BMW E30 325i Talk to me ??
Discussion
They command quite a premium these days, friend had the sport model before they became abit of a classic (possibly 8 years ago now) loved the look and sound of it, think they were around 170bhp and went ok but will feel abit sluggish by today's standards. in the end he fitted a 7 series engine to it (maybe 3.5l) that was good for around 240bhp.
if i had the money would love to restore an E30, fit an E46 M3 engine and make it look something like this
if i had the money would love to restore an E30, fit an E46 M3 engine and make it look something like this
Ah ok 
They're great to drive, and in many ways I find it more enjoyable than my E46. The steering feedback from them is wonderful, despite the rack being quite slow, the M20 engine is a beauty, and I love the whole driving set-up of them when you get in. Plus they're much easier to see out of than more modern cars
But compared to say something like an E46 330Ci they're not all that quick (mine was running 190bhp from new, but will still struggle to keep a 320d honest), you're always aware about the brakes, and the headlights are shocking if using at night. These are all things that could be rectified by aftermarket work of course
They're great to drive, and in many ways I find it more enjoyable than my E46. The steering feedback from them is wonderful, despite the rack being quite slow, the M20 engine is a beauty, and I love the whole driving set-up of them when you get in. Plus they're much easier to see out of than more modern cars
But compared to say something like an E46 330Ci they're not all that quick (mine was running 190bhp from new, but will still struggle to keep a 320d honest), you're always aware about the brakes, and the headlights are shocking if using at night. These are all things that could be rectified by aftermarket work of course
Both liftoff oversteer and power oversteer available on demand but as said, slow steering can mean a lot of arm twirling. Imho single biggest flaw in the drive of an E30. Easily remedied with a couple of hundred quid and an e46 3-turn rack. Worlds your oyster so far as engine swaps are concerned. Very little that won't fit under the hood of an e30! Have a breathed on 2.8 from an e36 in mine, but my personal favs are the Chevy LS ones
Both liftoff oversteer and power oversteer available on demand but as said, slow steering can mean a lot of arm twirling. Imho single biggest flaw in the drive of an E30. Easily remedied with a couple of hundred quid and an e46 3-turn rack. Worlds your oyster so far as engine swaps are concerned. Very little that won't fit under the hood of an e30! Have a breathed on 2.8 from an e36 in mine, but my personal favs are the Chevy LS ones
That was the demise of mine 
Finally had my E30 325i Sport sorted in May.
When I bought it for some reason had an open diff. This has been replaced by Fully Rebuilt BMW LSD 40% Lock 3.91.
As standard would have had BMW LSD 25% Lock 3.64
I do love all the RWD tail happy goodness which is one reason why I wanted E30 325i :-)
Just got to change the exhaust as the one fitted by previous owner(s) has now got a crack in the centre box and does not sound too good.
Loved mine, it started life as a 320 albeit. Was very slippery with the small case 320 open diff but went like a rocket and drank fuel at nearly the same rate and rear tyres lasted a few hundred miles but cost pennies.
Downsides are the steering wasnt quick enough, brakes were marginal, headlights were rubbish and it had been lowered and the floor pan had been grounded more times than my brother
Sold it for £1000, wish id hung on to it now it would have been worth twice that.
Downsides are the steering wasnt quick enough, brakes were marginal, headlights were rubbish and it had been lowered and the floor pan had been grounded more times than my brother
Sold it for £1000, wish id hung on to it now it would have been worth twice that.
Edited by rustyabarth on Friday 24th October 16:21
Edited by rustyabarth on Friday 24th October 16:24
Lovely car with power well matched to the chassis and grip available at 170bhp. You do have to be careful with them though, they step out very easily. A delight to control when you're planning it but a ballache on a cold winter day when you just want to get home from work. My 318i was the only car that would shift into oversteer with increasing lock on constant throttle rather than washing wide at the front, so you had to be on the ball in less than perfect grip conditions. I'm not saying it was some absolute uncontrollable monster or trying to make myself the driving hero, just warning that while most modern cars regardless of drive will understeer at steering limits the e30 can do the opposite.
