Spotting ///M Fakes

[nando]

you have the internets. there were like 500 M3s and 330ci's on autotrader..

[slammin.e28]

show me these m3s.:p

Then show the full maintenance with valve adjustments.

We had an S54 come in where the vanos bolts backed out at 70k.

....and I know it's not the only one.

[10Toes]

couldn't find any that don't have salvage title for under 15.5k.

[Northern]

I once asked a guy at a gas station if his 330 was a ZHP. He told me it was the M-Sport package, which I guess is probably what they said at the dealership. He obviously was proud of his car, I didn't shit on him for not knowing every little thing about it. Just gave him a "Right on, nice car." and took off.

ZHP is what the us version is called, but the canadian version had a different name, m performance package or something. But most of the guys who know anything about them will just call them ZHP anyways.

[P Arkus]

Back on topic, i'm one of those guys who rocks an ///M Badge on my Non ///M car. Its a japanese imported euro spec M-Tech II, and the M Badging came straight from the factory. Looks great on the car in my opinion so i'm keepin it. Its not badged as an ///M3, its just an ///M badge with no numbers. I'm not trying to fool anyone about the car. I know its not an M3, I know it will never be an M3. Its a 325 and i'm more than happy about that. I plan on swapping in an S54 into the car, and believe me even then I wont be trying to play it off as an M3. I'll just be giggling to myself as I pull away from most M3's lol. Sleepers FTW!!!

P.S. I was at a car show this summer and saw a 4 door BMW with an LS1 swap badged as a 318i. I laughed to myself and felt sorry for the first poor cocky bastard who would be trying to race this car. Lesson of the story, these days badges seem to be a reflection of personality. Take them with a grain of salt cause you never know whats under the hood

[nando]

Then show the full maintenance with valve adjustments.

We had an S54 come in where the vanos bolts backed out at 70k.

....and I know it's not the only one.

well of course. nobody is going to bring you their car when it's not broken - all you will ever see is the broken crap that nobody took care of.

[slammin.e28]

True, but how many out there are on the verge of this happening and people are not aware.

Also, early ones with the rod bearing recall. I remember reading the recalled cars still weren't fixed and the bearings were still fucking up.

Problem with e46 M3: It's a race car engine in a street car, and the people who buy them don't buy them for that. They are a status car now, like every other M car. S54 is a great motor, but if it's demands aren't met, it's a nightmare. Thus, I would rather ZHP than M3.

Only problem with ZHP is no LSD, but that can be remedied for like $3k.

[Danny]

I have the m stripes on the back of e30.

[fresh_TD]

I have the m stripes on the back of e30.

Sent from my head inside of my own ass.

[TimKninja]

When I parted out my donor e36 "M3" EVERY part on that car went to some retard making an "M3 Rep" everyone of them. That's what the e36 game is, making your car look like an "M3" , so they can all tell their parking lot meet friends that they have an "m3" . None of them was interested in the drive train, just the bits to make their car look like an "m3" .

I've never confronted anybody. It's common to see 528i e39s around here with M5 badges . E46s are getting a lot more common too, they get the fender vents and the rims and an m3 badge .



I'm gonna badge my s50 swapped e30 as a 330i , I think that's fair .

[P Arkus]

I'm gonna badge my s50 swapped e30 as a 330i , I think that's fair .

I always liked the custom badging to show the series you have and the engine you have (332is, 340i, etc). Only problem is you're still gonna get retards approaching you telling you that 330i's dont exist in the E30 world

[slammin.e28]

I always liked the custom badging to show the series you have and the engine you have (332is, 340i, etc). Only problem is you're still gonna get retards approaching you telling you that 330i's dont exist in the E30 world

That's when you're like, "YES THEY DO BITCH!" and punch them on the throat.

[Sirotto]

True, but how many out there are on the verge of this happening and people are not aware.

Also, early ones with the rod bearing recall. I remember reading the recalled cars still weren't fixed and the bearings were still fucking up.

Problem with e46 M3: It's a race car engine in a street car, and the people who buy them don't buy them for that. They are a status car now, like every other M car. S54 is a great motor, but if it's demands aren't met, it's a nightmare. Thus, I would rather ZHP than M3.

Only problem with ZHP is no LSD, but that can be remedied for like $3k.

I agree with you that the S54 M3 is a race car with leather seats bolted into it. Just compare it to the E92. The E92 is mundane to drive at best. It is only fun at the limits.

The recalls are done, every one of them has been through the service. If it was not performed the owner would have had to sign the documentation denying the service. So retrospect there may be 1 or 2 in the country that have not had the bearing recall performed. The issue with the exhaust hub breaking and bolts backing out have been solved but does take time and it is not a DIY for the faint of heart. Once these are performed it does bring DD reliability to the S54.

They way I look at it is would be not buying an M20 powered E30 because the timing belt could snap if I dont do my maintenance. So yes when you buy an S54 powered anything you wil need about 3k aside for the updates and simple maintance. About the same cost of a LSD Diff;)


You must treat the S54 as a race engine. I do my valve adjustments every 20k or so due to the fact I see some track time and I run the engine as hard as the road will let me.

I do like the ZHP/Clubsport/MSport what ever they want to call it. To bad they didnt make it in a wagon or i would own one of those as well.



Anybody in a BMW coupe of any form is to be regarded as an ass by the envious, it is what it is. They can not tell you if your in an M3 or ZHP, all they know is that it is not theirs.

[der affe]

Anybody in a BMW coupe of any form is to be regarded as an ass by the envious, it is what it is. They can not tell you if your in an M3 or ZHP, all they know is that it is not theirs.

Whohoooo it's good to be an ass!;D

[slammin.e28]

Oh mannnn! Just had an 04 M3 towed in. Car just cut off when driving. 106k. The intake cam is no longer turning when the engine is turned over. Ruh roww!