If you could choose...

[s40boy]

between a 1976 BMW 2002 shell that will have a 1989 325is M20 swap or a 1987 325e with the same engine swap...what would yall do? I know many of you are E30 baised but I figured Id ask around. Which ever car I choose will be driven as a fun car and set up for racing.

I like the idea of the light weight 2002 with the big power of the M20 as opposed to the M10 original engine... Id like the 2002 to look similar to this:

But then again...you cant beat the looks of a clean E30...

UGH...what to do! Your in put it greatly appreciated!

[kailuaboy]

definately 100% the 02, its more fun especially with a m20 in it

[318isbmw]

02 cuz it's way small and will have big balls w/ an m20. So much fun also just to play around in

[Ray Smoodiver]

That 02 is so badass, BBS RS + S14 + turbo kit = sex.

[MR 325]

I'd probably take the 2002 with an M20B25 over the 325e with an M20B25 in it.

[Rob]

e30, newer everything, plus i think the heavy m20 would ruin the balance of the 02

[e34john]

2002, thats what i really wanted until i finally figured i should go to an e30 because it would be a better daily driver.

[Justin B]

The 2002 for sure. 02's got me into BMW's and I STILL have my "project" 02 that i was restoring. I have since gotten another with messed up alpina flares . For that one I started an m20 project and was buying lots of parts and doing suspension work off the car but unfortunately that car is messed up beyond what I want to deal with so I'm removing the flares and putting them on my original 02, along with some other pieces of the body. Of course I still have a freshly rebuilt m20 and a bunch of parts so its swapping into the good 02. I have wayyyy too much money into the parts just in my room/garage/sheds...It certainly will be a lot cleaner when all of it gets put onto a car and I can get rid of all the stock stuff.

Back on topic... I already said it once, but the 2002 would be way more fun. Ive been a passenger in a m20/02 and even stock they move pretty damn good.

EDIT- Wow, know what I just noticed? thats a Touring. Pretty damn sick looking one at that. I like the clean look without any of the chrome trim or bump strips.

[Justin B]

e30, newer everything, plus i think the heavy m20 would ruin the balance of the 02

wah wah, balance this and that. the m20 weighs about 50 lbs more than a tii engine as I recall. At least somewhere around there. Sure, it changes the handling a little but with the motor mounts that are fabbed up for the m20 (By Dan Williams, which moves the m20 lower and farther back than the M10) and moving the battery to the trunk makes it really close. On top of that, at least for my car I have a fiberglass hood that doesnt require pins, but still weighs much less than the steel piece. A racing shell hood could always be used to lower weight too, I got mine through a GB for OEM style fiberglass/cf stuff so its not really available afaik. Check out www.bmw2002faq.com if you need any questions answered about the swap stuff. Once in a while I'll see one of those OEMish fiberglass hoods too in the FS area.

[King Luis]

either go with a stroked m20 in a e30.
or a tuned s14 in a 2002.

[Il Duce]

tough call, i'd say the 02 is the way to go though.

[HST]

2002 all the way.

[kansas-ix]

2002

[Rob]

hell, i'd take an m42 in a 02 over an m20. but then there's that whole rust issue, but hey, its a lightweight race mod!

but its a moot point, the e30 is plenty antiquated for me. If I'm going older and cruder, the engine wont be in the front.

[s40boy]

Dang guys! Yall are just helping me make the decision soo much easier! Thanks a billion!

And yea, the Dan Williams motor mounts are on order!