High-mileage E30 M3 or mint low-mileage E30?

[mach schnell]

your really contemplating this? lol

granted the reasons are a good argument, but its an E30 M3.... gods chariot. it wins life.

I'm contemplating it because S14's are reportedly expensive to maintain. Parts are expensive for them, and then you have to find the right shop to do it.

An M20 will be cheap and easy to look after.

I don't want to do an S50 swap into an E30 M3.

[pharow]

I can't beleive that you come to this site and ask that question. Just about everyone on here will say the M3, but it is up to you. Just think long and hard about it. I dont think you can go wrong with either. But the M3 will always be highly valued. Good luck.

[sonnyqm3]

Go for the M you can sale s14 $2,500 to $3,500 on s14.net. Then can swap a u.s. s50 motor.

i agree with this guy..buy the m3 either restore with s14 or build it with euro s50b32...

[KenC]

If it's not a DD, get the M3. $8k is cheap as hell.


Post some pics

[Ray Smoodiver]

Look up SONNYQ on here or on s14.net. He has a steady stream of them coming in and I think he has generally advertised them w/ 5 or 6 spd euro trans complete (wiring/ECU/etc incl) for 5-6k. Not a bad deal, as he takes care of all the importation BS. I will probably do this if my s52 ever goes tits up.

I would prefer to buy off someone who isn't such a lunatic.

Like Alex @ http://abloriginalparts.com/pb/wp_3f..._3f5ff1e2.html

Brilliant sales and service too.

[chucko]

Depends on your resources. An $8K M3 usually means any or all of the following: Rust, wrecked, bad engine, bad tranny, bad interior, FUBAR'd electrical, and on and on...any one of these things can cost thousands to fix correctly. IMO the only reason to buy an 8K M3 would be to restore properly and that would cost potentially double or triple the purchase price. If cost is an issue then it's a no-brainer...325i without question. Another option would be to gut it and build a track car, which many have done but it does not hold the value to enthusiasts that an original M3 does.

[reelizmpro]

I'm contemplating it because S14's are reportedly expensive to maintain. Parts are expensive for them, and then you have to find the right shop to do it.

An M20 will be cheap and easy to look after.

I don't want to do an S50 swap into an E30 M3.

That's a misconception. S14's are not expensive to maintain. Everything is DIY except for maybe valve adjustments which can also be DIY with knowledge, proper tools and shims. NGK plugs are $2 each from Autozone, oil is oil, filters are $3 online, etc etc. It's the performance and misc rebuild parts (like timing chain rainls) that have tripled in price since the 90's. Mainly because it's an old M engine that wasn't mass produced like the M/S50 series engines. I'm not a swap guy but must admit that it's making more and more sense to go S50/S54, especially if you plan on keeping it forever. It's been done a bunch of times and has proven to be a reliable swap without too much hacking.

[Jean]

I'm contemplating it because S14's are reportedly expensive to maintain. Parts are expensive for them, and then you have to find the right shop to do it.

An M20 will be cheap and easy to look after.

I don't want to do an S50 swap into an E30 M3.

Then get the non m3... it's not a ferrari, you can do the swap and put the s14 back in if you want to sell the car later down the road. There isn't anything you have to hack during the swap.

[TexasTerp]

I'm still very confused on your intentions here. How did you go from talking about an s5x swap to "m20 will be cheap and easy to look after"????

[dude8383]

I'm still very confused on your intentions here. How did you go from talking about an s5x swap to "m20 will be cheap and easy to look after"????

Same here...what kind of car do you want??

[e304me]

that s14 must be rebuilt. Arent they usually done at like 150k?

[bimmer_E30]

Where?

europpee brah

[erik325i]

I'm just curious about the math goin on here.... the difference between the two is only ~3k. An S50 swap into either is about 5-8k (depending on how well you do it) and an e30 m3 5 lug for the 325 will be about 2-3k.

I'm with you on this one. Once you do a 5-lug swap to the 325, the cost is nearly the same as the M.

I don't want to do an S50 swap into an E30 M3.

Then don't. I'm guessing you could do a decent job of freshening up the s14 with the money it would take to s50 swap it (5-8k) as long as you don't get carried away and start building a 2.5L

[cramer]

I'm confused why people think modding a standard e30 adds to the value but no on an M3? Realistically, modding only adds value when it's sold to someone who wants the same items changed, it works for both the E30 and M3.

As for the original question: if the s14 goes in the M3, do you have the cash to fix it? If the answer is yes, get the car. Just remember the rule of 15k (some argue it's gone up, but it's a good starting point ;)) spend it now or spend it down the road.

[TS323]

if u want the M3 with the s14, i wouldnt plan on making it a daily with wear to the body and or motor. id just sell the s14 and buy whatever i wanted/needed. i dont see how putting a s50 or a euro s50 wouldnt up the value of this car..... but if u want a swapped car u dont have to worry about and cant track without hesitation, then just get the normal e30, but then again why does low milage really matter if ur doing 5 lug and motor swap. kinda confused on what u want and ur intentions. id take the M3 because fuck.... its a m3.