Modern classic joy

When the March copy landed on my doormat, I flicked straight to Martin Buckley’s Backfire for my monthly fix and was fascinated to read about the newly acquired E30 BMW 318i for his stepson Nick.

My 20-year-old son has been brought up on classics and has so far had two Minis, an MG Metro and a Mk5 Cortina. In seeking to replace the Ford, I suggested an E30 and found a 37,000-mile ’89 318i SE in Weinrot. It had been sitting in a collection for years and had been maintained, but most of the electrics were non-functional, the tyres were cracked and some detailing was required. The key thing for us was finding something solid and pretty bulletproof, while being sufficiently interesting, not messed-about with and still on the way to the peak of its value.

The E30 has turned out to be a joy: reliable, comfortable, unusual enough to spark conversation and engaging. For a car launched in 1982, the driving experience feels fresh, the build quality sturdy and it has that delightful Teutonic quality of no frippery, just efficiency of function. Good luck to Nick – if it’s half as good as our experience, he’s in for some very happy motoring. Ian Mackenzie

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