How did you get into E30's?

[obes]

Watched my best friend build his e30 over the years since 09 till now... always thought they were extraordinary in a way & eventually brought an 86 eta a little under a year ago..then decided to go s50 turbo :)
Have been happy since

[slaterd]

This is all my dad's fault. He bought an e30 back in 91. I drive that car now. I remember not being able to look over the dash in that car when i was younger, but I loved it to death.

Now that is a hell of a memory for a car. It being around throughout your life! Wow!
I got into e30's because I ran into this forum over a year ago, was looking at a couple of photos and build thread and it sparked. I sold mine a few months back but I'm saving right now to get another one later down the road.

[tightithrash]

some very cool stories in this thread!

i had no idea what an e30 was growing up. i never had interest in cars. was more of a truck guy growing up. had a pre-runner ranger then got a Nissan Titan when they came out, dumped all my cash into it. still have it today.

my roomate at the time showed me an e30 online said he was going to sell his truck and get one so he have some money and could save gas. i was like you dont want some old pos, it going to break and cost you money yadda yadda yadda and basically wrote off the car.

he traded in his truck for a 87 325is and a salvaged title 98 540i. he was way more into the 5 series since it was a V8 and it ran awesome. the e30 just sat in the drive way, it wouldnt idle correctly the fuel pump was going out, and it had a flat. he ended up being short on rent 1 month, then another month, and another. i told him id give him $900 bucks and a few months rent and got the car.

once i got it running correctly and took it for a real drive.... it was over. my buddy kevin told me about this site and i seen everyones sweet e30s and gained knowledge about the car. i will never sell this car. im so happy i fell into such an amazing vehicle.

[e30austin]

I always liked BMW's as a kid. My Mother and Stepdad bought a Hellrot/Schwarz Z3 2.8 brand new and had a couple E39's and an E46 over the years. My Dad also had a friend with a Daytona Violet 850csi, so I knew when I got older, I had to have one. My Dad was always into American muscle, so I was distracted by that for a few years.

Move on to 2007. My Dad's good friend Eric (Raceskids) had just picked his turbo car up and I went for a ride. Even now, that car is still stupid fast, so imagine what it was like for a 14 year old kid! I knew I needed to have one eventually, but was still stuck on Camaros.

2009 came along. My best friend had a few E30's and an E36 M3 and they all were so much fun. The search started. In April 2010, I bought an E28 535is. It was not the car I wanted, but it was the best one for the price at the time. It was an auto, and it got rather boring real fast.

In July 2011, the red car in my sig came up for sale. I made an offer and he accepted. That night, the car went home with me and the E28 went up for sale. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. I don't regret it in the slightest, though. 20+ E30's later, I don't think there will come a time that I don't own one for the rest of my life. There is so much I have learned about life, cars and other sorts of random shit from this site and the community. There is really nothing else like it.

[shameson]

some very cool stories in this thread!

i had no idea what an e30 was growing up. i never had interest in cars. was more of a truck guy growing up. had a pre-runner ranger then got a Nissan Titan when they came out, dumped all my cash into it. still have it today.

my roomate at the time showed me an e30 online said he was going to sell his truck and get one so he have some money and could save gas. i was like you dont want some old pos, it going to break and cost you money yadda yadda yadda and basically wrote off the car.

he traded in his truck for a 87 325is and a salvaged title 98 540i. he was way more into the 5 series since it was a V8 and it ran awesome. the e30 just sat in the drive way, it wouldnt idle correctly the fuel pump was going out, and it had a flat. he ended up being short on rent 1 month, then another month, and another. i told him id give him $900 bucks and a few months rent and got the car.

once i got it running correctly and took it for a real drive.... it was over. my buddy kevin told me about this site and i seen everyones sweet e30s and gained knowledge about the car. i will never sell this car. im so happy i fell into such an amazing vehicle.

Same deal. Didn't know what an e30 was, but knew I wanted one after I saw it. Can't ever imagine selling mine.

Little off topic, but do I spy a Blowsion standup as your profile pic? You must be a rider too

I always liked BMW's as a kid. My Mother and Stepdad bought a Hellrot/Schwarz Z3 2.8 brand new and had a couple E39's and an E46 over the years. My Dad also had a friend with a Daytona Violet 850csi, so I knew when I got older, I had to have one. My Dad was always into American muscle, so I was distracted by that for a few years.

Move on to 2007. My Dad's good friend Eric (Raceskids) had just picked his turbo car up and I went for a ride. Even now, that car is still stupid fast, so imagine what it was like for a 14 year old kid! I knew I needed to have one eventually, but was still stuck on Camaros.

