Drove the e30 last night...

For the first time in nearly a year, I drove the e30.

I should caveat, the daughter is using it (the operative word..) while going to school. It's dirty as all get out, she never did replace my rear euro bumper after it was backed in to by her ex-boyfriend's mother - which happened while they were still together, so no, mom wasn't getting even for the son - and it has a few new door dings (ugh).

But man does that old tractor eta motor run like silk, and that gearbox shifts as good as it ever does.

I've not driven any newer bimmer save a Z3 test drive, so I have no idea how the newer 3s drive, but that e30 is just a nice driving car.

Makes me think once she's done with it, I should get serious and sell the Focus, and spiff up the ol' gal, straighten out those dings, get whatever gear lever makes for a short shift, maybe i motor it (maybe just chip the eta motor - torques is cool).

I thought when she was done with it I'd sell it off, but now I'm not thinkin' so.

You're assuming she's going to be done with it. What if she ends up liking it too much to let go?

I drove my e30 last friday. I've put like 5 miles on it since I picked it up in November.

They are fantastic cars. I have owned 6 of them. Still need to work out some issues with the current one.

I drove mine to work today. I don't believe I will ever sell that car. I'm quite convinced that BMWs of that era represent the high point of the DIY automotive world. Enough luxury to make great daily drivers without being too complicated to work on, durable, well-built interiors and components, decent rustproofing, and enough safety to get you by. Between the E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, and E34, you really have a car for just about every application: 2 doors, wagons, sedans, AWD, automatics, manuals, 4, 6, 8, and 12 cylinders. Plus, parts support is quite good for old BMWs.

stan wrote: You're assuming she's going to be done with it. What if she ends up liking it too much to let go?

This is quite possible. A couple things have stopped working (tach, the radio died), and she was complaining quite loudly about it. "Well, maybe you should just buy something newer and more reliable"

"No, I like the bimmer. You just need to fix that stuff".

In other good news, she was teaching the new boyfriend to drive a car with a proper gear box. And, she likes to chide people who can't shift for themselves.

My kids are doing their part to keep the car hobby alive and well.

My winter car is a 325ix. It's a great little car, but it's just about time to get the M535i out for summer.

gearheadE30 wrote: I drove mine to work today. I don't believe I will ever sell that car. I'm quite convinced that BMWs of that era represent the high point of the DIY automotive world. Enough luxury to make great daily drivers without being too complicated to work on, durable, well-built interiors and components, decent rustproofing, and enough safety to get you by. Between the E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, and E34, you really have a car for just about every application: 2 doors, wagons, sedans, AWD, automatics, manuals, 4, 6, 8, and 12 cylinders. Plus, parts support is quite good for old BMWs.

I really like the e34's. One of the most handsome sedans ever, IMO. Too many wants, not enough garage space or money.

In my 3 years of ownership, I've driven mine a total of about half a mile. I'm working to rectify that as soon as possible.

OldGray320i wrote: I really like the e34's. One of the most handsome sedans ever, IMO. Too many wants, not enough garage space or money.

I had a e34 540i/6 for 2 years. Nice car, but it's no e30

I love E30s. But, that steering wheel position... I just can't deal with it.

I drove my e30 about 100 miles round trip to hit an AutoX in AC on Sunday. Great weather for a comfy trip and some quality time with my Pops, plus a pretty good group to run with down there.

I only got in two runs, and only one of those was clean before a family emergency forced me to pack up early. I suppose that was a good thing though since when I went to swap back to street tires I noticed that one front strut was completely blown out... Oh well, Billies on order and all will be ok again soon.

My daughter is 7 weeks old now and I am seriously thinking I will hang on to this one until she is old enough to take over. These cars were definitely built to last.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Short arms?

Yeah what's up SFO? I did the wheel position....

Although I love my E36 M3 dearly, I still miss the 87 325is I had before it. There is something so perfect about the size of an E30. They are big enough to be practical, but small enough to be flingable and fun. I also love the idea of an E30 with an S52 swap. That would be a hoot!

You'd have to pry my E36 M3 keys out of my cold dead hands.....but I'll always have a soft spot for the E30 325i.

Drove my '79 E21 (6-cyl Euro model) at the track this weekend. With the M20 6-cylinder I'm faster than the stock E30s; the weight makes all the difference.

I learn track driving so much faster in the E21 than I do in a modern car. I can feel everything, right away. Lord knows, I'm a slow learner, so I can use the input.

But even an intermediate driver in a 230-400HP sports sedan can get a point-by from me during a session in the E21, even on a short track. And plenty did.

tb wrote: I drove my e30 about 100 miles round trip to hit an AutoX in AC on Sunday. Great weather for a comfy trip and some quality time with my Pops, plus a pretty good group to run with down there. I only got in two runs, and only one of those was clean before a family emergency forced me to pack up early. I suppose that was a good thing though since when I went to swap back to street tires I noticed that one front strut was completely blown out... Oh well, Billies on order and all will be ok again soon. My daughter is 7 weeks old now and I am seriously thinking I will hang on to this one until she is old enough to take over. These cars were definitely built to last. In reply to Swank Force One: Short arms?

No, i just always run all my cars with the wheel down as far as it goes. I feel like i'm driving a school bus with the angle the column is on an E30. I like moving my hands up and down, not forward and backwards.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Gotcha, and you definitely have a point... Although, having driven buses and such from a young age, it doesn't really bother me. It actually suits me quite well but I am far from normal in both my preference for the 4 spoke non-sport wheel and my typical hand placement / arm motions.

Having big hands, I will easily admit that I occasionally turn on the wipers when aggressively sawing the wheel through a slalom.

When I asked a clients husband (who is big into British cars) where'd the E30 go he replied "I gave it to (a friend of his kids)".

He wanted to know "why, did you want it?" Would've been free btw.

Aaaaarrrgggghhh!

Same thing happened to a mint black 1983 Diesel Benz with another clients husband. He gave it to the guy who painted his house. I really need to speak up more!

Swank Force One wrote:

tb wrote: I drove my e30 about 100 miles round trip to hit an AutoX in AC on Sunday. Great weather for a comfy trip and some quality time with my Pops, plus a pretty good group to run with down there. I only got in two runs, and only one of those was clean before a family emergency forced me to pack up early. I suppose that was a good thing though since when I went to swap back to street tires I noticed that one front strut was completely blown out... Oh well, Billies on order and all will be ok again soon. My daughter is 7 weeks old now and I am seriously thinking I will hang on to this one until she is old enough to take over. These cars were definitely built to last. In reply to Swank Force One: Short arms?

No, i just always run all my cars with the wheel down as far as it goes. I feel like i'm driving a school bus with the angle the column is on an E30. I like moving my hands up and down, not forward and backwards.

i thought you meant the offset centerline of the seat to the wheel. bothers the crap out of me every time i drive my M3 after my 944. 944 is right where it's supposed to be. when i built the seat bracket for the e30 challenge car i dropped a centerline from the wheel and centered it. SO much better, but yes it's still fairly upright. i'm gonna try to remedy that problem next.

I really need to drive an e30. Know a few people with them just never had the time to take one for a spin.