Custom 1986 BMW E30 Set Up to Drive Hard by SMP Fab

Here's another car we've been waiting a while to shoot. My friend/little brother Steven at SMP Fab finally got his E30 done and back on the road. Steven is a badass fabricator/builder and one of the coolest people you could want to know. His BMW is customized to his taste, his style and is a little badass built for canyon carving.
Sit back and enjoy the ride with us...
Autotopia Social:
/ autotopiala
/ autotopiala
www.autotopiala.com
Paul Welsh - Videographer + Technical support: / mr.paulwelsh
Edited by Kyle Simon:
/ _kylesimon
• 1000 WHP Million Dolla...
Vehicle Owner/Builder/Little Brother Social:
/ smp_fab
/ smpfabworks
www.smp-fabworks.com
Music:
"Back to Life" - IAVIBEATS
• 80's Synthwave Funk R&...
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[@AutotopiaLA]

ATLAmerch.com/

[@Motoicon]

I'm impressed he made those diving board bumpers look so good....The bed liner approach to the spoiler is smart too....

[@HTown729]

I love this e30. Diving boards., no plastic bumpers, no over fenders of any sort, and no swapped motor. Straight up OG e30 swag. Clean af 🔥🔥🔥

[@deepjunkgarage]

"I'm hoping we dont get air today" 🤣 More proof that you don't need 1000hp. to have fun. That car is so well sorted and detailed ! Very well done ! 🍻

[@joshuawalker5044]

I read that right as he said it in the video 😂

[@vilhjalmrwt]

You know you need 1000hp...always😁

[@MrGaryGG48]

Shawn, you do crack me up sometimes! When Steven mentioned "...we can get a little air today" the look you gave him was priceless. My first car was a 1967 BMW 1600 (2nd was a '69 2002) when I was stationed on a ship in San Diego, in 1969. A couple shipmates and I used to head out of town to met some girls a couple of hours north and on one of my favorite backroads, there was a bend to the right, a long curve to the left, and a hump over a little stream where a concrete bridge was. I could get air every time we crossed that bridge at about 90 mph and I didn't touch down for about a hundred feet. It wasn't like I was really "FLYING," the road just dropped away a bit and away we went. The first time I did that with a new passenger, he just about pissed his britches and the two guys in the back laughed for about a mile!! That was THE topic of conversation when we got back to the ship, for the next couple of days... good memories and good times. ;^)

[@1finchgreen]

100 ft of air time...yeah ok...

[@Krith220]

@@1finchgreen unless he edited the comment, reading comprehension isn't really your strong side right? "It wasn't like I was really "FLYING," the road just dropped away a bit and away we went."

[@1finchgreen]

@@Krith220 100ft? You seriously believe that shit

[@E30Eric]

Cool car. A couple fact checks though. 1. The 325is doesn't come with a "bigger motor" 2.7. 2. The 325is didn't come out until 1987. This car is a 325es which did come with a 2.7. 3. There's absolutely no way that engine in that configuration makes 286whp.

[@unit3edkarnage]

It probably had the is front valance on it when he got it and rolled with it

[@stevendudek]

@@unit3edkarnage 🤣

[@POVShotgun]

I think he meant 325e, as in eta, it has a bigger, lower revving motor that makes more torque down low but not much power. It was an economy solution for the US market. But yeah I don't know how would you squeeze that much power out of the motor.

[@chillyE30]

it most likely does make close to what he is saying .. that engine in it is the m20b25 not the b27. also he didn't build it his buddy did and he might of built a stroker . if you watched it he redid the whole engine .

[@alka1ine]

@@chillyE30 If it's actually an 86 then it's the 2.7 and was most likely a 325es in original form, but yeah, the go -to option of swapping the 2.5 head and ecu (or custom chip/megasquirt) is a fairly easy upgrade still if you're keeping the m20 in it. Also, if you turbo either stock motor they'll both make that power and will take gobs of boost stock. ....but if you keep the 2.7 head you shouldn't raise your redline over 5200rpm (rev limit/fuel cut maybe 5700ish) or you'll be at the limits of the single valve springs, smaller valves, and fewer oil journals in that head.

