Looking into an E30

[California]

Hey everyone,
I'm a new member here! Looking to get an E30 BMW as a cool "tinkering" project. I had a couple questions:
1. I want to get a 325i and turbocharge it, not a bare-bones track monster. Something that's comfortable, yet quick and nimble. What kind of ballpark cost should I reasonably expect to spend on this? I want to get an automatic (I know, I know!) coupe, and budgeting for some assorted updates, the turbo and related parts, and new paint too.
The paint on the car can be bad, and so can the seats- planning to change both.

2. Is the automatic paired with the turbo going to be severely detrimental to the car's performance and driving dynamics? I really don't want a manual since I have to commute through L.A.'s rough traffic, and it would become unusable by anyone else in my family. Some of you might view the 2nd point as a benefit lol, but a 3-pedal isn't really an option. I have an automatic '14 Charger as my daily driver, and while I'd love to get a manual, an auto would fit my needs better.

3. This car really inspired me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adU1V9aiZqM

Is this a reasonable type of build for someone with basic mechanical knowledge to DIY?

I tried to search for answers before posting :)
Thank you!

[E30Kills]

Turboing an E30 can cost anywhere from 1,500, to 8,000+ easily depending on how much money you want to spend, whether or not you upgrade the internals, what parts you use, etc...
Also I don't think the auto trans handles the power well and I believe they are more prone to breaking.

[California]

Another question: is it better to buy a car that's already had an engine swap, or to do one myself?

[613EDRTY]

This thread is going to get good.

If your game plan is to buy an automatic E30 and an ebay turbo kit and expect to have a car like Kamerons your in for a world of hurting lol.

First off don't turbo an auto e30 unless you want to get really good at sourcing automatic trannys and swapping them out lol.

Any swapped e30 you find will not be an auto.

You want an e30 for the "cool" factor, and its godda be an auto...insert face palm emoticon here.

[TheTacoMan]

Turbo autos hold up to about 7psi of daily use. Any thing more seems to shorten the life significantly, Kameron an I both had auto m20 turbos at one point. Avoid ebay parts please.

[McGyver]

No, you should not do what you are thinking about doing. It will not end well. Go buy an auto e36 m3 for, what, $5k and call it a day.

[JinormusJ]

No, you should not do what you are thinking about doing. It will not end well. Go buy an auto e36 m3 for, what, $5k and call it a day.

I was about to quote McGyver and call him a douche for wanting hamper your plans, but after reading your OP... Don't get an e30 man...

You will not be doing that kind of stuff you are inspired by with the terrible ZF autos e30s have in them. In all my years of e30 ownership, I have never had an automatic transmission (spoiler alert: I've had 5 so far) that didn't go bad from normal everyday use. Most if not all have been swapped to 5-speed or scrapped

Also, I lived in LA for 19 years and not once did I think to myself: "Dang, I wish my e30 was automatic"



Good luck

[phreshkid]

Dang, I wish my e30 was automatic.

[ian325is]

+1 for auto e36 m3

I had one awhile back and that makes a real fun daily driver. Auto e30s are for the birds imho

[JinormusJ]

Dang, I wish my e30 was automatic.

Shut up Ryan :p

[613EDRTY]

+1 for auto e36 m3

+1 for auto E36 m3

Will be a great car man, and the cool factor will still be there I mean it will have "m" badges all over it!!

[McGyver]

I was about to quote McGyver and call him a douche for wanting hamper your plans, but after reading your OP... Don't get an e30 man...

Yeah, I was actually being serious. I never really see a swap thread where they use an automatic transmission (other than a V8 drag car), so I'm guessing it hasn't really been done. That means fabbing custom tranny mounts, lots of research for drive shaft length, possibly running tranny cooler lines, rewiring to make the cruise control work, and figuring out how to get the shifter to line up. All of that on top of the unanticipated problems that come with an engine swap. For what? A car worth $2k to insurance with $5-10k dumped into it and maybe 10 people who would be interested in it later?

Then we get into the topic of which auto can actually handle that power.

It's just too much work. It would be so much better to either buy an auto e30 and drive it as-is, or get an e36 m3 if he want's more power.

[rturbo 930]

I think you should either keep your charger, or get another newer car with a double clutch gearbox and paddle shifters, like a VW GTI. That would be a good compromise.

[phreshkid]

Shut up Ryan :p

hey you shut up don't tell me what to do I'm a grown man jeezus




Also to OP: Get a nice automatic m3. I currently DD a manual sedan m3 and it's quite a decent driver. I've put 30k on it in the last 18 months and the car hasn't so much as hiccupped once.
And, by today's standards, an e36 m3 isn't quick or fast. I get passed my Honda Oddysea minivans all the time. I couldn't imagine an e30 automatic car.

[mr2peak]

Get a swapped E30. You really wanna deal with an e36 interior?