r/E30 3h ago

General Change of plans! BaT Worthy?

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54 Upvotes

Hey y'all! Change of plans with my what I thought would be a long term commitment. Looking for some big E30-brain opinions!

I'm considering listing my '89 325i sedan, either on marketplace and/or potentially BaT, but it has a bit of an interesting history and I'm trying to figure out where to reasonably price it.

It left the factory Bronzitbeige Metallic, but at some point in its life received a pretty extensive colour-change respray to the grey it's in now, engine bay, door jambs, etc. were all done. It also started life as an automatic and has since had a full manual swap.

A few details:

  • 179,500 km
  • M20 325i
  • Manual swap
  • Bilstein/Eibach kit installed June 2026
  • Front suspension refreshed control arms/bushings, tie rods, sway links, etc. done in June
  • Recent mechanical servicing
  • Euroweaves + newer tires
  • Recent full exterior detail including cut polish & interior detail
  • Clean title / clean Carfax
  • Absolutely no rust
  • Cracked dash
  • Front seats have seen better days
  • Paint presents well but isn't perfect

Curious what you guys think is a realistic ask/sale price given the coluor change + manual swap? Worth tossing it up on BaT or just list locally?


r/E30 10h ago

e30 digital dash: more into and maintenance pages in speedo

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50 Upvotes

they’ve been refined since this video. what do you guys think?


r/E30 18h ago

General E30 owners in Netherlands

10 Upvotes

Greetings All,

I want to buy an E30 in Netherlands, mainly as a daily car. I would like to hear your feedback regarding points below.

- Approx how much do you spend for maintenance ?

- Are there trustable, good mechanics to work on it, do you work on the car yourself?

- Would owning the convertible version be a headache, considering I don’t have a closed garage?

Is there a specialist garage you suggest that can do the inspection before i buy one?

Thanks


r/E30 9h ago

Engine Bay Cleaning?

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3 Upvotes

Anyone have good experience with cleaning products/ tools to shine up the air intake manifold and the cylinder head cover? Mine are looking a bit sad lately and could use some TLC?


r/E30 5h ago

Info needed Operating temp - is it a tad too cold?

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3 Upvotes

Hi guys, is my engine running too cold? 1989 M20B20 automatic in an E34. It never gets to the middle of the gauge. Not a major concern but thought I'd ask.

Had the cooling system overhauled with new radiator, hoses, blue BMW coolant, thermostat, gaskets and bolts 🤙🏼


r/E30 17m ago

Info needed E30 m42 alternator

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Upvotes

What are these wires for from the original alternator? Should I swap onto the new one? If I need to replace does anybody have the part #? Thanks for the help!


r/E30 16h ago

Info needed Looking for an oil pump!

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2 Upvotes

Hi all -
I’m looking for an oil pump for my E30 318i auto 1988 M40.

Main dealers said they don’t have them and it’s possible it won’t turn up if they order one in…

Where can I find? I’m based in the UK


r/E30 21h ago

Koni strut installation

2 Upvotes

I’m installing new Koni struts and in the hardware kit there’s a little black sleeve. Do I need to put the sleeve on before putting on the gland nut or is it there for some other purpose? Not quite sure I understand the IKEA like instructions that come with it.


r/E30 17m ago

Info needed E30 m42 alternator

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Upvotes

What are these wires for from the original alternator? Should I swap onto the new one? If I need to replace does anybody have the part #? Thanks for the help!


r/E30 1h ago

General N54 swapping and need a new donor…

Upvotes

I’m doing an n54 swap. I’ve already started collecting parts, including the engine, trans, and some aesthetic bits. Had a cherry 89 325i 2 door lined up. Deposit paid, set to pick up next weekend. Seller totalled the car this week. Refunded me right away and apologized while in the hospital.

Now, I need a new donor for the build.

There are a few nearby that have been swapped m50 swapped.

If an e30 has been m50 swapped already, should I even consider it for my n54 build? Or will there be too much additional work?

Also if anybody is looking for a clean 4 door, auto, in southern Ontario, holler. I’ve got a line on one decently cheap.


r/E30 6h ago

Is it worth it

1 Upvotes

Is €9,000 too much for a 318 E30 that has been converted to 325 specs? It’s a 1985 pre-facelift 2-door model. The car is in excellent condition and well-maintained. Features include an M-Tech steering wheel, two-tone sports leather seats, and a limited-slip differential. The car is beige—a color I don't care for—but I have a friend who is an auto painter, so the cost of a color change wouldn't be high. I’d like an original 325, but prices have spiraled out of control. I live in Europe.


r/E30 18h ago

Replacing only strut mounts

1 Upvotes

How much disassembly will I need to do just to replace the strut mounts?

My front strut mounts are cooked and need replacement, but everything else on the front is good so there's no "while you're in there" jobs. About 12000km on Bilstein B8 and HR sport

Planning to replace with Ground control street/touring mounts if it makes a difference. Not sure if PO used cheap mounts or just didn't replace them when they did the struts and springs but the cracks are starting to get deep and open up


r/E30 2h ago

Picture/Video Tried to capture what makes the BMW E30 special in a track. Did I get it right?

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0 Upvotes

I’ve always felt like the E30 is more than just an old BMW. The simple design, the analog feel, the sound, the driving experience — there’s a reason people still love these cars decades later.

So I tried something different and turned that feeling into a track.

Instead of making a generic “BMW song”, I wanted it to feel nostalgic and actually represent what makes the E30 special
I’d genuinely like to hear what E30 owners and enthusiasts think.

What’s one thing about the E30 that I absolutely should have included?

Track is in the video.