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

[clydesdale]

Well, I did get some useful info from this thread, thanks. What kind of added maint is involved in the m3 over the 325is? Were the motors that much less reliable?
For those that said test drive one - you are aware that they are hard to find? I can't just easily test drive one. Therefore it is much easier to gather some info on the net and determine whether or not it is worth pursuing. I LOVE the look of them. But, I would want to drive it, not have a garage queen. My original question pertained to whether or not the DRIVE is worth the extra 10-15k over a 325is. I acknowledge the prestige and history but I am curious about the drive. I realize that I need to get behind the wheel of one to really know. But, they are not easy to just go and test drive.
So what makes them so much more expensive to maintain than the 325is.
I have had my 325is for 6 years and have put 50k on it. It has 249k miles on it. It is plenty reliable for a daily driver.

[Old'n'Slow]

"And the S14 requires near constant fiddling to keep it happy, unlike the M20."

you must have something on its last legs. i know tons of guys who change oil and filters and beat on their s14's. hell, i know avi, who maintained his s14 with a putty knife and it never quit. they are expensive motors and by their nature will require more frequent rebuilds but i find them a pretty stout motor

There's running, and then there's the state of tune the makers had in mind. I was speaking of the latter.

Trust me. Mine is [b]not[/] on its last legs. :)

[blunttech]

If only 2002's came with S14 motors....Then what Philly Blunt??? Nice mention in Roundel by Mike Self on your car and its B I G lights...
Doug M NY :drink: M2

where was that? i didnt see it. is it this months?

[dlmrun2002]

M2's

If only 2002's came with S14 motors....Then what Philly Blunt??? Nice mention in Roundel by Mike Self on your car and its B I G lights...
Doug M NY :drink: M2

[blunttech]

Almost. The castor also comes from the way the front axle is designed. You cannot approach it with offset bushings. The early M3s (like mine) didn't have offset bushings when stock, but still had triple the castor! Can't be effectively duplicated without the right parts.



True, but the rigidity from the bonded glass makes the car feel way lighter.

All in all, I love my E30 M3, but after a long drive on the freeway, I'm ready to get out. But on the Dragon on a beautiful spring morning.....different story altogether.

And the S14 requires near constant fiddling to keep it happy, unlike the M20. 300K from a motor without 2 or 3 costly rebuilds? Fugedaboudit.

"And the S14 requires near constant fiddling to keep it happy, unlike the M20."

you must have something on its last legs. i know tons of guys who change oil and filters and beat on their s14's. hell, i know avi, who maintained his s14 with a putty knife and it never quit. they are expensive motors and by their nature will require more frequent rebuilds but i find them a pretty stout motor

[TDE30]

You mean s42 e36? Oh you mean e30 m3 w/11k redline m42.

[DCColegrove]

...

And the S14 requires near constant fiddling to keep it happy...

I agree 100%...

Except I'd say "almost happy"

[Old'n'Slow]

what is so different about the suspension?

Same mcpherson design in the front. same trailing arms in the rear. the only differences are extra track width, the swaybar attatchment in the front, and offset cabs for more caster, all of which are very simple (and common) narrowbody mods.

Almost. The castor also comes from the way the front axle is designed. You cannot approach it with offset bushings. The early M3s (like mine) didn't have offset bushings when stock, but still had triple the castor! Can't be effectively duplicated without the right parts.

the weight - not really much lighter, if any. Most E30s will fall in the 2600-2750 range, and it's not hard to shed 200lbs without completely gutting the car.

True, but the rigidity from the bonded glass makes the car feel way lighter.

All in all, I love my E30 M3, but after a long drive on the freeway, I'm ready to get out. But on the Dragon on a beautiful spring morning.....different story altogether.

And the S14 requires near constant fiddling to keep it happy, unlike the M20. 300K from a motor without 2 or 3 costly rebuilds? Fugedaboudit.

[Stephen]

nah you guys got it all wrong, eta Powered M3

Chipped of course

[DCColegrove]

You mean s42 e36?

Gee...

Thanks...

I mean an M42...Easy upkeep.

[kenika65]

My better would be an m42 powered M3...

There is one on m42club.com

[Farbin Kaiber]

You mean s42 e36? Oh you mean e30 m3 w/11k redline m42.

[DCColegrove]

The e30 was designed from the ground up around the m10 so right out the box they "ballace" best in that configuration...

The M3 was an amazing car... But just my take on it is that they really weren't meant for the street... The S14 is a cantankorus power-plant at best and requires a bizarre amount of maintenance.

It really is comparing apples and oranges though...

My better would be an m42 powered M3...

[Farbin Kaiber]

watching law & order stoned make you say that?

That's my job.

[kenika65]

All I have to say is driving an M3 is like driving and M3 and driving a regular e30 is well like driving a regular e30