Will people ever stop molesting E30s en masse?

[ccsdo5]

I'm just sick of people parroting a tired line that flat out isn't true. Drive a car with an I4 that does love to rev and you'll learn that the M42 absolutely does not. I had one for years, I did a lot more to it and with it than most people who actually like it have done, it's an opinion that was earned. It's a loathsome engine for anything but trying to get the most fuel economy possible out of the car, seriously let down by its crummy little econobox cams.

you're 100% right, I've driven my car with a t25 and even compared to my friends stock SR20 it feels lethargic at best, the throttle response isn't nearly as good and it just does nothing up top past 7k for sure. Take it I also don't like M20's but I'm very tempted to go towards an M52 now instead of keeping my m42 in my car.

[Andrew325is]

Race teams love building up M42s as an alternative to the S14. Here’s one that makes 163 hp at the rear wheels (~210 hp flywheel). Of course some people enjoy them in stock form, but I have to point out the little 4 pot has a lot of potential.

https://youtu.be/HxQ6M10eZjQ

[Melon]

[MrBurgundy]

Race teams love building up M42s as an alternative to the S14. Here’s one that makes 163 hp at the rear wheels (~210 hp flywheel). Of course some people enjoy them in stock form, but I have to point out the little 4 pot has a lot of potential.

https://youtu.be/HxQ6M10eZjQ

It has a lot of potential if you throw BAGS of money at it

[lukeADE335i]

The S42 made over 300hp in super tourer spec (basically an M42 taken to its limits by BMW Motorsport). Still - the dyno chart in the video, that M42 is making almost exactly what my stock M30 makes in my e30 except at double the revs. Impressive for an 80's 2.0L but a swap will get you further - if you really want a 4 cylinder any of the popular Japanese swaps would get you there in stock form (eg. Toyota 3S-GE BEAMS, Honda K series etc.).

The only reason I could see for doing it would be to race in a specific class that doesn't allow for engine swaps, otherwise molest away

[digger]

Race teams love building up M42s as an alternative to the S14. Here’s one that makes 163 hp at the rear wheels (~210 hp flywheel). Of course some people enjoy them in stock form, but I have to point out the little 4 pot has a lot of potential.

https://youtu.be/HxQ6M10eZjQ

in what was does it have more potential than any other 4V/cyl 4 pot though?

[amcp]

It doesnt its just not subject to the S14 tax.

[cheffy30]

It has a lot of potential if you throw BAGS of money at it

insert crying sounds sent from hell using tapatalk

[roguetoaster]

I've long appreciated the M42 for it's general reliability, formerly low cost of maintenance, and adquately satisfying power output/performance. But realistically, there were everyday Alfas that were more power dense 25 years earlier on carbs.

Let's remember, the engine isn't that special, but it's installed in a special chassis, which is why people love it.

[cory58]

I need a car to match my nose ring, tunnels and tats. bro!

[digger]

this m42 has been molested prettty heavily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE0Y5tFnt2c&feature=emb_logo

[Digitalwave]

I'm on the "hope it never stops" train. If you want to see what it's like when people stop driving 'em like they're supposed to be driven, join the S14.net Facebook group. It's painful to watch those guys "speculate" on their "investments" and talk about the latest in "NLA parts."

[325e '87]

I'm on the "hope it never stops" train. If you want to see what it's like when people stop driving 'em like they're supposed to be driven, join the S14.net Facebook group. It's painful to watch those guys "speculate" on their "investments" and talk about the latest in "NLA parts."

Man/woman, I can imagine. Our cars are getting pretty old and it is easy to construct a false sense of significance. I got myself an e46 recently and while I have freshened it up a LOT, its not an e30 and it never will be, but I tried. the 30 is special, but it is not a status symbol for people to creat a false sense of superiority with. it is a fantastic car that the general public just does not value because of marketing. back in the day these cars were exceptional and also not much different in terms of size and capability. now? they are tiny, and I do not know why, but yo, my car makes people laugh and they say “jeez, that thing is a mini!”.

there are so many current contradictions that apply to the refinement and crudeness of the e30 as compared to today’s standards, it really is a tough nut to crack. still, with the 12 airbags that will protect me in the 46 I just got a few months ago, I drive the 30 every dry day. The rain doesnt bother me much, just want my 30 to last as long as possible.

[Andrew325is]

It doesnt its just not subject to the S14 tax.

Yep, exactly. You can build a beautiful high power M42/M44 for less than a worn out S14.

The S42 made over 300hp in super tourer spec (basically an M42 taken to its limits by BMW Motorsport). Still - the dyno chart in the video, that M42 is making almost exactly what my stock M30 makes in my e30 except at double the revs. Impressive for an 80's 2.0L but a swap will get you further - if you really want a 4 cylinder any of the popular Japanese swaps would get you there in stock form (eg. Toyota 3S-GE BEAMS, Honda K series etc.).

The only reason I could see for doing it would be to race in a specific class that doesn't allow for engine swaps, otherwise molest away

Yeah, the S42 is an amazing engine. The replacement for the S14. It would have been nice if they made a production version. The M30 weighs a lot more though, so the HP difference is smaller if you equalize them for power-to-weight ratio. Plus to get the same handling you'd have to add even more weight to the rear of the car which makes the difference even smaller. The PWR for the M30b35 is 0.692 hp/lb. For the M42 it's 0.636 hp/lb. So you'd only have to make the M42 produce 152 hp to match the M30. The PWR for an iron M50b25 or M52b28 is about 0.617 hp/lb, so one of those would not be an upgrade over an M42 in terms of HP, and not exactly an upgrade in terms of torque either. The M50 has a torque to weight ratio of 0.588 and the M42 is 0.586.

That's cool if someone wants to put a Japanese engine in their E30. The difficulty of doing that though makes one of those swaps unrealistic for most people. I think the range of BMW engines is enough to satisfy the needs and wants of most people.

[hkv]

did someone say molest e30s??? mhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmhhhmmmmmmmmm




you must have never felt the pleasure of taking a nice rust free and pure example with a complete maintenance history as thick as a book and getting your grimey hands all over it and just f****ing its whole reality up. Its the cleanest, best pleasure. ABS? for pussies who want to remove skill from racing. brake booster? lol I can lock up my brakes just find with my scrawny legs thankyou very much. power steering? HAH! next thing you know a stick shift will be too much too handle.

if I want to see pure I go to the bmw museum in Munich, but dang! turns out BMW had andy Warhol molest quite a few BMWs with god knows what kind of paint. it sure aint automotive. WHY MUST PEOPLE DO THINGS I DONT LIKE TO CARS I LOVE?!?!

In all seriousness; IMO stock cars are with few exceptions I don't want to say boring but lacking is probably appropriate. OEMS build cars for the masses, not for die hard car enthusiasts much less yourself. Exhaust is usually quiet and lame af, car usually is too high and the wheels too deep into the wheel wells. that's usually the tip of the iceberg. my 135i had some stupid valve in the clutch line to smooth clutch use because like I said they build cars for the masses. the last thing I want to do is keep a stupid valve in my clutch line that was put there for people who don't know how to drive. staying stock is for grannies.