Wednesday 7th August 2013

E30 3 Series Touring: Time for Tea

BMW engineer finds E30 saloon too small so builds his own estate, rest is history, etc

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BMW's addiction for niche filling appears to know no bounds. How else do you explain a four-door version of a two-door coupe that was itself derived from ... a four-door saloon? The 3 and 5 Series GTsmeanwhile occupy a thin sliver of ground for those who can't quite choose between an estate and an SUV. And want their indecisiveness embodied in a taller, uglier hatchback that's neither one nor t'other.

Crashed saloon to Touring mule in six months!

Back in the 80s of course, things were rather different. BMW offered saloons in small (3 Series), medium (5 Series) and large (7 Series) and the coupe (6 Series) for those who fancied something a little racier. Simples.

But for Max Reisbock, that wasn't enough. A BMW engineer, he simply wanted more space to for family paraphernalia 'as conventional cars were too small'. Without an estate in the line-up, what would he do? Build his own and present it to company bosses, of course.

Starting with a written-off E30 saloon, a $13,000 budget and all the modifications 'in my head', Max set to work. Six months of welding later and the first E30 Touring prototype was ready. Following a positive reception from friends, it went in front of the BMW board and made production almost unchanged three years later.

The Touring story is a heartening one, a series of events that simply couldn't happen today. The irony of it all is that, after being created from a desire for additional space, subsequent 3 series Tourings has often been criticised for a lack of room...

[Leggy]

This is a perfect example of a product being developed to satisfy a need.
Now it seems with BMW & Audi etc they are developing cars then finding a market for them. I'm sure they are more sophisticated than that but doesn't look like it sometimes.
My missus had one of these. Was brilliant in its day.

[Wadeski]

The hole between the lights where the tailgate meets the rear bumper is exactly the right size to slide in a case of German beer. It was even known as the Beer Hatch, I'm led to believe.

[HustleRussell]

Wadeski said:

The hole between the lights where the tailgate meets the rear bumper is exactly the right size to slide in a case of German beer. It was even known as the Beer Hatch, I'm led to believe.

That's the reason I couldn't own one and got an E34 instead! wider, more useful boot aperture.

Call me perverse but where the E30, E34 and E39 are concerned, I think the Touring looks better than the equivalent saloon. I love a wagon!

[Mermaid]

325i Touring - awesome.

The predecessor was also stylish, here the ultimate 2002 Touring Alpina about 150ps I think.

[Bionic Billy Nav]

I definitely think the Touring is better looking than the 4 door saloon, and possibly the most beautiful of all estates (but maybe the RS4?) but then I love them and have an E91 now unfortunately the wife says it's not Big enough and wants a Big Fat Five! her words..

[Bionic Billy Nav]

I definitely think the Touring is better looking than the 4 door saloon, and possibly the most beautiful of all estates (but maybe the RS4?) but then I love them and have an E91 now unfortunately the wife says it's not Big enough and wants a Big Fat Five! her words..

[Blackpuddin]

Great little story. We're looking hard at E30s for our next family classic. Lovely clean design, especially in Touring guise.

[Steamer]

Another vote for the 'E30 Touring looks better than saloon!'

Great lookers.

[lindrup119]

Wadeski said:

The hole between the lights where the tailgate meets the rear bumper is exactly the right size to slide in a case of German beer. It was even known as the Beer Hatch, I'm led to believe.

You must have watched the video too!

Great story, just a shame they have fallen so far what with all the niche-wars.

[Agent Orange]

Can't see the video as at work. However...

I've had many cars since that are superior, faster, more expensive or "prestigious" but the E30 325i Touring remains one of the best cars I have ever owned.

And those saying the E30,E39 Tourings are better than the saloons. You're not alone.

[getawayturtle]

Absolutely love E30 tourings. Want to snap one up, but promised myself I'd fix the 328 up first.... argh!!

[sinbaddio]

I loved my E30 325i Touring, owned it first in 1990, then sold it to my mum who lovingly left it to me in 2006. The now ex Mrs Sinbaddio then trashed it in a flood, seized the engine and it went off to someone to restore it. I hope it's still going strong F520 MDP. Loved it.

[e21Mark]

Cracking cars. I love the 2000 touring too. I think the tii version was the first proper hot hatch and easily predates the VW Golf GTi.

[nick_mcuk]

What a great true story....

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Still on my list of "to own" cars, they just look perfect.

Sadly with the e30's penchant for tin worm the good ones are few & far between these days.

[Ali_T]

Bionic Billy Nav said:

and possibly the most beautiful of all estates (but maybe the RS4?)

Really? They are classics, but a 156 or 159 SW define estate car elegance for me.

[rtz62]

I've owned the E30 in 2, 4 and 5 door guise.
I've got a pretty much mint standard 320i SE 4dr with 65k which ill be selling soon.
For?
A touring.

[Chris Eyre]

This story was out back in May this year....

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/meet-the-invent...

[NGK210]

Ahh, the good old days, when a BMW's styling was simple and elegant, with harmony and balance, not like today's gargoyles

A useful by-product of Herr Reisbock's conversion was that the Touring actually had better handling than the tail happy, traction-free saloon, due to improved weight distribution, which was 50:50

[SilverStar]

Interesting stuff, certainly beats the tosh on TV this evening!

And another vote for E30/34/39 Tourings looking better than the saloon versions.