I've Started Looking At BMW E30s Again: Please Send Help
The car you see in the grainy image above is my old BMW E30. It started life as a 318i automatic, but when I bought it in 2009, the engine and gearbox had been swapped to a manual 325i. The car was ropey at best, had the heaviest clutch known to man and hid its rust well, but I bloody loved it.
It was cool, had retro styling, was simple to work on and, at the time, was cheap to buy. In fact, I paid £850 for this one, and insurance as a 25-year-old MA Automotive Journalism university student was pretty affordable. Speaking of being at university, I split my final project into two parts: half written/half video because the thought of writing 12,000 words killed me. So I made this…
It’s clear, then, that I’ve always had a thing for E30s, so you’ll understand how much it hurt when I was forced to sell mine in 2011 because my first proper job at Autocar meant that I had my very own long-term Kia Picanto test car.
Well, guess what…over five years have passed and I’ve started looking at E30s again despite having no space on my driveway. (The car port I recently built is reserved for Phil, my V6 MX-5, which has recently been fully resprayed in Mazda’s delicious Soul Red colour).
I want a classic BMW again, and this time it’s a Touring I’m after. I don’t even care if it has six cylinders; so long as it moves under it’s own steam, count me in!
Except don’t count me in…because I don’t have the space and prices of these awesome little cars have skyrocketed. I mean, £6995 for a 325i Touring like this one is strong money. Then again, how about that £60,000 325iX I showed you earlier in the week?
So please do me a favour and tell me why I need to stop looking for one (or send me links to cheap ones you find so that I can fulfill my deepest desire!).
Yeah, you see my problem…
Comments
I feel you! Those tourings are irresistible!
I havent heard or seen anything from your e36 m3 (collin, if im correct). I think this is classic enought. Besides, do you REALLY want two 3 series tourings? You really wont drive that e30 all that often, and for that purpose, its not special enought. Unless you want to turn it into your own trackcar. That would be funny and great, but then id go for a e39 530i touring (in germany those are around 2.5k)
3 3 series tourings
The 330D, 330i, and if he gets an E30
buy it while you still can. a car like this in murca is $10000 easly.
im a great influence. Id say save your money and get an e29.
Just get an e34 and be a bit different
Buy an E36 instead. Not quite as reliable as the E30, but they are actually a bit better to drive.
I’d LOVE to see reviews like the one posted above on the CarThrottle channel. You’re really good at them, Alex!
Alex Kersten I have a touring you can buy! It’s a 93’ 316i touring, a car with some work, but it’s running!
Looks very cool! How much you asking?
Well, can’t judge, I got mine as a gift 4 years ago, but I guess I was super lucky :D
I’ve just seen on some classic car fairs that prices for 320is and M3 models have gone through the roof. I don’t know about base ones in my area…
Funny, im selling my E82 125i (some people call it the modern E30) and i picked up an E30 325i last week. It needs some work here and there, but overall good condition. It is a rare combo of AC, ABS and factory 25% diff. It is my “new” daily and will see the track during spring and autumn. Main reason why im selling the E82, is simply the support of aftermarket parts (for the track) and running costs (the E82 is significantly more expensive in every aspect, especially when it comes to tires and brakes for track days). It is my “winter project” to restore it to near factory condition (as i said, some small issues here and there but nothing major) and yes i do everything myself. FYI the cheaper the car, the more problems!
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