How much is too much

[Bimmer_man]

I have been thinking. Seeing so many E30s with anything from a stock M10 to a S62 or Turbocharged monsters. What I am curious is how much horsepower would you say is too much for a street E30? What this means is can you drive it to work comfortably. Can it get okay mileage? But is it still fun to drive most of all and safe.
In my opinion i think anything over about 350-375 may be a bit much for this little car. But that is my opinion. We all have different opinions. So what say you?

[5ickride]

Depends on your usage. If you want a daily, you may be good with just an M20. If you want a drag strip beast...there is NO limit. I am a weekender so I am more inclined to go with at a minimun, S5x motor.

[Bimmer_man]

yeah thats why i stated a street car not a race car. We all know if your building a race car you get as much horsepower as possible; Turbos, NOS, race fuel and a shit ton of money.

[ak-]

Just because you have a 400whp+ e30 doesn't mean you'd be using all of it's potential on the street 24/7 while going to work. Anything with a lot of power can be DD friendly.
Just depends how user friendly the car is setup.

[ME30W]

dude, 375 would be a monster of a DD. I have a stock m20 and it is a hoot to drive

[blunttech]

Just because you have a 400whp+ e30 doesn't mean you'd be using all of it's potential on the street 24/7 while going to work. Anything with a lot of power can be DD friendly.
Just depends how user friendly the car is setup.

This right here. A 400hp car set up properly is perfectly friendly as a daily. Youd never know my turbo car was anything but stock until you nail it

[Cabriolet]

it's 100% reliant on the driver. i know people here who have wrecked so many cars with stock HP and then there are other cars dumping 370hp and have good drivers that have no issues. personally 200whp is a friendly number in an e30. 100whp is boring and 400+ is for those with a light foot. people DD 900hp e46 m3's with out issue.

it's all about how good of a driver are you.

[dannyyisntt]

I think the power my bone stock e46 m3 puts down is perfect for a daily. Tho my clapped out ix doesn't bother me either. Guess it depends on the car

[e30_3I8I]

I think you don't need anything over 400 hp.
e30's are already small and light and your already limited by tire size.
I think between 300-350hp is perfect for the chassis to have an all around fun and drivability... and livability.

[LJ851]

It's all about power to weight.

10 to 1 ratio is a nice, quick car but it's all about perspective.

As a longtime motorcycle rider, i have never been really blown away by a street car. 2.5 and 3 to 1 power to weight ratios will do that to you.

My 3.7 M30 E30 was 275 horse with a fat torque curve and pretty light. I wanted it faster but it was a fun street car that put a smile on my face. I think i'll agree with the 300-350 being a solid, rational, kick in the pants #.

[Wh33lhop]

Depends entirely on the needs and skills of the driver and how easily they get bored. The main reason we have 1500whp lambos is because their owner got used to the stock power... Then he did some boltons and got used to that... Then he turboed it and got used to that... for some people it will never be enough.

Personally I feel the 170whp s50 cam'd M50 in mine is just right for low-risk high-fun tight canyon carving, but most elsewhere (street, autox, track) I would be left wanting more. I think my ultimate number would be around 350whp... Well, until I got bored. :p

[frankenbeemer]

My 3.7 M30 E30 was 275 horse with a fat torque curve and pretty light. I wanted it faster but it was a fun street car that put a smile on my face. I think i'll agree with the 300-350 being a solid, rational, kick in the pants #.

I want to clone that build.

[mrcheezle19]

I have somewhere around 375 and I think it's absolutely perfect. But I do agree, I'm already getting the itch for more.

[hendrixvodu]

no more than 300 you just cant get wide enough tires on an e30

[TheTacoMan]

Funny thing is I asked Matt Farah and talked for a bit about this when he came out after he drove kamotors car for the whole day. He said kams power was about as high as he would put into a e30 chassis. Anything above 300whp in an e30 is pretty fast and honestly in the wrong hands could be a recipe for disaster. He said anything thats rwd and has a stupid amount of hp is just dumb and unstreetable in most cases.