ETA or SuperETA or 325e?????

[socalE30]

I know this may sound stupid but the PO before the PO may have done some things to it that the guy I bought it from didn't know about. I purchased an 88 325 SuperETA I thought? I searched the forum and it looks as though the eta is referred to as the 325e. I thought I had the SuperETA but I ran the last 7 of my vin and it came up 325e. How do I find out what I have and is there a difference between the ETA and SuperETA. Not that it matters but it is badged just as 325 and the tach goes to 6k rpms, as far as I have found that indicates its the SuperETA or Seta. If someone can help me out to determine what I have and if there is a difference between the 325e, ETA and SuperETA. I also just checked the Diff cover and it says 2.93 if that helps any. Any indicators that would clue me to what I actually have would be great. Thanks for any help in the meantime I will do some more searching.

[sherpa]

That would be a super eta. Eta bottom with an i head, higher rev limit and a litte more hp. '88 only. Should be a badge in the door frame with the vin and production date.

[reelizmpro]

The fact that your car is an 88 model year with updated body and slightly tucked diving boards indicates that you have a SuperETA. 84-87 were ETA's. 88 only had base 325 (Super ETA), 325i(iS) and M3's in the US. 6K tach, dual exhaust are also telltale signs of a Super ETA.

[socalE30]

Sorry but I have searched for a while, I guess not too many wanting to admit they have a Seta. I found limited info I'm just trying to verify my info. I do have the dual tail pipes, the 6K Tach and the BMW in block letters on the valve cover. What threw me off was when i looked up the vin and it came back as a 325e and I seen other posters refer to the 325e as the eta version. Sorry again for the newbness but I only ask when I can't find or need to verify info. Thanks

[GOOBER]

I had the same issue too. The super eta really doesn't have a badge or anything that designates it. Drop an i head, throttle body, intake, and a 173 ecu and you'll have a quick car with more torque than an "i" plus a stock compression ratio to boot. Just fyi ;)

[sherpa]

Kind of the best of both worlds, plus an easy swap to plastic bumpers. Good luck.

[socalE30]

Kind of the best of both worlds, plus an easy swap to plastic bumpers. Good luck.

Are you saying that the 88 Seta is an easier bumper swap than others and how so? I was lucky to get a real clean starter car and the bumpers are cherry right now until I can save for euro or plastics later on down the road, if I choose to go that route. Any other benefits or anything special about having the Seta, besides the engine? Some say the Seta has the eta bottom and an i head but on the same note others say to swap out heads for a 325i? I appreciate all your guys help and feedback even the harsh ones. I'm a work in progress and so is the car.

[socalE30]

The placard inside the drivers door says BMW 325i/A USA. It doesn’t make any since, when the vin comes up as 325e and everything else about the car screams Seta. Anyone? I assume the A means automatic but I could be wrong.

[reelizmpro]

It gets kinda confusing, I know. In 88 BMW updated the E30 body to the "face lift" style but kept the aluminum bumpers and later replaced them with plastic bumpers in 89. Since the body is the same, the plastic bumpers will fit the 88 without any modifications to the rear bumper.

The Super ETA has a 325i cylinder head (885 casting) BUT it has an ETA cam and single valve springs. It's not really an ETA block or 325i block but more of a hybrid. Motronic 1.1 block, ETA crank and "325i style" domed pistons (8.5:1) where the ETA had flat topped pistons, no oil cooler but the 325i stuff fits. So you can either throw an I cam in there and switch to double valve springs OR get a complete 325i head and toss it on. It's easier just to get as much of a 325i engine as you can because you'll also need the 325i intake, Throttlebody and boot, injectors, fuel pressure regulator and DME. These days it's better to just start with a 325i but there was a time where i cars were a lot more expensive than ETA's. When I built mine, back in the day, my friend gave me a 325i engine with broken timing belt. So I just swapped cams and valve springs, and the entire intake manifold with the parts I mentioned above. Made for a nice little stroker 325i engine with 8.5:1 compression it would be good for turbocharging too.

[socalE30]

reelizmpro.. thanks I plan on doing the 325i head swap, because unfortunatly I think the current head is minor cracked. Any of you guys know the transmission thats in it. I'm 99% sure it is the ZF 4HP22 but I again could be wrong. Thanks again for bearing with me.

[SpecM]

reelizmpro.. thanks I plan on doing the 325i head swap, because unfortunatly I think the current head is minor cracked. Any of you guys know the transmission thats in it. I'm 99% sure it is the ZF 4HP22 but I again could be wrong. Thanks again for bearing with me.

if its an automatic, its a 4hp22

if its a five-speed, its a Getrag 260

[socalE30]

if its an automatic, its a 4hp22

if its a five-speed, its a Getrag 260

Its auto:( so 4hp22 has it then.. I wish it was 5 speed but I got to deal with the slushbox for now. Unless I can save up and convert. The auto tranny is already dead any way.