https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/ Share the latest photos of your E30 en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:12:13 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/images/misc/R3V.jpg https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/ https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/10161398-matthew-s-forever-e30-meet-penny-my-86-325es Fri, 22 May 2026 22:55:24 GMT
First I want to show you my new E30. For me it was always going to be an early model. Thats what the E30 is to me diving board bumpers and all. If I had to make a list of my "Dream Spec" E30 it would be as follows:

Non-negotiables

Coupe Early Model
Must be ES or 87 IS from Factory ( I really wanted a true ES )
Manual from Factory
No Bronzitbeig
Not modded past point of no return (OEM+)
No engine swaps

First Pic I took of Penny right after the test drive.


I am not sure where to start and there is a lot for me I want to say. I really do feel that things find you in life sometimes and if you had told me at the start of 2026 I would own an E30 2 weeks before I turned 31 I would have laughed. Kinda cool IMO that I bought this E30 when I was 30. Everyone knows how obsessed I am with these old BMW's and any E30, E28, E34 etc that any of my family spots they send me a photo. My sister was in Amsterdam and she sent me this photo of a clean E30 Touring.


I took a deep sigh...... I really miss having an E30. I never would have sold my previous E30 "Anne" and even looking at photos makes me so nostalgic. But once I graduated I got a job over an hour away and refused to drive her into the ground. So I walked away and picked up a Volvo C30 6 speed! it was cool but it was not a BMW. I finally have "adult money" now and a garage! So the gears started to turn in my mind. I think it might be time for another money pit.... I mean old BMW.

Here is Anne at the vintage 2016. I have no idea what happened to her after I sold her and its quite a.... touchy subject. I am very proud of how I kept her clean and on the road. Learned a lot and I dailyed an E30 for 5 years straight snow and all. She will always be my first E30. I wish I would have taken some of the cool parts (euro grills, clock, mtech 1 wheel, radio etc) off her before I sold her!



So I get the text from my sister and open up Google and literally type in "BMW E30 for Sale" and this little GEM popped up. Lets talk about the important stuff. I know we all love the options list.

The Facts: Taken from https://www.mdecoder.com/ (if you know a better one let me know)

VIN	REDACTED
Prod. Date	1986-02-25
Service History
Type	325e
Series	E30 (E30 Series)
Body Type	Coupe
Steering	Left Hand Drive
Engine	M20
Displacement	2.7
Power	121hp
Drive	rwd
Colour	Schwarz 086
Upholstery	Schwarz 0203
Check mileage

Editions and packages

S704	M Sports suspension
S708	M Sports steering wheel leather

Comfort and interior equipment

S401	Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S410	Window lifts, electric, front
S481	Sports seat

Multimedia

S675	Rear passenger compartment audio system

Driver assistance and lightning

S530	Air conditioning
S540	Cruise control
S551	On-board computer II with remote control

Wheels and drive

S209	Differential lock 25% LETS GOOOOO
S210	Dynamic stability control
S286	BMW light alloy wheel BMW styling

Environment and safety

S300	Emergency spare wheel
S325	Rear spoiler
S841	Dummy-SALAPA

Other equipment

S086

black

Perfect a factory manual all original ES with ONE OWNER and ZERO Accidents. Completely untouched. This thing is a freaking time capsule. A local dealership called Bob Evans Classics had it in PA. It was an hour away from me. I mean literally the FIRST E30 I look at is my dream spec. I had to have it. So I drove down and gave it a test drive. Here are some photos from the listing and ones I took the day I looked at her. Needless to say I offered on the spot and negotiated in a set of 15' IX Basket Weaves! (Next post has more photos reached the limit)

]]> Members Rides Matt341 https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/10161398-matthew-s-forever-e30-meet-penny-my-86-325es https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/10160894-refurbished-91-318i Sun, 10 May 2026 00:05:10 GMT Last summer, my 91 318i had a windows out, all trim removed repaint in the original color, Diamantschwarz Metallic. I was on the fence on repainting Diamantschwarz or plain Schwarz, glad I went with Diamantschwarz. I bought this E30 from the original owner 20 years ago. The PO had it repainted plain Schwarz by Earl Scheib and the paint was totally faded black milkshake color. The car is an original no rust, never been hit So Cal E30. I had it repainted last year in CO prior to moving back to CA. The 318i has a taurusrot (oxblood red) interior with rear headrests and ski pass through that was pulled from a 87 325i sedan before it went to the salvage yard. After repaint, a used crack free dash was installed along with new black headliner along with new windshield, knee high trim, door, window and sunroof gaskets, etc.... Before the headliner was put in, an E30 map light mirror was wired up and installed. Bottom pic shows my E30 at the SoCal Vintage show in NOV with Amil 15X7 ET26 wheels.

Other upgrades:
385mm M-Tech2 steering wheel, 385 M-Tech1 wheel is in the parts stash
Hella E-code H1/H4 lights, Cibie H1/H4 E-Code lights are in the parts stash
Conforti chip
Supersprint Cat back exhaust
Koni sport shocks
H&R springs/swaybars
Style 10 wheels with new 205/55-15 Yoko tires
LSD





]]> Members Rides G-Man https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/10160894-refurbished-91-318i