1987 BMW E30 325e restoration and S52 swap
richb811 introduces Kylie, his E30 restored over a year and a half with Guten Parts + Service. The worn 325e returns with an S52 engine, fresh paint in its original color and Euro bumpers.
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From a worn 325e to Kylie
The owner introduces his personal E30 as Kylie. It began as a worn but much-loved 325e, followed by a year and a half of work with Guten Parts + Service in South Orange, New Jersey. He describes practically everything as replaced or restored and shares photographs of the finished car.
An S52 engine with OBD II retained
The owner identifies the replacement as an S52, described in his post as a 3.2-liter E36 M3 engine. Asked about engine management, he confirms that OBD II was retained. An OBD I conversion and S50 manifold were considered but not adopted. In another reply, he also reports working heat and cold air conditioning.
Alpineweiss II and Euro bumpers
The car was repainted in its original Alpineweiss II. The owner describes replacing the projecting US bumpers with slimmer Euro bumpers. Asked about the seats, he calls them comfortable and credits EuroInteriors in Connecticut with their work.
The 52,000-mile display is not the chassis mileage
The owner corrects a reply referring to 52,000 miles. That was the reading on a speedometer taken from a donor E30 M3. At the time of the discussion, he puts the actual chassis at about 125,000 miles and the engine at 89,000 miles, with the top end rebuilt. The cluster reading therefore does not describe this car’s total mileage.
The finished car
