“Forever Classic” – the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror says it all. And honestly, truer words have never been spoken. The BMW E30 is an icon, a car that refuses to age, a machine with a timeless presence that can be built and modified in countless ways. During the Risenation Hall of Fame event, I stumbled upon this particular E30, which had made the trip all the way from France. It wasn’t perfect—not by a long shot. But it had something. An aura. The kind of presence that drew a constant crowd throughout the day.
Now, most people would probably opt for the two-door version. It’s the more popular choice, the poster car. But personally, I think the four-door has the better proportions, especially when you lower it just right. Something the owner, Ryan, has absolutely nailed. Sitting on air suspension, the E30 tucks down beautifully, with its fender lips landing perfectly on the polished lips of a stunning set of OZ Futura wheels.
And can we all agree that 17-inch wheels are the ultimate size for an E30? They just fit. This set measures 17x8J up front and a beefy 17x10J at the rear, fully rebuilt with fresh hardware, making them look as good as the day they left the factory—if not better.
But the wheels are just the start. Ryan went hunting for a full M-Tech kit, and the result? Perfection. It gives the car that aggressive-yet-classy OEM+ look that makes you wonder why BMW didn’t make it standard in the first place. Underneath it all, the base car is a 320i, powered by the legendary M20B20 engine. And while that might not be the most powerful option in the E30 lineup, this one has been fully rebuilt, stripped of any unnecessary clutter, and tucked into an engine bay that’s been smoothed to near perfection.
The result? A car that doesn’t just look the part—it feels it. Not the cleanest, not the most powerful, but undeniably one of the coolest E30s at the event. Proof that perfection isn’t always about being flawless. Sometimes, it’s about presence. And this one? It’s got it in spades.