[Sniz]

Hey guys,
My 335 may be leaving me shortly, so its time to look for a new ride....

I've been thinking pretty heavily and I want to go for an e30 M3!! Love those cars, so well made, so pure, drivers car. I drive a lot so I'll be spending plenty of time with it. I also happen to be a HP junkie, so there is a very good chance I will do an engine swap if I dont find a good car that already has an engine swap done to it. Probably go w/ F/I down the road too. Its been proven that the S50/52, etc w a good turbo setup put out a lot of HP, and are reliable if you don't go too wild. 400hp in a 2600-2750lb car will be a blast!

Anyone here have an e30 M3 that can tell me how the car is to love with on a daily basis? I'm not the biggest luxury whore, so it being overly plush is not my concern.


Thanks

[phrozen06]

IMO that would be a great choice

[RRGOO7]

Personally i think an E30 M3 would make a nice garage queen, not a dd. Its uncomfortable, possibly unreliable, a/c or heater may suck.....It would buy a nice one, fix it up and made it a weekend ride. E36 M3 would make a much better DD IMO. You can pick up a very nice one around 14k.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by RRGOO7

Personally i think an E30 M3 would make a nice garage queen, not a dd. Its uncomfortable, possibly unreliable, a/c or heater may suck.....It would buy a nice one, fix it up and made it a weekend ride. E36 M3 would make a much better DD IMO. You can pick up a very nice one around 14k.

also looking at e36 M3's, but I guess I just have a thing for the e30's.

[DoNDoN]

I love the E30 M3 but it is definitely not a daily driver. If the weather in the area was nice all year round then go for it but with unpredictable winters here I would think you would need a beater car too.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by DoNDoN

I love the E30 M3 but it is definitely not a daily driver. If the weather in the area was nice all year round then go for it but with unpredictable winters here I would think you would need a beater car too.

I have one, I have a GMC Sierra Z71 for other daily driving and winter use...

[Year's_End]

I would give my left nut to own an e30 m3. Doo eeeeeet.

[rubber_ducky]

If you do find one that has low miles, meaning less than 150k, and is in good shape, be prepared to spend $20k for it. The good ones aren't cheap.

I've owned one and it'll do as a DD, but obviously it's far from ideal as one.

[Spec 1]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Anyone here have an e30 M3 that can tell me how the car is to love with on a daily basis? I'm not the biggest luxury whore, so it being overly plush is not my concern.

First, congrats to you for considering an E30. I've had mine for over 3 years now, have dropped about $8,000 into it and still love it every single day I drive. An excellent vehicle all-around and a true drivers car.

Now, having said that, I need to make something clear for you so you don't make a mistake: The E30 M3 is NOT a daily driving vehicle. There are a few reasons for that, but most of it will fall on the S14 engine. That engine is developed to be a race motor, not a driving motor. The E30 M3 is not like the M3's that followed it, in that they make an excellent road car that can be tracked. They were really designed to be tracked, and that's it.

Your first pitfall is that the engine does not have any power you can use while driving. The powerband is such that you need to be up in the revs to develop any sort of usable power, even trying to pass someone. In the real world, especially as a daily driver, that makes it difficult to get around. I've had plenty of cars that need to be actually driven (Integra Type-R, my E30 M42) but the S14 really develops no power down low at all. It would make it a pain to rev the crap out of the engine each and every time you accelerated from a stoplight, or while in traffic, etc. Occasionally? Sure. As a daily? No way.

Secondly the S14, because of its racing origin, is developed so that it needs to be entirely rebuilt (I mean entirely) every 100-140k miles. Parts wear down quickly and need to be replaced pretty often. The reliability and stability of the E30 engines don't apply to the S14. Cost wise, almost every single E30 M3 owner I've known has said there is no way they would submit to putting on 10k+ miles a year, as it would get too expensive to continually replace parts.



Other than that, a standard E30 is an absolute joy to live with. I've been using mine as a DD for about 14 months now. Other engines BESIDES the S14 are very reliable. I've put maybe $400 of preventative maintenance costs into my car over the 3 years I've owned it and it still starts each and every time, no hesitation. The build quality of E30s are much higher than say the E9xs. Of course having been through more, you may have to search to find a clean shell, but things like clinging windows when doors are shut, something I hear E9x owners complaining about, is non existant. Things don't fall apart, etc. The transmissions are wonderful. If you're a manual driver you'll be ahrd pressed to find something more enjoyable. A Z4 shifter can be used to reduce your throw as well.

Um.... if you'd like to know anything more, ask. I've learned a heck of a lot about these cars and would recommend one 100% for a true driver. While the E30 M3 is a fantastic vehicle, it's certainly NOT a DD. You'd be better off buying a standard E30 and throwing some money at it like I've done. I can talk engine drops too, if you need more powa.

