In America the E30 is the beginning of what BMW is today. The E30 was the perfect symbol of the executive-bound Yuppie of the 80s. Excellent video, sir. Keep up the good work!

In the early '80s a friend let me drive his 323i. I had 1.3 Marina at the time, so it was like driving a rocket in comparison. Excellent video.

My dad had a 1990 325i. When I was 14 it was the first car I ever sat in the driver's seat of. He taught me the basics of driving in the empty car park of a closed down mill close to where we lived. That was in 1998. I've had a few cars over the years (Fiesta, Saxo, Golf GTI, Civic Type R) but I always wanted a proper 6 cylinder BMW. No other cars I drove came close to the way that 325i felt, even at the low speeds I drove it at when I was 14 /15. My dad died in 2020, just 1 year before I finally got my own BMW. I know the new ones are not the same as the old ones but I wish he was still here so I could have given him a go in my M140i. Great cars.

Nice video, 100% agree these older designs are so much more stylish than the modern weird designed modern stuff.

The South African market, due to the embargos of the time, got two very special South African only E30 models, the 333i and the 325is (EVO I & EVO II), the latter being developed for the local Touring Car series where it battled the very quick Opel Kadett GSi "Superboss", some of the most exciting racing i`ve ever seen. The 333i was developed due to the E30 M3 not being available to the market, that car today is highly sought after by collectors.

Ed, you’ve done it again! ( you’ve hit me right in the heart ❤️) I had the E30 323i six four door in the mid eighties when my kids were 4 and 6 years old respectively. It was in bright metallic silver and the paintwork was good enough to be on a new Rolls Royce. We had a 2 mile straight leading from town to our village, and whenever we were on our way home, my kids used to say: “Daddy, put it in hyperthrust” 😁😁…Thank you for sharing another wonderful, wonderful episode 🖖

Absolutely adore my E30, despite being off the road for 2 years. Just looking at it sat on axle stands brings me a bit of joy, a car I always wanted and was actually obtainable when I was 21 years old! Can't wait to get mine back on the road, and videos like this really encourage me to do so on a tighter schedule...

So much great information, so well written, no gimmicks, just a great watch. This channel is getting better and better. Bravo Sir!

The 325i Sport on launch in 1987 cost £16,685 compared to £17,840 of a 325i Convertible and £14218 of a standard 325i.The 4wd 325iX was £18,345. The E30's M20 engine took very little from the E21 unit - same basic design but everything was different. Lighter block, pistons and crank, bigger inlet ports, a revised cam and LE Jetronic replacing K Jet (323i) and the Solex 4A1 DVG carb (320)

That is a particularly smart example of the E30. They are also from an era before everything was electronic and coded to the car, or covered in plastic shrouds. Making them easier to work on yourself.

Currently have E30 325I SPORT..GREAT CARS

Ed, Love your enthusiasm for the baby Bavarian. Some petrolheads came of age when BMW were identified as a low volume, high end, ultimate driving machine car maker, and owning (as opposed to renting/leasing), such a car was something exceptional and distinctive. Became a BMW addict in 1981 with an E21 323i Alpina C1, until 1988 when it was changed for the E30 M3 Evo II. Ed, if after driving this 325i, you must in the future, create a video on the E30 M3.

I owned an E 30 back in the 90's when I lived in Madrid. I became a bit obsessed with finding a really good one and I searched for a couple of months scouring the local papers until I eventually found a low mileage maroon one in near perfect condition. It was one of the best cars I've ever owned and a real joy to drive. I took it all over Spain and Portugal and on those open, straight empty roads of Iberia its GT qualities really came into their own. There was nothing about I didn't like, it was supremely comfortable, it handled well and I loved the engine and gearbox. I still miss that car and if I followed my heart I'd get one again to drive around the empty roads of west Wales where I now live. I have a Saab 95 wagon now which I love (I'd love to see a Twin Cam video on that) but there was something about that BMW that was really special and unforgettable. Another great video from Twin Cam!!

My all time favorite Bimmer - brings back memories of their advertising slogan back then, The Ultimate Driving Machine.

Looking back, 1980s yuppies had great taste in cars.

