About to buy an 1987 E30 M3 with 62000miles with all the engine work done (headgasket, chain tensioners etc etc). It was hand picked in Germany from a viewing of 15 different cars and is standard. It is still on German plates and is very honest. Clean but not immaculate, no work needing done. Any thoughts on this? How much (theoretically) would people pay for this?

I have never driven a car with such telepathic turn in and it feels amazing. And the noise it makes...mmmmmmm

You can pick these up cheapish now can't you (£4,500)? I wanted one of these years ago but went for an integrale instead :( If I had bought the bmw I might have more money now :( Good luck with it these cars still look the business today :cool:

Paul

And are fantastic to drive. Still the best handling M3 IMHO. The new M3 is very nice and powerful but just feels tooooo heavy. Excellent trackday cars as well buy all accounts.

You can get pretty grubby ones for that price. Decent one's are still fetching around the £10K mark.

If you have a look in autotrader they range from £4500-£10,000.

Condition seems to be the most importnat thing. I've seen some dogs and some really nice ones. I rReally love E30 M3's, lovely cars.

Just remember they are only available in left hand drive.!

...not strictly true as some have been converted to RHD since leaving the factory! :p

Nothing wrong with left hand drive on a fast car because you have the power to overtake :) I personally think left hand drive is best :) I can get very quick gearchanges on my integrale because I am righthanded :)

I have just sold my 1989 "F" right hand drive (converted by Bird's of Uxbridge who carried out the converisions in the late 80s) for £6,250.00 - car had done 100,000 miles but had full serivce history, Cat 1 and Cat 2 alarm + Tracker, full leather + sunroof.

Timing chains had been changed.

Check the windscreen surround (around the wiper arm bases as these areas are prone to rot).

Richard

RHD conversion is useless if it uses the 325i steering rack, which is about 8 turns lock to lock. Not sure what Birds use.
I'd love an E30 M3. How much are good ones in Germany?

RHD don't handle as well cos they are fitted with a 325 rack, best to stick to lhd imho

Does anyone know if there is an alternative to using the 325 steering rack then (besides keeping it lhd) and if the there are any other problems when converting to RHD as this was one of the few things that stopped me getting the M3. That and the fact that it costs loads to get any more power out of them.

no alternative to a 325 rack :(
think that they changed the exhaust manifold at the same time to get it out of the way of the steering column. Stick with a lhd much better - as m intended :D

The hartge H36 was an M3 evo sport fitted with the E34s M5 engine tuned from 315 to 330 bhp. These can fetch up to £20K+ today. VERY RAPID car.

Yeah but wouldn't sticking a big heavy 5 series lump in a E30 effect the nimbleness and handling which after all is what the E30 is really all about. I reckon this is a much better way of doing it. Keep the original engine and just modify it a bit :)

http://www.bmwclassics.freewire.co.uk/crazy/

The ultimate E30 M3?

Get the latest and best model E30 you can and for God sake just leave it completely standard, no dodgy rhd conversions and no engine mods, it is far too good and far too much of a classic to balls up and *******ise with back street tuners.

Having owned 3 different E30 M3's i suggest you to get the latest EVO or an EVO the one with 215 bhp(decat it and get 220).Fantastic performance and handling, very nice car indeed.