[@jjaeks5518]

havent seen a straight vibe like this piece in a while, maddddd good guys

[@Photobombin]

A builder and a driver, excellent video and build. You're killing 2020 so far, thanks Shawn!

[@BlakesGarage]

Super rad! Love the wheels and paint looks so clean. E30's are such bad ass little cars.

[@SeamTressGaming]

The sound tho, one of the best I've ever heard.

[@jameshutchins3396]

That is so far out of the box for him, huge respect for an amazing build

[@eddiesheeran5791]

Great build! Awesome job. Thanks for sharing!

[@thewing331]

Awesome car guys and I loved when Shawn say's it handles the bumps and his buddy says that's because we're flying over them lol. Love it guys great car and a very modest guy. Have a great weekend ☘️

[@gnarlytothemax]

Opened up the video thinking this car is not my taste at all, but in the end I was very impressed. Well thought out and tasteful build. He earned it.

[@AutotopiaLA]

He nailed it and built exactly what he wanted which is always cool

[@adamadams6740]

Absolutely beautiful car!!! Love the style you went with!👍🏿

[@FBS_raceteam]

The builder seems super cool and chill makes us appreciate the project better

[@CJAEY]

Those cage lights are nifty. Super clean E30!

[@rjauto7215]

The E30 is the best BMW ever made I've had aboute 5 of them

[@lunakai_360]

Damn straight! one of the best cars to ever come out of Europe!

[@chaospotato5511]

Ive had 4, 2 are in my garage now :)

[@rjauto7215]

@@chaospotato5511 top man keep em

[@controlledchaos2496]

I’d be happy with one 😭

[@TheTechCguy]

Not the most advanced or powerful, but classic always. In fact, reliable.

[@7477238]

Not too sure about those HP numbers but this is one clean build. Simple (minus the dash of course) and handling focused. That old I6 is still one of the best sounds around.

[@arymonem]

No matter what car you have, if it puts a smile on your face because of its fun factor, then you have basically made it! That’s what truly matters, THE FUN FACTOR.

[@petescarport]

Love the way the car looks and handles. Don't need to say anything about the power, but be proud of what it has. Car seems to be perfect for what it does.

[@elmerrichardson6413]

I'm remember seeing lots of these back in my 20's in the 80's on LA's roads. I used to drool when I saw M3's zipping around town. I wanted one so bad. Nice car, looks great.

[@chuckmiller83]

What a nice little ripper. Well built beautiful car. Great video!

[@vilhjalmrwt]

So beautiful!!! I love the proportions

[@deaftoned450]

Such a tasteful build. Nice work.

[@jcgarage7889]

I really like E30's and this has to be one of the best looking examples I have seen. 👌👌👌👌

[@genso3065]

this has motivated me to start back working on my 85 eta. was stuck working on my subie baja. but, this reminded me that i resent my e30 for so long now..great vid!

[@drewwarman2679]

Nice video. That E30 sounds great!

[@OriginalNortad]

Really good vídeo, the friendship makes for a very fluid, fun interview, and the car is really neat, looks pretty dialed in

[@stammergarage]

As an e30 owner, I respect this build

[@Seqaa]

Hi , i have an question , how much did you pay for your e30? sorry for the bad englisch , im from belgium haha

[@11105angel]

@@Seqaa $7000 for a 87 325 es but paint is not good and windows didn’t work along with a gas tank leak, exhaust leak, bad wheel bearing, timing belt not redone, sports seats taken out and no lsd. later on I was trying to fix the gas tank leak and it turns out there was a lot of debree in the tank which ruined the whole fuel system including the injectors .

[@gandhi_assuncao]

That 80's look is so cool

[@seanc5827]

Such a rad car. Love that it's naturally aspirated.

