few q's

[mkiiieustyle1]

hello, i'm a complete newbie to the E30 world, i am currently looking for a 2 door E30 for track day's and i was wondering aside from the M3 what would be the best platform to start from, i'm looking for a high revving 4 cyl that can put out some good numbers, i was wondering if it would be possable to swap in a 4cyl M3 motor (if i can find one) or if one of the other 4cyl bmw engines can be built for high rpm and good numbers, and by numbers i mean around 3-400 at the wheels. . . . . . kinda something like this... but without the crazy wing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4dX_OUu8RY.

any info would be greatly appreciated.

-scotty

[gearheadE30]

Well, any e30 would work, but I suggest learning to drive well before investing in big power. It will pay off in the end. I

It really depends on the money you are willing to spend, as far as power goes. If you are dead set on a 4 cyl, Metric Mechanic makes a fully rebuilt and more or less redesigned M42 in either turbo or NA form. These motors came in the '91 318is.

The S14 (the M3 motor) is a great powerplant, but they cost some $$ to keep up and are "true" M engines, meaning they require a good deal of regular maintainence.

The cheap way to go would be to do an s50 swap ('95 M3) as it is well proven, has 6 cylinders, and is cheaper to make big power out of.

[SpecM]

don't dream so big for a four-banger BMW! You will spend THOUSANDS of dollors REPEATEDLY for a 300 hp s14.

I would say get a 325i. Get it up-to-date on maintaience and a tune-up, spend a little on suspention and tire, and drive it like that.

[mkiiieustyle1]

Well, any e30 would work, but I suggest learning to drive well before investing in big power. It will pay off in the end. I

It really depends on the money you are willing to spend, as far as power goes. If you are dead set on a 4 cyl, Metric Mechanic makes a fully rebuilt and more or less redesigned M42 in either turbo or NA form. These motors came in the '91 318is.

The S14 (the M3 motor) is a great powerplant, but they cost some $$ to keep up and are "true" M engines, meaning they require a good deal of regular maintainence.

The cheap way to go would be to do an s50 swap ('95 M3) as it is well proven, has 6 cylinders, and is cheaper to make big power out of.

i think of myself as a good driver, i have done a couple of auto crosses, which isn't much but a i alot of experience with high output cars, i'm a tech a toyota and will do most of the work myself so really money isn't going to be as much of an issue than if i were to drop it off at performancve shop/machinst and tell them build this, i was trying t keep it light engine wise (as light as i can be wiht an engine) so that's why i was opting for the 4cyl, i though of going and finding a 6cyl m3 motor and dong some bolt ons but i would prefer the 4cyl, has there been anyone to putout 3-400 at the wheels on a non-M3 4cyl without a turbo?

[SpecM]

has there been anyone to putout 3-400 at the wheels on a non-M3 4cyl without a turbo?

not really, no. Sorry.

Really tho, the sixes aren't THAT much heavier. You can get an AL-block 24v motor (m52b28 ) out of a late 90's z3 2.8 or 528i, those are light!

What is your budget? I get that you can work on it yourself and have access to a machine shot, but BMW parts (exp motors) aren't free, so...

[mkiiieustyle1]

money really won't be an issue, i'm not loaded or anything but can get money really easily doing home jobs, does anyone know of the specific engine weights? i'm just woried about vehicle balance you know the hole 50/50 weight distribution, i also know about bmw engines being interchangeable but not too sure about other parts like spindles axles diff's etc, now i'm not looking for someone to start spouting out numers and vehicles but a website referall would be appreciated.

[apexede30]

Sure there is an m10 producing 264 bhp with normal gas, and 310 on racing fuel. Non turbo. Apfelbeck diametrical M10. Placed in the BMW 700RS....Go for that one :)

[kronus]

Are you... dead set on 4cyl NA? If so, the S14 or a Metric Mechanic M42 is your only choice, really.

With I6 engines, you have a much larger range of choices, which have a lot more headroom for modification. The S14 is already high-strung and not the easiest motor to get more HP out of.

[mkiiieustyle1]

Are you... dead set on 4cyl NA? If so, the S14 or a Metric Mechanic M42 is your only choice, really.

With I6 engines, you have a much larger range of choices, which have a lot more headroom for modification. The S14 is already high-strung and not the easiest motor to get more HP out of.

yeah i really wasn't trying to go forced induction for a couple of reasons, 1 i really hate superchargers, the inly time i think they should be used is when your compound charging and need some extra low end power before the larger turbo kicks in, 2 the extreme high heat of a turbo charger system doesn't really appeal to me for long hard driven sessions at the track, i also kinda like my power to smooth and linear and ready to go when i hit the gas, there is also the longevity reasons in forced induction that makes want to stay away, also i have never built a N/A ITB'd track car before and want to give it a go. are all E36 6cyl interchangable? what about the E46 M3 engine(i thik thats the chassis code) ?

[kronus]

Anything is interchangeable with enough fabrication.

The E36 engines are a common swap into e30's, and one variant (euro S50B30) even comes with ITB's stock :D

S54 (e46 M3 engine) swap has been done before, but it's a lot of electrical work.

[yberther]

Get an aluminum m52. 350lbs. I believe which is as much as an m10 (318i 4cyl engine). Easy to make tons of power b/c of the 2.8L displacement, also with m3 cams... you'll make lots of N/A power. Not 300 though... Also the Al ones are hard to find.

but start with an i, do suspension.
...
Then turbo and make 350hp :)

[kronus]

Get an aluminum m52. 350lbs. I believe which is as much as an m10 (318i 4cyl engine). Easy to make tons of power b/c of the 2.8L displacement, also with m3 cams... you'll make lots of N/A power. Not 300 though... Also the Al ones are hard to find.

Why not just put in an S52B32? More displacement, more power, and the cam is actually made for the engine.

[e30e]

Why not just put in an S52B32? More displacement, more power, and the cam is actually made for the engine.

I've never understood why people didn't always go this route.

[Nic01101011]

i think of myself as a good driver, i have done a couple of auto crosses

[einstein57]

I think the only people who made a mid 300hp s14 was BMW for their race cars. It just cost way to much (10k+) to build a high ouput s14 that will be very high strung. If your dead set on light go with the MM m42 wich is in the 200hp range. If your dead set on NA hp then go euro S52 which is in the 300+hp range.