S14 - Overrrated or Underrated?

[MrBurgundy]

... ..

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/engine-23/

S14 is not for us peasants LOL

at least it comes with the radiator

*heavy sarcasm*

[e30davie]

I didn't realise they were "worth" that much. That is ridiculous. I'd be afraid to even start it up at that price.

[Northern]

... ..

Remember when the $25k rule was a thing for the M3? The train left that station without me.

I don't know, its just not that much better than a normal e30.
I'd either just buy a really nice non-m e30 or do what you did and stretch for a 911.
Still tempted by the GR86 or an F56 JCW Mini for the price.

[digger]

the engine was never really the strong/focus point

[roguetoaster]

I don't know, its just not that much better than a normal e30.

It's also almost too valuable to be fun. Most of us still here got in to E30s because they were cheap fun with a fancy badge on the hood.

Cheap fun is always the best, E30 M3s with S14s aren't that.

[TobyB]

In the case of an E36, yep its got more power and torque, but god do they handle poorly.

Hey now, the E36 is probably the first BMW that can actually be made to handle at all. All the trailing arm bullshit is finally
beaten down to the point where the rear sticks well. Yes, they are pushy pigs in stock form, but reasonable modifications make them
pretty nice.

For a BMW.

If you actually want it to HANDLE, then other marques beckon... he says, also stirring the pot. And putting a rotary into a Miata...

t
I mean come on, balancing handling with rake angle???

[moatilliatta]

E36 handle poorly? What a newb.

[strickland]

E30 handle poorly?!

[ZeKahr]

Most of us still here got in to E30s because they were cheap fun with a fancy badge on the

Yeah, and now worthless losers like you are being priced out of them. I hope dorks like you don’t get another E30 ever again in your life. Go burn in hell

[strickland]

[82eye]

Yeah, and now worthless losers like you are being priced out of them. I hope dorks like you don’t get another E30 ever again in your life. Go burn in hell

old r3v rises it's head in anger lol

[ZeKahr]

old r3v rises it's head in anger lol

He’s insulted my on other posts, so I’m going to insult him here

[E30 Wagen]

Zero experience with S14's here but since I have a preference for original and period correct cars I see no compelling reason to swap a perfectly running engine for something else. The E30 M3 is what it is so I'd just enjoy it as such and be thankful to even have one.

But if I could go back in time when they were cheap and buy one with a bad engine or something then I've got fantasies of a Singer-esque restomod with a S38 swap.

[OSAH racing]

IMO, Awesome 1980's 4 cylinder engine. But the street version is a compromise and is not equal to what went professional racing. I have had a 318is and an 325i. Both with suspension mods. If we are talking fun street use the e30 chassis needs a 6 cylinder in it. I prefer handling over power but the M42 is weak and the M20 is underpowered and changes the corner abilities of the e30. My guess is BMW knew this and chose a smaller engine for handling dynamics. If going to the track is where its at, a modern 4 cylinder with 250 HP would be a real fun time. I have not actually seen the Honda K swap done. Maybe that swap worked out for someone but I haven't seen one.

[varg]

Maybe that swap worked out for someone but I haven't seen one.

I've seen 4

BMW definitely needed the smaller engine for handling dynamics, but I bet it had more to do with classing. The motorsport sixes were too heavy, an S38 in stock configuration weighs more than a 2JZ, it's way too heavy for an E30 that actually handles well.