Meet Project BMW E30 – recently purchased by moderator Dr.Gonzo, this 1990 Glacier Blue over beige vinyl BMW 325i replaces his previous white NA Mazda Miata.
Unlike most long-term reviews you’ll read on other automotive media outlets, our car isn’t brand new and is a little rough on the edges. This is a Bimmer on a budget. While we of course wouldn’t mind if BMW USA threw us the keys to a new M3 (are you there BMW?), we are taking this opportunity to write a unique series you won’t find anywhere else.
Join us as we journey through BMW ownership from the gay-friendly enthusiast’s perspective.
From an early age, I’ve loved tinkering with all things mechanical. While I’ve been working on cars since I was eleven years old, I know at 20 years old I still have much to learn. Fixing the faults on this car will certainly continue to educate me.
Here are some of my initial impressions. Driving the BMW, the first thing I noticed was just how different the BMW’s clutch feels compared to my old Miata. While the Mazda was tight and direct the German’s 5-speed manual feels much more…sturdy…in a reassuring way. Yet not all is gravy with the shifter, which feels like it needs new shifter bushings.
While overall in fine shape, the car needs some expected fixes after 20 years. A small oil leak can be attributed to the oil pan gasket, which I’ve heard is a common problem area for E30s. The persistent coolant leak may be a little more difficult to track down but shouldn’t be a major issue. The previous owner had recently replaced the suspension so the car is riding quite nicely now – not far from a modern day 3-Series. As I prefer my suspension a little firmer with a touch lower stance, expect this area to be modified in the future. The car will be seeing track duty along with daily driving so balance will be the theme here.
BMW E30 3-Series models were produced worldwide from 1982 until 1994, when it was replaced by the E36 3-Series.
