E30 swapped rb26 from latvia

Name: Michael Johnson

Age: 27

Location: San Diego, California

Year and model of your E30: 1988 325 Super ETA

Wich forums do you use? R3V Limited, E30tech, Stanceworks, Acurazine, VIPstylecars.com

Whats the story behind your E30?  The car was originally owned by Shant Zadoorian, who is a master of all things E30, and with the help of Matt Russell who also holds that title,  did all the motor, drivetrain and most interior and exterior stuff. When i bought the car it was on stock bottle caps and a Bilstein/H&R suspension. The car was exactly where i wanted it to be power wise but the suspension (linkage, bushings, etc) was in rough shape. Took care of that via ground control, replaced all the linkage and bushings, shortened the strut housings 1.5” (thanks Chris!) and built up some beefy BBS RS. 10” wide w/ 4” lips in the rear, 9” wide w/ 3” lips up front. Wheels were originally 7.5” wide with a 1.5” lip. Did a few exterior changes and massaged the hell outta the stock paint (yes stock!) which brought this car to where it is today.

What got you into E30‘s? Im not sure.. haha one major influence is when i was in high school my buddy had a 8v MK2 Jetta we used to mob up the mountains in Vermont to go snowboarding every weekend and i loved that car! It never died! Yea its not an E30, nor is it a BMW, but the quality and feel of the 80’s german cars stuck with me and seemed to steer me toward my current BMW.

How many E30‘s have you owned: 1!

What‘s your favorite E30? I have two at the moment, The black Felgen Garage E30 2dr w/ Mtech kit when it was on BBS RS, and that teal E30 2 dr w/ Mtech kit on BBS RS from I think Finland when it was with its first owner. Those two cars are the reason why I have an E30 in my life.

What are you working on now? Currently I’m in the middle of the Arabian Gulf, i’m in the millitary and deployed. Back in Califirnia my team, TEAM PRAXIS, is a huge help with another project car of mine, a 2002 Acura TL, which just got out of the paint/body shop, all metal widened fenders and a fresh coat of Mercedes Benz Barolo Red. A new set of VIP Modular Wheels are being fitted probably as i write this.

Any plans for the future? Next summer my E30 will see more camber in the rear, and will be lowering all four corners. Cage is in the works, Miller MAF and WAR chip as well, to pull some extra ponies out of the M30.

Interior:

-Tan sport seats

-Mtech 1 steering wheel

-’90 325iS cluster

-316i HVAC panel

-Black rear deck lid

-Black door pulls and pockets

-535i ciggarette lighter

Exterior:

-US Ellipsoid headlights

-5000k 55w ApexiCone H.I.D.’s

-Euro grills

-Euro rear plate filler

-325iS lip

-Smoked front parking lights

-Satin black plastic bumpers

Wheels and tires:

-BBS RS 180, centers powder coated solid silver, all new chrome hardware, all new 3″ & 4″ outer lips, all new center caps, polished center nuts, inner barrels refinshed silver, Harley Davidson valve stems

-16×9 front 0ish offset wrapped in 16″ 205 40 Falken Ziex912

-16×10 rear -5ish offset wrapped in 16″ 215 40 Falken FK452

Suspension mods:

-Koni race valved adjustable struts

-Eibach springs, 6″ 600# front/5″ 800# rear

-Ground Control camber plates

-Strut housings shortened 1.5″

-M3 control arm bushings

Brakes:

-OEM

Drivetrain:

-Getrag 260/5 transmission

-533i flywheel/clutch

-3.73 LSD rear differential

-Z3 1.9 short shifter

Engine:

-M30B35

-JoeFunk engine mounts

-Port and polished intake manifold

-Port and polished head

-Custom cam grind

-Spal 16” electric cooling fan

-E28 radiator

-BBK intake w/ K&N filter

-MagnaFlow exhaust, 2.5” piping throughout

Exhaust:

-MagnaFlow exhaust, 2.5” piping throughout, single outlet

Anything else you want to elaborate on?

Want to thank Einar for making this interview happen, Big ups to TEAM PRAXIS!! VIP Modular Wheels, DTM Autobody, Creative Recrecation, Meguires, Everybody who helped me along the way to bring this car together, Chris Boyle for all the weld work, my bro Bri J, David Yoo, NBSD Hobby Shop, RGM AUTO, VR Wheels and Ground Control.

Review of the 2011 season for Audio Class Drift Team.

Their E30 turbo seems to be workin alright.

E30 on R17

Doesn’t need much on e30s to make em look insane!

One of my friends owned this e30 325 m tech II coupe. He did take good care of it and ended up painting it matt black and turboing it.