How much do I want an E30 Bimmer Tourenwagen?

[Guest Breadvan72]

I already have a perfectly good small estate car with a  two and half jugs of soup engine.  There's fook all wrong with it, the dog likes kipping in the back, and it was made by sweaty and passionate Italian people; so why would I swap it for something older, more rusty, and made by ruthlessly efficient Bavarian dullards of the sort who ruin your cheap-ass holiday in sweaty and passionate Italy?

 

Despite the compelling arguments of reason, logic, and having no money, I have been perving over ads for E30 325i Tourings on CuntBay and in similar dens of shame and iniquity.  Is it the lure of RWD DRFTN BLUD, or the attraction of the intensely dull interiors that is calling to me?  I add that I did have a 1986 E30 325i saloon from 1989 to 1993, back when I was an obnoxious yuppy, so I know just how good they are at flinging you into ditches and costing too much to fix.

 

I call upon the assembled Shitehood to talk me out of this nonsense.  

 

 

PS:  oooooof

 

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[scooters]

These r gr9

Get stuck in there matey!

although my chod drooling is usually based around 1970s. Citroens, landies, or unusual shit like dafs or yugos I do have a very large horn for my E30 baur. So much so that its been in Bavarian Retro actually having MUNY spent on it! Im not sure why this is but suspect it might be because these e30s are becoming a rare sight and are doing a 'bx' that is, one minute they are everywhere, next thing you know and they have vanished. They also combine driveability with relatively straight forward mechanics and in 325 form are lovely cars, deztined for proper classic status. Im no fan of BMWs per say, but this was the last 3 series of any real interest to a proper shitter and the last pre computerised monkey bollox wank shit design, ie it is a propah motah. I also like owning a BMW from the era when BMWs were driven by tail gating wankers, before that mantle was passed to Audi, circa 2002.

 

The main thing I notice when I gets into me e30 is how small it is compared to modern versions.

 

Get it done, look after it and hold onto it, you wont lose your money.

[scooters]

One ova thing,

Even though BMW are not a company I approve of despite doing a great deal to boost the Austin Seven across the Reich, they have a policy of supporting their classic cars. This means that most of the parts are still available through bmw and if not, will be sourced, for a price. This might be because BMW still recognise they sell cars and not 3 year rolling finance deals like Ford, Renner, PSA etc etc etc......

[Taff]

give in....join the blue & white badge of courage...

 

I love Beamers. Nearly as much as I love 50's yanks. I am just on the point of moving house but as soon as I'm in, the empty garage is getting filled with an E30. Or maybe an E36 coupe again

[New POD]

There's a Scene Tax on E30's.

[brickwall]

On BMW's round lights are more than acceptable. When the lights when rectangular I left the building along with the build quality.

[seacow]

Ge one bought! The touring rusts like hell but much cheaper than saloon and 'coupe'

[michael1703]

Look for rot in wheel arches, rear valence under tail lights,where the rear bumper caps attach, rear subframe bushes (horrible job), sunroof frame rot due to blocked drains

 

I love the 'economy' gauge in these

[Guest Breadvan72]

You batards, I HATEZ U ORL.

 

Did I not mention that, if I go ahead with this, Mrs Breadvan will have me tortured to death in a cellar by Bulgarian people traffickers, and will pay them extra to make it last at least a month. 

 

I look to you people as moral exemplars, guides, and mentors.  You are supposed to be explaining to me why buying one of these sheds ist der ECHTDUMPKOPFENIDEA.

[michael1703]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C462825# £875 but an auto

[Guest Breadvan72]

I am OELD now, so am not as opposed as I used to be to Badermatics and assorted Giffer technology.   The straight six Bimmerbox of that era was, I recall, so SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH  that in town you could drive a manual pretty much like an automatic anyway.

 

Does the autobox have a "drive like a cock" button?   I think it might, if I remember correctly from the autobox 325i convertible that my pupilmaster had in 1986, the car which made me into a petrolhead and therefore ruined my life. 

[Guest Breadvan72]

It has a beer crate gap, buy it.

 

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/for-the-wagon-fans-e30-fans-493584648

 

 

 I am having THE LOVE for that dude's porno 'tache, but am sorry to see that he appears to be having a mullet fail. 

