Hello from Philly – looking for my first E30!

[pseudodennis]

New member here from the Philadelphia area — excited to finally join!

I'm hoping to acquire my first E30 within the next year and looking forward to learning from this community as I start my search.

Also - I joined the R3V Facebook group as well. What would you say are the main differences between that group and this one? Would it be frowned upon to post a question in both places?

So, hello - happy to be here!

[JasonWilson48]

Go buy this frankenstein of an E30. Honestly one of the crazier engine swaps I've seen.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Av8mbb1rC/

[BadDays]

Welcome to the forums!

If you're looking for a E30 to start your journey and make new friends along the way, Here's a few tips and common things to know about to help your search out:

Early Models are 1984-1987 for US Spec Cars while 88-91 are late models, Europe has 83-93 but since you're from Philly, you don't need to worry about european models like the 316, 320i, 324td Etc. Here in the US you'll find the 325e and 318i that ranged from 84-87, It's up to your preference on what model and year that you want. Everyone has their taste but I'll give a quick brief for early models.

Starting off with the 318i, This model ranged from 1984-1985 and featured the legendary M10 engine that saw it's mark on the 1600, 2002, However the M10 found in E21 and the E30's came with 1.8L of slow and yet peppy power in stock form for you to go around, With a strong reliable engine block and aluminum cylinder head. This model is the base model because there isn't an OBC and special equipment found in the 325e. The 318i has L Jetronic Fuel Injection and a Getrag 260 5 Speed Transmission, Automatics are shamed upon most people and equipping the M10 with an automatic makes it slower than a super beetle. Though Modifications include turbocharging, ITB's, Dual Carbs and standalones if you're seeking to spice up the 4 cylinder. NOTE that the M10 can be fully built along with the chassis as this model only weighs 2400 pounds, The engine was proven in F1 so it's ideal for a quick street car but if you're looking for a reliable E30 from the early years. This is a solid choice.

The 325e is the economy version of the 325i. It ran from 1984-1987 with minor changes to the body vs the 318i, This model features the M20B27 which this engine has two things that are different from a late model 325i. One is that the stroke of the crankshaft was changed so that the engine has a lower redline but it gives you better MPG and it doesn't ask for much in terms of power, Two is that the engine was never meant to be modified in any signifiant way unless major things have been done to it. If you wish to choose a 325e for an early model, You'll get all of the bells and whistles with this model including a On-Board-Computer, Overhead check panel, Power Windows as standard (318i had it as optional which my car had them originally) and Cruise Control, This model is basically meant for you to be daily driven, Modifications for this model only means that you can swap a "885" cylinder head onto the block and modify the engine to be a stroker, While I am not an expert on this model, I find that I can only cover the Early Models because I know them a lot more than the late models.


However if you're seeking for more. Feel free to ask us! We won't bite ; )

[BadDays]

Also one thing to note: The 325es is a special model that came with sport suspension, front airdam bumper that is nicknamed "Cow Catcher" and you get a sporty interior with seats and leather if you're lucky. Hope this helps.

[patrick88m3]

Go buy this frankenstein of an E30. Honestly one of the crazier engine swaps I've seen.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Av8mbb1rC/

that's awesome. I need it.

[2mAn]

R3V facebook is a sh!thole and you'll likely get everyone trying to unload their sh!tboxes on you... here we will try to get you to buy other peoples' sh!tboxes (like above! lol)

[pseudodennis]

Go buy this frankenstein of an E30. Honestly one of the crazier engine swaps I've seen.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Av8mbb1rC/

Oh boy... that looks like an adventure...

I think I know exactly what I want, but not sure how picky/patient I should be. That might be the topic of another post!

[pseudodennis]

However if you're seeking for more. Feel free to ask us! We won't bite ; )

Thank you for the info! I like the looks of the metal bumpers on the early models, so I think that's my preference. What made the 318i so much lighter than the 325i? Is it just the engine difference?

[McGyver]

Welcome to the forums!

If you're looking for a E30 to start your journey and make new friends along the way, Here's a few tips and common things to know about to help your search out:...

Don't M10 cars come with a g240? I was under the impression that the g260 was only for the m20 and m30 variants. Also, the m20 has a different bolt pattern, so you can't swap an m20 g240 onto a m30, but you can use a g240 on a m30.

The m20b27 has a different stroke, piston design, head, and engine management from a m20b25. The 731 head flows worse and has fewer cam bearings compared to an 885. It was originally sold as a 325, then the 325e when the 325i came out.

The seta (325es) uses the longer stroke of the m20b27, pistons similar to the m20b25, and an 885 head with only 5 of the 7 cam bearings drilled for oil. The cam profile is different from the m20b25 and it has a smaller base circle for less lift. It was only available in 1988 and was a peppy version of a 325e.

"s" cars should have come with sport seats, stiffer springs, lsd, some aero, and were more likely to have a 13-button OBC. Its very easy to swap all this stuff onto a non-s car and many cars have been modified to be better than the factory made them.

also, go phils.

[JasonWilson48]

also, go phils.

Go birds, dickhead. Mods, you can lock the thread now

[McGyver]

Go birds, dickhead. Mods, you can lock the thread now

wrong season, ya gagootz?

[2mAn]

What made the 318i so much lighter than the 325i? Is it just the engine difference?

There was a lot of items that added up (smaller strut housings, rear drums, etc) but even after swapping the later bits on my long-gone Aluminum Monster the car was still much lighter than its later varients.

If you find an 84/85 325e you get most of the benefits of the light weight car and having most of the M20 bits you'd want.

McGyver The G240 was on the M42, I believe the M10 cars had a G265 varient which made it a bolt-on for an M30 as well. I could be wrong...

[BadDays]

Thank you for the info! I like the looks of the metal bumpers on the early models, so I think that's my preference. What made the 318i so much lighter than the 325i? Is it just the engine difference?

2mAn says it perfectly, Allthough the 318i had smaller strut housings and drum brakes to offer, Swapping them is easy and cost effective since you'll find more support for the larger 51mm housings and disc brakes. It all boils down to the perference of the engine, Do you want a peppy 4 cylinder for going around corners or do you want a mighty 6 cylinder for having power on tap?

Also the 318i came with the G240. Source: (I own one and my build thread proves it)

If you're going to buy a early model e30, M20 is going to have more aftermarket support and parts avaliable. These lads can tell you what date and factory worker threw his boogers into cylinder 4 on a m20 back in the 80's so I'd recommend an M20!

(It's totally not because I would buy up all of the 318i's, totally not...)

[McGyver]

McGyver The G240 was on the M42, I believe the M10 cars had a G265 varient which made it a bolt-on for an M30 as well. I could be wrong...

well shit. i wonder if the early m10 cars had the same g260 and g265 situation as the e28 and e24 cars?

from what i understand, early m30 cars had a g260/5. these failed early and were relaced with a g265, which has a removable bellhousing. the g265 was expensive, so it was switched to the g260/6, which was cheaper but strong enough for an m30. i beleive all the engines have the same bolt patern except the m20. so transmissions are interchangeable between m10, m30, m42, m88, s14, s38, etc.