Josh’s BMW E30

Josh’s BMW E30 isn’t about trends, bolt-on solutions, or chasing easy wins. This is a long-term build rooted in learning, problem-solving, and doing things properly—even when that meant doing them the hard way. He bought the car back in 2016 as a bare shell. No shortcuts. No finished vision. Just an idea: spend less money on prefab parts, invest in tools instead, and teach himself how to build as much of the car as possible from scratch. So rather than filling baskets online, Josh bought a TIG welder and a tube bender—and got to work.

Fabrication First

The first real job was the roll cage. One project turned into an obsession, and from there the direction of the build was set. Fabrication wasn’t just a means to an end—it became the whole point. Once the basics were in place, Josh wanted to push further. An engine swap was inevitable, but going down the usual E30 route didn’t interest him. Instead, he chose something different—and significantly more difficult.

A swap done without a blueprint

The engine of choice is a BMW B48A20A 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbo from a 2015 Mini Cooper S. Not a common swap. Not something with forums full of answers. Making it work meant fabricating a completely custom front subframe, which then led to bespoke front control arms and a one-off anti-roll bar. Nothing off the shelf. Nothing easy. Just problem after problem, solved with time, patience, and fabrication skill.

Turning Issues Into Upgrades

The shell itself was solid, with the only real rust hiding in the sunroof mechanism. Josh isn’t a fan of sunroofs anyway, so rather than repair it, he replaced it entirely with a carbon fibre roof sourced on eBay. Less weight, cleaner lines, problem solved.

DIY Paint, Done Properly

Every bit of paint and bodywork on this car has been done by Josh himself—in a poorly lit barn. No booth, no experience beforehand, no safety net. Is it flawless? No. But that was never the aim. What makes the difference is everything that came after: cutting, buffing, correcting, and machine polishing. It’s a perfect example of how far proper paint correction can take a car—and why patience matters. The finish keeps improving, the car keeps evolving, and it still looks strong from every angle.

Built With Effort, Not Ego

Almost everything on this E30 has been done by hand. Skills learned from YouTube tutorials, hours of practice, and a willingness to mess things up before getting them right. No pretence. No shortcuts. Just effort.

Engine - BMW B48A20 2.0L twin-scroll turbo - Forged Supertech pistons - BW H-beam conrods - King bearings - ARP head studs and main cap conversion - Custom hybrid turbo - Custom 3” stainless exhaust - Custom stainless intake plenum Drivetrain - 2017 BMW 6-speed manual gearbox - Stage 1 clutch - Custom short shifter - E30 medium case diff with LSD conversion Suspension - Air Lift Performance struts (front & rear) - Air Lift 3P management - Custom front subframe, control arms & anti-roll bar - Modified rear subframe Wheels & Tyres - Work Meister S1 2P - 15x8J front - 15x9J rear - Front: Yokohama AD08R - Rear: Nankang NS2R Exterior - Custom narrow-body M3-style front & rear bumpers - Custom front splitter - Rear wing delete - Carbon fibre roof - Customised factory arches - Modified E46 M3 side skirts - Range Rover Bahama Gold paint Interior - Cobra Monaco Pro seats - Momo Model 69 steering wheel - AIM MXS Strada 1.2 digital dash - Custom 4-point roll cage with twin 10” subs

This E30 isn’t built to impress with part numbers—it hits because of the work behind it. Every solution is earned. Every detail is learned. And that’s exactly why it stands out. Built, not bought. And still getting better.