E30 M3 - keep it standard or gently modify?

[drakart]

I’ve recently inherited an M3 and it’s currently “stock” and has had a recent back to shell rebuild - engine, shocks, chassis repairs etc and whilst I love it, I can’t help but want to make it look a bit more exciting.
Maybe just some 17” gold group a rally wheels and get a renewed “bmw radio” to replace the god awful Parrot thing that someone fitted.
I’m going to sort out the few dents on the body and get some bad touch ups sorted.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it, but the more I use it, the more I think I’ll keep it.

[Super Sonic]

If you swap the wheels, keep the originals in case you do decide to sell.
Changing the rubbish aftermarket stereo for a BMW branded one is a good call. Especially if it's in period.

[heisthegaffer]

Lovely motor.

Pioneer do a nice retro head unit with adjustable colour display to fit in well. Even has the 80s logo.

[Jamescrs]

Personally I’d be keeping it as OEM as possible, it’s a beauty. I’d be looking for an original BMW head unit if someone has changed it.

[E30M3SE]

It's your car so do as you please. I think it would look fantastic on a set of 16" BBS RS split rims with gold centres or any other period tyre wheel.

As for headunits the Blaupunkt Bremen SQR46 is a period looking headunit with all the modern features.

https://blaupunkt.com/product/bremen-sqr-46-dab/

[VeeTenM]

17" BBS RS
Pioneer SXT-C10PS or Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46

[Countdown]

That is a gorgeous car OP - one of my dream cars (I think that and the Sierra Cosworth "whaleTail" were my first fantasies "

Normally I'd vote "standard" but gold wheels would look amazing.

I'd love to see more pics, especially of the interior.

[lobes]

Nice looking car in red , i am looking for similar if considering selling

[MrMoonyMan]

Lovely car.

That Blaupunkt stereo is (sadly) rubbish.

I would avoid it.

[Yil]

I am restoring a Europameister 88 owned for 25years, I'm going fully standard on everything.

[SlimJim16v]

Sympathetically modify it. These are begging for larger wheels and tyres and look much better with them.

[Maxus]

VeeTenM said:

17" BBS RS
Pioneer SXT-C10PS or Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46

/Thread

Lovely car BTW. So cool.

[E30M3SE]

MrMoonyMan said:

That Blaupunkt stereo is (sadly) rubbish.

I would avoid it.

In what way, care to expand a bit?

[Flyingakite]

Bigger spoiler
Louder exhaust.

[MrMoonyMan]

E30M3SE said:

In what way, care to expand a bit?

For sure. I will say I was very excited by it and love the look and idea.

I bought one and have found it to be very poor to use, but specially if more than one person uses the car, having to often delete Bluetooth and re connect.

The sound quality too is poor, with no real warmth to the sound produced.

Additionally the connections at the back are not good quality.

It’s a real shame because Blaupunkt used to stand for quality and I really wanted it to be great.

When I get round to it I’ll try the Pioneer and very much hope it’ll be better.

[fttm]

Yil said:

I am restoring a Europameister 88 owned for 25years, I'm going fully standard on everything.

The perfect M3 IMHO . Macua and grey leather ? Needs a thread all of it's own

[benny.c]

I’ve got the Frankfurt RCM 82 in mine and it’s fine for what it is. I like the look as it sort of matches the OBC and functionality is good - BT connects with no issues and doesn’t drop . The car isn’t a daily driver so I’m not overly fussed about sound quality but it’s fine.

For appearance mods it’s obviously personal choice. Stand out from the crowd by keeping it original or stick some BBSs on it like everyone else Mine is original apart from smoked Hellas and gloss sills.

[Hoofty]

MrMoonyMan said:

E30M3SE said:

In what way, care to expand a bit?

For sure. I will say I was very excited by it and love the look and idea.

I bought one and have found it to be very poor to use, but specially if more than one person uses the car, having to often delete Bluetooth and re connect.

The sound quality too is poor, with no real warmth to the sound produced.

I found much the same. Great idea, but the execution is lacking. It's very clunky to use, particularly the bluetooth (even with a single user) - if the connection drops, the only way to reconnect is to keyoff/on again, and then selecting BT as a source requires about five or six button presses as it's at the arse end of a scrolling list. Menu navigation is very unintuitive. I have to keep the manual in the door pocket to remember how to do anything.

I went as far as to add a mini amplifier to make up for the weedy onboard amp. Didn't really help. I guess it's a noisy/drony car even with everything stock, so kinda hard to get music to break through the din without resorting to considerable volume (or a complete audio strategy rethink).

Looks mint, mind.

OP - the stock 16" wheels are a great upgrade IMO but I expect in limited supply (and tyre choice is poor these days).

There's a chap in Estonia who modifies original head units with modern features - that's the route I might pursue in your position. Some of the more recent graphics options are a bit cringeworthy but I'm sure he can leave them out. Far from cheap, but a good OEM+ option.

www.bmw-radios.com

[Tommie38]

Lovely car. I’d keep as standard as possible.

Also… hate to be the one to say it, but check how much mileage will devalue the car, both now and in the future if values go up.

Some times the £ per mile driven can be quite sobering.

[Its Just Adz]

It's just a car.
Modify it if you want to. Enjoy it.
Keep the standard bits then if needed, you can reverse bits.