Universally Accepted E30 Modifications

[agent]

Konis are an acceptable substitute for Bilsteins; some folks prefer them.

[Das Delfin]

I think a cup holder would detract from the German purist ideology of the car.

e34 dome light? It's brighter than a maplight mirror. Sure you have to chuck your check control but who has an old car and doesn't check their own oil/coolant/lights anyway?

[JinormusJ]

e34 dome light? It's brighter than a maplight mirror. Sure you have to chuck your check control but who has an old car and doesn't check their own oil/coolant/lights anyway?

I would never

Even though I run through checks of my e30; it's always good to have the piece of mind of the engine oil and coolant check lights.

[ELVA164]

Konis are an obvious substitute for Bilsteins; smart folks prefer them.

:giggle:

[JinormusJ]

Some of them are really too fast to be comfortable for some people in daily service, at least from what I've read.

I'd be hard pressed to argue that anyone who claims those stories aren't worth their stones

I have the Z3 031 rack upgrade which is the second fastest of the "quick ratio rack" upgrades and it is no where near as bad as the horror stories I see tossed around to-and-fro; "sneeze and your three lanes to the right" BS

My next e30 is getting a z3 rack as the very first mod: I don't care if that thing has a blown m20 and popped tires all around. The stock e30 rack is horrendously slow; painful to go back to after you've experienced a quicker rack


As far as "universally" accepted mods? Almost every mod is going to have proponents as well as antagonists towards them. The only "universally" accepted mod is any OEM/Euro upgrade on a generally stock e30 (sealed beams upgraded to euro smilies; bottlecaps upgraded to euroweaves 6-button OBC upgraded to 13-button, etc.)

Everyone's gonna have their own taste, but OEM and OEM+ is always accepted by the greatest demographic, always

[econti]

Some of them are really too fast to be comfortable for some people in daily service, at least from what I've read.

I have a 3 turn E46 rack in mine and it's perfect. Totally fine at high speed too.

[Reichart12]

6-button OBC upgraded to 13-button

I would personally never switch from a 6 to 13. Ive had both and sure the 13 does have neat features and I would like it over a 6 but from fs ads for everything needed to swap, I wouldn't do it. Maybe Im lazy who knows. Analog clock is my preference in that spot anyways.

[keefy6]

something that's not shitty stock sealed beams, they're practically a safety issue

I'm a sealed beam guy although mine are H4(flat). The field of vision after adjusted is actually brighter than HID equipped cars that I've driven, and similar to cibie brands. I've had multiple pairs of smileys (smoked/original) and mocked them up but preferred the older look. Smiley headlights were not standard on all E30s.

Although, original OEM-Hella-untouched-new chrome headlights look outstanding...If I were to get them, I would need to invest in the original but it's low on my list.

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Topic
I would say suspension; not necessarily coilovers but a sportier spring and shock combo and replace all the bushings front and back. What a difference even if the engine is stock.

[mr2peak]

I'm a sealed beam guy although mine are H4(flat). The field of vision after adjusted is actually brighter than HID equipped cars that I've driven, and similar to cibie brands. I've had multiple pairs of smileys (smoked/original) and mocked them up but preferred the older look. Smiley headlights were not standard on all E30s.

Although, original OEM-Hella-untouched-new chrome headlights look outstanding...If I were to get them, I would need to invest in the original but it's low on my list.

That's why I was saying stock-appearance lights are probably your best bet, and we've agree that all stock offered euro parts, like smileys, are acceptable.

I would say suspension; not necessarily coilovers but a sportier spring and shock combo and replace all the bushings front and back. What a difference even if the engine is stock.

We're assuming you're starting with a car in like-new, as-delivered condition so all the OEM bushings are in perfect condition. Ride height is a personal thing so it's hard to say XXXX setup is good.

I have a 3 turn E46 rack in mine and it's perfect. Totally fine at high speed too.

E46 rack is, I believe, comparable to some E36 M3 racks in ratio.

Newest list version, adding in Konis:

Upgraded rear strut mounts
Lighting lumen upgrade that maintains stock appearance
LSD that maintains the as-delivered ratio
Any Euro part
Bilstein HD's/Koni shocks
Slightly faster steering racks
Period correct +1 or +2 wheels
Cupholders
Sport seats in place of comfort seats
Period correct Recaro's or equivalent
Maplight Mirror
Premium Sound System
Clutch Stop
UUC DSSR or equivalent
Heated Seats
Period Tuner parts (as long as they don't significantly alter the character or the car)
Strut Brace (preferably period correct)
Reinforcements for Chassis Longevity: Subframe, engine mount, sway bar, strut towers, underbody brace.

[Stanley Rockafella]

I think we can all agree that the great thing about the e30 design is you can customize it to whatever you like, and it'll drive and perform completely different than someone else's e30....yet it'll still be an e30. Regardless of what "mods" some might think are universally accepted or necessary

[mr2peak]

I think we can all agree that the great thing about the e30 design is you can customize it to whatever you like, and it'll drive and perform completely different than someone else's e30....yet it'll still be an e30. Regardless of what "mods" some might think are universally accepted or necessary

Well yes, but that's not what this thread is about

[15Michaeljoseph]

Dual trunk lights booyah


--Mike

[estoguy]

I'm a sealed beam guy although mine are H4(flat). The field of vision after adjusted is actually brighter than HID equipped cars that I've driven, and similar to cibie brands. I've had multiple pairs of smileys (smoked/original) and mocked them up but preferred the older look. Smiley headlights were not standard on all E30s.

Although, original OEM-Hella-untouched-new chrome headlights look outstanding...If I were to get them, I would need to invest in the original but it's low on my list.

My car came with Hella H4/H1s installed. I think they are pretty awesome for halogen bulb lights. I wouldn't bother going with anything "better" than that.

Especially with high beams on, those four lights cast a lot out. :)

And the maplight rear view mirror is a nice little mod and easy to do.

My buddy, the OP of my E30, also retrofitted cruise control into it (it's a pretty basic 325). It's nice to have if you don't have it. Also he did the writeup in the E30Zone wiki.

[mr2peak]

Dual trunk lights booyah

Yes! Can't believe it took this long to be mentioned.

[ELVA164]

Dual trunk lights are a real winner and should be done to every E30.

I'll be "that guy" and say I believe the one universally-acceptable spring would be the E30 M3 spring. Direct fit, some drop but not enough to keep the car from being daily-useable, a bit stiffer than stock but again not so much as to make things uncomfortable....pretty perfect compromise if you ask me. Matched with the aforementioned Konis and you're good to go.