Price: SOLD
Mileage: 268,000 km (166,527 Miles)
Engine: M20B25 2.5-Liter 6-Cylinder Engine (135,704 Miles)
Transmission: Getrag G260 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Laser Blue Metallic Exterior (294)
Interior: Black Leather / Cloth Sport Interior (0274)
Additional features:
E36 M3 Steering Rack
4:10 Limited-Slip Differential
Left Hand Drive
AC Schnitzer Stripes and Badges
AC Schnitzer Seat Badges
AC Schnitzer / Momo Leather Steering Wheel
AC Schnitzer Shift Knob
AC Schnitzer Pedals
AC Schnitzer Type I Wheels
Lowering Springs
Factory Air Conditioning R134 (very rare for a touring)
Becker DTM Stereo
Virtually No Rust
Shadowline Trim
Slicktop (no sunroof)
Black Cloth Headliner
Power Windows
Fold Down Rear Seats
Later Style Cargo Net
6-Button On-Board Computer
First Aid Kit
Fire Extinguisher
16 x 7.5 Inch 5-Spoke AC Schnitzer Wheels (Produced by O.Z. for ACS)
Gislaved Ultra Speed High Performance Tires
Italian Market Touring
25-Year Exempt
Clean Carfax
Colorado Title
The 1984-1991 BMW 3 Series, known generationally as the E30, is the one model more than any other that earned BMW the Ultimate Driving Machine reputation. E30s are one of our specialty vehicles at Glen Shelly Auto Brokers. The E30 Touring was the pet project of BMW engineer Max Reisbock. He literally built the first E30 touring out of a wrecked 323i in his garage after work—it was so good that BMW put it into production (with a few minor changes). The E30 Touring started a legacy of sporty BMW wagons that remains to this day. All late-model tourings were spec’d with the 325 suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. The extra pillars added rigidity over the Coupe and Sedan and there is slightly more rear weight bias, giving it superb handling characteristics. Fold down rear seats, shadowline trim, and Euro headlights make the Touring one of the most exclusive and sporting E30s. The U.S. market never got the Touring, but they are legal now, thanks to the 25-year exemption. Most were subjected to harsh climates and daily duty, thanks to their increased utility. Rust in the rear hatch is a common issue, making dry climate history an important consideration regarding the country of origin. This and a clean body are the most important factors in finding a touring. Factory air conditioning is even more exclusive, as it was nearly impossible to find in a Touring.
This Italian Market Touring came to us via Sofia, Bulgaria where it lived under the care of a long-term owner for the previous fourteen years. It was originally spec’d as a 318i Touring with some very rare options, including: Laser Blue Metallic paint, air conditioning, electric rear windows, no sunroof, and the rear cargo net. The previous owner was fanatical about German BMW tuner AC Schnitzer (ACS) and meticulously built this touring into an ACS tribute with badges, decal stripes, leather and cloth sport seats with badges, pedals, and Type 1 16-inch wheels. We added a genuine ACS steering wheel and shift knob. It has been repainted in the original Laser Blue at some point, and the finish is in great shape. The interior is in excellent shape. The dash is virtually crack-free and matching leather and cloth E30 heated sport front seats and fold-down touring rear seats are fitted. Handling is improved by lowering springs and the brakes have aggressive compound pads that improve stopping over a stock E30.
325i Engine / Drivetrain Swap
Continuing the build on this car, we swapped out the Euro-spec M40 4-cylinder engine with a 6-cylinder M20B25 from a US market E30 with 134K miles on it. Before we installed the M20 engine we replaced the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, valve cover gasket, valve adjustment, cam seal, rear main seal and oil pan gasket. The exhaust was replaced with the donor car’s exhaust including catalytic converters and an aftermarket muffler. It passes Colorado emissions. The engine was paired with the G260 5-speed gearbox that was also resealed and given a fresh clutch kit. Moving rearward, we rebuilt the drive shaft with fresh U-joints and center carrier bearing mated to a 4:10 limited-slip differential and fresh CV axles. The rear wheel bearings were also replaced. For steering we swapped out the E30 rack with an E36 M3 progressive steering rack—arguably the best steering upgrade for an E30.
The Laser Blue paint is in good condition and presents fantastically. It has always a hit when we bring it to the local Cars and Coffee. Close scrutiny does reveal minor dings and scratches, some orange peel, and a few layered areas of finish in the hood. There is no rust, except for negligible corrosion where the paint has worn off on the bottom of the door seams and the very bottom of hatch (all are pictured on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). Common areas like the front fender seams, lower windshield cowling, and floorboards are rust-free. The Euro VIN placard and firewall stamp are in place. The body and panel gaps are perfectly straight. All black-work and trim are present and intact; the Touring-specific side skirts are paint-matched and look great! The windshield is crack-free, and the glass has only minor pitting. The Euro smiley headlights have good glass, as do the turn signals, marker lights, and tail lights. The fog lights have been replaced with OEM crack-free lights. The roof antenna shared with the E30 M3 is present and it looks great mounted to the slick-top roof. The AC Schnitzer Type I wheels are nearly perfect and all center caps are present. The left rear wheel is missing the AC Schnitzer sticker, but this can be easily sourced. Gislaved tires are a high-performance subsidiary of Continental that originated in Sweden. Gislaved Ultra Speed tires are mounted with lots of tread left.
The interior is in very good condition. There are no odors and it has never been smoked in. The carpet is in good condition. Custom AC Schnitzer badged leather and cloth E30 sport front and rear touring seats have been fitted. There are heated seat switches, but the heat does not work. The seats are in very good shape front and rear. The dash is virtually crack-free, with only a few tiny splits that require a keen eye to notice. The AC Schnitzer steering wheel and shift knob are genuine and in excellent condition. All instrument cluster functions, including the odometer, work correctly. The 6-button computer functions correctly, but it has minor pixel bleed-through on the bottom of the LCD screen. The Becker DTM Stereo is an excellent upgrade that looks period correct, but it features a CD player and aux input. The front and rear power window switches work, as does the central locking system. The rear hatch cover also has the super rare retractable cargo net. There is a fire extinguisher mounted under the driver’s seat. The owners’ manuals, stereo manual, first aid kid, safety vest, and road flares are also included with the sale.
With the engine and drivetrain swap we have reset the maintenance clock on all major E30 items including the timing belt and all fluids. The air conditioning has been converted to R134 and it blows ice cold. No common E30 issues are present. The engine idles smoothly and pulls very strongly to redline. The 4:10 limited slip differential adds notable acceleration. The clutch does not slip, the take-up is correct and the shifter is tight—not the spoon in a bowl of spaghetti that so many E30s are. The transmission and driveline are quiet and free of vibration. The E36 M3 steering rack is one of the best upgrades you can do to an E30, the steering is communicative and responsive. The suspension is firm yet compliant and the bushings are tight. The brakes are very strong thanks to the high performance compound. We added a US 325i exhaust including the catalytic converter, resonator and muffler. In Colorado we pay for and ensure it passes emissions.
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