Great era of BMW the E30 3 Series of the 1980's😎😎😎😎music that engine note

I have not had much time to watch anything on UKposts of late. It is a joy to catch up with this channel and what a video, about a car marque that I have a passion for and about one of their key models. As well presented as ever, I'd say you've even gone up a notch. Great stuff.

I know I'm a day late, but really enjoyed this video. The existence of the low spec models is completely justified as it means I have more chance of affording an E30 haha

I had a 1985 model 318i. Probably the best everyday driver I ever owned, and so kept it till 1996. I ordered an E30 325i Sport like the one shown in the video - dynamically a good step forard, but for various resons cancelled the order and bought a 911 instead. Overall, I should have stuck with the 325i...

Ed Great, and getting better…. I bought a year old E30 two door poverty spec model in 1991. As a 29 year old, t’was my pride and joy! I went on to own a number of new successor BMWs (all delivered on August 1st), but my E30 was always my favourite .

An Ed classic video for a classic BMW. Brilliant stuff!

Me and a friend have just restored a 323i convertable.

This takes me back. I was lucky enough to get a new white 325i 2 door company car in August '87. Was a lovelt fast and smooth car, but expensive! From memory the only standard bits were ABS and PAS, everything else was a cost extra. Mine just had the BMW alloys added, but even then it was £20K on the road, which was alot of money back then. Had fun driving it and a fond memory.

I loved my straight six engine 265 from factory, awesome sound and pulling power 😊

You could always recognise a BMW from the front... This was a a monster... Thank you for sharing so many memories... Roger

This is one of my all time favourites. My neighbour, who owned a "computer company" bought a brand new burgundy metallic 2 door 320i in 1983. With the bottle cap alloys and the small lip on the boot and brown tinted windows. It was amazing! Personally I would love an early E30 323i with the chrome bumpers and the smaller front spoiler. But until that happens I have a German and Dutch version of the brochure as a substitute 😅

Great Video Thank You(; BMW Classics never go out of style!

Thanks for explanation, Ed, I am just glad that driving is still part of your return. Cheers! Rob

In 1988 I had the chance to buy an '86 325i but just couldn't quite afford it. I ended up buying an 8-valve Golf GTi. Still a great car, but I still regret not being able to buy that BMW.

You should be on TV

Omg watching my youth, seeing my father’s 325i color Diamantschwarz and honey rate spiked BBS alloys!!! The looks and sound were and still are cool.

I have anE30 318i M10 B18 engine 1766 105bhp 1986 my ownership 34 yrs mileage 187k I lowered suspension 37mm (notional).fitted adjustable . Spax shocks &grooved solid discs and 'fast road' pads.Injection system is Bosch L jetronic. Tyres 195x60x14 alloy Bottle Cap type.I maintain it and the only replacements are the consumables.I replace things before they fail,It is garaged.I am NOT an'anorak' I enjoy your informative episodes and salute you as a fellow BMW fan

A friend had one of those in dolphin grey, lovely car to drive yet so different from my same age Prelude, controls were so much heavier and needing a firm grip, yet you could park my 4ws Prelude with one finger. Wished you could get one with a 6pot, that engine sounded amazing, the 16v Honda had this unexciting 'hollow' sound. Some lucky person is going to be soo happy after the auction.

I've owned my e30 for 17 years now (in my avatar) and still enjoy that snarl from the 6 under the bonnet Out of my small fleet of cars the e30 is the one I never drive straight home in !

Your videos really are getting good! Superbly professional, great to watch and very interesting. Back when I lived in South Africa, we didn’t get the E30 M3. Instead, we got something unique to BMW South Africa - the BMW 333i (with an engine derived from the 7-series).

Another great video! I like that you included more driving time and commentary/critique. However, you desperately need a mic for the exhaust note. I too looove the sound of a straight six, but i couldn’t hear that special sound in this video.

Ed, this video almost makes me like a BMW. I shall have to be more careful in future.

The 325is a.k.a 'GUSHESH PANTSULA THEMBA LAMAKABASA".In South Africa this car is a icon.

