Good things come to those who wait...

[Stephen]

^ not to be a dick or anything but the whole S14 is for the track, more power needed for the street is kinda backwards methinks

[reelizmpro]

Matt, c'mon now. S14 is legendary for a reason. It's endurance is track proven by the finest pro drivers...yet, some independent mechanics are calling it a ticking time bomb? I suppose the S38 is also? Sounds like something a mechanic who doesn't know how (or want) to work on early M engines would say. Makes perfect sense that a shop that does swaps would say that though. Not just TNG but generally speaking. Race engines need to be taken care of, especially old ones. If you do that, there's no reason you can't have a reliable 200K mile S14. To get the most out of the S14, you gotta rev it up and shit does happen (mostly due to detonation/oil starvation issues) but there are several 300HP NA and upto 1000HP turbocharged S14's across the globe. To add insult to injury we don't even have real S50 engines which is why they are plentiful and cheap.

After seeing all of the BTCC/DTM races in the 80's and after all the E30 M3 accomplishments...it's just a shame that some people don't appreciate it. You got people who don't even know anything about the car, but they know they want to swap the engine because they heard it's a ticking time bomb....really???

[Hodge]

Matt, c'mon now. S14 is legendary for a reason. It's endurance is track proven by the finest pro drivers...yet, some independent mechanics are calling it a ticking time bomb? I suppose the S38 is also? Sounds like something a mechanic who doesn't know how (or want) to work on early M engines would say. Makes perfect sense that a shop that does swaps would say that though. Not just TNG but generally speaking. Race engines need to be taken care of, especially old ones. If you do that, there's no reason you can't have a reliable 200K mile S14. To get the most out of the S14, you gotta rev it up and shit does happen (mostly due to detonation/oil starvation issues) but there are several 300HP NA and upto 1000HP turbocharged S14's across the globe. To add insult to injury we don't even have real S50 engines which is why they are plentiful and cheap.

After seeing all of the BTCC/DTM races in the 80's and after all the E30 M3 accomplishments...it's just a shame that some people don't appreciate it. You got people who don't even know anything about the car, but they know they want to swap the engine because they heard it's a ticking time bomb....really???

My thoughts exactly. I normally don't really care when people swap engines, but E30m3's are becoming somewhat rare, and being able to find one with an original S14 is even harder. I really wouldn't even give a second look at one with any thing but and S14 if I were in the market for an E30M3. That is one of the whole reasons to have an E30M3.

Yeah it is your car, do whatever you want, but seeing as you already have an E30 with a swap, how could you not be satisfied with an awesome piece of racing history? Especially one that is built. Why would you want to daily an E30M3 anyway? They don't have torque, traffic would be shitty to drive around in, etc. It's a race car, it needs to be open up. Swapping a motor with torque in just destroys the car's whole character. You said you want a fast M3...there are alot of E46 and E90/92 M3's out there you know.

[e30polak]

Man I love getting peoples' panties in a knot. I'm not necessarily worried about the longevity of the motor, especially since mine is going to be completely refreshed. I'm sponsored by a shop that knows how to work on the motor, and I know they can last if properly maintained. Hell Chris Castro's has 180k or so on the clock, and it still runs great.

However, the s14 is pretty boring compared to a well built swap car. I've been in a properly built 2.5 s14 with cams, and that was nice, but it's not worth all the money put into it IMO. I'm going to regrind the intake cam to Evo 2 spec, do a Miller 4" MAF kit, exhaust, lightweight crank pulley, and have Dan Miller tweak the tune on his WAR chip for the cam. That should hold me till I can afford the blower kit or an s54.

Who knows, I'm extremely indecisive when it comes to plans for my car, so my mind will probably change again next week. If I could afford to keep both cars, then I'd leave my 325 to be my fast car. However, I don't have that luxury, so the M3 it is.

