The E30 BMW 3 Series Touring Is the Cool Little Wagon We Didn’t Get 

Maybe important to know in regard of the tailgate situation is that BMW never planned to make a wagon model. An employee transformed his sedan into a wagon in his home garage and parked it on the management parking lot in the Munich plant. They saw it and were so convinced that this was possible to produce and sell to a new customer group that they later added the touring model to the range. That's also why the tailgate kind of looks like an afterthought - it actually was.

The manual windows are pretty common on North European countries, specially in older cars. Because of ice and snow those electric components usually died in the winter, the construction of it wasn't advanced enough, so they had manual windows for the winter and electric rooftop for the summer.

The guy in the white Mercedes during Doug's drive even wanted to get a better look at that E30 Touring.

Other channels: Hey look at our borrowed 700hp car! Doug: Been there, done that. THIIIS is a BMW 316.

Small fun fact: BMW actually called the two door version a two-doored sedan. Mainly because it was closer in shape and features to a sedan, than to a regular coupe.

The 325 engine with 170hp was very right for this car with a manual.

Honestly, I miss the breakdown of each category in the Doug Score. It was interesting to see WHY Doug gave each score.

Actually one of the most common engine swaps here in europe is putting an M50 engine (preferably the M50B25) out of the E36 325i in to make it a little faster. Another option, tho more for enthusiasts, is turbocharging the M10 in the 316i or 318i as it is the same engine block used in F1 cars and the 2022 turbo and it can take a lot of boost if you know what you are doing.

Yeah we have a lot of these in Germany. They get beat to hell, but a lot of them are also obsessively cared for.

Live here in Germany and still see these fairly regularly. After my 1974 BMW 2002, the E30 is generally my favorite BMW…and love the wagon. Such a tidy package. Funny to see one parked next to a newer 3-series (like my current 2015 316d wagon).

one of my neighbors has this car and it is standing next to my bus stop. every morning, on my way to work, I walk past it and think to myself: 'what a timeless classic, so small and still so much space' amazing car

I've had this as my first car, started out as a 320i and swapped it to a 325i with all the period goodies. Now it still sits in my garage and I get it out every now and again, to keep it running while I patiently get it ready to swap in an N54 biturbo or smth similar from the BMW range of 6 cyls, while the daily tasks have been taken over by a 525i E61 (swapped to a 530i), and more recently by a CLS 250CDI Shooting Brake. I still have these cars, and plans for them. But driving the E30 in it's period spec with a lot of the period goodies (small diameter M-Tech 2 steering wheel, full leather sports seats, Z3 M shortshifter with an E46 ZHP weighted gearknob, short E46 steering rack, 3.47 diff as opposed to the 4.27 diff it came with, M-Tech interior mirror with map lights, 16inch BBfake wheels, and that delicious M20B25 paired with a KN inlay air filter and spaghetti exhaust system) can really move me to tears, which never wears off, like fine wine these cars age. I'm absolutely in love with mine, dare I call it a perfect car. Would drive it to the edge of the world and back again.

The description of the feeling of pushing the car all the way because you immediately feel at home is the same way I've always felt about miatas

I own a brother of this car. A '94 318i touring in silver with purple accents in the interior. Some options are different but...... I have just learned that I have parking lights. After owning a car for ten years, Doug shows me a new option. Thanks!

In europe the e30 is called a midsize car, a golf(rabbit) from that time is a compact. ps. that merc was checking out the bimmer.

I'm a native St. Louisan who currently lives in Cologne, Germany. I looked at the pics of this car on C&B, and noticed the "MG" license plate. That stands for Mönchengladbach, which is a bit east, and near the Dutch border.

14:53 I remember I had a chance to get an E30 M3 in great shape for $10k 12 years and I thought they were crazy for asking that much. I’m still kicking myself on that one… Sold my E36 M3 for $18k last year.

1:40 You're kinda right, Doug! 🙂👍 The E30 wagon came out in 1987 (together with the major Facelift) and produced until 1994 when it was succeeded by the E36 wagon in 1995

Doug the type of guy to gain a sizeable following on RU-vid by uploading videos that are both entertaining and educational

The situation to switch on a ,,parking light" with the signal stock to the side you want was very common in German cars. It was mandatory in Germany to have those lights burning while you park outside of towns or any village in the dark. So it saved you 10 watts to light up only the side facing the traffic, not the side of the road. This avoided draining your battery to fast, especially when you park for a longer time.

I don’t know why I’m all into these car design.. so rectangular.. loving it 😍 ❤❤

As a wagon it looks so much like the 5 series of the time, very “substantial”. Did a double take when I read the title and saw the thumbnail!

I loved my '91 e30 318is, Diamond Schwartz with the plaid grey interior, and a wind up/crank sunroof. You brought back a lot of fun memories Doug. Thank you

E30 Touring with an S54 swap has to be one of the greatest things ever conceived by mankind.