In the early 90's this was often referred to as and BMW Cortina due to it's boxey shape. Today one looks fabulous and the other is a Ford. Great video Ed

God it's good to have you back to satisfy the growing withdrawal symptoms I was beginning to experience by your long absence while other pretenders were snapping at your heels whose research are in ways equal to yours. But while the video claims to be paid promotion, and thus slightly loses the inner feeling of independent edge, your unique trade mark of driving to let us see your bubbling enthusiasm remains, I am so glad the the dealer has seen sense and allowed you to drive the cars they wish to sell; and I am doubly glad to see you back! Hope it was a holiday or study and not illness that took you away! And finally, would love to see how the Metros are coming along. Great stuff! Loyal subscriber Rob

Well done, Ed. Although I' m not a fan of BMW ( like many Germans ), this story is really good.

What happened to BMW styling???? The cars of the 60's, 70's and 80's "maybe a little of the 90's" were great cars being both easy to maintain and easy on the eye.

I had one in about 98. Lovely build quality, lovely look but heavy clutch. Better off with the auto and (AC) if you can find one, and just cruise in style.

Lusted after one of these for a long time. I could have afforded one when my fiesta went bang, but I took my parent’s offer of my Dad’s Octavia VRS TDi, which was a lovely car, and suited what I needed at the time and for most of the time I owned it, but part of me wished I went with the E30. Wouldn’t swap my E39 for one, not unless something had gone catastrophically wrong with my car and it was uneconomical to repair.

Gorgeous and yes, as a BMW 6 cylinder driver (albeit a F22 version), I couldn’t agree more that there’s nothing like a six to drive behind. I’m a total fan too! Great stuff Ed. It’s a shame BMW seem to have diversified and diluted their range to the extent they have and the styling of many of their latest models isn’t to my taste, great cars though I’m sure many of them remain. Still, I’m a car fan and at the end of the day a company has to remain profitable. Often those two qualities are, sadly, mutually exclusive. Happy Easter.

Nice video, thanks. I’m a merc man but feel like an E30 now.

Ed, brilliantly researched and presented as usual and they let you drive it - yeah!!!!!!! I was never a fan of this generation of 3 series. as you point out, they were an inbetweener size wise and were kind of exotic here in the Solent region of England. however, they were incredibly well built and a huge step up in quality from the usual mass market producers. your Ford analogy is spot on. from the Cortina MK1 to the MK4 they were the fashion statement of the day and that was a key reason why they sold so well; the MK5 being an exception as it was a better looking evolution of the bland MK4 styling.

Great video Ed. Have nevet driven an E30 but they do look so cool. I always wanted a BMW, more seci specifically an M3 but sadly the E30 M3 is megga money and only available in LHD form so my initial intention was to get an E46 M3. Unfortuntely I live in an Outer London suburb and owning an E46 M3 became an expensive proposition with the ULEZ expansion last August even though I was not planning to use the E46 as a daily driver. Ended up getting a manual E92 M3, a car which is not perfect by that screaming V8 really is something else and very happy with it so far despite the terrible MPG figures and ruinous road tax. Keep the videos coming Ed, you really are a natural behind the camera.

Honda Concerto in the background ❤

Great video but 2 things. If you had a passenger ride in an e30 318is then it has the same suspension as the 325i sport. Secondly there is no way that exhaust is standard. All of mine were much quieter.

I now own a completely rebuilt 89 325is with a Stromung cat back. Sounds fantastic. Ironically, while the M20 engines made them so successful, from personal experience, the best non-race engine fitted to the platform from the factory was the DOHC M42 with hydraulic lifters. The lighter, much revv happier and fuel efficient motor with non-distributor ignition was just the better fit for this chassis. The M20s revv like molasses, need frequent valve adjustments, belt- and distributor services and are guzzlers. The 2.5 also didn't actually feels much faster. By 1990, the M20 had been in use for 13 years and at least the Cabriolets should have gotten the M50 (DOHC) for their final years which was such a big improvement in the E34 power and revving wise. I will S54 swap my car that already has significant suspension upgrades and a big brake kit but will keep the VIN matching engine.

If that engine is running out of power above 5000rom, it might need a new cam, I don’t remember them being like that, mind you it’s been 27 years since I drove a 325iS

I used to have a 1988 325is : (

That reg plate, GBA Gameboy Advance

i’ve owned a few of these and driven a lot more. Sounds like the exhaust is blowing on the example driven here.