[Hodge]

Man I love getting peoples' panties in a knot. I'm not necessarily worried about the longevity of the motor, especially since mine is going to be completely refreshed. I'm sponsored by a shop that knows how to work on the motor, and I know they can last if properly maintained. Hell Chris Castro's has 180k or so on the clock, and it still runs great.

However, the s14 is pretty boring compared to a well built swap car. I've been in a properly built 2.5 s14 with cams, and that was nice, but it's not worth all the money put into it IMO. I'm going to regrind the intake cam to Evo 2 spec, do a Miller 4" MAF kit, exhaust, lightweight crank pulley, and have Dan Miller tweak the tune on his WAR chip for the cam. That should hold me till I can afford the blower kit or an s54.

Who knows, I'm extremely indecisive when it comes to plans for my car, so my mind will probably change again next week. If I could afford to keep both cars, then I'd leave my 325 to be my fast car. However, I don't have that luxury, so the M3 it is.

I'm not trying to be mean or anything..just pointing this out as a general remark towards everyone who swaps out the S14.

Can't say it enough...yep it is your car. Do as you please good sir :)

In fact, go ahead and swap the S14...send it my way, and I'll swap it into my E36

[e30polak]

I'm not trying to be mean or anything..just pointing this out as a general remark towards everyone who swaps out the S14.

Can't say it enough...yep it is your car. Do as you please good sir :)

In fact, go ahead and swap the S14...send it my way, and I'll swap it into my E36

Naw the s14 will go into a friends 2002 probably. That's the motor that car belongs in! :up:

[Iain]

If you're having problems sourcing an alu m52 why not go m54b30?

as for the whole S14 debate - these cars are about fun and performance. If people are so worried about e30 m3s being desicrated with an aluminium six cylinder, maybe they should also start telling people to put their suspension, wheels and tyres back to OEM specs so you don't disrupt the delicate handling balance. Or maybe they can start buying up stock e30 m3s and preserving them, rather than telling people what to do with their own cars?

[xwill112x]

Naw the s14 will go into a friends 2002. That's the motor that car belongs in! :up:

this.


s14's aren't really as fast as what people make them out to be. a modified 318is will hang with a m3 with a stock s14. stock m3 is a 318is thats hopped up with longggg gears. personally i love the m42 & s14, but the e30 m3 is just to much car/fuhraze for it to have a gutless weak 4 cylinder. tell the purists to suck it as you fly by them with a aluminum stroker m52 or hell id even contemplate a lsx/4.0L bmw v8 swap.

whatever you do, make sure the engine has enough balls and is badass enough to match the badass ballsy m3 body.

[reelizmpro]

this.


s14's aren't really as fast as what people make them out to be. a modified 318is will hang with a m3 with a stock s14. stock m3 is a 318is thats hopped up with longggg gears. personally i love the m42 & s14, but the e30 m3 is just to much car/fuhraze for it to have a gutless weak 4 cylinder. tell the purists to suck it as you fly by them with a aluminum stroker m52 or hell id even contemplate a lsx/4.0L bmw v8 swap.

whatever you do, make sure the engine has enough balls and is badass enough to match the badass ballsy m3 body.

Lol Really? the funny thing is I was saying more or less the same thing about 15 years ago before I owned one. How's 192HP a gutless, weak 4 cylinder? that's more than a stock M50 makes with 2 more cylinders and updated technology. I'm making 240HP crank with cams + bolt ons and stock exhaust. S14's are expensive to mod sure, but don't say it's a gutless weak 4 cylinder...that's just dumb.

At the end of the day, people will do what they want. I'm all for that, just think that Polak should see what the car's about first.