82 to 94 was the E30's run, with only very small numbers registered in 82. 88 to 94 for the Touring. The headlight levelling is an interesting one, its actually hydraulic. There are little tubes coming from the back of the height adjuster and snaking off into the engine bay. It is almost universally broken on every E30 after this many years. Another point of note, the rear window washer has its own seperate washer bottle and motor in a compartment in the trunk, and it is filled via a fill point in the tailgate opening above the drivers side tail light. The E30 Touring had a very rare option for self levelling rear suspension as well.

Love these, you didn't mention the story of the boot, heard it was designed to take a standard German beer crate in the opening but might be an urban myth, great car.

Man old BMWs look magnificent. Whenever I see an old BMW I just drool on their looks.

I was a driving age kid back then, the 318 could handle great, but was still slow AF (even for that era) :)

Doug: "This car is tremendously fun... I can't believe how fun this car is! Woohoo!" Doug Score - Fun Factor: 4/10

Love the car since seeing Jason Cammisa's 325 and his videos about it. They're so expensive now though

I can confirm the 316i, despite the low hp is a wonder. I have driven many different cars but this one is my first and only car and puts a smile on my face every single time. Its lack of power is inversely proportional to the charisma it has on the road.

I had a 1991 318i with a manual transmission, and I sold it in 2008 for $1500 to get a winter vehicle. I miss that care greatly, and I still kick myself squarely in the ass on the regular for selling it.

Lightness and tossability are unmatched! You know how there's no replacement for displacement? Yeah, there isn't a replacement for this either! ❤️

I saw one where i live in detroit. Parked next to him in my humble e34 and asked about it, he said his is one of two in Michigan

the wagon 5 series from that era, looks good also

Interesting to see and revisit classic 80s BMW..it's odd to me that the sunroof on this 94 later touring has a power sunroof, when the 86 or 87 E30 325i coupe my dad had power windows, but a manual sunroof. I would guess they only made power sunroofs in the early 90s models and stopped doing manual ones altogether for the E30. I always remember my dad's coupe fondly with its cool-looking gray, patterned fabric seats, dark silver color, classic styling, and the classy OZ racing wheels he put on it that did a good job of modernizing the look of the car. it's really interesting looking back and seeing how basic, small, and utilitarian they are by modern standards. He bought it used from a coworker and had it as a daily driver throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, before selling it to his mechanic when it became too much of a project.

Cool color. Kinda has a purple hue to it. At first I thought it was a dirty Techno Violet :D

My uncle needed a daily after he sold his old one to buy and fix a E31 850 back in the day. He found a white E30 wagon, mint condition and low milage. He picked it up straight away. I grew up with that car, was an amazing car. Sadly it got stolen at the airport when he was visiting us in Spain, they found it later on in a forest stripped down to the chassi. I remember him being so sad for that.

These were pretty common here in the UK and I always quite fancied a 325i Touring. The proportions were pretty much perfect and sitting on wider, lower profile BBS cross-spokes the thing looked properly planted on the road. Good luck whoever buys this one - enjoy!

Oh, look at that 😍 I'd love to have that thing! Only if it were cheap, tho 😆 I don't NEED a 3rd German wagon draining on my wallet 😅

Loved my 89 E30 325i Sport (sold in back in 2012) full M Tech 2 kit from factory, bbs wheels and Bilstein B12 Suspension. Daily driver for 4 years, also done 2 trips from Liverpool uk to the Nurburgring, then on down to Munich to the bmw museum, about a dozen drift track days and 3 regular track days. Only let me down once when a slave cylinder burst. BMW’s were built properly back then.

Doug: casually races a Mercedes while talking how underpowered this BMW is, and wins! 😄

I used to have 325iX when I was 19, and I was afraid of how fast it is and how good it cornered after an anemic front wheel drive throw away car I had as my first one)) I don't know if today it'll feel as fast but back then I never wanted more than 170 HP the 2.5 six offered)

I love it!! I have an E30 Coupe, and I would love to have a Wagon as well

Never knew that the E30 BMW had a station wagon version. That's cool

take a shot everytime doug says "tossable"

doug you should review early bmw alpina models

This car was bought in Germany by a Hoonigan's crew guy, they have a video showing everything in their channel

I own a 320i wagon from 1992 with a M52B30 swap and out of all my cars this is the most fun to drive. Doug is right only more power it needs.

There was also a 129 bhp six cylinder 320i Touring as well as the 324td diesel version. The 1.6 and 1.8 engines are the 87-93 M40, 8 valve SOHC with a toothed belt driven camshaft rather than a chain. Camshaft wear is the biggest problem on these M40's but you can replace the cam and rocker fingers easily with the cylinder head still on the car.

