Useful power for a daily driver e30

[Nick_S]

Realistically my Stock 318is has enough power for a DD. What do I want out of it? I'd be happy with around 200hp/tq. Easy-ish on gas still, plenty of power when you need it. I think the solution to my problem is S50.

[Pantless Spency]

Om606

in a w114/5 or w123 :D

[M3TROY]

IMO, the best power for a daily e30 would be between 200-300hp. But it really depends on how you're getting that power and the engine. A S52 e30 is very daily drivable but a turbo m20 e30 will be less so.

sound advice here.
i run a euro S50 with around 300whp in my vert with a 3.73 rear and the first 2 gears are almost useless.
needless to say a gear change is in the works.
but as others have said before it really comes down to what your use to or expect from it.

[magikbonez]

I saw screw personal preference best for a DD is the max you can afford. Moar power moar everything good in life

[stillkotd]

I'm really happy with my dd setup. Stock m20b25 except for a Miller MAF, 19lb injectors, and the chip tuned for those two things. I'd guess it probably makes about 155whp, but that's just a calculated guess.

[Fusion]

Wallet always pwns personal preference.

[e30e]

Used to dd a stock e36 m3 which has what 200 rwhp and it always plenty, now I dd a silverado with 300 bhp and it does fine. What do you need the power for is it for pulling out in front of busy streets or short on ramps on the freeways?

[moatilliatta]

Om606

[mr walker]

Personal preference, and too many variables to give a definitive answer. E30 is too broad, VinniE30 is on track.

Tell us about your car, what you want to do with it, and then people can tell you what to look for.

My original post really has nothing to do with my car. I just thought it could make for interesting discussion. I think I should have stated that at the beginning. Oh well.

[Isostar13]

I've driven around a relatives b6 s4 with the big v8 and the temptation is to race it at every stop light. It's fast and fun, but maybe too much for a dd.

[Threehz]

Personal preference, and too many variables to give a definitive answer. E30 is too broad, VinniE30 is on track.

Tell us about your car, what you want to do with it, and then people can tell you what to look for.

[dothadance]

stock m20. i have plenty of fun and it didn't cost me any extra money.

[scottinAZ]

Ill also agree with the 200-300 hp for a DD. any more than that, and the temptation to have fun gets too great, and with it the potential for a not-so-fun encounter with local law enforcement.

I dd my M50 swapped cabbie, and at about the 200 hp mark (as advertized, not dyno) it is powerful enough to have some fun, makes great noises, but isnt so powerful as to leave black tire marks at each takeoff if you dont feather the throttle.

In short, enough HP to keep from being bored to death, not enough to rot in jail if you use it.....

[5KWattson]

built S52 coming soon to my car obd1 conversion, smog legal because the idiots out here dont know the difference between m20's and 24v motors, and im sure ill get tired of it and want more, the question is not how much power is streetable in a car, its more or less how tame are you of a driver to use the power at hand

[CoreyZ]

Another vote for S52 here. Seems just right - once a car gets too fast you can't really wring its neck without ending up at extremely extra-legal speeds or leaving a huge cloud of smoke, or both.

I've had the chance to drive a friend's C6 Z06 - 2nd gear ends at 90mph! As cop heavy as some of the area around me gets, it's hard to have fun with it on the street.