Gifted an E30? Don’t Tempt Me with a Good Time. - ’89 325is Project Begins

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  • Rekpoint
    Noobie
    • Jan 2016
    • 28

    #1

    Gifted an E30? Don’t Tempt Me with a Good Time. - ’89 325is Project Begins

    What’s up everyone! Long time lurker, finally a first time E30 owner.

    I was recently gifted a 1989 325is by my brother so he could free up some garage space for another project. I’ve been around older BMWs my whole life, but this is my first E30 and I’m pretty excited about it. The car originally came from California, and I shipped it from Seattle, so thankfully it’s rust-free.... Which is basically a unicorn where I live in Minnesota & Wisconsin. As most of you know, finding a solid E30 in the Midwest is no small task.

    It joins the garage alongside my 2005 E46 M3 and my 2014 X5 M Sport (optioned with pretty much the entire M Performance carbon fiber catalog). Safe to say I’ve got a soft spot for BMWs. As I have owned a handful of E36 M3s, M Roadsters etc.

    My brother actually cleaned the car up quite a bit during his ownership, refreshed a lot of the little things and got it to a really solid starting point. I’m mostly looking to get it across the finish line and bring everything together.

    Current focus is chasing down a couple water leaks, one into the trunk and another into the passenger floorboard. I want to get those sorted properly before touching the interior. Once it’s sealed up, the plan is to redo the interior and freshen everything up as the car also came with a crack free dashboard.

    I’ll probably be hunting for odds and ends as I go, so I’m sure I’ll be digging through classifieds and asking some questions.

    First thing I’m actively searching for is a set of 15” BBS RS waffles. Preferably gold, but if silver it gives me a chance to refinish the wheels. If anyone has a set they’re considering letting go, definitely let me know.

    Excited to finally be posting instead of just reading and looking forward to learning from you all and contributing where I can.

    These are the only photos I have as the car is currently blocked in my garage in Minnesota. It's also cold and I have 0 interest in going outside.
    Click image for larger version

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  • Panici
    Moderator
    • Dec 2009
    • 2354

    #2
    Nice! Looks like a clean starting point for you.
    What are your plans for the car?

    '87 BMW E30 325is Turbo

    '99 BMW E36 M3 - - - '98 BMW E36 328i

    Comment

    • Rekpoint
      Noobie
      • Jan 2016
      • 28

      #3
      Originally posted by Panici
      Nice! Looks like a clean starting point for you.
      What are your plans for the car?
      Hoping to get it to the point where I can just drive it. It runs and drives right now but when I flew out to Seattle I half-ass put the interior back in the car so I could transport it and look into the leaks here.
      And when the interior is out I might as well start replacing things. I am thinking MTech Cloth for the seats. Install the crack free dash, dye the door panels black and replace the carpet.
      Also picked up a Husco for dirt cheap that I will end up installing.

      Comment

      • MrBurgundy
        R3V Degenerate
        • Mar 2012
        • 5396

        #4
        who cares about the e30

        lets talk about all the other cars

        8========D
        Current Collection: 1990 325is // 1987 325i Vert // 2003 525i 5spd // 1985 380SL // 1992 Ranger 5spd // 2005 Avalanche // 2024 Honda Grom SP // 2024 Yamaha XSR700 // 2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X

        Comment

        • Rekpoint
          Noobie
          • Jan 2016
          • 28

          #5
          Originally posted by MrBurgundy
          who cares about the e30

          lets talk about all the other cars

          8========D
          Are you referring to the Cobra, RX7 and Land Cruiser?

          Comment

          • 2mAn
            Señior Mod
            • Aug 2010
            • 20353

            #6
            Originally posted by Rekpoint

            Are you referring to the Cobra, RX7 and Land Cruiser?
            yes, forget the BMWs
            Simon
            Current Cars:
            -1966 Lotus Elan
            -1986 German Car
            -2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

            Make R3V Great Again -2020

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            • varg
              Florida Turbo Man
              • May 2014
              • 3339

              #7
              It's a pretty nice looking E30, in for more pics and progress.

              I'm also interested in the FD though for obvious reasons.

              IG @turbovarg
              '91 318is, M20 turbo
              '94 525iT slicktop, M50B30 + S362SX-E, 600WHP DD or bust
              '93 RX-7 FD3S, pretty and slow

              Comment

              • JasonWilson48
                Advanced Member
                • Jan 2025
                • 123

                #8
                MF has an RX7, AC cobra, landcruiser, E46 M3, and X5M... and gets gifted an E30.

                Click image for larger version

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                Welcome, and looking forward to see what you do with the car!
                89' Build
                2009 Honda Element (Daily/Beater)

                Comment

                • Rekpoint
                  Noobie
                  • Jan 2016
                  • 28

                  #9
                  Originally posted by JasonWilson48
                  MF has an RX7, AC cobra, landcruiser, E46 M3, and X5M... and gets gifted an E30.

                  Click image for larger version

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                  Welcome, and looking forward to see what you do with the car!
                  They are actually my brothers cars. The PO of the E30. Those photos were taken before the transport got them back to me in Minnesota.

                  The Cobra is a Factory Five with a 5.0 out of a mustang, The Rx7 is street ported with a Greddy t78 single turbo. The Land Cruiser is a diesel 5 speed with Te37xs
                  Pretty sweet vehicles. But he needed room for something else cool.

                  But hoping to get working on the E30 on Friday as it will be 44 degrees out.

                  Comment

                  • grandeswag
                    Advanced Member
                    • Oct 2020
                    • 114

                    #10
                    Looks like a great entry point! Check the elephant trunk, sunroof drains and tail light gaskets for your leaks.

                    Comment

                    • Rekpoint
                      Noobie
                      • Jan 2016
                      • 28

                      #11
                      Originally posted by grandeswag
                      Looks like a great entry point! Check the elephant trunk, sunroof drains and tail light gaskets for your leaks.
                      I know the tail light gaskets and elephant trunk were replaced. Sun roof drain was blasted out as well. But I am going to double check.

                      Comment

                      • Northern
                        R3V Elite
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 5170

                        #12
                        sunroof drain not being inserted in the trunk vent, antenna grommet, trunk seal (if parked nose-down), and c-pillar sail panel clips/foam gaskets can all cause trunk water ingress as well.
                        Originally posted by priapism
                        My girl don't know shit, but she bakes a mean cupcake.
                        Originally posted by shameson
                        Usually it's best not to know how much money you have into your e30

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