The good news is, the E30-generation 3-Series is still pretty cheap. It has a wonderful chassis and plenty of aftermarket support, meaning turning into a competitive car should be fairly easy. General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts. BMW Models. Hello everyone. I am about to own my first BMW ever. It's a 87 325IS with about 200k miles, 5pd. E30 is something I've always drooled on since high school. I did search for common problems, but all I notice is some idling problem that seems to be common in this car. The headliner tends to separate under the visors where the leather has tightened and the glue dried. Check the trunk. Check the seal and corners for water leaks or rust. Make sure to look under the battery try and car jack for rust. Very common area. Lift op the carpet and look under the spare tire for rust. This car has the potential to be this generation's E30 M3 or 2002tii, though admittedly, it lacks the motorsports heritage of those two models. I have a feeling that one day good 1Ms will be going The E30-generation BMW M3 has attained a legendary status among BMW enthusiasts. For good reason, too. Its pure driving dynamics, near-perfect balance and motorsport-bred engine make it a driver The Final Form. The story of Michael Ludick’s E30 build begins in the early ’90s when, as a South African schoolboy, he first developed his love of cars and speed. It was Michael’s neighbour who is mostly to blame for this, thanks to the turbocharged E30 in his garage. Michael was crazy about the car and couldn’t get enough of the sound A nice E30 that will be a viable daily now costs around $15-20k; the market has gone looney due to hotrodders and driving enthusiasts hacking these cars up, leaving fewer clean examples every year. A daily driver requires creature comforts like AC, power steering, heat, and a sound system. If you're not willing to shell out $15k+ for a really Transmission: Getrag 265 five-speed manual (six-speed after 1988) Years Active: 1987–1990. Unlike the 2002 or M1, the E30 M3 was flagged by BMW engineers as car with rally potential. Joining other brands like Renault and Peugeot, BMW entered the E30 M3 into its first rally race in the late ’80s. After successes in 1987 at the WTCC Corsa The E30 was a very nice car back in the day, but getting one now in good shape now might take awhile. IMHO the E36 was the first try at moving upmarket with all the gizmos and electronics that BMW seems to love and it didn't always work out for the best. I would get an E30 as a "hobby car" if you like something to work on or an E46 as a daily Make sure the switch is properly closed when the throttle is shut, and also make sure the throttle cable has the required 2mm or so of slack that BMW recommends - all this helps to make sure the TPS signals that the throttle is closed when it is! Paul. 4th May 1990 325i Convertible. BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever: Q3HVAWR.