Looking to step into the E30 party. :)

[Viking445]

Howdy. :) Names Art. I'm stationed in Sigonella Sicily with the Navy for a couple years.

I am allowed to bring a car back to the states with me as long as its a 91 or older. I've always wanted an E30 b/c of the styling and rear wheel drive and light weight. Being here where they have models that the states didn't get.

I'd love to get the 320is as it was only made for Italy and Portugal. But I saw some pics of a sexy e30 touring and I want that and then do an ls1 swap with big rear tires and bolt on fender flares. I have a thing for sleepers and owning a rare one like a touring in the states would be awesome.

I was a MKV GTI owner for 6 years and modded that up to 300whp so i became very familiar with the problems/issues of that platform.

What kind of issues do you think i'll run into along the way with a build like this?

Thanks guys!

[F34R]

Find a touring and put a nice s52 into it. You are in the perfect setup to find a clean rare car and have it to enjoy back in the states. Also spend a bunch of time in junk yards and locate parts and wheels. Euro bumpers are a big seller, as are smiley head lights.

[Threehz]

Lots of support for LSx swapping here. I think I've seen people saying exhaust routing and brake booster fitment take a little more thought, but I have no experience with such swaps. Don't know if a touring LSx swap has been done, pretty interesting, although you will probably get some purist hate.

E30's are super simple cars though. Engine bay is relatively clean, engineering makes sense, cheap and easy to work on.

[evandael]

imo, a 320is would be awesome. definitely look for that first.

second choice, buy the cleanest 1988 325 touring (or above depending on when you plan on returning to the states) you can find and keep it stock. it'll have some collector value in the future back here.

[ELVA164]

imo, a 320is would be awesome. definitely look for that first.

Absolutely. It's hands-down the coolest non-M E30, and would be a great car to keep mostly stock, have a ton of fun with, and watch appreciate in value.

Edit: It must be awesome to be stationed in Sicily, at least location-wise. The Italian side of my family is from Cefalu, I've always wanted to see it.

[Viking445]

I would love to have a 320 but i'd never be able to bring myself to do the LS1 swap! lol



That thing with a rumbling V8 would be awesome!!

although you will probably get some purist hate.

I get a kick out of that stuff. lol If i ever win the lotto I'm gonna start a Tuning Company called Blasphemy Motor Works and specialize in swaps that piss off purists. lol

[GillesBigCowboy]

Why not get both? Or more... Even if you have to arrange shipping, you are in a great zone of opportunity right now.

[Viking445]

b/c i'm not rich lol and I'm limited on how many cars i can register here. Plus i'm forced to have insurance (insanely expensive here) even if i'm not driving it.

[word is bond]

Definitely 320is unless you have your heart set on a swap or a lot of mods, cos the 320is should probably stay stock. Drive one - you may not wanna swap anything, once that s14 gets going. How about picking up some euro goodies? You don't have to register and insure those. Smilies, euroweaves, etc.

[Viking445]

Ya i kinda have my heart set on the Uber sleeper wagon. I really like the fact that the touring is beyond rare in the states.

[flyboyx]

i would go with the engine out of a 540 or 740. that way it all stays bmw and you get 350 hp and tons of torque which is enough

[Viking445]

I thought about that. But the LS1 is cheaper to mod. Plus it cracks me up when people hate on the american motor in a bmw. lol

[ELVA164]

I still think the coolest swap would be an M57 diesel swap. HUGE torque, great mileage, and you'd be the only guy with one since the motor didn't get over here!

[Viking445]

That would be unique as hell! But I'm on a slight bit of a budget. Wouldn't it be a bit of a problem getting spares?

What kind of issues would crop up with big power in the E30? Do i need to consider a different rear end and a five lug conversion?

[flyboyx]

with high power, a rear diff in the low three's would be ideal. easy to find here though. lots of "e"s came with 2.93 lsd or sometimes 2.79.

5 lug would be better, simply because bigger brakes. there are aftermarket options for 4 lug bbks, though.

i admit to being a bit of a purist and have the mindset that a gm engine in a bmw would be a cheesy sellout. the factory 4.0 or 4.4 engine is easily 350 hp with little modding. that is pretty close to crazy power in a car this small. how much power could you possibly need? personally, i would never buy an e30 with anything other than a bmw engine. there are lots of people here that feel the same way. i guess if you never intend to sell, it doesn't matter. just build what makes you happy.