Modified BMW Wide Bodied M3 E30 with M5 Power Pictures 
TAX DODGING
Hmm, what would you choose; a spanking new M3 or a 21-year-old E30? It’s a no-brainer right? Not when there’s a huge tax bill just waiting to ruin all your fun. Good job then that our man Helge had a scheming plan…
gallery (26 photos)
It’s no wonder that Norway has earned itself one hell of a reputation for tuning old skool Beema’s, when the tax on new ones is so steep. Helge Vik is one such man who really knows how to work the system. This Bronze E30 is one of four in his collection, when he first saw it, it was painted blue and featured in a German tuning magazine, the same car re-emerged later on a Swiss internet site and soon Helge was convincing himself that this was a sign.
Before he knew it, Helge found himself on a flight to Switzerland and despite the abysmal state the E30 turned up in, something made him leave with it. That something was right because as soon as it had a 1993 M5 engine under its bonnet it was well on the road to redemption. Now for a normally aspirated example, 360bhp is not half bad but the whole project wasn’t without a few clangers along the way. Of course you wouldn’t take the risk with an old piece of junk unless you really knew what you were doing and when it comes to modifying, it’s fair to say Helge has been around the block a few times (those blocks being M5s). Surprisingly, the one we have featured is his least favourite but it is also the one that grabs the most attention. Both show and go are of crucial importance to Helge because without the looks to spark an initial reaction then who’s going to take you seriously? Isn’t that just the story of my life! It seems there is hope though – clean up your act, pump some iron and put on a sharp outfit and the women will love you (well they will if you morph in to a Bronze M3 look-a-like anyway).
Sounds simple doesn’t it and in fairness Helge makes things look easy, apart from replacing the roof which he found pretty soul destroying at the time. The bonnet wasn’t much of a walk in the park either but then sometimes a challenge makes things seem all the more worth while. Then again having bought the 323i complete with those very over zealous extended wheel arches, Helge rather hoped it would give him some sort of a head start but these needed to come off for repairs. He’s made a proper job of it too and with 10cm extra girth each side at the back and 8cm each side at the front, it was a job worth doing. These alterations enhance the M3 arches they are moulded around. The BBS deep dish rims are suitably overstated items; 10x 16” at the front and 12 x 16” at the rear. Colour coding the centres to match the Kawasaki motorcycle Bronze paintwork is another nice touch.
Having sold the original engine and gearbox, he’d raised a bit more cash for the kitty. This came in handy for the few finishing touches which include a Carbon fibre rear wing spoiler, smoked lights all round, a single wiper conversion, Schnitzer side mirrors, tinted windows, some de-badging and custom vents which are cut into the M3 Evo2 front spoiler.
Beyond these vents is the 3.8-litre engine from an E34 M5. He’s chosen a year 1993 S38 block because he believes this to be one of the most durable. He’s reached this conclusion after completing several of these engine and gearbox conversions for friends and associates. For his own M3 replica, he’s also made a few custom items like the radiator, fan, propshaft, brackets, engine mounts and gearbox mounts which have so far proved very hard wearing. Next came the exhaust system which was made by Fredrik Halvorsen at V:Bilmateriell. Finally came the task of re-mapping the ECU to achieve an additional 20bhp over the standard M5’s 340 break – sweet! For show purposes the engine bay is always pristine, as is the interior with its racy additions; Monaco bucket seats, Sparco steering wheel and Momo pedals.
Now with the project complete, Helge upholds the Norweigian reputation for outstanding tuning especially where Bimma’s are concerned. It seems then that the government’s tax rules have actually been turned on their head proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way!
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Modified BMW Wide Bodied M3 E30 with M5 Power Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
23454
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
3.8-litre six-cylinder 1993 m5 s38 engine and gearbox, custom prop shaft, custom brackets, engine mounts and gearbox mounts, custom radiator, custom cooling fan, custom v: bilmateriell exhaust system, custom ecu.
SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS
bilstein sprint shocks, h&r springs, front strut brace.
ALLOY WHEELS
10x16” (front) and 12x16” (rear) bbs deep-dish wheels colour coded kawasaki orange
TYRES
shod in 225/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) dunlop sp9000 rubber
EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
arches extended 10cm each side at rear, 8cm each side at front over standard m3 arches, e30 m3 rear wing with carbon fibre wing spoiler, dtm-style air intakes cut into e30 m3 evo2 front spoiler, ac schnitzer side mirrors, smoked front and rear lights, smoked indicators, tinted windows, m3 badging on rear bumper, de-badged bonnet and boot-lid, single wiper conversion, special kawasaki orange motorcycle paint.
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
monaco bucket seats, sparco steering wheel, momo pedal set, e30 m3 silver sill plates.
IN CAR ENTERTAINMENT
special sound system speakers in each door.
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