RE: BMW E30 M3: PH Heroes

RE: BMW E30 M3: PH Heroes

Author
Discussion

Moospeed

542 posts

264 months

Friday 16th March 2018
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unpc said:
A mate very generously lent me his new Roberto Ravaglia in red, back in the day and I spent some considerable time in it. I have to say it was pretty special in the handling department if not in outright speed so I get why these are big bucks now. I wouldn't though at these prices.

I'm tempted to say this was the only time M stood for motorsport and not marketing.
I had one and I'd have to agree with most of the comments here and above; the steering feel, dog-leg and even the speed-limiter "bong" bring back very nice memories but yeah unless you thrashed it the engine was gutless, even for back then.

I part-exchanged mine for a Fiat Barchetta around '98-'99, which might seem crazy now but at the time no-one wanted to buy it, and I had a hankering for that little Italian sportscar which quite frankly felt significantly faster. It's a weird comparison now but back then you'd have to work that M3 hard to keep in touch with that front-wheel drive hatchback based sportscar.

I'm happy I ran one for a few years but really the only regret would be that I didn't stick it into storage and take out a loan. Hindsight and all that.... I wouldn't consider buying another even at half of today's prices.

cuboard

12 posts

172 months

Saturday 17th March 2018
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I owned six of these cars , I would buy them in Germany and sell them over here. The first car was a red evo1 purchased for 4K. Took them round the Ring on the drive home every time and sat on autobahn cursing at 240 km/h. They did lack straight line speed not much faster than 205 gti but handling was sublime.. sold a mint 91 plate black for 7k in 2004... damm

aeropilot

34,297 posts

226 months

Saturday 17th March 2018
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Josco010 said:
LotusOmega375D said:
I’m going to get crucified for this, but a friend bought a similar engined one back in the day. I was so looking forward to going in it, but the acceleration really disappointed. I know they handle superbly, but they need more power IMO.
Don't worry mate you should not be crucified, the e30 m3 was not for everybody to start with. You either understood the reason d'être or did not. When new it was not very fast, no was it about big power, the Sierra, Audi's, Vauxhalls etc all had big power, but were soundly dealt with by the little 4 banger (well maybe not so the Audi with the big V8). The e30 was always about balance and sublime handling. I rocked mine for 20 years and had a couple till a year ago.

A proper drive my man is what you need and you will be baptised and then get what all the fuss is about by these Absolute Gems. Even BMW reckon this was the best era, i know cause i was invited with mine to the dealer in Park lane Hyde park and also my e34 m5.
Exactly.

A good mate of mine bought a 6 month old RR version as in the OP, and at the time I had my Sunbeam-Lotus, which had a better power-to-weight ratio, the old Talbot actually felt quicker up to about 70, but............the chassis on that M3 was just wonderful, and of course the way it was screwed together, I really loved the few drives I got to have in it at the time.

The original M3, and still the best.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
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aeropilot said:
Exactly.

A good mate of mine bought a 6 month old RR version as in the OP, and at the time I had my Sunbeam-Lotus, which had a better power-to-weight ratio, the old Talbot actually felt quicker up to about 70, but............the chassis on that M3 was just wonderful, and of course the way it was screwed together, I really loved the few drives I got to have in it at the time.

The original M3, and still the best.
Yep, I think your Lotus might have had the legs low down. I remember my friend having his at the same time as our RS' ...and we all had to get into 3rd before 60 ....and then 3rd by 80. Any of those 70s origin cars were fast low down with 150ish bhp as the gearing was shorter than today - 2 changes to hit 60

We all had a good run with a newish M3 back then and we were both well into 4th when he changed up into 4th. They looked to have so much rubber on the road ....which I guess was true bearing in mind 175s/185s we all had. Plus the big arches - had me searching for an X- pack RS ....with a Rocket. Gear set!

perry131313

4 posts

219 months

Wednesday 28th March 2018
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still have mine

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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I know I'm biased but relatively easy to release a bit more power. Mine only has 245-250 and a lower final drive, but it'll hold its own on road and track.

I use it whenever I can and there are few cars I would drive just for the sake of it. It's an event every time I fire the thing up.

I wanted an E30 M3 after I saw Vic Lee Motorsport testing at Brands Hatch. I lived a few miles down the road and often just went down to see what was on track? I stood on Paddock Hill bend and watched the M3's hammer down the pit straight before dabbing the brakes and diving right. I was smitten and the fact that my own car, a 2002, was a distant relative just added to the experience. Mind you, it was a couple of decades before I got an E30 M3 of my own! I've since owned 4 and spent the past 3 years making this one my own.

The first time I drove an E30 M3 though, I thought I'd made an expensive mistake. I had just spent £14k and bought the most expensive car I had ever owned. Driving it home on the M25 though, it seemed underpowered, the LHD was a nuisance and I just didn't get it at all. It simply wasn't living up to my expectations. The following day my Mrs and I headed off to Cornwall in it. She thought it looked nice but I hadn't told her how much it had cost me. The journey down wasn't much fun until we hit the A303 and I started to get a bit more confident in the car and that s14/2.3 engine. The more I pushed the thing, the more capable it seemed. It carried far more speed through the bends than I'd imagined it would and the engine just thrived on being thrashed. By the time I hit the M5 and the sweeping bend as it joined the A30, it just felt like a totally different car all together. It was just so much fun and incredibly flattering and forgiving in equal measure. I know how corny and cliched all that sounds but that's just how it was. I've not wanted another car since. The only changes I wanted though, were to make it more focussed for the track or days in North Wales and the like. I like OE cars but this is mine and I wanted to make it so.





If anyone is interested I've written a thread about my car here. smile

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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blade7 said:
Vic Lee, didn't he get a 12 stretch......
Yes, works for Corbeau nowadays though.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/m...

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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e30m3Mark said:
blade7 said:
Vic Lee, didn't he get a 12 stretch......
Yes, works for Corbeau nowadays though.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/m...
Are you sitting comfortably? smile

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
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s m said:
e30m3Mark said:
blade7 said:
Vic Lee, didn't he get a 12 stretch......
Yes, works for Corbeau nowadays though.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/m...
Are you sitting comfortably? smile
It's quite a story isn't it? smile


blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
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A crime story.