BMW E30 RETRO by Aidan Fitzsimmons
This month ’ s retro car review is my BMW E30 Convertible , which I fondly named Beyonce , for obvious reasons if you have seen my car and her namesakes back end . Retro to me is 70 ’ s , 80 ’ s & 90 ’ s hot hatches . However , who is to say that retro can ’ t be older , and can vintage be made retro . In my opinion the answer is yes . A retro style is a vehicle that is styled to appear like cars from previous decades . Quite often these cars use modern technology and production techniques like the new retro Jag XK by Thornley Kelham .
Being a confirmed car nutcase / petrol head coupled with my day job involvement with the automobile industry , and as my particular interest is BMWs , this month I am going to concentrate on my very own beauty Beyonce - the BMW E30 Convertible .
What ’ s it like to drive ? The Convertible is certainly wind in the hair fun . Work your way through the gears fast and early , then you can be smooth and economical – but hold those gears in place for a little longer and the engine shows its teeth . This thing can move more than you ’ d expect . It ’ s just those 80s brakes that you need to account for . But who really cares how fast you can go . This is Beyonce , she ’ s a lady , she ’ s beautiful , she wants to be seen not pulled over with a speeding ticket .
With the roof up you could use her as an everyday A to B car , but as soon as the sun comes out the roof comes down it becomes a pleasure cruiser , taking in the scenery , feeling the road a head looking out over that iconic box shaped front end . These cars are super light and great to throw around on backroads . If you are commuting , you can languish on the motorway at 70 all day long .
Buying an E30 . Buying a used car is always a chore , especially when you ’ re looking at something that is at least 20 to 30 years old . Even if you ’ re not forking out for the top models like the 325i Sports or the M3 , it still pays to have your wits about you . Most older vehicles will have had quick paint jobs to make them look more appealing . Before you leap in with fists full of your hard-earned cash , take your time , check the usual places and don ’ t let your heart take over your head . A quick brash decision because it ’ s the car you want can also end up costing you even more money in the long run . A car being sold for a few hundred less will have a reason why , so take your time .
What to Look For ... The first thing you should check for when buying an E30 is to see if the timing belt , or timing chain has been changed recently . If it hasn ’ t , then you should plan on changing it out as soon as possible . The odometers are also very prone to breaking . When test driving , you should check to see if it works or not in order to see if the mileage listed is accurate . If the odometer is non functional , it is a relatively easy fix that can be done by yourself within an hour or two . Rust is also a huge problem on these cars . Rust repair is difficult , and expensive to get done . I would stay away from any cars with major rust . Look at the paint , and pay attention to if the paint is oxidized / faded , or if there are any major dents or scratches . Most E30 dashes are cracked . They can be replaced , but it is a difficult job , as well as expensive to purchase .
The BMW E30 is the second generation of BMW 3 Series , which was produced from 1982 to 1994 and replaced the E21 3 Series . With a multilayered convertible top , the car was a practical proposition and when the sun came out , the roof was neatly stowed under a panel in the rear deck , giving the car an elegant profile similar to the Mercedes SL . Unlike the Merc though , the BMW retained its full four-seat capability rather than an apologetic 2 + 2 layout , while the boot space remained useful too , giving it an advantage over the Golf GTI Cabriolet . Initially the convertible was offered only in 325i form with the 170bhp 2.5-litre straight six , joined in 1988 by the fourcylinder 318i and six-cylinder 320i models . The E30 range was facelifted in 1987 with colour-coded plastic bumpers , enlarged rear lights , reshaped rear arches , front and rear valances and ellipsoidal headlights , but the Convertible wouldn ’ t gain the styling changes until 1990 .
World Championship race tracks to the open road . The E30 was a series produced in many variations , in the car ’ s heyday it was synonymous with yuppies . Only 786 units of the BMW M3 E30 Convertible were produced . This means that the most powerful production E30 convertible of all time is also one of the rarest E30 vehicles ever . And as the first convertible BMW M , it has taken its place in history and become a sought-after classic .
The BMW M3 E30 wasn ’ t really planned . It came into being thanks to a particular Group A motorsport regulation that meant that in order to homologate its M3 racing model for touring car championship events , BMW M also had to build 5,000 units of a road-legal version . During the initial development of the first M3 touring car , successful performances were the baseline that M engineers had hoped to achieve . But they did even better than that , with successful performances turning into championship wins in its very first season in competition . The crowning achievement that year was the inaugural World Touring Car Championship title captured by Italian Roberto Ravaglia behind the wheel of an M3 . The M3 dominated that series from start to finish , and a motorsport legend was born . As a result , the 5,000 planned road-legal versions were quickly sold and BMW M , realising it had a hit on its hands , quickly moved to cater to demand . This included the creation of rare special edition models such as the BMW M3 Evolution , the BMW M3 Cecotto , the BMW M3 European Champion signed by Ravaglia and , of course , the BMW M3 Convertible .
The M3 E30 Convertible produced 195 hp yet weighed in at just 1360 kilograms . In 1988 , this was an impressive power-to-weight ratio for fourseater convertibles , and it still guarantees incomparable driving pleasure today . The gearshift dynamics of the BMW M3 E30 Convertible are another indicator of its proximity to motorsport . First gear is located on the lower left of its H gearstick , creating a performance advantage of having shorter shifting distances between second and fifth gear .
In summary : If you want one or have one as I do , cherish it for both its place in history and its future growth in value . Love it and it will love you . Price : £ 4,000 - £ 30,000
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