***Editors Note: I am always looking out for the next potential Car of the Month and sometimes they find me. Miguel sent me a PM and I tried to search for pics of his car, but didnt find any. Once he sent me pics and I got the background, it was easy to pick his car. Congrats Miguel, you're our February 2017 Car of the Month***
Factory options:
S242
Steering wheel airbag
S281
BMW LA wheel, chrome-plated/round spoke
S400
Slide/tilt sunroof, manual
S410
Window lifts, electric, front
S428
Warning triangle and first aid kit
S481
Sports seat
S530
Air conditioning
S556
Outdoor temperature indicator
Color:
Brilliantrot
Interior color:
Ivory, Recaro SR3 seats/massive rails, Momo hub/Italvolanti formel steering wheel (atm) Rear headrest, Euro clock, Maplight mirror, premium speakers, OEM black headliner, Alpine head unit.
Engine modifications:
281,000K original M42. Dinan chip, K&N panel filter, Mess under the intake repair, E36 M3 engine mounts,
Exhaust:
Supersprint Catback
Transmission:
Full Z3 1.9 short shift rebuild all oem linkage and bushings replaced, Redline MTL, UUC clutch arm bushings Nardi shift knob.
Differential:
Medium case 4.10 LSD resealed, Redline 75/90, Garagistic 80A poly diff bushing.
Suspension:
Bilstein sports(F) Koni(R) Lowtec 60/50mm springs, E90 drophats, Garagistic 80A poly throughout entire suspension, Z3 Steering rack, Garagistic reinforced rear shock mount/subframe, Front strut tower brace, Lower subframe brace. UUC stainless steel brake lines and Hawk brake pads.
Wheels:
195/45 and 205/45 Yoko/Sumitomo Volk Racing 16" x7/8 Three piece mesh (atm)
Exterior modifications:
OEM Fog lamp kit, Bosch Euro non smiley elipsoids with 5000K HID kit, Euro grill, US rear plate filler, New factory tinted windshield, BMW Motorsport door handles
Interior modifications:
Flocked Dash, custom integrated cupholders
Story behind the car:
After selling a car I should have never sold, (91 alpine slicktop) I needed to fill the void. This car showed up on auto trader, yes way back in 2011 when E30's were common on auto trader. I called and got some info, found out that it was a recent trade in and that it was a one owner car. The next day the wife and I were on our way 350 miles away to get it. Stole it for a fraction of what E30's cost today and we made the 6.5 hour drive back home without issue. I later found the phone number of the owner on the many receipts left in the car. I reached out to him, he was a military officer who purchased the car European delivery out of Germany in July of 1990 as a retirement gift to himself. He was no enthusiast but the car was kept up to a high level and only needed brakes and routine maintenance. I did some of the basic maintenance and drove the car for a few months until I had to be deployed overseas myself for a few years.
The car sat in the garage for years while I was overseas. While there I added to an already extensive collection of vintage BMW/E30 parts and when I returned back stateside I got to work with the intentions of making this car a solid OEM plus daily driver. The car is still a work in progress and continues to evolve. My intention is to continually improve on it with period correct modification true to the era and theme of the E30. I've met some really cool people in the process through this forum as a result of this car. I've owned six E30's over the years and though this is not the best of them, I honestly feel that it has brought the most joy and given me the highest sense of pride in ownership. Not sure what down the road has in store for us but I plan to keep this one for the long haul as rust free original OEM, E30's with cold A/C and hot heat are not readily available for reasonable money these days.
This forum and many members here have been a wealth of information and inspiration over the years. Shout out to amiller07 Andy Miller "The E30 Messiah" this build would not have been what it is without you homie.
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Factory options:
S242
Steering wheel airbag
S281
BMW LA wheel, chrome-plated/round spoke
S400
Slide/tilt sunroof, manual
S410
Window lifts, electric, front
S428
Warning triangle and first aid kit
S481
Sports seat
S530
Air conditioning
S556
Outdoor temperature indicator
Color:
Brilliantrot
Interior color:
Ivory, Recaro SR3 seats/massive rails, Momo hub/Italvolanti formel steering wheel (atm) Rear headrest, Euro clock, Maplight mirror, premium speakers, OEM black headliner, Alpine head unit.
Engine modifications:
281,000K original M42. Dinan chip, K&N panel filter, Mess under the intake repair, E36 M3 engine mounts,
Exhaust:
Supersprint Catback
Transmission:
Full Z3 1.9 short shift rebuild all oem linkage and bushings replaced, Redline MTL, UUC clutch arm bushings Nardi shift knob.
Differential:
Medium case 4.10 LSD resealed, Redline 75/90, Garagistic 80A poly diff bushing.
Suspension:
Bilstein sports(F) Koni(R) Lowtec 60/50mm springs, E90 drophats, Garagistic 80A poly throughout entire suspension, Z3 Steering rack, Garagistic reinforced rear shock mount/subframe, Front strut tower brace, Lower subframe brace. UUC stainless steel brake lines and Hawk brake pads.
Wheels:
195/45 and 205/45 Yoko/Sumitomo Volk Racing 16" x7/8 Three piece mesh (atm)
Exterior modifications:
OEM Fog lamp kit, Bosch Euro non smiley elipsoids with 5000K HID kit, Euro grill, US rear plate filler, New factory tinted windshield, BMW Motorsport door handles
Interior modifications:
Flocked Dash, custom integrated cupholders
Story behind the car:
After selling a car I should have never sold, (91 alpine slicktop) I needed to fill the void. This car showed up on auto trader, yes way back in 2011 when E30's were common on auto trader. I called and got some info, found out that it was a recent trade in and that it was a one owner car. The next day the wife and I were on our way 350 miles away to get it. Stole it for a fraction of what E30's cost today and we made the 6.5 hour drive back home without issue. I later found the phone number of the owner on the many receipts left in the car. I reached out to him, he was a military officer who purchased the car European delivery out of Germany in July of 1990 as a retirement gift to himself. He was no enthusiast but the car was kept up to a high level and only needed brakes and routine maintenance. I did some of the basic maintenance and drove the car for a few months until I had to be deployed overseas myself for a few years.
The car sat in the garage for years while I was overseas. While there I added to an already extensive collection of vintage BMW/E30 parts and when I returned back stateside I got to work with the intentions of making this car a solid OEM plus daily driver. The car is still a work in progress and continues to evolve. My intention is to continually improve on it with period correct modification true to the era and theme of the E30. I've met some really cool people in the process through this forum as a result of this car. I've owned six E30's over the years and though this is not the best of them, I honestly feel that it has brought the most joy and given me the highest sense of pride in ownership. Not sure what down the road has in store for us but I plan to keep this one for the long haul as rust free original OEM, E30's with cold A/C and hot heat are not readily available for reasonable money these days.
This forum and many members here have been a wealth of information and inspiration over the years. Shout out to amiller07 Andy Miller "The E30 Messiah" this build would not have been what it is without you homie.








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