Aah the good old days when BMWs still had turn signal stalks

Doug is the sort of guy who likes to toss it around.

I saw an E30 325ix on the road last week, unreal! In the winter too someone was using it as a winter beater ha! You only live once enjoy the drive

this is why i love this channel

Sounds just driving an NA/NB Miata if it came in a wagon 😃

I appreciate the old school BMW styling much more so than the new styling.

My mother had an E30 320 with an automatic box, it was a fantastic car. We took it from Plymouth England down to the south of France, via a sea ferry, she didn't miss a beat. 900 miles like it was nothing.

Ironically just purchased a 1993 E30 Touring in Daytona Violet with Design Interior yesterday... :)

Awwww man whenever I see these for sale all I can think is what I would do to get my hands on one 😂

As a Brit, referring to a E30 touring as a sub compact is mind-blowing

There was no E30 Coupe. It was available as a 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan, convertible, wagon and there was the odd "Baur Convertible", which still has a fanbase. Love the E30. Was my first car when I was 19, back in the 90s. Greetings from Cologne /Germany. Keep up the good work. Love your channel.

I've owned my E30 320i touring for 6yrs now, i love it more every day, always looking forward to get out of my other modern cars and have a drive and enjoy it.

i am owning 525i e34 touring and it is also amazing car. i am looking forward to see your review on it!! hello from Russia :)

Back in the 80's and 90's and outside of the USA you were lucky to get window glass as standard equipment on BMW's other than the 7 series.

My first car was an E30 coupe 323i. The handling is unrivalled.

12:16 Headlight leveling was no thinking, it was the law to have it (still is).

I love my stage 4 S52 89 Touring. Such a fun ride.

Mine's a newer one, an E91. But I think it's very stylish and I know it's not very common in the US. Had an E46 wagon and wish I had never let it go.

A neighbour had one, there is also a quick one about half a mile away. Nice.

Thanks to Doug, I'll know EVERY little quirk and feature as a mechanic, and luckily, it's not just luxury performance cars

I once owned a 1989 E30 325IM and it was so much fun, actually the most fun car I ever owned and Ive owned lots.

Dammit! These are gonna get too expensive now!!

It's funny when doug tryin to catch a tiny color accents on iPhone camera.)

Back when cars weren’t loaded with so much tech.

This is genuinely one of my favourite looking wagons of all time. I would love to M57 diesel swap one. It would be a perfect daily driver.

Was it just me or that Mercedes in the back was following you? In any case, you were like Takumi, leaving it behind with the "slower" car which is amazing for that little wagon.

I usually don't comment, but I do really enjoy your reviews. I thought I would mention something tho...your drive was very fun & expected for a fun early 90's wagon....but I couldn't help but notice the white Mercedes tailgating you and almost rear ending you at the stop light....ugh....but you went on and kept going without hesitating! Well done sir...lol

I WISHED we could get the M3 touring/wagon of M.Y.2023!

In Europe there are also Touring versions of every 5 series from the e34 on till today!

Love the wagon, I think it looks better than the sedan. This one is quite odd. It's relatively luxury spec, but with base engine. Pretty much the opposite of mine :)

Whar a great car ,motortraders used them as an everyday user in the UK so reliable . 👊

There's a company that makes wallets with an identical fabric as that you see in the seats. Been using mine daily for 10 years and the only wear is from when the beagle got hold of my work pants when she was a pup.

Old stationwagons are just straight chefs kisses

Hehe Cars and Bidzzzz crowd gets it first

Doug, we love you Doug

Visibility in the E30 is amazing!

Doug is the kind of guy I want to become🌟

I wonder how much did the original owner pay for the "Jersey City, early 90's, 'Bus Seat cloth', interior package". They even got the matching Bus steering wheel.

As an owner of one in South Carolina. Thank you big dawg!!

You know Doug is having fun when he breaks out the "damn"s 🤣

E30, E36 and E34 wagons are so underrated

This is why i love my 2010 mini cooper, its slow yes but I can thrown it around a corner wich is fun every time

Man I love my e46 estate thing is fast for a wagon and handles pretty well love to see wagons still on the road

My dad had one i remember when I was a kid loved it

I really like the headlight adjustment knob. What a great idea

I like that... " this was forbidden fruit for a long time " 😂🤣😄

I need this. I want this. I love this.

the Parking Light is not only for "tight" or "not unnecessary oversized" Streets, but for general better visability for roadside parking, similar to a daylight running light and you see from afar there has someone parked and not just stoped

E30 with m52 2.8 swap is a frkn rocket after small mods like M50b25 intake,schmiedmann headers ans you got 240hp and it's really a frkn rocket 😅

How do you spot a true car enthusiast? He drives EVERY super car that exists and then loses his mind over an E30 :D