How much better would an e30 M3 be than my 87 325is?

[DCColegrove]

^^^ LOL at the edit! I feel you, man.....

Looking for that nice E28 535is for the long drives now. The M goes out on short drives when I can have the windows down. Otherwise, the racket inside makes me nuts!

The e28 535is was a really great car but I haven't seen a nice one in years...

I gave up my last M3 because I couldn't feed it anymore... And I got a foolish amount of cash for it.

[Old'n'Slow]

The e28 535is was a really great car but I haven't seen a nice one in years...

Check out this one....

And I'm seriously considering buying this one.

I miss my E30 325 so bad, but the kids won't fit. The E28 would make me happy again...

[DCColegrove]

Check out this one....

And I'm seriously considering buying this one.

I miss my E30 325 so bad, but the kids won't fit. The E28 would make me happy again...

Nice, nice... I have a soft spot for the e30 though.
(Just saw your sig... So true)

This was my next to last M...

[Old'n'Slow]

Was that an early car? No airbag, right?

Big soft spot for the E30 here too. Every time I see my old (hmmmph!) car in town I wish I had it back. Frankly, I've considered selling the M, buying my old car back, and calling Korman, or MM or someone and putting a nice, fresh motor in it.

This was Greta:

[einstein57]

You also have to consider value. Your 325iS is probably only worth 5k max... the m3 on the other hand is probably 15K min. Can you afford one?

Thats not a lot of money. A comparably equipped dodge neon would cost more then that. There are a few benefits that your 325is has though. One being the m20 is more reliable and can handle double the mileage of an s14 no problem. An m20 is easier to work on and find parts for. And last but not least you don't have to worry about your 325is every time you leave your driveway. If you bought an M3 youd want to keep your 325is to DD.

[YAN-3]

The e30 m3 may be the best bmw ever made....

;)

As one who has owned many e30 i cars and a awesome M-Tech II in Germany, here is what I have to say to the OP.

Is the drive worth it?
YES it is. I think its alot different e30 than all my other e30 I have ever owned (that's 5 for those that are counting). I loved e30s because of their simplicity, driving dynamics and feel. let me put it this way! You know how you like the tight, responsive feedback from your steering wheel and brakes? multiply it by 10 in a e30 M3. you know how predictably easy it is to know when and how far you back end will come out when YOU WANT it to??? make that even more predictable & controllable in a e30 M3. the same characteristics that we have all come to love and value in our normal e30s are magnified in the M3. I wish i could let people hop in my M3 and take her out for a test drive every time this question is asked.

Sure the motor is a bit more complicated, timing components on a s14 are a heck of a lot more expensive and complex than on a single cam, belt driven m20. but you have to know this. In the end, with a fine tuned/maintained s14 one can have just as much fun around the city and on the back roads/tracks (depending on how hardcore you go). Just with better! I promise.

So to sum what I have been blabbing about:
IS THE e30 M3 WORTH THE DRIVE?
You bet! I would never, EVER trade or sell my M3 for even a super crazy S5whatever powered BMW e30.

take it however you want. i am by no means telling you to buy one, in fact, no dont buy one, that way i can get a second one for myself! :D

[clydesdale]

So it sounds like it would be a blast and very prestigious to own. But much more costly and stressful. Is the cost of ownership more than that of my second choice, the e46m3? They are in the 25k zone and may require less love.
I guess in the end, I will keep my eye out for an e30 m3, you never know when you will find a good deal. As far as an e46 m3, it seems like there are good deals all around.

[DCColegrove]

So it sounds like it would be a blast and very prestigious to own. But much more costly and stressful. Is the cost of ownership more than that of my second choice, the e46m3? They are in the 25k zone and may require less love.

I guess in the end, I will keep my eye out for an e30 m3, you never know when you will find a good deal. As far as an e46 m3, it seems like there are good deals all around.

E46 is nice...not the same though.

Was that an early car? No airbag, right?
...

It was an 88... No SRS.

A week or something after that shot...

I parked it on out here on HWY 1...

Didn't set the parking brake...

Was out of gear...

Rolled off the cliff...

Not one of my better days.

[devonjordan]

So it sounds like it would be a blast and very prestigious to own. But much more costly and stressful. Is the cost of ownership more than that of my second choice, the e46m3? They are in the 25k zone and may require less love.
I guess in the end, I will keep my eye out for an e30 m3, you never know when you will find a good deal. As far as an e46 m3, it seems like there are good deals all around.

Think about the cost of the s54... your really fucked maintenance wise. Everything is expensive on those motors.

[PhillyG]

Think about the cost of the s54... your really fucked maintenance wise. Everything is expensive on those motors.

And the fact that my buddies, at just 22k had to have the rod bearings replaced, some hydraulic pump for the auto tranny and some other dumb shit done.

[Old'n'Slow]

E46 is nice...not the same though.




It was an 88... No SRS.

A week or something after that shot...

I parked it on out here on HWY 1...

Didn't set the parking brake...

Was out of gear...

Rolled off the cliff...

Not one of my better days.

Good grief!

[DCColegrove]

Good grief!

Yeah...

Some days are better than others.

[clydesdale]

What is meant by lower wheel arches on the 88 and up? Thanks

[e30slut]

Pump the brakes? Is that what M10 powered 318 drivers have to do, because the engine barely provides enough power to move the car forward, never mind vacuum to the booster? :razz:

HA!

with the drum brakes in the rear, they'll need alot of pumpin

Even funnier....

[SpecM]

What is meant by lower wheel arches on the 88 and up? Thanks

the rear fenders sit lower (imagine the 'arch' over the wheel)