1989 BMW E30 3.25i Sport
Discussion
So after having this 
I swapped it for this type r replica! I really liked the type r rep but it was pretty slow and I fancied something different.
Swapped it for this 1989 BMW e30! Now only being 19 I didn't think I would have much luck with insurance but it turns out my insurance company were great! £80 a month for the 2.5L rwd goodness!
I have only been driving it for a day so of course I have even taking it easy, any tips much obliged
It has a few modifications like exhaust system and wheels etc but I'm not really planning on doing much else!.
Thanks for looking!
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/GmleA6hC.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/mCNJ5orG" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/mCNJ5orG.jpg)
I swapped it for this type r replica! I really liked the type r rep but it was pretty slow and I fancied something different.
Swapped it for this 1989 BMW e30! Now only being 19 I didn't think I would have much luck with insurance but it turns out my insurance company were great! £80 a month for the 2.5L rwd goodness!
I have only been driving it for a day so of course I have even taking it easy, any tips much obliged
It has a few modifications like exhaust system and wheels etc but I'm not really planning on doing much else!.
Thanks for looking!
Decent condition one, welcome to E30 ownership 
A few suggestions though, firstly check under the kit for any rust and get it sorted asap. These are getting hard to find in good condition and values are going up as a result.
If the steering and gearchange are feeling tired you can tighten them up easily by doing the following changes.
Gearchange can be improved by changing the actual shifter out for a 1.9 Z3 item, coupled with new bushes, costs about £50 from a dealer and is in essence a factory spec short shift
The steering rack can be swapped for an E36 standard item (3.2 turns lock to lock) or a E46 item (3.0 turns lock to lock, Purple tag, last three digits are '067') using a kit by a user from the E30Zone, look for 'DanThe' there.
Coupled with that, also swap the rear 'lollipop' bushes for M3 solid rubber eccentric items. These dial in more castor and improve steering feel significantly.
Those 3 changes transform the feel of the car for every day use.
Any other information feel free to pop a PM, I've had my 325i for about 3 years along with a number of other E30s
A few suggestions though, firstly check under the kit for any rust and get it sorted asap. These are getting hard to find in good condition and values are going up as a result.
If the steering and gearchange are feeling tired you can tighten them up easily by doing the following changes.
Gearchange can be improved by changing the actual shifter out for a 1.9 Z3 item, coupled with new bushes, costs about £50 from a dealer and is in essence a factory spec short shift
The steering rack can be swapped for an E36 standard item (3.2 turns lock to lock) or a E46 item (3.0 turns lock to lock, Purple tag, last three digits are '067') using a kit by a user from the E30Zone, look for 'DanThe' there.
Coupled with that, also swap the rear 'lollipop' bushes for M3 solid rubber eccentric items. These dial in more castor and improve steering feel significantly.
Those 3 changes transform the feel of the car for every day use.
Any other information feel free to pop a PM, I've had my 325i for about 3 years along with a number of other E30s
Great choice of car. I'm not really into the mods (despite the fact I have a "modded" one myself 
), and personally I think they date the car more than an OEM looking one. But it's always each to their own of course, so if it's a keeper then why not
More importantly, if you're going to be leaving the car outside and using it through the winter, make sure to get the salt off it regularly, or you won't have much of an E30 left down the line
Also, check when the timing belt/water pump was last done, as you don't really want to find out the bad way. I'm a bit paranoid about these, so it was the first thing I had done on mine when I bought it, despite a lack of mileage since the previous change
Enjoy!
), and personally I think they date the car more than an OEM looking one. But it's always each to their own of course, so if it's a keeper then why notMore importantly, if you're going to be leaving the car outside and using it through the winter, make sure to get the salt off it regularly, or you won't have much of an E30 left down the line
Also, check when the timing belt/water pump was last done, as you don't really want to find out the bad way. I'm a bit paranoid about these, so it was the first thing I had done on mine when I bought it, despite a lack of mileage since the previous change
Enjoy!
Edited by Leins on Friday 1st November 10:08
As above, rust, rust and rust! Keep on top of it and you'll be 'reet. Mechanically, these cars are as robust as they come and most jobs are perfectly approachable for a DIY mechanic.
As SF_Manta said, the front eccentric bushes, E46 rack and short shift transform the car. TBH, at this age it's probably worth replacing all of the bushes. It's also worth doing cambelt, plugs, dizzycap, engine and transmission oils, coolant and a check of all intake and vacuum hoses to ensure the car is running 100%.
