What made you want an E30????

[karpiel]

I was trying to choose between an e36 325i and a mercedes 190e(what I really wanted) when my 323i fell in my lap. 30 seconds (no kidding) after I bought the e30 I got a call about an e36 325i with 120k for 250 more then the e30, I knew I made the right choice when I didn't care.

[Mo_E30]

here ya go

^ and here it is where it isn't a slide show:

awesome, thanks.


Love the zero body roll on :45 and 1:17. 8)

[Dave McLaren]

I got my driver's license in '84, and the new E30 318i was totally aspirational for a kid in the OC. Back then, you were hot shit if your parents bought you a GTI (guys) or a Rabbit Convertible / Cabriolet (girls) but if you got a brand new 318i you were a god. I got a hand-me-down '76 Fiat Spider. Meh, it was kinda cool at the time. Parents money, couldn't complain.

After I graduated the 325i and 325iC were launched, and those were off-the-charts cool. While putzing around in junior college, getting the partying out of the way before getting serious, one kid I knew actually got an M3. A friend got his mom's two-year-old 325e sedan, which was still way cool, as she got the new 325iC, white on blue. We went cruising in it a lot, and before long she got tired of it being so small, and she gave it to him. I always loved that car.

After transferring to USC, my college girlfriend (a Bruin, go figure) and I bought a used 535iS. We tied the knot, and added a used red on black 325iC. We finally sold it in 2000, but I sure missed it. While we/ve had other bimmers along the way, I always had a thing for the E30, especially that white on blue convertible.

One day, two or three years ago, there was a white on blue '91 convertible in the CMW shop. The owner had lost interest in it, not wanting to pay for the next repair, this time a leaky steering rack. Naturally, I swooped in.

Now I have what I consider a "digitally remastered" version of my old dream car. Looks similar, but it's better, stronger and faster than I ever dreamed possible back when that dream was still fresh in my mind. My wife, the same lady that was thrilled to get that red convertible, doesn't quite get what it is about this car that I love so much. She left that dream in the past, and I can understand that.

Dave

[dashboardmonkey]

I love how this thread has been brought back. Some interesting stories, keep em coming guys.

BTW I am on my 3rd E30 and am as addicted as ever

[blueapplesoda]

all these homos on this r3v talking about these box cars got me all hot and bothered

[ak-]

Learned that my dad and his side of the family grew up around these cars and the ones before in Lebanon.
Dad taught me how to drive in one at the age of 11 and it also happened to be stick, sold it 2 years later after he taught my sister how to drive stick.
I grew up probably till' the age of 14 or so thinking all cars come and are made in manual transmission only, then I shat bricks in confusion when they bought the new family van.
When I played games(racing) at that age, I thought "Automatic" meant easy-mode; does it for you.

Besides learning on it, old boxy cars attract me. My best friend has a clean 510.
Aggressive front ends as well.
And learning more and more about them made me love them even more.

[bimmer_E30]

i lived in NorthAfrica for 8 years(Libya). They called the E30 there, "Batman", yah no joke. i saw tons of E30s there, and loved the way they looked and Sounded. Then my dad's friend Son bought a black latemodel coupe. and they brought it home detailed the shit outta of it and the guy took me for a spin. from that day i always wanted one. he completly bagged the shit outta of that car and it drove perfectly. and they don't replace timing belts there, once the timing belt snaps, the car goes to the junkyard. yah if you go to a junkyard in Libya, you'll find tons of Euro, Mtech2, Mtech1 E30s just sitting there, not even rusting since it's in the Desert hahah. also for 2-3000$ U.S you could buy the mintest Mtech2 late model E30 Imported right from Germany. Now it's sad though, because they're everywhere in Libya rightnow. People buy them, drift them do stupid shit with them and then they wreck them. One of my old friends from Libya told me they're like the Honda civics there now lol. every young punk has one. and they abuse the shit outta of them. It's really sad.

Second part, is when i turned 15, my dad helped me to get started with somthing easy on gas and Manual, just to get started and learn the basics with. So i Bought a Dodge colt. then after a Engine Rebuilt, i sold it. i riced it out hahah. Then I Looked on kijiji, i was actually planning on buying a Z24 Cavalier lol or a honda civic, then saw my old coupe 325e priced really well, called the guy and he drove the car to my house to view it, looked at and i was completly sold that moment. went back home gave him the money and drove the car home. i had tons of different bmws in the last year or so. Everytime i jump into another car other than an E30, i will be happy for like the First 24HRS of the ownership and then completly regret selling the E30 hahah. it's just different than all the other cars outhere. The car has it's own charecter. Kinda attracts you to it by away that you could only feel or Experience i must say LOL :)

[Strelok]

Originally wanted a Porsche 944, but I was scared away by the exorbitant upkeep costs. But I still wanted cheap, fun to drive, RWD, and European, so the choice became obvious :)

[ak-]

One of my old friends from Libya told me they're like the Honda civics there now lol. every young punk has one. and they abuse the shit outta of them. It's really sad.

Same in Lebanon sorta. Every young guy has one and it is like the Honda Civic over there, but not THAT whored out. In the summer when visiting, someone offered me $7000 for an S50 swapped car, full suspension, great body. Later after talking, I found out his dad and mine were friends long time ago or something; He let me take it for a spin and warned me "it's fast", lol (: Though they seem to be the Honda Civic of the country, they ironically tastefully mod them though usually. The one thing I'm going to guess us "Americans" would have against them are the eyebrows, M badges, and heavy tint on the windows/rear lights.

/novel.

[bimmer_E30]

Same in Lebanon sorta. Every young guy has one and it is like the Honda Civic over there, but not THAT whored out. In the summer when visiting, someone offered me $7000 for an S50 swapped car, full suspension, great body. Later after talking, I found out his dad and mine were friends long time ago or something; He let me take it for a spin and warned me "it's fast", lol (: Though they seem to be the Honda Civic of the country, they ironically tastefully mod them though usually. The one thing I'm going to guess us "Americans" would have against them are the eyebrows, M badges, and heavy tint on the windows/rear lights.

/novel.

Yup. in 2006 i went to Jordan and saw a couple of tastefully modded late model E30s, But not so many of them though. God the best thing was the taxi waiting in the Airport for Us, a EVO IX. hahah we were like WTF........Jordan/Amman is Beautiful BTW.

[atan88]

I always liked the E30 M3 but what got me for a non M3 e30 is R3V.

[Jaxx_]

wanted a RWD project car. 240s were too hard to find clean, E30 was the next option on the list. I sure as hell wasn't going to go FWD, so here I am. In an under powered RWD car that still needs a few parts to pass inspection.

It will be a fantastic road though. I like to sit in it an enjoy it even though I can't really drive it anywhere. Just let it come up to temperature every few days after I fix a small issue. It's my little reward.

[///digitalme]

i got my first one cause it was 900 bucks and it ran thats all i wanted...

but i got hooked just like everyone else!:)

[iignite]

Just wanted a rwd after my civic. I always wanted something different on the road, so something i could afford was either a 240sx or a miata. Miata's styling wasnt right for me and 240sx's were either too rusted everywhere and too common.

My other choice was an impreza but they were out of my price range.
I'm glad I actually got a car that I wanted and could call mine... I love this car regardless its a shitbox

[e30ballin]

i always loved the way they look!! my mom had one when i was like five and i liked it then too. and there is something about them i cant put my finger on it, i just love driving them.