1985 325e White M3 Rep

[McGyver]

for the driveline, my vote is a euro s50b30 or s50b32 for something that is close to period correct with plenty of power.

An s14 is cool for being period correct, but its also crazy expensive, not that powerful, and doesn't make a ton of sense in a rep car. The US s50 or s52 is a great engine, but also somewhat common. An s38 would be a great option, but its also crazy expensive and likely heavier than a euro engine. A built m20 or m30 doesnt feel special enough. And an s54 would feel too new.

[e30m3s54turbo]

Yeah… been researching on how to make it run more, ahem - robust - and will count on the tried, true, experience and wisdom of you all to help me figure it out! I have questions but, in due time.

BAT still hasn’t found someone to transport it 😕

It depends what your budget and what you want to a great experience in a e30.

I have few e30 m cars that I swapped to s38 and other m30 in e30’s.
i have owned Hartge and Alpina e21 e30’s in the past.

[2mAn]

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/parts-for-sale/10148416-bmw-m20-3-0-stroker-engine-kit-with-trans-and-all-parts-8000

Fastest and easiest swap to transform the car

[OttoB]

In WPB, I am limited to whoever can and will work on any of my cars... I reached out to a local last week, who has a shop and they apparently install turbos on all European machinery (including an e30 on his website's video). But, that is not necessarily the direction I want to take. The end goal for me is to sort this car out with the dash situation, electronics, and mechanical needs (if any) to make it as reliable and turnkey as possible. I have gone to town on many of my other cars (and still am) but not this one, for now anyway. Although too damn nice of a car for any kid, I genuinely want to pass this one to my son when he turns 15 and can begin practicing driving for a year to get his learner's permit. Selfishly, I have always wanted an e30 M3 - just like anyone else with a heartbeat - but, I have also been lucky, grateful, and fortunate to check off other 'dream cars' off my list beforehand. So, by getting a rep that can be modified - it is my hope that I can enjoy it sparingly for a couple of years and then, Jr. can appreciate and enjoy it too. So, I know 120hp on this eta will not be getting me excited, but the car certainly looks as if it was really well put together with coilovers, exhaust, and attention to detail on the bodywork and throughout.

When I am about to buy a particular brand of car - first step is to research forums to learn as much as possible and see what has been done (or not) so I have the ability to make a decision on what to do with it. Reading up on swaps, to get some decent hp north of 175-200, then it appears that $10K is the expected outlay. And, I am not remotely even close to considering that. I did speak to the assistant mechanic at a shop that helps me with a British V12, 6 Spd manual I own - and, he has a 2.5 head ready to go which was meant for his own personal car - him working previously at a BMW tuning shop in Delray Beach, I believe. I am also hesitant to see that through as it requires more than just the head swap and, apprehensive to begin spending $1,000's on making the car be faster. Which, for any 'kid' - is not a great idea to be driving a fast car since they will find ways to drive the wheels off of them, regardless of how responsible and mature any 16 year-old claims to be. We ALL were 16, 17, 18, 19 at some point, ya know?




Switching gears on what has been done as of last week after paying for the car... All I have been able to do thus far is to take care of some minor issues which to me, are needed - such as: 1) replacement antenna on the roof which is missing (paid ECS for a new one last week); 2) a little cigarette lighter cap to cover the missing one; 3) floor mats to spruce up the ones there (and required me trying to find ones that appear OEM which are velour, apparently?); and of course 4) WHEELS!!!!! Nothing against what is there now on the Ronals, but if it a mesh design - it has to be step lipped and these aren't. So, they are nice, but not what I have in mind.

I spent a considerable amount of time going over many 100's of pictures looking at e30's and their wheels ALL of LAST WEEK. I mean - who doesn't want or like a VW GTI with BBS wheels, or a 2002, or an M3 with them - right? When I bought the 914 off BAT last year which is powered by a Subaru 2.0L Turbo engine - it came with 17 inch chrome Fuchs appearing wheels, and was the first time in my life I then installed smaller wheels on one of my cars [ now has 15x9 and 15x10 with the rears mounted on 295/40/15 Michelin TB tires, so ... ].

