How safe is the e30 really?

[kommissar]

I got in an accident with an e30 once. I was traveling down a road with some S-turns on January 14th (I remember the date because that day sucked). It was raining and miserable out, and it was cold but not icy (about 40 degrees).

I was driving at about 35 MPH, which is below the speed limit on that particular road, because of the rain and the twisty road I was on. As I approached an S-turn, I let off the throttle and turned in. I made it through the first half of the S, hit the straight mid-section, down shifted and started into the second half of the S. I think the down shift combined with the 4.10 LSD made the rear tires lost traction, and I lost the back end. The back end swung out, and, according to the police officer who responded to the accident, I over-corrected the skid. I ended up sliding into the opposite lane and off the road.

I hit a tree doing about 35 MPH. Everything happened so fast that I only remember the front right of the car impacting the tree, and the rest is a blur. The force of the blow as well as the skewed angle that I hit the tree at forced the car to rebound backwards. It spun 270 degrees and came to rest back on the road way.

I was unharmed. I walked out of the car, took out my cell phone and called 911.

I included a picture of the car. You can't tell, but the wheel (when on the car) was pushed back against the fender well and the control arm bent upwards. I wonder how this situation would have been different with plastic bumpers?

I'll never forget this accident - it was a very depressing day. Please be careful when you are driving out there.

[uofom3]

i think they're pretty tough. I do think that people should considder repacing their seat belts as a matter of basic maintenance.

[Kilomph]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392373&highlight=impact

Too bad most of the pictures don't work. I honesly don't worry about it, E30s are tough little cars.

[backtrail69]

I had a roll over 318is as a parts car and it held up DAMN good. After having the front end welded on and quarter replaced being totaled previously I could still open both doors. It went into a ditch and fliped end over end on to its roof...

[Brew]

if you are worried about it, put in a roll cage. voila, cheap $2000 car is now safer than an E500.

Unless you're driving around wearing an full-face SA-rated helmet, no. And even then its probably not as safe as a modern luxury car like the E-class.

[ptownTSI]

if you are worried about it, put in a roll cage. voila, cheap $2000 car is now safer than an E500.

[AdironRider]

Best thing you can do is drive as well as you can. The e30 is pretty safe.

[silverblades181]

Lost control at 70 mph on sucky ass tires and slippery road, hit the curb and rolled a few times, and I'm here to talk about it with only a scar on the head. So yeah, pretty safe.

[ping65810]

I think my e30 is safe for its size. My e36 seemed safe, but anytime I had an accident with it, the front bumper was useless. It just rode under everything, and so the hood, rad support, fenders, etc took the impact rather than the bumper. And the car was stock ride height, too, GRRR.
My e30 I think is fairly safe for a car of its size, tho I dont feel too safe about a side impact.

[Mot]

I5 in oregon sucks major ass, it's slightly better the more north you go.

[Kruzen]

Shit, you should figure out how to calm that down a bit... My 6 with Alpina suspension was damn stiff, I couldn't even push a corner of the car down with my 210lbs on it, and I never experienced anything but a super controlled, smooth ride. Maybe your car is just too stiff!!

Well I don't have new sways or anything, its just strictly a straight suspension swap.

Maybe I5 just sucks

[TerribleONE]

my friend (more like an aquiantance, but turned into friend once i found out he had an E30) rolled his 4door 89' seven or eight times down a hill and he didnt suffer a single scratch. i never got to see it but he said it looked like a crumpled up alluminum can.

-michael

[euroshark]

Although my only problem is my e30 handles like shit in the rain or snow. Like seriously, with my stiffer suspension (ie3's/m3 cabs/bilstein sports) I feel like my tail end "hops" when i'm on the highway in the rain and hit a bump, it loses traction and then gets it back agian at highway speeds and comes close to fishtailing. I dont know if thats par for the course but it certainly scares the hell out of me.

Shit, you should figure out how to calm that down a bit... My 6 with Alpina suspension was damn stiff, I couldn't even push a corner of the car down with my 210lbs on it, and I never experienced anything but a super controlled, smooth ride. Maybe your car is just too stiff!!

[JasonC]

I have to say for the e30 being a small car it looks like it holds up well in crashes. At least for the one's that i've seen in junkyards. I don't care for airbags, traction controll or abs. Allthough my firebird has airbags and abs so i guess i just have to live with them in it. The car that i've felt safest in was my 66-67 Dodge Coronet's. And the unsafest is my buddys Ford Festiva.

[Kruzen]

BMWs have always been known for their safety...
However, their safety is more than just "active safety", there are many MANY "passive safety" features as well.

Sure, they may not have great airbags, if at all. The crumple zones may not be up to par... BUT.
-The blind spots are ALMOST zero.
-The lighting is excellent front and rear.
-There is enough power to accelerate out of trouble, and enough braking to stop in a serious hurry.
-The check control panel lets you know when lights are not functioning.
-The suspension is point-and-shoot, and is quickly reactionary.

So I would say that even though it may not be up to snuff with the airbags, crumple zones, and onstar, E30s are still VERY safe cars relatively speaking. You just need to be an aware driver.

QFT on this post.

Although my only problem is my e30 handles like shit in the rain or snow. Like seriously, with my stiffer suspension (ie3's/m3 cabs/bilstein sports) I feel like my tail end "hops" when i'm on the highway in the rain and hit a bump, it loses traction and then gets it back agian at highway speeds and comes close to fishtailing. I dont know if thats par for the course but it certainly scares the hell out of me.