What would you consider a major fault with the E30's

[CorvallisBMW]

I've heard some good ideas, and I'd add the lack of an adjustable steering column as well. All the Mercs and Audis at the time had this feature, e30s did not.

Also no cup holders. I know Hans und Franz in 1983 were all like "No drinking on ze Autobahn! Das auto ist fur driving, nicht drinking!", but seriously, this is 'murica and we need those things...

[Reichart12]

Lack of cup holders? I know this problem comes up in threads occasionally. I can only keep a coffee cup wedge between the center console and passenger seat for so long before it spills a drop or two.

[MonkeyMadness]

Biggest fault I have found of the e30 is the people who own and drive them.. There all a bunch of dicks...

[rturbo 930]

Everything on the e30 was done proper except the steering rack.

How has nobody mentioned that? The 4 turn LTL rack in the e30 is TERRIBLE. even the m3 came with that appalling steering rack. The e30 should've come with a 3 turn rack such as the e36.


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I thought the E30 M3 came with a slightly less appalling 3.7(?) turn LTL rack, but I might be wrong on that.

[pandaboo911]

What would you consider a major fault with the E30's

Everything on the e30 was done proper except the steering rack.

How has nobody mentioned that? The 4 turn LTL rack in the e30 is TERRIBLE. even the m3 came with that appalling steering rack. The e30 should've come with a 3 turn rack such as the e36.


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[Stanley Rockafella]

age

[Massimo]

Biggest Fault..

Once you go E30 you can never go back.

[redsubdivisions]

M20.

Hands down the biggest fault for North American cars.

M40 for everyone else....followed closely by the M20.

So you must dislike the engine that your 524td's powerplant is based off?

[Hooffenstein HD]

I'm a bit of a "shifter guy" so the E30 shifter has just been extra disappointing for me, the lack of shift knob options hasn't helped either.

Floor mounted shifter and solid engine/trans mounts will solve your issues.

[Vincent Brick]

What's wrong with your shifter?

I replaced all the bushings, two of them are the Garagistic delrin pieces, all the yellow washers are as tight as can be, and even with a shift lever that a PO cut down slightly I still have at least an inch diameter of slop while in any gear. I have been told the only way to get it any better is to get a rebuilt transmission, that DSSRs offer only minimal improvement if any. I had a couple of different AWESOME shifters in the Neons I owned prior so I was quite spoiled, and I at least felt measurable improvement when I had to rebuild the shifter in my AE86. I'm a bit of a "shifter guy" so the E30 shifter has just been extra disappointing for me, the lack of shift knob options hasn't helped either.

[Das Delfin]

Rear shock mounts for sure. Battery tray rust is preventable with the stock catcher tube/reservoir. odo gears?

My old Saab 9000 involved removal of the transmission/engine to change the slave cylinder. The e30 was done in an hour in 35 degree weather. This car has been remarkably easy to work with. Still, I wish this car had reverse lights mounted to the front of the car that projected along the sides for seeing at night when in reverse... that shit was bananas

[mr2peak]

Convertible top motor
Rear shock mounts
Shifter bushings

Nothing else really fails prematurely

[101]

The use of steel for brake lines and fuel lines instead of an alloy.

The design of the "bitch tube" on the M20 engine that requires massive effort to change the 50 cent rubber O-rings on it.

[TYBG]

Shifter slop for sure. Some of them feel like a stick In water. fishin for a gear to engange. My 325es isn't that bad but most of the e30s Ive driven have been rather disappointing in that regard.

[UlrichFennec]

M20.

Hands down the biggest fault for North American cars.

M40 for everyone else....followed closely by the M20.

I never really understood the hate for the M20. I'm actually pretty curious as to why it's so bad. I hear more shittalk towards the M40 than I do the M20.