Description
I purchased this E30 316i in 2012 as a standard, running car with a vision to build a sleeper E30: a factory original appearance combined with modern performance and reliability. Over the following seven years, from 2012 to 2019, the car underwent a comprehensive nut and bolt restoration with absolutely no expense spared.
Almost every component on the vehicle has either been replaced with new parts or fully refurbished. My aim was to retain the timeless, understated look of the E30 while hiding a seriously capable drivetrain beneath the surface. The result is a beautifully restored classic powered by an E36 328i M52B28 engine fitted with a Rotrex C38-81 centrifugal supercharger, producing 310bhp. Weighing just over 1, 000kg, the performance is genuinely exhilarating, with strong, linear power delivery and all the character that makes the E30 such a rewarding car to drive.
A little background on the build: I am a degree qualified mechanical engineer with a lifelong passion for vehicle restoration, tuning and fabrication. Having spent my whole career in the automotive industry and previously owned a specialist fabrication business focusing on stainless steel TIG welding and custom fabrication, I personally carried out every aspect of this project. All fabrication, welding, mechanical assembly, bodywork preparation, and paintwork was completed by myself to an exceptionally high standard.
This truly has been a labour of love. The restoration is extensively documented with over 1, 000 photographs covering the entire build process, which I am happy to share with serious buyers. The majority of parts were purchased new from BMW, or sourced from carefully selected aftermarket suppliers where superior components were available. A comprehensive history file accompanies the car, containing invoices and receipts amounting to many thousands of pounds.
Since completion, the vehicle has been dry-stored, maintained on a CTEK charger, and sparingly used. Selling was never part of the plan, but changing priorities mean I no longer have the time to enjoy the car as it deserves. As such, I'm in no rush to sell and will only let it go to an enthusiast who appreciates the quality, engineering and attention to detail that have gone into creating this one of a kind E30.
This is far more than a modified E30; it's a meticulously restored and engineered example built to a standard rarely seen today. Combining classic BMW styling with modern reliability and 310bhp performance, it offers a unique driving experience that would be extremely difficult and costly to replicate.
Engine & Drivetrain
Low-mileage M52B28 engine and ZF 5-speed gearbox from a 1998 E36 328i
Lightened E30 325i flywheel and friction disc
Sachs Racing pressure plate
Active Autowerke (USA) Rotrex C38-81 supercharger kit
310bhp @ 6, 900rpm, 300lb-ft @ 5, 700rpm
7psi boost pressure
Custom twin 2" stainless-steel exhaust system with: Twin centre silencers, X-pipe, Rear silencer, OEM-style slash-cut tailpipe
E36 radiator with SPAL electric cooling fan and temperature-controlled operation
Custom aluminium catch tank
3mm stainless steel sump guard
Suspension & Steering
BC Racing coilovers
Full Powerflex polyurethane bush kit
Modified rear subframe with eccentric toe and camber adjustment
E46 Purple Tag steering rack
New inner and outer track rods
Powder-coated subframes and rear suspension arms
New front control arms
Chassis & Restoration Work
Complete underside sandblasted
Extensive rust repairs professionally carried out, including: Engine bay, Bulkhead, Floor pans, Jacking points, Inner and outer rear arches, Rear valance
Bare metal protected with: Lechler 2K epoxy primer, 3M 08800 two-part seam sealer, Raptor 2K protective coating
All cavities treated with Dinitrol cavity wax
Fuel System
BMW fuel tank (replaced new in 2010), refinished in epoxy primer and topcoat
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
New genuine BMW fuel lines
Interior
Fully lined with Dynamat sound deadening
Pioneer Bluetooth DAB head unit
Pioneer front and rear speakers
AEM Failsafe boost and AFR gauge integrated into a custom 3D-printed vent p
Toad alarm and immobiliser system
Bodywork
New genuine BMW front wings
Refinished in BMW Schwarz (086)
Three coats of Max Meyer 2K clearcoat
Cut and machine polished to a deep mirror finish
Wheels & Tyres
Wheels and full-size spare professionally stripped and powder-coated
MG-Line billet aluminium threaded centre hex nuts
OEM BMW waffle centre caps
Yokohama AD08R tyres (205/ 50 R15)
Brakes
New BMW E30 325i master cylinder
Rebuilt E30 325i brake calipers
Custom Kunifer brake lines throughout