There was the ability to 'spend' money to convert the car to a 5 lug, there are a zillion options to attempt to make my car look like an OEM stock M3 with those wheels, then there was 15's, 16's, 17's, and 18's... My initial preference was for DTM type center lock BBS appearing ones, and there are some for sale for about $4.5K all in. Nope - too much. Then, there are the other racing inspired wheels like BBS e48 , e55, e87/e88 styles - BUT, it would like strange on a 4-lug bolt pattern and this car is meant to somewhat continue looking similar to a real one. Ultimately, I decided that:

1) simpler is better - so keeping the 4x100 bolt pattern for now;
2) inexpensive is even better, as there is a chance in the next few years that 1-2 wheels will be bent, by accident or simple lack of awareness - so, I am being realistic somewhat;
3) DTM look is the mythological preference for all e30 M3's IMHO;
4) having a wheel that covers the bolts, give the look of a center lock, give the look of DTM, and being on the reasonable price point of things, was the way to go; and
5) BONUS that it is not a wheel used very regularly on other M3's AND AND AND - that they actually look really COOL!!!!


Let me show you what I came up with.... drum roll, please - tum tum tum -

DTM Raderwerkz DTM RW-03 in silver - 17x8.5, 4x100, 57.1 cb in stock and will be mounted on Yoko's 235/40/17 on all 4 corners.

https://dtmraderwerkz.com/shop/ols/categories/dtm-rw03

I almost always use a staggered set of wheels/tires - even on my 1981 MB station wagon... but - after seeing a video of a turbo e30 bottoming out with 3 guys in it - I opted for 17's which are not unusual, but also for this 'safe' size tire vs. 245/255. It is important for me that if my son's first car (we'll see about that in a couple of years, won't we!?!) is an old European car which may not be all that practical, that it still can be used/abused/enjoyed and bottoming out or having mechanical problems are not issues I want him to start with!

[kronus]

welcome! I was watching this auction and it looked like a well-built body. Glad that we get to follow along with your journey.

I like the wheel style, it will look just right on a white m3 body. 235 will be a little wide for the front. It's possible to fit, but you will battle some clearance issues and may need a travel limiter kit. What offset did you get?

[2mAn]

I like the wheel choice, I had envisioned these wheels when I was dream-building it...

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/wheels-tires-for-sale-wanted/10145041-fs-compomotive-super-rare-17%E2%80%9D-wheels-4x100-motorsport-rally

BTW I tagged you as someone is looking for a set of Ronals in MD

[OttoB]

welcome! I was watching this auction and it looked like a well-built body. Glad that we get to follow along with your journey.

I like the wheel style, it will look just right on a white m3 body. 235 will be a little wide for the front. It's possible to fit, but you will battle some clearance issues and may need a travel limiter kit. What offset did you get?

You know? The owner of DTM Raderwerkz - Ary - who is a very likable individual - told me that the purpose behind this line of wheels ( several of the offerings at DTM Raderwerkz) was primarily designed to capture the spirit of BMW DTM-era M3's... Although they sell them in white also and sure white ones would look good on a white car - most times, colors/shades do not match. With them in silver, I can always apply some type of removal finish color if I want a change - but, they ought to look great in this color (have not been able locate a single image of an e30 M3 with them)!

Until your post, it never dawned on me to consider getting a narrower set of front wheels such as a 17x7.5 or 17x8. When I looked into tire sizes for the 17x8.5 wheels, there was a mention that a 225 sized tire was right on the border of not big enough for the wheel - so, I opted for a 'safe' square setup that all 4 corners have the same sized tires at 235/40/17's. But, last night after your post, I went back to the DTM website and saw that 17x8.5 is actually the smallest (and ONLY) sized wheel they sell for this series! So, I am hopeful and optimistic this wheel and tire combo doesn't present any clearance issues, as it would be quite a step back to have purchased them and then later find out that they are not compatible or a straightforward swap/install... When I bought an S123 MB wagon with 16inch AMG Pentas last year, it came with 225's on all 4 corners but didn't look right. I made the fronts go down to 205 tires so they wouldn't stick out as much and then got 245's for the rear conservatively - as there is even more room there. However, your post got me thinking that I hope its no big deal installing the only sized 17x8.5's up front (on the 235 tires on a small car) as I am unable to return the tires once mounted... We'll see what happens. The et is 20 - which again, is the only choice offered for the 4x100 bolt pattern and 57.1 bore that my car came with from the factory.

On another note - as of today, the e30 still has not been picked up at the Seller's place in OR... I bought it 2 weeks this upcoming Sunday and BAT Shipping got paid the following day. It'll arrive eventually all right - but, somewhat unusual for me in this delay in comparison to previous purchases/delivery times.

[patrick88m3]

Put an m30 in it and say its a b6 3.5s clone haha

[kronus]

people definitely fit 235s and 8.5s up front, it just takes some attention. you will likely want to roll or clearance your fenders and check for interference elsewhere.