Project ’84: Stitching Together a Unicorn

I’ve been chasing an E30 for years. Ever since I first saw one sliding down a quiet street, that boxy silhouette and the soundtrack of a straight-six etched into my head. I’ve lost count of how many classifieds I’ve trawled through, how many cars I nearly bought, or how many nights I’ve spent imagining what my own E30 would be like.

Over the years I came across plenty of tempting adverts. Cars that looked straight, priced fairly, even in good condition. But every time, something didn’t sit right. They were too nice. The kind of E30s you don’t want to modify because they feel complete as they are. I wasn’t looking for a museum piece — I needed a car I could make my own. Something broken, but not too far gone. Not a rusted-out shell destined for scrap, but not a survivor I’d feel guilty turning into a Frankenstein’s monster either.

This year, I finally found it. A 1984 model. Not perfect, not even drivable — but mine.

The Beginning in Pieces

Unlike most first drives, there wasn’t one. The car arrived with its M20 already taken apart, the head cracked and beyond saving. No roar, no idle, not even the rough cough of life. Just a body waiting for a new heart.

Still, I wasn’t ready to give up on the M20. I tracked down another cylinder head, thinking maybe I could piece it back together. But when I got it on the bench, the story was the same — another crack. At that point, it felt like the engine itself was telling me to move on.

The Detour

That’s when things escalated. Instead of chasing more M20 parts, I went bigger. I picked up not one, but two M30B28s. The plan was a proper big six — torque-rich, full of character, the kind of lump that would make the E30 feel ferocious. And for a while, it seemed like the right direction.

But the more I spoke with my friends at Gas Monkey Burgas, the more doubts crept in. The M30 is brilliant, but it’s heavy, thirsty, and a much more complicated swap than I first let myself believe. If the goal was to actually get this car running, driving, and registered, maybe the M30 wasn’t the way.

The Pivot

That’s when the idea of the M52B25 single VANOS came up. Still a straight-six, but lighter, more modern, and with plenty of room to grow. It ticked all the boxes.



Gas Monkey Burgas took care of rebuilding the engine, replacing gaskets and clean-up and the mechanical install — dropping the M52 in, sorting the arms and mounts, lining up the gearbox and driveshaft. That alone transformed the car from a silent shell into something that looked alive again.

What’s Installed Now

Engine: M52B25 single VANOS — mounted, waiting for wiring
Gearbox & Driveline: Installed and connected
Rear Brakes: Converted to discs with E46 compact parts
Chassis: Rolling, ready for the next stage

The Unicorn

Through all of this, I’ve started to see this E30 for what it is: my unicorn. The mythical beast I’ve been chasing for years. And like any proper unicorn, it refuses to be caught easily. So far it’s fought me at every turn — cracked heads, wrong parts, endless paperwork — and even now it’s still not road legal. Always just out of reach, taunting me from the workshop floor.

This unicorn doesn’t want to be tamed. But that only makes me want it more.

The Plan

Now it’s my turn. Wiring, plumbing, and most importantly, the brain: Megasquirt 3 standalone. I’ll handle the mapping and tuning myself, learning every parameter as I go. When the key finally turns and the engine fires, I’ll know it’s running on my work.

The M30s Stay

They’re not going anywhere. Engines like that deserve to be saved. Maybe one day they’ll power another project, or maybe they’ll wait until this car demands something wilder. For now, they sit in the corner, a reminder that this journey hasn’t been straight — but it’s been worth it.

A Dream for the Future

And if I’m honest, those M30s are whispering about another car entirely. An E9 coupe. The 2800 CS, the 3.0 CS, the CSi — the kind of car where an M30 belongs naturally. One of those long-bonnet Bavarian coupes, half-dead and waiting for a second chance. Bringing an E9 back to life with an M30 under the bonnet would be more than just another build — it would be a revival.

The E30 is my driver’s project, the one I’ll map, tune, and wring out on the road. But an E9 with an M30… that would be the restoration of a legend. Maybe one day, the right shell will find me. Until then, the M30s wait.

From cracked heads to bold pivots, the E30 has its heart again — thanks to my friends at Gas Monkey Burgas — and the story is only just beginning. This unicorn is still out of reach, but one day soon I’ll catch it.

Until next time,
— Colin