Swapped e30 = ZHP + miata?

[redearedslider5]

long time lurker, first time poster (i think) etc. etc.

i've wanted an s52 swapped e30 forever. i finally got a chance to drive one last year and i was underwhelmed. slower than i expected but after driving a friends e36 m3 and now my current car, judging by the power delivery it was actually an m52. also, it felt a little more rickety than expected.

currently, my fleet is a zhp and a '95 miata. i use the bmw essentially if i'm going on the highway. it's comfortable, powerful, well built, etc. but it does feel awfully isolated. that's where the miata comes in. if i want a sensory overload, i blast around the mountains in the miata and it's perfect, though on the highway the noise and such does get old.

at times i consider an m roadster to be a good compromise and the same with the swapped e30. i imagine how quiet and solid an e30 is ranges broadly due to age at this point, though i doubt it'll ever be on the same level as my zhp. on the other hand, it's likely much more involving but undoubtedly, not as much as the miata.

...thoughts?

[exhaust]

You're right, a lot is largely due to age and condition. An E30 in really good condition (and maybe some updated sound deadening) is quiet enough and a stable cruiser.

In your case, I'd look at a coupe/sedan as the convertibles get a lot a wind noise with the top up.

Ideally, find one in very good condition and drive it before selling off your fleet. If it is to old / loud, the M Coupe/Roadster could be your best bet.

[e30_325es]

Your e46 must be a low mile, pristine example of a zhp, because all of them I've been in have had interior issues and creaks and rattles everywhere, along with odd smells and a driveline clunk. All of this compared to 2 of my e30s that have smooth, quiet rides, have that distinct old car odor (good smells), and are just more pleasant to drive. My daily is an e36 that clunks and rattles over bumps, steering squeeks, and the pillar trims are falling off. If the power delivery was better on the e30s, and the a/c was good, I'd drop the e36 completely.

[Artful Dodger]

just to jump in here, An well done M52 swapped e30 should be faster than a stock e36 M3. If the E30 has a tall gear, like a 2.93. It may feel sluggish. but it is still faster.

I prefer to gear my cars shorter for more acceleration. I am running a 3.46 on my S52 car.

[stonea]

If I was looking for a "all around car" I would get an e30 with a clean chassis and buy a 2004+ (?) 330i and swap over the M54b30 and the 6 speed.

[Staszek]

Your e46 must be a low mile, pristine example of a zhp, because all of them I've been in have had interior issues and creaks and rattles everywhere, along with odd smells and a driveline clunk. All of this compared to 2 of my e30s that have smooth, quiet rides, have that distinct old car odor (good smells), and are just more pleasant to drive. My daily is an e36 that clunks and rattles over bumps, steering squeeks, and the pillar trims are falling off. If the power delivery was better on the e30s, and the a/c was good, I'd drop the e36 completely.

I had an E46 for over 200k miles and it ran like a top the day I sold it, almost zero rattles and in my opinion still smelled good lol. It actually was way more solid the most E36 and E90's I have been in (I have owned both).

As for the OP I think it would be a good compromise, although its probably going to be closer to the Miata in terms of rawness, the E46 is way more solid an isolated then an E30 is. That being said if you correct all the suspension pieces, not just shocks and springs, put a little bit of sound deadening in it will help, not a ton but it will be better.

As someone else said an M52 shouldnt feel slow and should be as quick as your ZHP. An S52 should be fairly faster then the ZHP.

[Artful Dodger]

If I was looking for a "all around car" I would get an e30 with a clean chassis and buy a 2004+ (?) 330i and swap over the M54b30 and the 6 speed.

What he said.

[itsonlygeorge]

just to jump in here, An well done M52 swapped e30 should be faster than a stock e36 M3. If the E30 has a tall gear, like a 2.93. It may feel sluggish. but it is still faster.

I prefer to gear my cars shorter for more acceleration. I am running a 3.46 on my S52 car.

This. Differential gear ratio is super important for power delivery. You need a 3.73 for quicker acceleration.


Sent from th

[spiDmang]

I just purchased an 05 E46 M3. I feel the same way about that car....underwhelmed. Compared to my E30, the E30 is super raw, very quick on its feet, and just feels very organic and planted to the road...then again, my car is S52 swapped.

The S52 E30 is faster than the M3, but the M3 is a perfect daily. Has all the creature comforts and really gets up and moves if it needs to...i have yet to try out sport mode :p

[Staszek]

I just purchased an 05 E46 M3. I feel the same way about that car....underwhelmed. Compared to my E30, the E30 is super raw, very quick on its feet, and just feels very organic and planted to the road...then again, my car is S52 swapped.

The S52 E30 is faster than the M3, but the M3 is a perfect daily. Has all the creature comforts and really gets up and moves if it needs to...i have yet to try out sport mode :p

Try the sport mode, it wont make the car any faster but the throttle response is night and day difference. I usually leave mine off so when I do hit it, the car feels completely different.

[nando]

all it does is make the throttle oversensitive. it does NOT change the response time - it only sets to the open percentage of the throttle to a greater ratio than what your pedal is doing.

[jpod999]

all it does is make the throttle oversensitive. it does NOT change the response time - it only sets to the open percentage of the throttle to a greater ratio than what your pedal is doing.

The difference was night and day in my E39 M5. Eventually it became a ritual for me after starting up the car- hit the seat heaters and the sport button immediately after starting it up. Man I miss that car...

[nando]

not really an option back then but these days, I would just recode the standard throttle curve to be a little more linear.

[Mr. Wolfe]

not really an option back then but these days, I would just recode the standard throttle curve to be a little more linear.

This. My curve is more aggressive than stock, but nowhere near the the sport mode curve. You were all in on the throttle at about 60-75% which may be exciting at first, but will wear thin quickly.

Mr. Wolfe

[straight6pwr]

does anyone else not care that the miata guy is underwhelmed by an 24v e30? ;)

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