Non M3 e30's Finally Getting Some Respect

[DesertBMW]

No wonder why there are so many "I want to buy E30" threads in classified.

[Kevinl]

Eta love??? his car has a 2.7 but there is nothing good about a 4500 rpm redline

Makes me love my e30 even more and thats why when I want to go for a fun drive I get in the e30 not my 335i

[reelizmpro]

I'm surprised there aren't more articles about the undervalued E36 M3 since one can pick one up for about the same price as a clean E30 318/325.

[mr2peak]

Eta love??? his car has a 2.7 but there is nothing good about a 4500 rpm redline

Makes me love my e30 even more and thats why when I want to go for a fun drive I get in the e30 not my 335i

It's not an ETA, it just has a 2.7 bottom end. 885 head.

[JJe30]

Good video

[clarkson]

I'm surprised there aren't more articles about the undervalued E36 M3 since one can pick one up for about the same price as a clean E30 318/325.

They just don't have the same appeal. Shape is more modern, much more plastic feel to the car, bigger, more complicated, not as easy to modify, harder to work on, the list could go on. I do love the E36 M3 (especially the Euro S50B30 version) but I would choose (and have chosen) an E30 over one, the main reason is the e30 is easier to go sideways :)

[varg]

They just don't have the same appeal. Shape is more modern, much more plastic feel to the car, bigger, more complicated, not as easy to modify, harder to work on, the list could go on.

Not to mention the interior is downright ugly compared to the E30's simple and plain look.

[Julien]

I'm surprised there aren't more articles about the undervalued E36 M3 since one can pick one up for about the same price as a clean E30 318/325.

agreed

[Stanley Rockafella]

agreed

dont' worry, things are-a-changin'....
nobody ever thought the e30 m3 would reach the current stratospheric prices

[Nader393]

Great, great video! Thanks for posting! I'm sharing it with my car-loving family and friends.

Here's a story, because it's near the holidays and I'm feeling a little sentimental:

I'm Gen-X, and my memory of these e30s when they came out when I was in highschool was that yuppies and rich kids drove them. My dad had a white 325es (Eta) he bought new in '86. I thought is was awesome. I can tell you that a new e30 has a characteristic, wonderful smell after it's been driven and parked in an enclosed garage. I don't know if it's the warmed cosmoline, the type of brake pads or clutch disc compound, drivetrain oils or whatever, but it's burned in my brain. Within a year, it was ruined by a tank of water-contaminated gas, so he had it towed to the dealership. There on the showroom floor was one of the first e30 M3s ever delivered to the Midwest, also white. They weren't selling that well, because of the garish bodywork and that misconception that the 4 cylinder engine was viewed as a downgrade, despite the car's racing intentions. Dad took it for a test drive (in the rain), and the first thing he said when he pulled back in was that he didn't have to slow down for the turns. So he traded the es for the M3 right then and there.

The M3 felt identical to the previous es on the inside, same wonderful smell, but definitely felt like it was wound tighter. The handling was obvious right off, but the car wasn't very fast when tooling around town. It was later that Dad discovered the car's Jeckyll and Hyde power transformation when rpms went over 5K, and took advantage of it when racing kids in 5.0 Mustangs on the highway. He'd drop it into 3 gear, the engine would scream, and he'd be off. He also had the then state of the art Escort/Passport radar detector, and a retainer on a decent traffic lawyer who would represent him at court at least once a week. As a physician, he drove a lot between multiple hospitals making the rounds on his inpatients, and was often in a hurry. Cops got to know him and his car, and they had a generally friendly relationship. He said they would be chuckling when walking up to his car to give him a ticket.

Back to the 325. When they were new, no one, except for the factory and their M3 efforts, ever really exploited its true sporting potential. It's great to see that they're being reappreciated by enthusiasts, and that they are relatively affordable. Performance-wise, built-up e30 325 is really not that far off of an M3. Having had a history with both, and currently driving modded 325i, I don't think I'm missing anything from the M3 experience except the fear of thrashing a rare and increasingly valuable car.

[varg]

Performance-wise, built-up e30 325 is really not that far off of an M3. Having had a history with both, and currently driving modded 325i, I don't think I'm missing anything from the M3 experience except the fear of thrashing a rare and increasingly valuable car.

It's not only not far off, it's downright easy to surpass the performance and handling of an M3 for a lot less than an M3 costs. Small turbo on an M20, heck even an M42! add coilovers, bigger wheels and good rubber, stiff bushings, E36/46/Z3 steering rack and boom! You've got more performance and better handling than an M3 for what, 1/3rd the cost, half if a shop does all of the work for you? And as you pointed out, an M3 is a collector's car now. If you want fun thrashing with a stock car there's much faster, better fun to be had for $20-30k. S2000, FD RX7, Boxster, even a BRZ/FRS if you want some warranty action and reliability.

[McGyver]

No wonder why there are so many "I want to buy E30" threads in classified.

I wish someone would buy one (or two) of my e30s...

[Vincent Brick]

This video makes me want to do more with my car than simply drive it to and from work.

[digger]

is it surprising that a bone stock modern barge is barely faster than an e30 with suspension mods and slick tyres and slighty modified engine? nope put street tyres it will get hosed, same as the e30m3 would but thats just how things have advanced over 25-30years. of course you can make a e30 fast but most importantly its fun

[e30rapidic]

cool video. however an unmodified 325i wouldn't do anywhere near that well against a new 3er