[xwill112x]

Lol Really? the funny thing is I was saying more or less the same thing about 15 years ago before I owned one. How's 192HP a gutless, weak 4 cylinder? that's more than a stock M50 makes with 2 more cylinders and updated technology. I'm making 240HP crank with cams + bolt ons and stock exhaust. S14's are expensive to mod sure, but don't say it's a gutless weak 4 cylinder...that's just dumb.
.

a m50 e30 is faster than a e30 m3, even a modded one. theyre the same size motor as well. the m3 is gutless, fun car, but yes gutless, there is NO bottom end, all while as you can drive a m50 at 1300-1500 rpms all day, will that happen with an m3? no way. not saying i would swap a m50 in place of a s14 (actually no way in hell) but i would definitly consider a s50,s52,s54 any day of the week. s14s have theyre place, and theyre purpose, but its definitly not on the street. i think the s14 has its place in a 02' or a late model 318i, or on the track.

but really, a built //m 6 cylinder is more than a bigger better brother to the s14. just my

[chucko]

the m3 is gutless, fun car, but yes gutless,

Not disagreeing with you, but would like clarification.
How can a "gutless" car be fun? Seems like a contradiction..

Oh, and one note about purists...You may not like them, but they are the ones paying top dollar for these cars. Think about that when it comes time to sell the heavily modded M3 because they will not touch it. You'll have to hope the boy racers and speed freaks are willing to pony up the dough.

Disclaimer: I am not a purists but I do respect the heritage and pedigree of this car. The E30 M3 and S14 have nothing to prove. It's the winningest Touring Car champion of all time.

[e30e]

this.


s14's aren't really as fast as what people make them out to be. a modified 318is will hang with a m3 with a stock s14. stock m3 is a 318is thats hopped up with longggg gears. personally i love the m42 & s14, but the e30 m3 is just to much car/fuhraze for it to have a gutless weak 4 cylinder. tell the purists to suck it as you fly by them with a aluminum stroker m52 or hell id even contemplate a lsx/4.0L bmw v8 swap.

whatever you do, make sure the engine has enough balls and is badass enough to match the badass ballsy m3 body.

WTF, s14 and the m42 have little in common aside from number of cylinders, show me n/a m42 making 200 hp, if you mean modified as in a boosted 318iS then yes it will blow past a e30 m3, but that makes your argument even dumber..... Also explain to me how in the late 1980's a 200 hp 4 cylinder is gutless, yes it lacks low end torque, but by NO means is that car gutless compared to a 318iS.
If you wanna compare an e30 m3 as gutless compared to current the m3's then yes it is but then the current m3 is a walrus compared to the e30 m3.

As for e30polak do whatever makes you happy, these arm chair critics aren't doing the work.

[JZM3]

Oh, and one note about purists...You may not like them, but they are the ones paying top dollar for these cars. Think about that when it comes time to sell the heavily modded M3 because they will not touch it. You'll have to hope the boy racers and speed freaks are willing to pony up the dough.

People that don't understand e30 m3 aren't willing to spend top dollar for one. Saying this, the ones that do understand don't want one without the s14. If e30polak is planning on keeping it for a long time then resale value doesn't or shouldn't effect his choice. I agree that he should do what he want's but I also do understand that he has a swapped and built s50 in his e30 so to do the same to an e30 m3 seems kind of pointless. That's just me

[e30polak]

As I stated before, I'm a speed freak, so the s14 doesn't quite cut it for me. I basically want the rolling chasis + the power of a 24v engine. The ONLY reason I'm selling my e30 is because I got the M3. That being said, I want to make it everything and more that my swap car is.

Since I wont be taking this car to the track much, a motor swap suits my needs much better. If I manage to find an aluminum block m52, then I wont be adding much weight to the front of the car as I would with an iron block. If this was purely a track car, then I would probably tweak the s14 pretty crazy, but it wont have the powerband I want for the street.

As far as the m54 idea, I have yet to see those motors make the power of the single vanos engines for the same amount of money put in. Hoveringuy is the only person I've seen that has done a proper m54 swap, but he is leaps and bounds more capable of doing so then I am.

If the aluminum block falls through, then I'll be saving to supercharge the s14, or get an s54 + 6 speed. Either of those options will be a lot of fun!

[reelizmpro]

Sorry for thread crapping, just very passionate about E30 M3's. Whatever happens keep us updated.