[@kylena7533]

Gorgeous build, I love it!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed 👊

[@615al4]

This is one of my favorite vids on this channel. My friend you are not an old p, we all get a little scared when sitting in the passenger seat instead of behind the wheel.

[@AutotopiaLA]

I like joking about being the “old guy” now and he’s like a little brother to me

[@KzLollapalooza]

Lovin the taped lights

[@idriveandridevintage8580]

Mine is stroke out close to 2.9 with all the goodies internal, run on 111 octane lead race gas. I be lucky if it get 225hp.

[@beowolf9991]

This guy just lied to us .. Never seen a m20 making 300whp

[@herberthans7015]

thanks for using a hoodcam please use it more often in the future! great car and video.

[@leavingasap843]

Seats are dope. Love the diving boards

[@_rmms_8285]

respect for that clean paint job

[@lsvip1820]

That’s a cool one. He was cool when I was at the shop. And that little bmw is so clean😎

[@J_ocampo]

perfect setup, perfect rebuild. Respect for all my e30's brothers

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed and thanks for the comment 👊

[@steveb9525]

Wow I am subscribing! What a gorgeous E30. Hoovie said these are the best years and models for BMW. My 335i twin turbo is 300hp. Love working on it.

[@StormDweller]

Very Inspiring build! Awesome.

[@AutotopiaLA]

I thought so too especially knowing Steven and his quality of work

[@sforza209]

And what a damn tight ass garage dude has at the end of the video! With some nice rides! I really like that Audi!

[@moreonfeet1040]

I love this car great job looks amazing

[@PeterGKO]

So happy to see an original inline-6 in one of these.

[@jesseb280]

That thing is so so clean

[@chrislovett87]

What a great build

[@SETTINTHETONE]

Nice e30. The exhaust sounds clean.

[@parmjitsingh2329]

It’s just felt like I was in the back seat awesome once again he’ll of a build

[@craigm2209]

Looks like fun guys. Good shit!!

[@hussydahustla]

Amazing video. Yet again. One suggestion from watching these can. You maybe talk about the transmission and gearing when you ask about the engine setup. I love hearing about that stuff. Thanks and keep yo the great work.

[@shining_buddha]

Omg, she's co clean and beautiful 😍 Thank you for this gorgeous baby 🙏

[@tomnekuda3818]

I'm a V8 guy but I love the sound of the engine.....it's so damn eager! Would love to wring it out in the twisties! Ha...it isn't the horrified look on your face, it's the pucker marks on the seat! LOL Really good video!

[@jimmy2494]

Love it another great episode 👍🏻

[@MarMPB]

Great job!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@911marcus]

298 to the wheels... best joke today

[@craigdaugherty7690]

lol right? my cammed M52 swap doesnt even make that at the crank. ive done everything except the 3.0 m54 rotating assembly swap in that engine and it MAYBE makes 200~ at the wheels. maybe. and i laughed when he said 86 325is with a 2.7. Pretty sure he means 325es with the 2.7eta which made like what, 125hp? new? he may know how to cut up a truck and put it on long travel suspension, but he needs to do some more reading about his e30 he clearly didn't work on himself.

[@michaellovell3659]

Hahahahaha rightttt? There is no way this thing is making 298 anywhere. No M20 makes 298 NA. Also he kept referring to it as an iS when it’s an eS...

[@jtg199]

@@michaellovell3659 rob braunes e30 makes 347 wheel na, look up the video rob's 2.8 e30 by the channel morerevsm3. And i believe someone has around that same power in a e21 aswell, ill edit my comment if i find the video. The m20 is insanely modded m52b28 crank new rods, 14.5:1 pistons extensive headwork, triple 45mm dcoe webbers. Its wild. But yeah this car in this video.. no way its making over 198, you can hear it in the way it sounds.

[@votanodinson8123]

So funny when Americans think they understand German technology and think they know about it

[@brakmaster]

Maybe 198 ... to the crank.

[@jerco4ever]

Really nice car, brings some inspiration to us e30 guys :D thumbs to the owner for the great work!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed and Steven is a creative fabricator and build such a cool E30 👊

[@JohnJohn-fy4lu]

Do a part II to this episode and have homeboy explain where 300 hp came from...what a load.