 

[insert Rudy Völler pic here]

[Guest Breadvan72]

Oh, fuck.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C452431

[michael1703]

I drove an auto, you could still get the back out,so forgave it after a few roundabouts, the comedy economy gauge took longer to stabilise as a result

[RedSparrow]

I had one of these. Bloody loved it.

Unfortunately now most of them are knackered or have been wrapped around trees in McDonalds car park thanks to drifting experts.

[purplebargeken]

I too have a recent yearning for something BMW orientated, however, it is highly unlikely that it will happen as I am more skint than I was a week ago.

 

You really should just go for it. WCPGW.

[320touring]

Do it!i have one currently doing 500 miles a week, easy to work on and the 6pot is superb. Mine is a 2.0,but I reckon you can't beat it.

 

The touring is the least loved so cheaper than saloons or converts. Major issues are rot at scuttle panel and front jack pads, rear arches,boot pockets and rear valance.

 

The 2.5 can be a touch fragile if people don't meet an eye on coolant and let it overheat-then it can crack the head.

 

My advice would be to buy on body condition-any engine is ok,and swapping in a new one is a weekends work.

 

Also check for wet passanger carpet, potential heater valve failure.

 

I'm happy to help with any info, so feel free to give me a shout.

 

 

 

Off to fix a sticking caliper on mine now..

[Dave_Q]

There's a Scene Tax on E30's.

 

Less so on tourings. 

 

Ge one bought! The touring rusts like hell but much cheaper than saloon and 'coupe'

 

Would disagree, tourings seem to be slightly better for major rot.

 

Legend has it they were built in a different factory and rot less (except tailgates).

 

Have had 2 tourings back in the days you could get them for £200 or so, H946EFC 318i touring in royal blue, got broken up for parts. L296BOD, sold on to a man who was planning an engine conversion. Unlicensed since then so probably also dead

[mercrocker]

Forgotten how nice these are!  Want one now - bugger.

[Spiny Norman]

They got a bit of a raw deal as estate cars, the load area wasn't up to much, but the E30 is such a lovely chuckable car that grafting a huge wardrobe lugging rear end onto it would have spoilt its appeal. Think of them more as a first gen 3 series touring and you get a better idea of what they're about.

Can't imagine the 316 being much fun but any of the 6 pots are powerful enough for a 3 series body. The dark green ones were particularly nice IMO, one of those in 325iSE flavour with the autobox would be an extremely nice way of getting about without the feeling you're piloting an ocean liner that you sometimes get in a 5.

[cort16]

I'm sure there was one doing the rounds for sale lately with the 318is motor in it I bet that'd be a nice drive. I've always wanted one but it's just one of these cars I've never got around owning. I imagine the 2 litre is more lively in one of these but having suffered at the hands of the same motor in an e28 it'd have to be the 325i.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Oh, fuck.

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C452431

 

 

That one was sold today.  Phew!

[Guest Breadvan72]

I once drove an E30 318is convertible around Silverstone with a pro driver telling me how to do it, and it totally rocked.  Better than the M3 that I also tried that day, at least for Joe Average driver, I reckon, let alone Billy Shit like me.  

[cort16]

this one looks nice. Right colour, right engine, right gearbox and right interior

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-BMW-E30-325I-TOURING-GREEN-/321301308241?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4acf0ce351

[Guest Breadvan72]

U R Satan AICMFP

[Guest Breadvan72]

On reflection, although the green is lovely (my E30 saloon was that colour, back in my stripy shirt wearing days), that one is a 320i that has been gunned up to 325i, and had an interior swap.  Keep fit front windows unusual on one of these.   Query 316 doors?  

 

I suspect:  das ist ein Bitzer, bitte.   Ich will einen echten Knobenwagen.

[HMC]

I can well understand your e30 desires.....

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161177145545?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

Almost bid on this just before Christmas, had a moment of clarity with minutes to go, realising maybe the right car (except perhaps for the loweringness), but wrong time.

 

E30s are Unfinished business for me I think, but it would have to be in 325i touring flavour.

 

[Sudsprint]

One of my favourite BMWs , pretty petite, great to drive.

[Sloth in a bowl]

this one looks nice. Right colour, right engine, right gearbox and right interior

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-BMW-E30-325I-TOURING-GREEN-/321301308241?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4acf0ce351

 

I may be speaking to my classic insurance agents tomorrow, this is very nice.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

They're nice old things, I like them. I'm surprised the Touring is cheaper than the saloon - I think the Touring is far better looking.