[Sniz]

the engine in the e30 M3 is a S14?

how about a S50B32 swapped into the e30 M3......321hp e36 Euro M3 engine. Thats got to have enough HP for daily driving purposes. Or is that the motor you were referring to??

Like this one: http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33779

[Sal@AUTOcouture]

Bow to the king: (also currently for sale at like $50k or something)

Euro S52 swapped (along w/ MANY other goodies)

[Spec 1]

Originally Posted by Sniz

the engine in the e30 M3 is a S14?

how about a S50B32 swapped into the e30 M3......321hp e36 Euro M3 engine. Thats got to have enough HP for daily driving purposes. Or is that the motor you were referring to??

Like this one: http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33779

Oops! You're right, my mistake.

The S50 swap has been done enough that it's not that hard of a swap to accomplish. I've been considering dropping that or another engine in once I'm not DDing the E30 anymore. Actually as far as having enough hp for driving purposes, anything more than 200 is enough to propel this car through space. It's very, very light, so 200hp will act like 300+ in your average sized car. 300hp in an E30 is like building a rocketship. I'm hoping to eventually get mine to around 320-330 as anything more makes the tires walk sideways.

[E90ice]

but, why are you getting rid of the 335?

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by E90ice

but, why are you getting rid of the 335?

accident

Other drivers fault

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Spec 1

Oops! You're right, my mistake.

The S50 swap has been done enough that it's not that hard of a swap to accomplish. I've been considering dropping that or another engine in once I'm not DDing the E30 anymore. Actually as far as having enough hp for driving purposes, anything more than 200 is enough to propel this car through space. It's very, very light, so 200hp will act like 300+ in your average sized car. 300hp in an E30 is like building a rocketship. I'm hoping to eventually get mine to around 320-330 as anything more makes the tires walk sideways.

thats what I figure, that euro S50 will turn that car into a rocket. Maybe not as fast as my 335, but thats nothing a turbo can't fix

[nj335i]

Originally Posted by Sniz

accident

Other drivers fault

That sucks... sorry to hear... IIRC, you lost your last car to an accident too?

[E90ice]

Originally Posted by Sniz

accident

Other drivers fault

Right....

Seriously, I almost wish my car got tottaled (as long as i'm not injured ) so I can get an new M3 coupe.
My car has too much negative equity to do it right now.

[Sal@AUTOcouture]

Originally Posted by Sniz

thats what I figure, that euro S50 will turn that car into a rocket. Maybe not as fast as my 335, but thats nothing a turbo can't fix

I spoke w/ Rui Azevedo (owner of Azevedo Motorsports).

He said the Swapped Euro S52 ran a 12.65 at the 1/4 slippin the whole way. He said if he had some slicks it would be low 12 high 11's w/o boost!!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by nj335i

That sucks... sorry to hear... IIRC, you lost your last car to an accident too?

lost my Volvo S60R to an accident
lost my modded 89 K1500 to a fire
lost my 69 Camaro SS pro touring to a fire


anyone see a pattern here?? Dont sell me your cars, I will kill them.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by AutoCouture

I spoke w/ Rui Azevedo (owner of Azevedo Motorsports).

He said the Swapped Euro S52 ran a 12.65 at the 1/4 slippin the whole way. He said if he had some slicks it would be low 12 high 11's w/o boost!!

Easy 11's on boost then

Just doing some simple math.

the e30 w the euro s50b32 will have a slight power to weight disadvantage to my 335.

3550/450 = 7.8 (assuming 380whp x 15% drivetrain loss = 450hp)
2700/321 = 8.4


but it would be easy to get 425hp or so out of the s50b32 on a street tune w turbo.....soooo

2700/425 = 6.35

and I think 425 is being kind....could easily be a lot higher than that even on a low boost 93 octane tune.

with my simple ricer math the e92 would need 559hp to keep up w/ the e30 w 425hp. 3550/6.35=559

isnt algebra great

[Sal@AUTOcouture]

Vlads car is pushin around 370 wheel hp with his Euro S52 (cams, chip, intake mani, and some other stuff.) I lost Rui after a few minutes of him vomiting a list of mods!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by AutoCouture

Vlads car is pushin around 370 wheel hp with his Euro S52 (cams, chip, intake mani, and some other stuff.) I lost Rui after a few minutes of him vomiting a list of mods!

yeah that car is just amazing.....

of course you can also go Donovan's route and build a straight line beast that will blow Vlad's doors off.



ran a 9.8 1/4 mile the other week.