S54-Swapped BMW E30 – Built Not Bought
This car defines the perfect balance that makes an upgraded classic sports sedan so damn good.
Ah, the BMW E30. Without a doubt the workhorse of BMW’s legendary 3-series lineup. Some love it, some hate it, others have never even seen one before. While they are definitely not the most common classic German car to see on the road today, their community is strong and loyal. We can understand why. There is definitely a certain amount of charm and characteristic displayed in the boxy proportions that grace the E30. We still enjoy the aesthetic today.
However, not every E30 build is a beautiful, timeless piece of art. Considering how cheap they are to buy (not to maintain), it is easy to understand why people use them for builds. It is one of the cheapest RWD vehicles you can buy on market today, making it an excellent candidate for a track or drift car. However, there are certain folks that just go way above and beyond what you can call a “typical” build. This S54-swapped E30 is one of those examples. Thanks to AutoCinema on YouTube, we get to see what this car is all about.
The owner of this immaculate E30 is Evan Nessim, owner of Little Buddy’s Speed Shop based out of northern California. Originally, his E30, like many, was far from glorious. Most of its time was spent on jack stands or fixing issues. After a non-stop headache with the car, Nessim considered pulling the motor and stroking it to 3.1 liters. However, from a price to performance standpoint, it’s simply a bad idea. He decided that he should look into alternatives. There might be no better alternative than the BMW S54.
This silky-smooth straight-six engine was the heart of the E46 M3 and Z4M. It will go down in history as one of the best engines ever built. 8,000 RPM and 333 HP from a perfectly balanced powerplant. How could you go wrong? Once Nessim found a suitable donor engine, he states that “everything just escalated”. Wheels, brakes, body panels, all started flooding into his garage. His process brought us to what we see today, a stunningly clean and tasteful Imola Red E30. Nessim’s build/modification list is so long, we don’t have enough space to post it. However, if you are interested, check out the description of the video. Congrats on a beautiful car Nessim, hard work and patience definitely pay off.
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