My dream E30 build is a never-ending MONEY PIT!

50 thoughts on “My dream E30 build is a never-ending MONEY PIT!”

1. So it is a $110,000 400 horsepower POS that doesn't run?

2. Guys I have this sweet custom car and I might be able to drive it when I'm 70.

   I'd take a shitbox since driving is the fun part for me.

3. I hope one day I can share my truck build here. Started as a highschool senior project and finished it after college 6+ years

4. We had a guy at a prominent BMW tuner I worked at in the very late 90's that had an aggregate $250k at the time. Stock looking E30, no body mods whatsoever, but a turbo "super eta," thing was a beast.

5. I hereby proclaim that mechanic to be titled "The MVP goat Master of the World™".

6. LOL 100% relatable, even with my wife taking 11 years, before she ever rode in the e28m5 “3.8L csl” that I built. Yeah, 991 GT3 money. Maiden out lap at WSIR after 11 years: https://youtu.be/fR3Vmyi0anM

7. I've had a similar history with my e30. Swapped in an m62, repainted, then subframes, interior, ect. Than I wanted more power and am now supercharging it, new suspension, brakes, mtech 1 kit, it never ends lol. Great video

8. Once again demonstrates "Get your kid interested in a good hobby and they'll never have enough money left to afford drugs!". 🤣

9. Every time I see another E30 build video I can't help thinking "they just don't get it". I love our E30s but these monster engine swap, lowered rock hard suspension projects just ruin everything that makes them so good. If you are looking for the best BMW to build for outright performance and/or track use then that would be the E46, their chassis and suspension can handle pretty much anything. But if you want to have one of the best drivers cars you can possibly find for enjoying the twisty back roads that is an E 30 325i basically straight from Munich.

10. He casually says carrera gt e brake

11. In the mid 80's as a teenager, I stood in the showroom of Autohaus in Cohasset. and this is what i was there to see:

    1985 Ferrari 288 GTO, S/N 58331, Rosso Corsa with black- red inserts, 2.8 litre twin turbo V8 engine, 5 speed gearbox, power windows, air conditioning, radio delete, 2,014 miles from new, delivered new to Autohaus Ferrari, Cohasset, Massachusetts, federalized for USA sale by Dick Fritz’s Amerispec, three owners from new, original owner’s manuals and pouch, tools and jack, original warranty booklet, Red Book Classiche Certification, one of just 272 288 GTO worldwide.

12. username on r3v?

13. Yeah the e36m3 z3m suspension and porsche 996 big brakes with kw v3 coilovers on my project e30 definitely adds up

14. At 4 mins … thats not the engine he is talking about. He is talking about the us m52 based s52 ( single throtel body)

15. The car on his shirt is a E9 3.0 csl right? Though with a slight modern twist on it it seems

16. I'm an f30 owner as of last year.. I don't think I could ever own another make.. its an amazing vehicle even just base.. I want the m2 or 3 comp xdrive for the maine snow ❄️

17. s54 e30 is literally the perfect bmw

18. Those were the days when a teacher could afford a BMW 😂

19. I always muse at people learning to drive manual cars, most people in the UK learn to drive in them.
    I'll grant that it's the last control to master in every different car you drive however.

20. Godspeed, this is a very cool build. I bet you won't even have to 'sell' it if your family grows. Since it probably wont finish before they graduate 🎓. Kidding aside, I wish you the best. Really cool to keep a car in your family.

21. Lol, custom albeit this was a painful reminder why not to do that. I literally can’t help myself

22. Lol over 9 years for a build. This dude blows

23. Hi 5
    My first car which I still own is a white 89 E30 2 door 318i auto, it was my mums daily driver and she kept it for me when she upgraded 😊

    I’ve since then converted it to manual with an M54B25 and I’ve tinkered with pretty well every single part of the car.

24. Your wife doesn't have Internet?

25. I'm sorry, I seem to be letting my dream E30 die slowly. I'm going to cry now.

26. Just came here to see no need for your wife to worry, E30 will never be finished.

27. …the shop has taken 9 years to put together the parts he gave them? That shop probably sold them parts bud

28. It's not a money pit when your car is family.

29. Manual gear shifter not a stick. A stick can be found on a tree. Yanks 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

30. I learned how to drive a stick in a 58 bug I wish I had a e30 the first time I drove a 240sx I thought it was fast

31. The S52 shown is not an S52. That’s an S50B32, the euro spec M3 engine from ‘96-‘99

32. One of my favourite stories. Thank you!

33. This story is a true car guy

34. when a car becomes family member

35. Loved the story!

36. E36 owner but always loved dirty e30. Awesome clean car man and hope to see it run.

37. I bought a e30 323 -84 ten years ago. (Most powerful 3-series money could buy when new. 325 came -85) I haven't driven it after that. Very slow progress. It has 2.7L turboed ETA engine, fake e30 M3 fenders and doors, but genuine e30 M3 front struts, back control arms, hubs and brakes.

38. Is this a repost? Swear its the same story

39. "Don't tell my wife, because she'd like to believe our wedding day was the happiest day…"

    "…so I drove my E30 in 2023, and my wife at the time…"

40. I bought an e30 right before my (now) wife and I married. The car broken down about 6 months a later and has been a nice lawn sculpture for the past 10 years. Now my 5yo is yearning as much as I do to get it back on the road so he can drive when he gets his license. I told him the project will be delivered JIT. 😅

41. BMW drivers……

42. I stick to the "Cheap seats" of the car world for the most part- and this still touched a nerve in me…

43. Lmao I’m in this exact same situation with an E30, carbon roof and S54 and all

44. I love stories from Massachusetts

45. The mechanic is the mvp

46. Is a teacher able to buy a bmw 3 series today new from dealer?

47. Awesome story. However, this isn't going to end. Next up… a S85. Then, a twin turbo variant of the glorious BMW V10. Then, he's going to put into reverse and go back in time and meet himself as a teenager… the cycle will begin in an endless loop.

48. I can relate with this man! Love this story lol Better finish it soon!!!

49. Typical bmw onwer issues.
    I had perfect e34 535i stock end up
    Building m5 clone with hostel turbo monster , sadly had trade it for x5 e70 for my girlfriend and kid. sadly my girlfriend made birthday gift for me stock e46 330i coupe manual.am all ready shopping the m3 bits in ebay …

50. link to r3v build thread?

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