1985 325e White M3 Rep

[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.

[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.

[OttoB]

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 😕

[82eye]

you haven't driven this e30 yet, right?
you're definitely not keeping that e car drive line stock for long ... 😂

[2mAn]

Oh yes... you're in the right place.

LMK when your AMEX is ready and I will 'help' you

[OttoB]

Not tripping in the least... I am an old hand at taking many of my personal cars, and with enough patience, resources, time and perseverance - turning them into quite something else... All me - just not fabricating, welding, sanding, assembling, etc. So - no, I am not a rookie in the least bit and have gotten some other cars done up without complaints for my use and not resale, YouTube, TikTok fame, FB, etc. Below are how some of them turned out, and quite a considerable contrast to how they started. For this e30 - I am not sure yet, but my Amex is taking a beating on the 914, the GTV-6, and the other ones also. So, I will tread lightly for now folks! I do appreciate the immense, awesome welcome from you and will be updating this thread as time allows (and the car arrives?) and, and, and :)

[2mAn]

Dont trip Otto, theres some check writers here too...

We are all just fans of E30s, BMWs and cars in general...

Sh!t there are people here who own boats and no E30s... we're an odd bunch here.

[82eye]

nice cars.
sucks how you got run over by the shitty business dealings and ex.

the forum is mostly diy focused but everyone has to know their skill level and where and how to spend or use the resources they have. there's loads of guys who just do simple maintenance stuff and get anything more involved handled by professionals.

nothing wrong with knowing your limits. 90% of all projects disappear into a wisp of smoke because they didn't.

[OttoB]

Thank you for the warm welcome, good wishes, and thoughts! I have a handful of other cars that have needs and, because I was in school for a long-*ss time, came out of it with debt and worked 60+ hour weeks for years afterwards - I am a checkbook mechanic, ok? Just throwing that out there although I have been able to fend for myself just fine these past few years. Today now marks the 4th active, different build thread for 4 of my cars - of which, this BMW would be the 3rd 'new' car out of a few others that I have all bought since last year. After falling flat on my face with a divorce and some bad business dealings with 'partners' on more than one occasion - I have learned to never take anything for granted. And, learned to be resilient while maintaining faith, hope, and being patient- which is damn impossible to do at times because life has a funny way of changing things up without you wanting them to. So, if something happens to me/my health/my finances again, at least I know I will go out with a B-A-N-G, ya know!?!

[OttoB]

2 more pics as I didn't know the limit was 5 per post:

[OttoB]

Prior cars... loved them all!!!

The 1981 635CSi is the only car I have sold and, once I got to work 'professionally' after school - bought it back from the same mechanic that got it from me. He installed a Euro 735i engine along with some Stahl headers I had collected - the car actually was super nice and loved every minute of it!






This Z3 represented for decades, the newest 'used' car I had ever owned, at 3 years or so with an extended warranty on it - it was from 1999 and had a cool red leather interior, and it was a head turner for sure!






This 850 - I went to town on it... Alpina style hood, CSi bodykit including mirrors, rear diff swap to 3.91, Bilsteins/H&R's, Momo, Alpine, etc. Overheated and I knew I could and should have stopped, but... sold it as a non-running car. I spent more money on that 850 for maintenance, than 2-3 of my other cars at the time, combined (including a 1991 911 Turbo, btw)! But boy, was it great looking!




And then this one - 'Manofied' but God, was it poorly built. It never ran more than 3 weeks at a time even though I spent a sh*t ton I didnt' even have, just to chase the dream of owning one. I sold it to a 'buddy' who then sank another $4-$5K to make it run right, he sold it to someone else, who then had RMC Miami sell it (YouTube has a killer video of the car being put on its paces by RMC), and last I heard from the present owner, he had not started it in 1.5-2 years because he too couldn't get it to run right. I - however, did all the changes to it with the Euro lights, GTS Scheel head rests, gauge pod, exposed wheels, badges, M30 B35 Alpina engine valve cover, and 20 odd more things.

[patrick88m3]

Welcome OttoB I was watching that auction closely and thought it was going to be a steal, but I still feel its a good deal... at one point I was day dreaming about buying the Rep AND the 2.7L S14 that sold a few minutes later and having a proper replica that could be driven the way these were meant to be driven.

Excited to see how this shakes out. The 84/85 cars are a bit lighter so Im very curious where this ended up with the Fiberglass kit.

Lets see some of the other cars!

Also... I feel this at my core.

That 2.7 sold cheap. Looks like S14 prices are coming down. Wish the cost to build one would too.

[2mAn]

Welcome OttoB I was watching that auction closely and thought it was going to be a steal, but I still feel its a good deal... at one point I was day dreaming about buying the Rep AND the 2.7L S14 that sold a few minutes later and having a proper replica that could be driven the way these were meant to be driven.

Excited to see how this shakes out. The 84/85 cars are a bit lighter so Im very curious where this ended up with the Fiberglass kit.

Lets see some of the other cars!

Also... I feel this at my core.

Once something gets in your head, it is offly hard - if not impossible - to completely shut down that inner voice which inevitably, gets all of us in trouble ;)

[82eye]

looks good for a rep. hope you have fun with it.

[e30m3s54turbo]

Good intro…