Early 90's I got my driving licence. I had E30 318i and later on E30 325i. My biggest mistake was to sell it. +30 years later, I have E36 318is coupe and Z3 in my garage for sunday drives. Daily drivers are now something else because BMW hurt my eyes. Comeback might be possible with Neue Klasse, it looks like modern E30 / 2002 era.

That’s a lovely car. I have a scale model, which is all I can afford…

You talk about “quite a lot of arm twirling” being necessary but watching you drive it’s not really obvious. There’s a nice looking white Giulietta in the background of some shots, it would be good to hear your opinion on this late lamented classic.

There's one of these rusting away on the owners drive, on my estate. F reg. Not moved in donkeys yrs.

1988

Had a 1990 320i M-Technic convertible with all factory options, A/C,ABS, headlamp wipers, Recaro leather seats, 13 button computer, M-Technic suspension etc, etc, loved it from top to bottom, still can’t explain why I sold it, sorely miss it. Body roll with M-Technic suspension??? Mine was completely flat, suspect that it was tired on this example, btw apart from the front spring rates due to the difference in weight from the 4 cylinder engine, it’s exactly the same setup as on the M3 Have to agree with other comments re the exhaust, spoils the car as the engine is silky smooth, the standard exhaust sounds far better. Disagree on your comment on the heel & toe as I also had an E46, both were as easy as each other.

great content, good video. well researched, but the summary opinion shows a British perspective. the uk was not "the market"; the continent was the market, second only to the US

I began lusting after a 3-series in the 70s, and I eventually owned two 3-series estates: an E46 and an E91. Both great cars until they start needing new parts. Today's BMWs have none of the charm of the older ones; the stylists are obviously on a different page.

325i. The car I never achieved in period due the poverty of double digit mortgage rates, but many happy hours were spent ogling these gleaming beauties on a main dealer's forecourt for free. And I did manage a brochure.

Is this for sale

😎😎❤❤👍👍

Aah the good old days, when cars were made for grown-ups. Even if they were loadsamoney reckless ones, they were stylish loadsamoney reckless ones. I would probably disagree about the exhaust though. Perhaps it is just the recording, but it sounds a bit parpy, like there is a small leak, and some backpressure because of baffle or wadding degradation. Very fixable though, it will be interesting to see how much this fetches. I wonder how much a Porsche 944 turbo (2.5 but 4-pot) was back then.

Certainly put the allegro to shame

You need to get hold of a Saab 900, these 2 represented the yuppie culture lol Though you could argue Saab had an even better image?

The phrase you are looking for is….yuppie mobile.

Simple, they started with the E21 and improved it.

I believe BMW hit its styling peak with the earlier cars. Needing or just tacking on spoilers never appealed to me. 🤔

Dare I say it….325i MTech looks nicer than an M3.

Ah. Loads of Yuppies were sent skyward in the run of the E30...

I would much rather have an Alfa Romeo 75 2.0TS. Known as the Milano in the USA. Better performance, better handling and better looks better.

I bought a black E30 325i in 1986. Collected from the factory in Munich, and drove back to UK. A few weeks later, I went outside one morning, and found that the rear gas shock absorbers had collapsed. I only owned the car for about a year, before I moved it on for a Porsche 911 SC. My general view of the E30 , in retrospect, is that the engine was wonderful. That 6 cylinder thrum. Plenty enough power for me, and that untamed rear end that BMW ought to have sorted from the previous incarnation of the 3 series. The rest of the car? I refer to the typical German person's view of cars...., Mercedes ?.... they're just the taxis, and BMW's... just cars, what's remarkable about them ?. For me, other than the engine, the E30 was just another 3 box saloon of the era.

I kick myself for ever selling mine.

The aftermarket exhaust on that car ruins the original silky smooth sound. It sounds coarse and unrefined. I am reluctant to change the original exhaust on mine in case the same thing happens. Can you even get original spec exhausts for these cars anymore?

Such a shame BMW couldn't update their 5 or 7 series that fast. Those looked too dated by mid-80's compared to Merc or even Ford.

Always find this car extremely over rated. The e21 was beautiful and clean. The e30 is dull

BMW has totally lost the plot these days.

As much as I love Beemers, as I get older and softer, I prefer a nice soft wallowy Merc. Hence my recent purchase of a W203 C200K. Does me just fine.