2009 came along. My best friend had a few E30's and an E36 M3 and they all were so much fun. The search started. In April 2010, I bought an E28 535is. It was not the car I wanted, but it was the best one for the price at the time. It was an auto, and it got rather boring real fast.

In July 2011, the red car in my sig came up for sale. I made an offer and he accepted. That night, the car went home with me and the E28 went up for sale. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. I don't regret it in the slightest, though. 20+ E30's later, I don't think there will come a time that I don't own one for the rest of my life. There is so much I have learned about life, cars and other sorts of random shit from this site and the community. There is really nothing else like it.

About time I heard from you. I never knew you went through so many of them lol you're zinno is a car that you can't ever part with dude, you have way too much into it

I love Daytona violet though. Saw a DV e30 touring and is still my dream car

[e30austin]

Meh, not that I can't, but i'd lose my ass if I did. lol

[YOO_SNO]

My boyfriend got a 1989 325i almost 2 years ago. I got in, fell in love. He put some work into it and then decided I wanted one for myself! He ended up selling his a few months back and then at his new job there was an 85 325e just sitting on the lot. I spoke to the bossman and bought it and now it's all mine!! He's working on getting his own soon, but for now this is my daily beater and i love it!

[shameson]

Meh, not that I can't, but i'd lose my ass if I did. lol

You'd probably lose more than your ass lol

[tightithrash]

Same deal. Didn't know what an e30 was, but knew I wanted one after I saw it. Can't ever imagine selling mine.

Little off topic, but do I spy a Blowsion standup as your profile pic? You must be a rider too

exactly. best car ever.

Yes sir. Its Zack, im 98% sure we talked at surf slam about e30s for a good 30 min. you going again this year?

[cjay]

For me I worked at the dealer here in St.Thomas.. when they first 84 318i came out I didnt like the body style i was used to the e21 (320i). After a while the grew on me and now I own 3 of them 87 325is 90 vert and restoring a 87 es for my 18 year old son...I love them.....

[shameson]

exactly. best car ever.

Yes sir. Its Zack, im 98% sure we talked at surf slam about e30s for a good 30 min. you going again this year?

Haha okay ya man, that was me. Since then I've gotten a new one. But ya I'll definitely be there again. I plan on going every year lol

[EVillalonRN]

I was driving an E90 335i. Kept taking it back to the dealer for multiple check lights, repairs, etc. Finally the lease came up and I turned that POS back in. Was shopping around for a good DD/Commuter. Looked at a bunch of Hondas/Toyotas. Then I thought, "Fuck no" can't do that either. Saw an E30 at my local used car lot and then I was hooked. Ended up buying my first on Craigslist, then my second off a co-worker. Still looking for my third. They don't build them like they used to.

[MT325is]

I was a honda guy in the day. Never modded, because if money.. An age.
Got my first car when I was 15 which was a very clean 00 civic. Of course lowered it and threw a exhaust. With some wheels. And I hated the rice exhausts.. So I decided to get a vibrant sleeper muffler. It was still to much for how slow the car was.
After that got a prelude...

At this time my neighbor had an e30 sedan. Lowered a body kit. Beyren mesh wheels. I feel in love with the car because he was working on it daily. So I was always over there. He kept nagging me to get out of honda and get myself a real car. The e30.
Decided to listen to him... Sold the prelude and when on a trip in his boosted sedan to pick mine up. Well I ended up getting that one.. Fixed it up with his help.. Got me to understand mechanics more....

Over all I'm on my second one.. And this one I think ima keep. I love these cars.. It's not like the new "shit".

[krawtkart]

I was looking for a less powerful race car for autocross, and came across an 84 318 for $350. So far I replaced vacuum lines, switched the ignition wire on the starter and it fired right up. of course, the idle issue will constantly haunt me. Now I find myself on the lookout for another one for regular driving

[rickyb916]

My parents bought me a red convertable e30 when I was 3, it was a electric one (like the power wheels) my mom said she paid almost $300 (back in early 90's) and I saw the picture of me in it a while abck when I was about 10 and always loved the e30. Always save pictures of nice ones on my computers, well I have a soft spot for e30's and evo's, then last year my buddy said he was selling his 91 318i(s) because he didn't have a job and it was sitting for a few months (started up every other day though) so I bought a 91 318 for the grand total of $1500 :) It came lowered on H&R Springs, Bilstien sport struts, 4.10 lsd, stage 1 clutch, TRM c1m rims, drilled rotors, hawk hp pads, sub/amp/alpine stero, so i'd say it was a great deal :)
I love this car and love how it drives, looks and even smells, and the attention from other peopple and the respect from other BMW owners and a lot of other drivers (I got a hang loose gesture from a pretty nice NSX on the freeway and even a silver GTR)