Extremely underwhelmed - Are e30's not for me?

[brandonbio]

I've been watching craigslist/r3v for over a year now searching for the right e30 for me. I currently drive a 1985 535i e28 that my fathers owned for the last 28 years (I've driven the last 4). It has 333,000 miles and it still kicks. To me it drives like a dream and I'm extremely happy with how it rides/drives. Our only concern is how far gone the body is rust wise.

I've gained interest in e30's lately and I'm strongly in the market for a stock clean late model. I've jumped back and forth between the beautiful sounding straight sixes (timing belt is what makes me not want one) and the advanced m42 of the 318is. Recently with my budget going up I've been taking the car buying more serious and actually have went and looked at specific cars.

Being from Madison WI there aren't too many clean e30's so when they pop up in the area I jump for joy. I recently looked at a 1989 318i touring that was for sale a little ways away from me and I was in love. Though the molasses like m40 with a timing belt wasn't the most fun, I just digged the history of the car. Being imported in 2014 from Germany, the car was owned by an extremely honest gentlemen who is extremely familiar with BMW's. I drove the car one Sunday night and fell in love with just the idea of owning th car. While it pretty nicely it didn't seem to trip my trigger like my e28. I liked the idea of owning touring and the fact of how raw, rare, and mint it was. I decided against it because the price seemed too high for what the car is actually worth. I only wanted the car for the simple fact of how rare the car was.

I've turned my attention to the 318is lately. I've been in contact with an owner here on r3v who is selling his mint (especially from the pictures it looks mint) diamond schwarz '91 318is slick top. The only part holding me off from purchasing the car is he is still waiting on the title to be put in his name and the car is located in Kentuck and I'm from Wisconsin. The plan would be to fly out one way and drive the car home. I'd have to be positive that I was the car before I fly though.

In the mean time I decided to go give a 318is that has been for sale for a month or so in the Chicago area (around 2 hours from me) a go.

Link - https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4972765183.html

My father and I drove down this morning to look at this "California car" (I say that because while it technically was a California car it's whole life, it sat outside all winter this past year). It was the second time I've ever driven an e30 and the first 318is. At first glance the car seemed pretty solid so I went to a test drive. The car seemed so cheap. The clutch wasn't that great of a feel and the driving position wasn't that amazing. The engine seemed choked and extremely slow. While I was so excited to give a 318is a chance I felt extremely underwhelmed with the e30. Comparing it to the driving experience of my e28 I would choose the e28 100 out of 100 times over this car. I guess the point of this extremely long post is I'm worried the rest of them feel that way. I know the 318is wasn't the top of the range model and at only ~19k MSRP it was a pretty cheap car new. I've heard so many good things about these e30's having this connection to the road and the feel of everything. Driving this car makes me not want an e30. If I do end up flying out to Kentucky to buy this 318is (http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=350803)
I don't want the same experience I had with the one I drove today. While the car from Kentucky looks extremely mint and much better value than the one from Chicago, I don't want that cheap feel that I felt today. Are e30's just not for me?

[indecline]

Maybe e30 318's aren't your flavor. I suggest sticking with 325 or even venture into e36 328i. There I said it

[AwakenNoMore]

Not sure what to tell you, I find my 325i fun every day.

[doorman]

Recently joining the E30 ranks (86 325e) this subject is fresh on my mind.

We've had our E39 touring for about 3yrs now.
They are most certainly two very different cars, similar to your comparison in your post.

e30 is raw, simple, noisy. It's a much more "connected" feeling when driving, you feel every bump, feel every gearshift, steering input, etc.
The wife just commented yesterday that you feel like you're going twice as fast as you are.

E39 is much more refined, more "solid" feeling. 100 on the expressway is effortless and practically silent. Don't get me wrong, you still feel "connected" but differently.

I realize the e39 is half as old as the e30 but I'd imagine the 3-5-7 series of that generation are very similar. I've driven a couple E36s and it's a very similar experience......raw, noise, etc vs the E39.



You're welcome to come down and take our E30 for a drive to compare if you like.

[325isdan]

You are looking at 20 year old cars here. they are going to feel cheap until you replace/upgrade the suspension components. A 318 needs to be reved to be in the fun zone.

[word is bond]

How healthy was the car you drove? I love my 318is, but my M42 is pretty low mileage, and has no a/c or the dual mass flywheel that comes with that. It's fun, but only cos I drive it like I stole it, and feel confident keeping the revs up. If you're looking for torquey straight line speed, there's nothing really there, but if you want a momentum car for backroads and canyons, it's a great choice.
I would try to drive another example if possible. Given the age of these cars, I'd argue that individual cars can all drive remarkably differently from eachother.

[reelizmpro]

You went from a 3.5L big six in a 5 series to a 1.8L 4 cylinder bare bones 3 series. They are very different cars. It takes some seat time to understand what the car is about. What you despise about it is exactly why some people like the 318iS. It's a lightweight, fun car. If you don't like it, try the 325iS and go from there.

[DrJosh]

I enjoy my 325is every time I drive it. I have put a couple hundred miles on it this weekend through rain, snow, and dry weather. I have a few other cars, but the E30 is by far my favorite.

[cwatt]

Much of the cult e30 following is the nostalgic driving experience these cars deliver. An almost equal proportion loves them for the plethora of possibilities. Each person is chasing their version of the 'ideal' e30, and the ease for which these 'lego' cars offer supports that. They're like the blank white Vans of the automotive world. Make of them what you want and look classic doing it.

Perhaps give some thought to what your vision of the car is and work toward that. Is it powerful? Maybe an engine swap is in your future. Do you want it to handle like it's on rails? Suspension and wheels are on the list.

Re: interior build quality... as already pointed out, these are old cars. Standards have improved, but trust when I say a worn out e30 feels terrible. Fresh fluids, bushings, filters, and normal maintenance and wear items and you'll experience the difference.

[Stanley Rockafella]

since the OP is accustomed to the inline 6, I'd agree that the 4 cyl is not for him. That's probably why he never drove it as hard.

IMHO take a WELL MAINTAINED AND STOCK 325i(s) for a proper test drive. It'll make you re-think the e30

Also, I'd skip that second e30 in your first post. Something seems fishy about that seller and his feedback from those who were interested in the car previously.

[bastianshaw]

the m30 is a better engine and frankly IMHO the e28 is a better all around chassis for DD you prob want a e34

[shameson]

I wouldn't judge e30's as whole just based on an experience driving one car. Each car can feel drastically different from one another based on what's been done it to. I love driving my 318, even just cruising. I've also done a lot of work and maintenance on the suspension and motor to get it there, so you just have to find one that's been done to your liking maybe.

Then again its not the car for everybody so maybe you'd prefer another e28 like a 535is or an e24.

[G-Man the Visionary]

Why not look for an e30 with an m30?

[lukeADE335i]

This could be the answer to your question. I love mine :)

As previously mentioned - a properly maintained e30 with new bushings and suspension is a pretty solid drive - one with shagged shocks and crappy bushings will feel very old and loose.

Either of the 4 cylinder models (318i or iS) have basically no sound deadening in them either vs. the 325i.

Early models seem to have more chassis flex than later models.

Remember that the e28 was substantially more expensive than the e30. e34s feel much more solid than both e28s & e30s - but they were also substantially more expensive new.

[golde30]

If u don't like the driving position, then no model e30 is going to feel rite. I was a fan of the driving position until I started driving more newer(e90 chassis) bmw, and realized that they offered a much better driving postion for daily use. I still love my e30, but its a garage queen/toy to best on, stuff like driving position no longer matter in this situation.