E30 Soul?

[blunttech]

lol at a e90 owner talking about "soul"

exactly.... this made me laugh

[roguetoaster]

Oh sorry back on topic lol
I'm afraid all new BMWs have lost the feel and apeal of been a real drivers car to me now as sadly all there new car are coming out with electric steering!! Like seriously!? I know, lets alow a computer to control the steering, that's a clever idea, ermm no!!

Nine smilies in your first post, impressive. It really isn't down to individual modern devices such as the electric steering you mentioned (not the end of the world IMO), but rather it is the excessive feeling of weight and driver disconnect from the road modern cars offer.

[K1CKBAC]

Maybe the the E30s he drove have worn suspension and rubber bits. If that is the case it is unfair by a wide margin to compare a worn out 20+ year old car to a new car with modern amenities...

[AntiScope]

I kind of know what he's saying about the steering. I drive my aunt's E90 a lot and it feels more planted & responsive than my E30. But it's only a 3 year old car with barely 30k on it. Also, my suspension is stock and there's a lot that could be replaced. I think there's a lot more than steering that goes into a cars "soul". Let's see how much "soul" E90's will have in 20+ years....

[MoreMayhem]

Just finished replacing every wear item on my suspension. With the exception of springs and shocks it is all OEM. Rack, tie rods, control arms, mounts, bushings, etc., etc.

An e90 was the first BMW I ever drove, and I would take my refurbished e30 over that any day.

[InNeedOfBoost]

IMO, I've had a lot of different cars with different drivetrains and different steering types. (FC RX7, 240SX, AE86, Sentra SE-R Spec V...to name a few.)

This is the best handling car I've ever owned, second being my FC.

I've even had friends drive my car and say that coming from their cars (08 IS350, 93 300ZX TT, 06+ Civic Si's) and after driving it, they all had the same reaction..wow, that was fun to drive!

You're also comparing a car that's 20+ years apart. Electronic assited steering vs manual racks, advanced suspension components vs basic strut/spring combos, etc.

[Wild Ride]

I used to work at BMW and drove nearly every model from 2004 to present daily. There was never a day I got in my e30 at the end of the day and wished I had a new BMW except on long road trips the 335d was an epic long distance driver but you definitely felt all the weight and lag when you really tried to hustle. Great luxury cars that do everything pretty well but is not a pure drivers car with the exception of a properly modified 1 series. All newer bmw's have a clutch delay valve to dumb down the clutch feel too.

A new e90 feels very tight in comparison to a car with 20 year old suspension and steering parts. A like new e30 feels much tighter and more substantial. 4.0 lock to lock steering with less caster is a lighter feel but e90's have heavier steering to make them feel tighter than they are when you really push them they understeer like pigs with their staggered tires. A refreshed e30 will post better autocross times with the same experienced driver than an e90.

Your coworker needs to drive my e30s I'm sure his augment about soul will go out the window. If you want more steering heft similar to a neigh e90 throw in a quick ratio rack, m3 cab's and add more caster with a set of camber plates. The new electronic steering is terribly light in the f30 and new x3. Let me guess he drives an automatic.

[Wild Ride]

I was talking to one of my co-worker, telling him that I'm about to get an e30 and he said that the e30 doesn't have the soul or feel of the newer BMW. He said he's driven 2 different e30's and the steering was light and the car didn't handle as well as his car (e92 335i). The only BMW I have ever driven was an 05 e46 (test drive), and I remember how good it handled and how its steering was tight and heavy. Is the e30's steering light? I told him of anything the e30's steering should be even heavier and more responsive. So how does the the e30 compare to other bmw's, do you guys think is better or not as good as other bmw's. I'm asking because I've never driven an e30.

The steering feel is lighter but much more responsive in stock form. an e90 and e46 is heavy and numb. A few mods will make the steering feel heavier and more responsive. Once you start getting used to the steering it won't feel as light as if you are actively comparing two cars.

[E30M-tech//]

E90s 20year later ermm, be fun to see what they like then ;)
We are BMW breakers and I must say they do not make BMW's the way they used to :( but that is what will always make the old e30 special ;)

[Cletonius]

..wow, that was fun to drive!

IMHO this is the E30 experience in a nutshell. Anyone I've spoken to that's driven one will tell you it's an absolute blast. There's not one time I drive me car that it doesn't put a smile on my face.

[Charlie]

The stock e30 Non M steering rack sucks. It's a wide ratio box, and coupled with a 25+ year old car and likely worn components, it's going to be a lousy drive.

Compare it to the tighter rack on an E92, I'd say there's no comparison.

-Charlie

[Xat1cZ]

sounds like your co-worker is a complete idiot..

[CabbE30]

lol at a e90 owner talking about "soul"

My thoughts exactly

[LJ851]

And the E30 would not be what it is without the 1600/2002 chassis.

To me the E30 chassis (and also E28 ) is the newest chassis i find appealing at all and honestly, they are a little plastic-y for my taste.

I like a car that feels alive underneath me and does not feel like a throwaway appliance. The E30 fits these requirements.

Interesting note, the 2002 has a quicker steering ratio than E30. The E36 rack swap provides the feel i think should have been original from the factory.

[cunninglinguist]

E90s are like gingers--they have no soul.