AC43 on Friday 5th February 11:08
By coincidence I just rolled into office in our 320i 2door E30 today. Normally I would not make use of it on a cloudy February Friday, but as my corporate Audi Avant has been nicked in January our "classic" had to resume profane duties. And it excells. Puts a smile on my face every time I wring out the sweet little 6pot on the winding backroads around here.
Well, that shed. It is a 316. Would make a great car for someone who is not after performance but style and an oldfashioned down to earth motoring experience. Those cars felt a little behind the times in 1993, but as a young classic that would not be a negative.
They never really went out of fashion but are sought after by the youths again. Those are built like a big meccano set. Parts readily evailable over the counter. If you want to turn a 21 year old away from his playstation and into mechanics there could be few better starting point. One would be a 325i, but oh well...
Hope this one goes to a caring owner who has the dedication to make it sweet running 316 and not a wannabe racecar.
Martin.
Well, that shed. It is a 316. Would make a great car for someone who is not after performance but style and an oldfashioned down to earth motoring experience. Those cars felt a little behind the times in 1993, but as a young classic that would not be a negative.
They never really went out of fashion but are sought after by the youths again. Those are built like a big meccano set. Parts readily evailable over the counter. If you want to turn a 21 year old away from his playstation and into mechanics there could be few better starting point. One would be a 325i, but oh well...
Hope this one goes to a caring owner who has the dedication to make it sweet running 316 and not a wannabe racecar.
Martin.
These cars have a cambelt, not chain.
I've had 2 Tourings over the years, both 1600, and there are lots of things I liked, but I noticed a strange 'booming' in both cars that felt like my ears needed to pop.
Sideways action? I don't think so. Unless on wet grass that is.
Nice cars though, look good and a bit different.
Just don't let that cambelt go over time/age schedule before it is replaced, or you'll have a car that looks nice as a greenhouse.
I've had 2 Tourings over the years, both 1600, and there are lots of things I liked, but I noticed a strange 'booming' in both cars that felt like my ears needed to pop.
Sideways action? I don't think so. Unless on wet grass that is.
Nice cars though, look good and a bit different.
Just don't let that cambelt go over time/age schedule before it is replaced, or you'll have a car that looks nice as a greenhouse.
The tailgate rear opening is designed to be slightly greater than the width of a crate of German beer.
Interesting all round, the E30 Touring. It was originally knocked up by a BMW engineer in his garage, management saw it in the works car park, liked it, a couple of years later it was on sale!
Interesting all round, the E30 Touring. It was originally knocked up by a BMW engineer in his garage, management saw it in the works car park, liked it, a couple of years later it was on sale!
MDMA . said:
no, different to that. will dig it out when I get home. what is the issue date on the back of yours ?
Think this one was printed in 1990, same year as both my old E30s rolled out of MunichHad an original UK option list too, but gave that away with the car I think. Sorry for pic quality, might not be too readable
Edited by Leins on Friday 5th February 12:07
court said:
I love these. The crazy rear hatch opening was hilarious though!
Lol, I had 3 of these cars ages ago and I totally forgot about their useless rear entrance 
The E34 was a million times better in this respect!
And if you happen across an E30 or E34 Tourer with a missing load cover, there's a good reason for that. They cost a bloody fortune to replace!!
Had a 318i touring and loved it - quick enough for daily duties, supremely comfortable and slid around wonderfully. Unfortunately it was fairly poor on fuel for the performance(certainly compared to the mk2 golf GTIs I was more familiar with) but a horrendous set of renewal quotes are what did it in for me eventually.
E30s are definetrly interesting particularly the 325i models of all variants. 325i Tourings are cool as are 325i Sports.
Great for learning about RWD, how to control oversteer.
I have driven mine with open diff and LSD.
Here is a few snaps of my 325i Sport. Does seem to get quite a few comments and attention.
Great for learning about RWD, how to control oversteer.
I have driven mine with open diff and LSD.
Here is a few snaps of my 325i Sport. Does seem to get quite a few comments and attention.
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