In reply to J308:
The E36 has a rep for ripping out rear suspension mounting points as well and a few vendors sell kits to reinforce the rear sway bar mounts on an E30, so weak sheet metal isn't solely an E46 problem.
In reply to J308:
The E36 has a rep for ripping out rear suspension mounting points as well and a few vendors sell kits to reinforce the rear sway bar mounts on an E30, so weak sheet metal isn't solely an E46 problem.
The answer here is an e30 with an e36 m3 heart transplant. Relatively easy to do and boatloads of fun.
Lots of info here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=129
About the unibody ripping:
From what I've read about it in the past, I'd just factor that in for the cost of the car. Especially if its going to see a little track time. I've heard its a lot worse on the e46's. We're just getting ready to to it on my 240k '93 e36. No signs of it tearing yet, but Im not waiting around for it. It's worth the peace of mind for me.
In reply to Ian F: As Ty says above, I also just hear that it is worse on e46s. I don't know if it is because of the complexity of getting access to the repair or what, because I was gone from the BMW business before these started surfacing.
Still... Point taken, they all have issues. Weird design on e30 suspension, terrible e36 interior, e46s overvalued, so on and so forth... but seriously, they're all pretty damn great.
Lof8 wrote: The answer here is an e30 with an e36 m3 heart transplant. Relatively easy to do and boatloads of fun. Lots of info here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=129
I was at Sears point last week, and the third fastest car in the enduo was an e30 with a e36m3.
Lof8 wrote: The answer here is an e30 with an e36 m3 heart transplant. Relatively easy to do and boatloads of fun. Lots of info here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=129
Looks like fun, not sure I want it for a daily though. Think more like fun appliance/occasional hooning
kreb wrote:Lof8 wrote: The answer here is an e30 with an e36 m3 heart transplant. Relatively easy to do and boatloads of fun. Lots of info here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=129I was at Sears point last week, and the third fastest car in the enduo was an e30 with a e36m3.
Mine is almost always capable of top 5 lap times even if I am not capable of delivering that respectable of a finish. I've nicked into the top 10 overall in a couple fields of 40+ cars though and it is typically in the top 3 cheapest cars on the grid.
You guys are a bunch of enablers you know that?!?!?!?!?! Just spent my lunch break looking for E30's and engines!
75 percent of the field at Sears point was Miatas and e 30/36 Bimmers. Besides the killer e30, the other surprise was a very quick Prelude. Given their rep as an overweight cruiser, it was a shock to see one in the upper 20 percent of finishers.
I vote for an engine swapped 318ti. Whatever engine will sit further back in the chassis than an E30 and the E36 fenders allow 255s on front without cutting. Some nuts have even put BMW V8s and V12s in the Compact.
I'd say that the 318i is a nice car, but a 325is would be much nicer. e30s of course. Im biased against the other 3 series. Vintage BMW is where it's at.
Also, an m30b35 swapped e30 would probably be the best bang for the buck
Found an M50 within 3 hours of me for 400.00, now to find a similarly priced shell to stuff it into.
Nice. That should be a great companion for any e30.
I got this for $900.00
and
A few months later, this:
And today's final stage is:
1990, 325i, 4 dr., Bilstein/Racing Dynamics, D-Force LTW/RE11's.
Original M20 with full rebuild. My Son's first car, but MY daily driver to keep the miles off the M Coupe.
Very nice! I could definitely get used to that.
Spinout007 wrote: Very nice! I could definitely get used to that.
In the first page, I posted a link of the progress thread on bimmer forums. Check it out!
Spinout007 wrote: Found an M50 within 3 hours of me for 400.00, now to find a similarly priced shell to stuff it into.
Honestly... don't. Save your money for a nice S52, ZF trans and driveshaft from an E36 328. The M50 is almost a lateral for the M20. It gives you a little power (20hp?) & torque but adds weight over the front axle for the same amount of work. You still have to do the harness, oil pan, pick-up, mounts and all the same things. When you are all done - you will be thinking "I think I can tell the difference - it sounds better anyway". The S52 is good for 230wHP and about the same in torque with just chip, intake, obd-1 swap and decent exhaust. It more than offsets the handling penalty of the nose weight in throttle oversteer and big stupid grins. You will be asking yourself "How can I put more tire under the rear".
