Will M20B25 swap hurt value of a 323i TC Baur?

[Mossman]

Hey guys,
I'm going to buy a TC baur with a really nice body and some slight wiring problems, and autotragic. Paint is recent and original color, most of the top stuff is good or salvageable, it's a real find.

I already have an S52 vert so once it's done I really don't need it, I want to fix it up and flip it.

I am going to 5 speed swap it, which brings me to my question. I have a complete sweet running M20B25. The M20B23 in there now is probably okay but has some wiring problems and the harness has been hacked up trying to find them, and I don't have any replacement parts or any L-Jet experience.

If my intentions are to fix the car up, get it back to its former glory, and eventually flip for a profit do you think installing a regular m20b25 will help or hurt my cause, or not matter? I'll be doing the tranny anyways cuz who wants a slushbox e30, so swapping motor and trans together really isn't that much more work.







What's this thing supposed to look like? It's the latch that holds the T top part down in back, definitely missing something, looks overly complicated, anybody have a pic or have a baur in driveway they could go out and snap a pic of?

[Tbolt]

hard to speak for purists i guess
but................

325i tc baur ftw

[DanMan68]

In no purist either, but I would find an 5spd b25 way more desirable over a b23 slush box. Just keep the b23 and trans around and you can give it to the next owner if it is a problem.

[rThor432]

That's a bummer that it's an original auto car.. Gotta change that! I can't imagine an M20B25 hurting the value of the Baur. I did a conversion from an M20B20/G240 OD box to an M20B23/245 Dogleg in an '84 Baur. At Vintage at the Vineyards everyone seemed to approve of the conversion and most seemed to appreciate the fact that it had been converted to a larger, but still stock, powerplant.

I don't think anyone will see this negatively.. That said, you might consider keeping the L-Jet (I know most don't like it, but..). The engine bay would look pretty much stock at that point. My old 323i never missed a beat with the L-Jet system.

[Mossman]

What do you think value ranges are on these bad boys? I think it would be one of the nicer ones around when I'm done with it, mileage around 100k

[Julien]

I swapped motronic onto an l-jet 323i motor before. not a bad job if you have a parts car. The car went from sputtering/idling like ass to smoove as hell after the swap.

[M-technik-3]

Market is soft for Baur's there was a 316 fs for the longest time in CT for high 6's and I think it dropped all the way down to the 3s for it before it sold.

[Mossman]

Was it decent? This one's gonna be scwheet and get everything it needs, dash, etc. Maybe i won't be able to bring myself to sell it, just being euro bumpered and this clean will be hard to replicate the goofy roof will make it impossible.

Okay can't resist posted some pics, check 1st post.

[JamesE30]

Nice colour :p
Paint and interior looks very fresh. I say swap it, but then again B23s are a dime a dozen down here...
Eitherway I'm sure the extra displacment and advances in technology couldn't hurt any asking price...

[ethree]

I think it'll hurt your cause. Whose buying these cars? Just enthusiasts and most of them would prefer bone stock sometimes modded in a way they want it but I think unmolested is the way to go.

Baur's look really weird to me. I don't understand verts for men but there is something strangely intriguing about the awkward lines of the baur.

[reelizmpro]

I don't think so. The M20B25 is the best, latest and greatest M20 engine available for the E30 while retaining the stock balance of the car along without having to use any "swap" parts. It's like having the same engine just slightly larger displacement with more advanced engine management.