Check it does actually have an LSD. These demand good money so in the car's 20+ years history, it's not unreasonable for someone to remove it, sell it on and replace with an open one. Jack the car up at the back and turn one wheel, the other wheel should turn with it. Again, at this age most LSDs will be past their best anyway - a chap with username Gareth on the E30Zone does diff rebuilds if a fully locking LSD is on your list
The alloy strut brace on your car looks good, but it's hinged above the turrets so offers little benefit. Replacing it with an Ultra Racing or RPM item isn't too costly and will both sharpen the car up and take some strain off the 20-year old welds on the inner wings.
Sky's the limit in terms of upgrade modifications, from newer 24v BMW engines, to SR20 turbo conversions, Honda F20C conversions and even big yank V8s. The large E30 engine bay can take just about anything within reason!
And here's mine, fitted with a 2.8-litre 24v from an E36
As SF_Manta said, the front eccentric bushes, E46 rack and short shift transform the car. TBH, at this age it's probably worth replacing all of the bushes. It's also worth doing cambelt, plugs, dizzycap, engine and transmission oils, coolant and a check of all intake and vacuum hoses to ensure the car is running 100%.
Check it does actually have an LSD. These demand good money so in the car's 20+ years history, it's not unreasonable for someone to remove it, sell it on and replace with an open one. Jack the car up at the back and turn one wheel, the other wheel should turn with it. Again, at this age most LSDs will be past their best anyway - a chap with username Gareth on the E30Zone does diff rebuilds if a fully locking LSD is on your list
The alloy strut brace on your car looks good, but it's hinged above the turrets so offers little benefit. Replacing it with an Ultra Racing or RPM item isn't too costly and will both sharpen the car up and take some strain off the 20-year old welds on the inner wings.
Sky's the limit in terms of upgrade modifications, from newer 24v BMW engines, to SR20 turbo conversions, Honda F20C conversions and even big yank V8s. The large E30 engine bay can take just about anything within reason!
And here's mine, fitted with a 2.8-litre 24v from an E36
Thanks for the comments guys!
Yeah I'm really living it. I'm going to get It under sealed to start of with. I don't think I will use it to often so hopefully salt won't get the better of it.
It's been fully poly bushed and the ht Leeds having been changed so that's that out of the way. I tink il get it up on a ramp and give it a good service and check over. As far as changing the steering etc that will all be done in good time. Going from a 2004 car to a 1989 was a shock but I'm loving it so far! Although trying to park is a bit annoying!
Yeah I'm really living it. I'm going to get It under sealed to start of with. I don't think I will use it to often so hopefully salt won't get the better of it.
It's been fully poly bushed and the ht Leeds having been changed so that's that out of the way. I tink il get it up on a ramp and give it a good service and check over. As far as changing the steering etc that will all be done in good time. Going from a 2004 car to a 1989 was a shock but I'm loving it so far! Although trying to park is a bit annoying!
Super cool, E30 sports are one of the coolest looking bmw's ever, Not a fan of the bonnet bra or the black center to the wheels my self but i still looks really cool. Nice to see a 19 year old driving one as well even more cool points for that. A few years ago alot of people jumped on these for the whole RETRO thing but i still think they had the "old shed" connotation fast forward a few years and now i think they have come past the whole old bmw shed phase and are actually in the genuinely cool as f
k category, There is a guy i see sometimes on my commute with an abosulty mint black rag top sport, late 30's in a suit and tie while everybody else is in new 3 series (which theres nothing wrong with mind) i just think he looks cool as st in his e30.
k category, There is a guy i see sometimes on my commute with an abosulty mint black rag top sport, late 30's in a suit and tie while everybody else is in new 3 series (which theres nothing wrong with mind) i just think he looks cool as st in his e30. Went upto a car meet in livingstone yesterday and the amount of attention I got was unbelievable! I had people crowding around the car asking about it, people asking to buy it off me! Really falling in love with the car now! I also took the bonnet bra off for cleaning and decided it's staying off.
The rear windscreen heater doesn't work so it gets very steamed up. Anybody know a fix for this? Cheers for all the nice replies guys!
The rear windscreen heater doesn't work so it gets very steamed up. Anybody know a fix for this? Cheers for all the nice replies guys!
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