Good things come to those who wait...

[einstein57]

Looks like a 84 318i with a body kit to me

[thedeal]

Your photobuket is not working for me. I'd like to scope it out though! Jealous...

[bmw325csi]

hell yeah Chris, congrats bro, cant see the pic though!

[e30polak]

Not really. Bone stock, the E30 M3 will rotate better than a six cylinder E30. It is extremely well-balanced. If having a car perfectly poised through a turn appeals to you, leave the S14 in. As you approach the limits of adhesion, the S14 really rewards you.

Most judicious people will avoid the limits of lateral grip on public roads, as it is dangerous for everyone involved. Therefore, many people don't understand the WHY. They just sit in an E30 M3 and immediately notice it lacks torque.


Yes? :D jk

I think by now, the failure modes of an S14 have been fairly well-identified. Worn rod bearings, poorly remanufactured water pumps and oil pumps, intake leaks, and insufficient (nearly nonexistent) baffling in the lower oil pan for tracked cars. Eventually, a worn timing system will do the engine in, no matter how often you change the primary tensioner.

The problem is, to get the S14 to non-ticking-timebomb status, it is quite expensive, and few people go through the rigors of doing so.

This.

I don't plan on tracking the M3 more then a few times per year, and those will mainly be auto-X days. My current s52 suspension set-up will be mimicked and improved upon with the s54 up front, since they weigh about the same.

The car will be fine for my purposes with the 6 up front, I've had no complaints about my s52 car when it comes to handling.

The s14 is not a ticking time bomb if maintenanced properly throughout its life. sadly, most are not in that great of condition, and will succumb to the issues that Fred mentioned above.

[FredK]

^ 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

Not really. Bone stock, the E30 M3 will rotate better than a six cylinder E30. It is extremely well-balanced. If having a car perfectly poised through a turn appeals to you, leave the S14 in. As you approach the limits of adhesion, the S14 really rewards you.

Most judicious people will avoid the limits of lateral grip on public roads, as it is dangerous for everyone involved. Therefore, many people don't understand the WHY. They just sit in an E30 M3 and immediately notice it lacks torque.

...yet, some independent mechanics are calling it a ticking time bomb? I suppose the S38 is also?

Yes? :D jk

I think by now, the failure modes of an S14 have been fairly well-identified. Worn rod bearings, poorly remanufactured water pumps and oil pumps, intake leaks, and insufficient (nearly nonexistent) baffling in the lower oil pan for tracked cars. Eventually, a worn timing system will do the engine in, no matter how often you change the primary tensioner.

The problem is, to get the S14 to non-ticking-timebomb status, it is quite expensive, and few people go through the rigors of doing so.

[e30polak]

Enjoy her well E30Polak

When I finally get her on the road I will.... May take a while though...

[mtechnik]

Enjoy her well E30Polak

[e30polak]

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

It's all good Barry. I realize how touchy the subject is, especially since these cars are becoming collectors items. Nevertheless, I'm not planning on selling this car anytime soon, if ever. Therefore, I want to make it everything that it should be, and more!

[reelizmpro]

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

[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!

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.