Matija's BMW E30
Photography & Words By Wynn
1990 325i
There’s no question that the E30 is a special car. Yes it’s sporty, yes it’s classy but it’s also, more importantly, cool and relatable. Today the “car scene” is filled with many different interests, stance, JDM, muscle, track, the list goes on and on. The E30 is the kind of car that wouldn’t be frowned upon in any of these categories, it’s unassuming yet reels in attention. In today’s “car scene” you’ll see a lot of newer models, Genesis’s and FR-S’s, and there’s nothing particularly wrong with these cars, however you have to wonder if these cars will hold the taste of time. I mean the E30 is now over 30 years old and it’s still relatable with old and young generations of people. When you see an E30, especially one that looks like Matija’s, you can’t help but be a fan and give props to it.
Matija is no stranger to the Bavarian realm, just look at his Instagram bio and you’ll see the list of cars he currently possesses, all of which are BMW’s. This one however was picked up in Guelph as a donor car for the 325e he had at the time. However, as luck would have it, the new addition was actually a lot cleaner then Matija had originally anticipated.
Although the body was in decent shape, the car needed a lot of work. The motor was blown and the entire suspension was in need of a full overhaul. So Matija got down to work and took care of needed matters, polyurethane everything, brand new cooling system, new roof, new dash, pretty much everything was replaced as well as a freshly rebuilt engine. The car was also originally automatic, so Matija also decided on swapping in a proper manual.
Next the sights were on the suspension, Matija decided to go with an Air Lift system with a trunk setup to keep the functionality of the car but also be able to have it slammed when parked.
Neatly tucked under this slammed E30 are a set of BBS RS’s with genuine BBS turbofans that Matija was able to source from Japan. The wheel setup is my favorite part of this E30, it really adds such a fresh look filled with character.
Future plans for this E30 are, at the moment, a bit up in the air. Matija is currently looking at a new acquisition to his collection, however if he gets it, this E30 will unfortunately have to be put on the market. However if those plans fall through, Matija is planning on some forced induction for the 325i’s engine, which will be very interesting. Like I said at the top, the E30 is a very cool car. It’s got a bunch of character that most people would appreciate, even if you aren’t a gearhead. When it comes to examples like Matija’s, you not only appreciate the hardwork and dedication that goes into keeping these classics up and running but it can also motivate you with projects of your own. Matija and owners like him are the glue to preserving these classics for the coming generation to appreciate all over again.