I will add though that although my own car was a touring I drove a friend's 325i which exhibited the same handling characteristics (albeit with the ability to power oversteer as well), although it was also a touring. I've been in a coupe but didn't drive it and it was on wide rubber so can't directly compare, sorry.
Oddly enough one of the most comfortable cars on the motorway I've had.
I will add though that although my own car was a touring I drove a friend's 325i which exhibited the same handling characteristics (albeit with the ability to power oversteer as well), although it was also a touring. I've been in a coupe but didn't drive it and it was on wide rubber so can't directly compare, sorry.
Oddly enough one of the most comfortable cars on the motorway I've had.
rustyabarth said:
Loved mine, it started life as a 320 albeit. Was very slippery with the small case 320 open diff but went like a rocket and drank fuel at nearly the same rate and rear tyres lasted a few hundred miles but cost pennies.
Downsides are the steering wasnt quick enough, brakes were marginal, headlights were rubbish and it had been lowered and the floor pan had been grounded more times than my brother
Sold it for £1000, wish id hung on to it now it would have been worth twice that.
Your tyres only lasted a few hundred miles ? Why was that you must have been drifting / donutting / doing burnouts in it :-) ?Downsides are the steering wasnt quick enough, brakes were marginal, headlights were rubbish and it had been lowered and the floor pan had been grounded more times than my brother
Sold it for £1000, wish id hung on to it now it would have been worth twice that.
Edited by rustyabarth on Friday 24th October 16:21
Edited by rustyabarth on Friday 24th October 16:24
325i use apparently roughly same girl condo motion as 320i
A lot of E30s went through a stage in the 1990s, 2000s of being modded often untastefully.
161BMW said:
Factory LSD is standard on Sport models.
Option on other models I think?
Btw is it easier or harder to control tail happy behaviour with an open diff or LSD :-) ?
It's a matter of taste. It's probably easier to control oversteer without an LSD. Open diffs also make a car's handling generally more co-operative and fluid, which is why LSDs are used sparingly on road cars (Lotus don't fit them as standard for example). The primary use of an LSD is to prevent wheelspin out of tight corners or if you're so inclined, to hold very long powerslides better (e.g. in 'drifting' competitions), and the downside are that they usually cause understeer because the rear wheels are reluctant to turn at different speeds and flow with the corner, and they can also make power oversteer unpredictable; although both of those characteristics depend on the power and coast settings of the diff in question. Personally I'm not much of a fan.Option on other models I think?
Btw is it easier or harder to control tail happy behaviour with an open diff or LSD :-) ?
ETA: Plus of course an LSD will help get traction in the snow, wet mud or similar very low grip scenarios. You won't just sit still with one wheel spinning the power away.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 17th February 09:21
luckystrike said:
Lovely car with power well matched to the chassis and grip available at 170bhp. You do have to be careful with them though, they step out very easily. A delight to control when you're planning it but a ballache on a cold winter day when you just want to get home from work. My 318i was the only car that would shift into oversteer with increasing lock on constant throttle rather than washing wide at the front, so you had to be on the ball in less than perfect grip conditions. I'm not saying it was some absolute uncontrollable monster or trying to make myself the driving hero, just warning that while most modern cars regardless of drive will understeer at steering limits the e30 can do the opposite.
I will add though that although my own car was a touring I drove a friend's 325i which exhibited the same handling characteristics (albeit with the ability to power oversteer as well), although it was also a touring. I've been in a coupe but didn't drive it and it was on wide rubber so can't directly compare, sorry.
Oddly enough one of the most comfortable cars on the motorway I've had.
My dad bought one in 1986 and despite very careful driving, still managed to lose the back of it on two very rainy days in central London....once when going up to St Johns Wood in a straight line!I will add though that although my own car was a touring I drove a friend's 325i which exhibited the same handling characteristics (albeit with the ability to power oversteer as well), although it was also a touring. I've been in a coupe but didn't drive it and it was on wide rubber so can't directly compare, sorry.
Oddly enough one of the most comfortable cars on the motorway I've had.
He always regretted selling it however so I bought him one as a surprise last month...although this one is the 325ix!
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