[@TH3M0NSTR1NU]

John John lmao

[@dropthebassgz9620]

They fell from the sky xD

[@JohnJohn-fy4lu]

@@jamesreeves4600 Cool dude.

[@iliketorockrock]

Crazy cool car!

[@WalnutPancakes]

Is nobody gonna mention that, in the US, the 325is came stock with a 2.5 liter m20b25, and not the 2.7? The 2.7 was in the “efficient” model with less hp and more torque, the 325e/es. The guy doesn’t know much about these and it shows, not that it detracts from the car. It’s very clean.

[@AutotopiaLA]

He did say he didn’t know much about these. Look up SMP and you’ll see they do off road trucks and toys

[@Krith220]

yea just commented that, only the south african market 325is had a 2.7

[@almightyalious2804]

Best car ever made, ultimate driving machine

[@AutotopiaLA]

They really are incredible platforms

[@MrCdrant]

Did he really just try and bullshit an NA m20 is 300hp? A 2.7 stroker at best is cracking 200 at the crank, and even the most high strung motors will not come near 300 without some serious machine work, and it certainly isn't happening with the stock intake manifold.

[@vladimircorac1455]

Lighter crank, difrent injectors, piston... you heard it how light those revs are. I bet it is fast as any modern car on those twistis. If you didnt tryed lowered e30 you dont now what handeling is about. Great car!!!

[@MrCdrant]

@@vladimircorac1455 I've owned several e30's from stock 320i's to s52 swapped ones. There is no stock manifold NA m20 on the planet making 300hp, period.

[@vladimircorac1455]

@@MrCdrant kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWKTdYeLpJagl7s 174ps at crank. And to my ear it is worst sound than e30 in this video. I dont, but i think it is quite inaf

[@danielneal9137]

@@MrCdrant there are documented N/A M20's making 300HP, but they are high strung high compression 3.0 Strokers.

[@MrCdrant]

​@@danielneal9137 And like I said, it's not happening without serious work or happening with a stock intake manifold. This is a case of someone paying someone else to build his car and not knowing what's in it, but it sure as shit ain't 300hp

[@snhongo1]

One of the best sounding 6 cylinder car ever made.....the e30

[@michaeln.7083]

I love that E30 absolutely live it, the design and way he built it to be driven hard is perfect, is it for sale?!!!... it keeps asking for more great build great builder!! Keep up the content in the process of designing a cage for my Mustang now!! This gave me the idea to add the lights in the cage and wireing.. great work

[@shortroundChris]

Dang that looks tough!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

It’s a little badass for sure!

[@curtssallee9807]

The ONLY car I would take over an e46....OMG the x's on the headlights so original

[@niedetailer8385]

This is one of the beautyfulls car on the world. The sound of super eta is uaaaaa... love this

[@AutotopiaLA]

E30’s are so cool and this one is done really right

[@niedetailer8385]

@@AutotopiaLA kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqmUlYyMmdZ5mqc give me one week, I show you my not end bmw e30 but she is super hiper mega shine.

[@JT-sd4we]

What a badass video! Just got my son a 2002 330ic coupe. I’m thinking about getting one next, this year looks great!

[@AutotopiaLA]

These are timeless cool cars that can be built to drive and never go out of style imo

[@InternetChuck]

I love the rear and front bumper on this thing

[@AutotopiaLA]

This whole car is cool imo

[@6oen]

so sick. literally my dream car.

[@jose_s_bam7938]

What a great and cool looking car! 300hp are more than enough for that type of car. E30's are some of my favourite BMWs!

[@olavopg12]

he exagerated about 100 hp but still fun!

