Nowadays, the Touring variants of the BMW 3- and 5-Series are some of the most successful models in the company’s European lineup. But if not for the after-hours project of Max Reisbock, a BMW employee in the 1980s, we may never have got the popular lineup we do today.
The story goes that Reisbock needed a more practical version of his E30 sedan, and crafted his own five-door take on matters. When he drove it to work, BMW’s higher-ups were so impressed they decided to put the car into production with minimal changes to his design.
But an E30 Touring in the U.S. is still a rare sight, and what’s hiding under the hood of this particular example listed on Bring A Trailer makes the package a lot more appealing.
See Also: Can This Euro-Spec 1992 BMW 316i Touring Become Your E30 Darling?
Imported to the U.S. from the Netherlands just a few months ago, this car’s original M20 2.0-liter engine has been ditched for something a bit more avant-garde: a 2.8-liter straight-six M52 engine, likely from an E36 328i, E39 528i or E38 728i. In its heyday, this engine would have an output around of around 190 hp — a nice bump from the original’s 120-ish horses. Perhaps more crucially, it bumps torque from around 121 lb-ft (164 Nm) to a healthy 210 lb-ft (280 Nm).
It also has some tasty upgrades, including coilover suspension, brakes from an E34 540i, retrofitted air-conditioning, M-Tech II-style bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels.
It was evidently a fairly high-spec car originally, too, featuring many elements that an E30 enthusiast would fawn over, including a power sunroof, electric windows all-around, an M-Tech I steering wheel, heated sports seats trimmed in leather, and a full button-tastic onboard computer (cutting-edge tech back in the day of course).
Related: This BMW E30 3-Series Touring Has The Perfect Matching Trailer
While the actual mileage is unknown, there are some pointers that hint the car may have been well-cared for. The seats and door cards look to have been covered in their original leather, the interior carpets look spotless in the pictures, and the dog net and tonneau cover are present and correct.
As a former E30 Touring owner myself, I could certainly find space for something like this in my lineup. But is this the right kind of borderline-restomod to tickle your fancy, or would you prefer something a bit more original?
