Would you track a high mileage euro E36 M3?

I have the opportunity to purchase a 1994 euro spec e36 M3. S50B30 euro engine, about 140k miles. Has been stored for last 10 years. Will require some of TLC to revive. Has Vanos rattle and power steering leak. Bilstein PSS9s installed in mid 2010s before storage.  Assuming I replace the rod bearings and leave the OBD1 beast stock - would you be confident taking to HPDEs? 

I was looking into a NC or ND to get RWD in my life...then this appeared. The vader seats are calling....

With the profanity filter on the forum, I always wonder if they are really talking E36 M3.

Is still see plenty of them at hpdes. Just depends on how much work you want to put in. Does it need to be a m3? spec e36 might be easier on the wallet.

I can just get this specific car for pennies on the dollar. I have 0 idea how stout a S50B30 is, when we are speaking of the non-US version. Most info on google is pertaining to the US spec E36s, whose S50 is actually a modified M50. I am currently doing more research using good old realoem. 

Were you able to find anything on PistonHeads? Probably some others, but that is the only European car-related website I know of. 

I don't know much about the Euro engine, but I love the e36 chassis. So to answer your question, yes :) 

I have found Dr Vanos does rebuilds on the euro S50 which is good. 

Euro S50s are stout. The 6-speed gearboxes are weak under track use, but that's easy to swap if needed.

Some euro M3s were imported to Canada, so you might find info on Canadian forums like MontrealRacing.com (if any automotive forums still exist anymore). Pistonheads is also a good suggestion. 

140k is high mileage? That's just a number, there are lots of sub 100k cars that wouldn't last a session on track and cars with over 300k that go all weekend (mine, an E28). It's all about maintenance and condition.

So my answer is hell yeah! Any issues with that chassis/engine etc are well known now, take care of that stuff and make sure everything else is up to it and have fun. I think you'll find you aren't alone out there in an E36.

adam525i said:

140k is high mileage? That's just a number, there are lots of sub 100k cars that wouldn't last a session on track and cars with over 300k that go all weekend (mine, an E28). It's all about maintenance and condition.

Agreed.  BMWs of that age tend to be pretty robust (although the interiors on e36 cars tend to go bad prematurely, particularly the headliners sag and the door panels come apart.)

So in 1994 BMW Canada imported 42 European E36 M3s. Each car is numbered with a plaque #/42. So its OBD1 with the S50B30 with the ITBs, VANOS, and 286hp. 
regarding the transmission it's a 5 speed not the weaker 6 speed. 
 

I feel it would complement my FL5 Type R nicely 

I would snap that up in a minute. That car will only become more desirable to own. 

Repairs are generally straightforward on the chassis. I did a vanos repair on my 325i with little experience. The euro motor might be different. Something in the back of my mind says it's variable on both cams but I can't say for sure. Either way, yea I would run that car hard. 

The 94' is only variable on one side

Snatch it up. Would be a riot on track...

J_D said:

So in 1994 BMW Canada imported 42 European E36 M3s. Each car is numbered with a plaque #/42. So its OBD1 with the S50B30 with the ITBs, VANOS, and 286hp. 
regarding the transmission it's a 5 speed not the weaker 6 speed. 
 

I feel it would complement my FL5 Type R nicely 

Our Chief instructor has one of the 45 in Dakar yellow in very nice condition (owned since new as far as I know), one of these days I'll get a ride around Mosport in it.

Excellent

I'll post back in a few months to a year. It will take some time to coordinate its revival.