When is something perfect? Only the one who claims something is perfect can answer that. If you ask me, it’s a car where I can’t find a single thing I’d do differently. That’s exactly how I feel about this BMW E30. If I say that this one car alone was reason enough to attend the Risenation Hall of Fame show, well, that says it all, I reckon. Years in the making, getting cleaner, lower, and after who knows how many new sets of wheels later, this is the end result.
Built by Damiano Di Viesti over many years. The car was bought brand new by his father back in 1990. Back then, Damiano was just a little 11-year-old lad. The car is still owned by his father, but Damiano has taken over control and made it his own. I bet not many folks can say a particular car has been in the family for that long. What I love most about this project is that it keeps the original lines of the E30 intact, no widebody or other alterations, just the way BMW intended it.
The car rolled off the production line as a BMW 316, but now it’s got a 1.8 liter engine under the hood. And it’s got a little boost from a compressor out of a newer model Mini Cooper S. Don’t expect earth-shattering numbers from the engine, but with a weight of 1065kg, it’s an absolute joy to drive. Plus, the entire engine bay has been cleaned up, with all the unnecessary bits removed or tucked away.
Now, onto the interior, completely reupholstered in burgundy red leather and corduroy. The red stitching ties it all together. In the trunk, you’ve got a Magnat sound system alongside a 20-liter tank for the custom made air ride setup together with 2x 480cc black compressors.
But the real showstoppers of this E30 are the wheels, custom-made by Gekrenzert. Three-piece wheels in 17 inches, 8.5 inches wide up front with 185/40/17 tires and 9.5 inches wide with 225/35/17 tires at the back. Damiano spent many years tweaking to get that perfect fender to lip ratio. And here’s the kicker – all the wheel hardware is on the back, like the bolts and the valve.
As mentioned, there’s not much changed on the exterior, but does an E30 really need it? The only addition is an extra brake light in the rear hatch. AC Schnitzer rearview mirrors and all the lights have been converted to USA-spec lamps. Finally, all the BMW logos have been removed for that extra clean look, just like everyone used to do back in the ’90s
Perhaps you’ve noticed the logos of Catuned in the grille and windows front and back. They’re not just there for show. The connection with Catuned lies in the fact that Damiano is the European distributor of this California-based brand. Catuned is renowned among BMW enthusiasts as the masters of E30 restoration, but of course, they do much more. It’s heartening to see these old BMWs still getting so much love today.
I can’t wait for their next project!