[@Krith220]

yea it isn't even close to 300hp

[@km28daprodigy]

My favorite car can’t wait to get one

[@icebear1935]

nice build, front bumper looks mean

[@CorradoRacer]

yeahh the motor looks like an old 735i could be a beast under that hood. Awesome content.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks and I don’t know enough to fight some of the comments here...I trust Steven knows what he built and it’s a little badass

[@JohnJohn-fy4lu]

AutotopiaLA Well, here’s a professional opinion. Steven is full of it.

[@paulino4722]

Its not a car, its piece of art.

[@CyberDocUSA]

Hey man, no worries. Ida been a nervous wreck in that car at those speeds! Lol. You did well.

[@verdict1163]

Props for keeping the M20!

[@DutchOrbit]

its cool to be original but that is the slowest fucking motor in history

[@sethlyte]

Tastefully done!!

[@sweetdees86]

Your face!!! Priceless.

[@93tegDA]

Omg.. I love e30s. I miss my 84 318i...Definitely going to build another

[@AutotopiaLA]

They’re great and I love his approach with this one

[@ps3shakes123]

Love that blacked out look..must be brutal in that cali summer sun though..

[@TheIndulgers]

I really like it, especially the wheels. Doubt the 300hp, and not an is, still cool though.

[@BlakesGarage]

yeah, it's N/A 12V, no way its 300whp show me the Uncalibrated dyno chart. It’s more like 200whp tops.

[@Drifty325i]

Yup no way in hell its 300whp, at best 180/190whp with those mods. Still a bloody nice car and great engine

[@nello1591]

Yeah it's a great car and doesnt need to be exaggerated. Just gotta own it for what it is and have fun with it.

[@brendensprague8019]

yeah not 300 for sure, but still a kickass build!

[@Drifty325i]

Gogi M 170 stock at the flywheel. That’s 140whp ish. He hasn’t doubled the whp with those mods

[@nicholasvonrhine541]

Love your car man.

[@jonathanbobadilla7]

underrated car and builder

i miss my 1988 325IX! What a car!

[@ganjd1148]

Love this and the owner seems like a car guys kinda guy....

[@timtraverthediecastcollect6482]

Totally love it

[@n_y_o_o_m]

I love my e30. I have a 1989 BMW 325i sedan. same wheelbase as the coupe, just a slight bit heavier, with a more rigid frame. has racing headers, and a mtech kit.

[@manjots2004]

Dream Car 😭♥️

[@faridakhlf3148]

I love it such a little demon

[@mariusvasile2051]

Sound very nice

[@raverick187]

Canyon carver, for sure! M3 kit would be a banger look on that car, but this is more utility wise. Love that DTM engineering monster! So, next is Mercedes 190E 2.3/2.5 16v Evo, ha? :D

[@John_Conner222]

Interesting for youtube to recommend a 4 year old video but hey, I actually had one of these. Same year and everything just in red. Didn't really want the car but I needed another car as my engine went out on my previous car and it was too expensive to repair. That E30 was my first rear wheel drive car and man it was fun to drive even for being barebones and stock. He's right it does kick out a little but its VERY controllable. So much so you can predict where it goes and do neat tricks with it. Regardless I had to get rid of it eventually because it was from up north and had terrible rust damage and broke pretty much every hose from dry rot. It's what I get for not checking it out thoroughly before I bought it.

[@jimk7882]

Shawn your channel is really picking up steam now.👍

[@Cowboy684]

smokin hot feature

[@ryanturner5373]

For my bros 16th birthday my dad bought him a 86 325es 5 spd an it was the cleanest 325es I've ever seen, silver, beautiful car. Then we passed a cop coming out of willow street going just over 140 an being that my dad bought the car from the cheif of the state police. We no choice but to slow down an pull over cause they knew who we were an where we were going. Lmao good times lost his license for 3 months. All I have is memories of my brother now an I wish I can find a 86 325es for myself one day.

[@imvati]

very good looking black on black e30 engine work done Boost that engine and you’ll have 10x more fun I promise!

[@tk2070]

Such a amazing video, going to subscribe after one video thanks.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you!! More to come with Steven in the future

[@patrickpoore7560]

Nice build.... forged crank forged positions set up.