Does anybody know BMW E3's? (Bavaria 3.0S)

crickets

http://appleton.craigslist.org/cto/1966551199.html

I'm going to pick this car up this weekend; I plan on entering it in the BABE Rally next spring (and yes, I have negotiated BABE price...hehe). The Bav is overall in surprisingly good shape, but it needs a general refresh (all fluids, carb rebuild, etc etc) before it's really road-worthy. After that, I'd like to try to hot rod it a bit. So, this is pretty much what I'm wondering:

1. Is the auto box truly terrible? Will one last with some good fluid and a nice heavy-duty trans cooler?
2. I hear pre-81 M30s have cooling issues, the current owner claims it has never been overheated to his knowledge, is there anything I can do to prevent an overheat in the future?
3. Weber vs Zenith seems to be a frequent discussion on this board. Zeniths sound like the way to go. Is there any way to squeeze a few more ponies out of them?
4. Any general performance tips as far as where I'll get the most bang for my buck?
5. Where do I start with handling/braking?

I have an E28 I can raid for manual transmission swap parts if necessary...just wondering if the pedal box and hydraulics and everything will mount the same.

I don't recall the auto being as terrible as more modern units. If it ain't broke already you should be OK with fresh fluid, but I wouldn't do anything to provoke it. The overheating is caused by the thermal reactor being located in the exhaust manifold, right next to that nice soft aluminum head. Should it happen to disappear (Vegas magic act, voodoo, selective application of high explosives - your choice) you'll be much happier.

The M30 is pretty stout, but squeezing extra power from it gets expensive fast. Unless you want to go turbo, I'd suggest tuning everything carefully and calling it a day. Handling and braking can be upgraded - Bilsteins and modern pads would be a good start.