e30 M3 question.

[hendrixvodu]

What makes the E30 320is unique?
The E30 320is is a special 3 Series model that was sold exclusively in Italy and Portugal in order to take advantage of the reduced taxes in those countries for cars with engines that displace two liters or less. It is powered by a 1990cc version of the four-cylinder S14 engine developed by BMW Motorsport for the E30 M3 and also shares its close-ratio Getrag gearbox with the M3. However, all other components are standard 3 Series items.


other countries taxed the shit out of 6 cylinder engines so it was also a smart idea that they made it a 4 cylinder ...and also if im not mistaken rally cars had to be 4 bangers ...aka the lancia delta integrale but i think standards for rally cars back then had to be 2.0L ...so maybe the M3 competed in a large engine class???

[bimmer8604]

Massive Lee.........thank you for your info. people like you make r3v the way it is.

And people like you make....ah forget it. you wouldn't understand.

[-Javier-]

thanks for that dude. so this s14 engine is quite powerful for a 4 banger.

What makes the E30 320is unique?
The E30 320is is a special 3 Series model that was sold exclusively in Italy and Portugal in order to take advantage of the reduced taxes in those countries for cars with engines that displace two liters or less. It is powered by a 1990cc version of the four-cylinder S14 engine developed by BMW Motorsport for the E30 M3 and also shares its close-ratio Getrag gearbox with the M3. However, all other components are standard 3 Series items.


other countries taxed the shit out of 6 cylinder engines so it was also a smart idea that they made it a 4 cylinder ...and also if im not mistaken rally cars had to be 4 bangers ...aka the lancia delta integrale but i think standards for rally cars back then had to be 2.0L ...so maybe the M3 competed in a large engine class???

[Danny]

Well it IS in an M3.

[hendrixvodu]

a 4 cylinder that did 0-60 in 6 seconds back in the day was kind of a big deal hahah

[FredK]

Simply put, it boiled down to qualifying the E30 M3 for FIA Group A homologation and and to place it within engine displacement regulations.

The S14 is not that much lighter than a V8. The S14 has a cast iron block. In terms of weight it probably isn't much lighter than say, a GM GenIII or IV all aluminum V8. It is lighter and shorter than a cast iron BMW inline 6, however.

[Lurker27]

I thought it was because it was a derivative of the F1 engine. You know, like how the 426s got on the street in the 70s. I didn't think there was a compelling technical reason.

[rThor432]

I think you might be a little bit more into 4-cylinders if you got a chance to drive a healthy M3.

[-Javier-]

I think you might be a little bit more into 4-cylinders if you got a chance to drive a healthy M3.

lol could be i would love to give it a chance. :p

[Massive Lee]

I don't think there was any reason to be harsh with Javier. I am sure that very few people had the words to explain why a four banger, and even fewer would understand the benefits of a 4 cylinder engine on a race track. That being said, welcome to the world of e30s. A great bag of mixed nuts...

[CleanAzzE30z]

BMW focused instead of being a HP beast, to being a car that maximizes its natural handling characteristics and maintaining speeds and revs in the turns. 4 cylinders can rev higher and are peaky. And in a race application, youre never going to be at 3-4K RPM. It screams.

Mariano

[CleanAzzE30z]

Simply put, it boiled down to qualifying the E30 M3 for FIA Group A homologation and and to place it within engine displacement regulations.

Not exactly. There were far greater displacements such as the Audi V8 Quattro, and also lower displacement (2.0) turbo (Cosworth RS500) that competed. There were many options. BMW happened to chop off 2 cylinders off of the M88/S38 engine and mated it with the block that eventually became the M10/S14 blocks. That block was the basis for the Brabham F1 engine that dynoed at more than 1400HP.




Mariano

[Jbs]

its 4 cyl so people could swap in real 6 cyl engines like s5x.



flame suit - on. :eeps:

[Firestorm]

Because they forgot to install the other 4 cyls

;)

[FredK]

its 4 cyl so people could swap in real 6 cyl engines like s5x.

ban