Five Classic Trials BMW 325i Touring (E30)

Load-lugger or sports car? The E30 Touring is both – and more. It’s amazing to discover, then, that BMW almost didn’t make it at all…

It’s strange, given the popularity of its current estate cars, to think that BMW had no plans to release the Touring when it introduced the second-generation 3 Series in 1982. In fact, it might still have no presence in this lucrative corner of the market had it not been for one of its prototype engineers, Max Reisböck.

The story goes that Reisböck needed suitable transport for his expanding family – something with a bigger boot – but there was nothing that BMW could offer. So he took it upon himself to buy a second-hand E30 and fabricate new door frames, extend the roof panel and add a tailgate – all in his own time, using his own tools. His prototype garnered factory approval and the production Touring went on sale in 1987.

The Touring was initially only available as a 325i here in the UK, with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission; the example we’re driving here has the latter.

Inside, the driver is greeted with pin-striped grey cloth and black moulded plastics, lending the interior a smart executive feel. Controls are laid out methodically, with those in the centre console angled towards the driver. ‘Our’ BMW’s first owner selected a Blaupunkt radio/cassette player, electric windows and a sunroof from the list of extras, but resisted the temptation of heated seats and an onboard computer.

Estate cars have a reputation for being more workhorse than thoroughbred, but this BMW subverts expectations on the move. It’s immediately apparent that the car is extremely easy to drive; the six-cylinder M20 engine, regulated by Bosch Motronic fuel injection, is fantastically flexible and capable of delivering power smoothly and unobtrusively, with ample torque for relaxed cruising.

Floor the throttle, though, and something magical happens – the gearbox obeys the order to kick down immediately and revs up to 4500rpm in what feels like an instant. The engine note is wonderful when exercised into the higher regions of the rev range and it howls with gusto at 5000rpm as you approach the national speed limit.

Equally, the gearbox reacts accordingly when you’re not as heavy-footed with the throttle, holding on to the gear right up until the point when you begin to lift off. It’s very intuitive for an automatic gearbox.

The Touring is almost mechanically identical to the

325i saloon, barring some adjustments to spring rates and damper settings, but the additional bodywork weighs 90kg, meaning that it weighs in at 1258kg. That’s still less than its convertible stablemate, though, and as such performance is largely unaffected. This is, in short, an estate car that can accelerate from rest to 60mph in fewer than eight seconds.

And everything feels like it tightens up when you do accelerate. The suspension – which comprises MacPherson struts at the front and semi-trailing arms at the rear with anti-roll bars all round – delivers fantastic road-holding.

Earlier E30s have a reputation for tricky on-the-limit handling, though changes to the suspension geometry (from which the Touring models benefit) do mean that later examples are much more forgiving. There’s a degree of body roll, but no hint of oversteer on dry roads. Even uneven surfaces do little to alter the driver’s course mid-corner.

The ride is best described as being comfortable rather than cosseting; vibrations can be felt through the steering wheel but large wheel movements ensure that passengers remain mostly unperturbed. There is minimal wind noise, but quite a bit of road rumble.

If there is anything to criticise, it’s that power assistance dulls feedback through the classically stylish and pleasingly proportioned steering wheel. Likewise, the steering is rather low-geared, requiring more than four turns from lock-to-lock.

Slightly boat-like steering aside, this 325i Touring really impresses the enthusiast driver. It genuinely feels more like a large hot hatch than a more traditional estate, with the available performance to enjoy just about any type of road the UK has to offer.

It seems fitting, then, that BMW rewarded Herr Reisböck with the last 3 Series Touring ever built.

Words Chris Hope PHotograPHY Stuart Collins PROJECT £1500-3000 USABLE £3000-6000 GOOD £6000-9000 EXCELLENT £10,000+ The Touring may be 90kg heavier than the saloon, but still cracks 0-60mph in fewer than eight seconds. e30 Touring looks as though it was designed to be an estate from the outset. in reality, engineer Max reisböck designed it in a garage in his spare time.