What makes the E30 special?

[UpOn3]

I have owned just about every 3 series since the 2002, except the E30. Coming into the market late means slim pickings, rough examples, and premiumm prices. I estimate the cost of (buying or building) a good condition car in excellent mechical conditon to be no less than $6500.

So I must ask you guys what makes the E30 a car that can't be duplicated in newer cars? For me is the light weight RWD platform that has just enough power in a package that's practical and solid, not to mention the typical BMW steering and ride composure.

Was the E30 considered particularly solid and quiet for a compact in its day? How does it compare to cars of today in terms of luxury, chassis composure? What does it give up to newer cars?

Do the dynamic vitues of the E30 alone justify it's the current price??? or does the price reflect a premium for cult status, coolness, rarity, nastalgia, and perhaps reliability?

Thanks for the your input!

[emerson.]

To me a e30 is the perfect mixture of new and old.. its modern but not to modern to where you feel like you surround by cheap plastic in a car that was only built so it can be replaced by the "New and improved" in 5 years. build quality for a 20+plus year old car is top notch even compared to most new cars, especially other cars out in the market at the time of its release... But if your focusing to much on the money aspect of it, its not for you. Stuff is going to die, its bound to happen on a 20+ yr old car.

Now the recent jump in prices though it doesn't effect me in my area cause only a handful if people like them around here, I blame on hipsters. Little bastards... I don't think I'd ever pay over 5k for a stock e30, personally think part of owning a e30 is wrenching on it every once and while

Just my .02cents

[JinormusJ]

I don't exactly know for "in it's day", but even by today's standards, an e30 is fairly solid and quiet. I usually daily my e30, which is 14 years older than my current "daily driver" just because it feels that much more a solid car, it's much more comfortable, and it's got a bigger horsepower output while still being decent on gas (my last tank, I squeeze 430 miles out of my m20). My Mitsubishi averages 340 miles, is horribly uncomfortable, and even though it's considered a compact sports car, it's still huge, heavy, and unresponsive; much like most of the cars built and offered by many, if not all, of today's car manufacturers. I guess that answers the first block of questions, no?

Secondly, you've pretty much nailed it n the head. RWD, compact, light, sporty, solid, reliable, classy, cool, different. Take your pick; an e30 is any and all of these. There really isn't anything on the road today that looks like an e30, and the classiness of the body lines and chassis are really something that stands out in today's modern world of "every car looks the same as the other car next to it". It's the perfect blend of old and new where even all the "old" things offered on it are even more modern than today's new cars (OBC, Check system, Oil Inspection system). Most are stock options while in today's modern cars would be options that are expensive add ons, if they are even offered at all.

[obes]

its rwd... light weight... killer looks...a rare taste....just plain awesome..:)

[GillesBigCowboy]

It is also scaled perfectly for humans. 4 can ride comfortably, 2 can tour with luxurious amounts of stuff, yet it still feels intimate with only the driver.

[MT325is]

for me i have owned a variety of cars, civics, preludes, integras(boosted), e30, the newer legacy, accord.... and have driven much more of a variety of cars for more then just a test drive sometimes a few weeks.
After all this, i sold my e30 because i wanted something newer.. hence the 05 legacy gt... and now i am looking again for a e30. I love this car.. for me its about the simple yet gorgeous styling. Also the powerplant .. the m20.. one of the simplest engines i have worked on.. yet do still produce a good amount of power for the size and weight of the car. And on top of all that, they came with leather seats, power windows, power moonroofs, oil service light.. etc.. i mean how many cars back in the e30 days came with these options?! Last but not least is how well made they are, yet very i mean very simple to work on diagnose.

that all being said, its the car i regret selling the most, and the one i miss the most.

[agent]

I estimate the cost of (buying or building) a good condition car in excellent mechical conditon to be no less than $6500.

For a mostly OE car that will live a relatively pampered life, or for a properly done 24V swap car, no less than that is right.

[flyboyx]

i second the well made aspect. how many u.s. made contemporaries do you see on the road these days. eighties escorts, cavaliers, or dodge k cars to be precise. it just happens to be a simple, well built, good handling car, with timeless styling.

[funcrew]

For an example, let's take an E30 gray-market euro 323i from 1984 or so. Here you have a 6-cylinder, 5-seat, rear-wheel-drive car with near 50/50 weight balance that weighs less than 2400 pounds. Bloated USA-spec models are still less than 2800 pounds. And it has a real, useful trunk space. Right there, I'm not sure if any other car ever made is that light with the same specs. Add rock-solid chassis quality, lego-grade earlier-and-later 3-series parts compatiblity, and aftermarket support to build anything you and your wallet could ever desire.

Most sports cars are not practical as daily drivers, and most RWD daily drivers are much heavier than the E30. E30 is the best of both worlds.

[Threehz]

It is also scaled perfectly for humans. 4 can ride comfortably, 2 can tour with luxurious amounts of stuff, yet it still feels intimate with only the driver.

Well said. Lots of good in this thread.

God's chariot.

Timeless design. Built to last. A joy to drive stock. Easy to work on. Cheap to fix. Highly modifiable. Reliable. Classy. Legendary.

I have only been driving an E30 for a little over a year now, but there is never a day when I don't want to be driving it.

[Solarian]

Well said. Lots of good in this thread.

God's chariot.

Timeless design. Built to last. A joy to drive stock. Easy to work on. Cheap to fix. Highly modifiable. Reliable. Classy. Legendary.

I have only been driving an E30 for a little over a year now, but there is never a day when I don't want to be driving it.

You've only had one for a little over a year?? I'm damn impressed with what you've done then if that red car is yours. It's one of my favorite E30s of all time.

[monoblanco]

Because we are all hipsters.

[lambo]

Reading this is making me want to go out and drive mine for no reason whatsoever...

[Wh33lhop]

Reading this is making me want to go out and drive mine for no reason whatsoever...

I need to fix mine :(

[325ix]

I need to fix mine :(

I need tires :(