Short engine weights:
M10B18 199.5 lbs 101 hp 103 lb-ft
M42B18 242.5 lbs 138 hp 129 lb-ft
M44B19 210.5 lbs 138 hp 133 lb-ft
N46NB20 211.6 lbs 150 hp 147 lb-ft
S14B23 233.7 lbs 192 hp
S14B25 240.3 lbs 235 hp
M20B25 257.9 lbs 168 hp 163 lb-ft
M30B35 297.6 lbs 208 hp 225 lb-ft
M50B25 299.8 lbs 189 hp 181 lb-ft
M50TUB25 297.6 lbs 189 hp 184 lb-ft
M52B28 299.2 lbs 190 hp 206 lb-ft (US)
M52B28 253.5 lbs 190 hp 210 lb-ft (EU, Al)
M52B28 265.7 lbs 190 hp 206 lb-ft (Z3, Al/Fe)
M52TUB28 260.4 lbs 193 hp 207 lb-ft (Al/Fe)
M54B30 264.6 lbs 235 hp 222 lb-ft (Al/Fe)
N52NB30 268.0 lbs 254 hp 221 lb-ft (Mg/Al)
S50B30 328.1 lbs 240 hp 225 lb-ft (US)
S50B30 334.7 lbs 282 hp 240 lb-ft (EU)
S52B32 298.5 lbs 240 hp 240 lb-ft (US)
S50B32 339.5 lbs 316 hp 260 lb-ft (EU)
S54B32 327.4 lbs 333 hp 262 lb-ft
M60B40 313.1 lbs (Al V8)
M62TUB44 309.8 lbs (Al V8)
M73B54 321.9 lbs (Al V12)
S62B50 349.4 lbs (Al V8)
S65B40 306.4 lbs 414 hp 295 lb-ft (Al V8)
S85B50 385.8 lbs 507 hp 384 lb-ft (Al V10)
S70B56 341.7 lbs 375 hp (Al V12)
nevermind
What does an m30b24 weigh?
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Honestly... don't. Save your money for a nice S52, ZF trans and driveshaft from an E36 328. The M50 is almost a lateral for the M20. It gives you a little power (20hp?) & torque but adds weight over the front axle for the same amount of work. You still have to do the harness, oil pan, pick-up, mounts and all the same things. When you are all done - you will be thinking "I think I can tell the difference - it sounds better anyway". The S52 is good for 230wHP and about the same in torque with just chip, intake, obd-1 swap and decent exhaust. It more than offsets the handling penalty of the nose weight in throttle oversteer and big stupid grins. You will be asking yourself "How can I put more tire under the rear".
Mostly agree with this, but I think the S52 was the OBD-2 motor in the later e36 M3. The e36 328i had the M52. The early e36 M3 had the OBD-1 S50 as I recall. I think that the 328i did indeed have the same ZF trans as the M3 however.
Was also thinking boost with the m50 :D but I'll keep hunting. Its not happening today or tomorrow, but the near future I'm thinking it will happen.
The BMW V8s actually look pretty attractive to an E36 owner.
I think the fully dressed weight of the M20B25 is pretty similar to the M50B25--the intake and accessories are heavier.
M20 intake 15.70 lbs
M50 intake 6.53 lbs
M52 intake 6.17 lbs
bludroptop wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Honestly... don't. Save your money for a nice S52, ZF trans and driveshaft from an E36 328. The M50 is almost a lateral for the M20. It gives you a little power (20hp?) & torque but adds weight over the front axle for the same amount of work. You still have to do the harness, oil pan, pick-up, mounts and all the same things. When you are all done - you will be thinking "I think I can tell the difference - it sounds better anyway". The S52 is good for 230wHP and about the same in torque with just chip, intake, obd-1 swap and decent exhaust. It more than offsets the handling penalty of the nose weight in throttle oversteer and big stupid grins. You will be asking yourself "How can I put more tire under the rear".Mostly agree with this, but I think the S52 was the OBD-2 motor in the later e36 M3. The e36 328i had the M52. The early e36 M3 had the OBD-1 S50 as I recall. I think that the 328i did indeed have the same ZF trans as the M3 however.
Sorry - to clarify:
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