IronJoe's back in an e30... 1989 M3!

[Panici]

Wow, that's a spicy overbore!
In theory it should handle high RPM work better with the shorter stroke compared to a Sport Evo.

This is the first I've heard of the 2.6L Dinan. Pretty wild that specific four-pot had a larger displacement then the M20 six.

[DEV0 E30]

Welcome back! And very interesting story about the engine, you've got a unicorn in more than one aspect.

Love the changes already, can't wait to see more.

[82eye]

insane engine work. how did this one fly under the radar so long ? possibly mileage i guess. it's not like i watch the market, $50k is as unattainable as $100k to me. glad it's got a good home.

edit : i like how your tesla ended up as well.

[IronJoe]

insane engine work. how did this one fly under the radar so long ? possibly mileage i guess. it's not like i watch the market, $50k is as unattainable as $100k to me. glad it's got a good home.

edit : i like how your tesla ended up as well.

Honestly it was the worst-presented M3 for sale I think I’ve ever seen. Also the wheels turned a lot of people away, including myself.

The engine work is what sealed it for me, especially the head work. There are tons of 2.5 cars out there that have no head work and can’t breathe like the Sport Evo intended. This car has huge valves, throttle bodies, port & polish everywhere, etc.

The one downside I intend on fixing is the engine management. Right now the car has a Dinan chip for a 2.3 which is suboptimal for this recipe of hardware.

[IronJoe]

Alright, back to more fun things.

As mentioned after switching to 16" wheels and proper diameter tires, addressing the suspension was high on my list. I looked at the new offerings from KW and GC and quickly decided that was a "maybe some day" based on price. Since the car itself blew out most of my budget I'm trying to maximize bang for buck, so I settled for now on the H&R race/Billy sports combo I ran on the Henna car for many years and miles.

This car already had Bilsteins, I looked up the part numbers and while they were an older version, they were the "sport" shocks so all I needed was springs. I bided my time and got a great deal on a set from Amazon of all places.

H&R Sport vs Race:
Untitled by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


This wasn't my first rodeo so I got the new springs installed in an afternoon, done before dinner. On the Henna M3 I had removed all spring pads and paired the fronts with 15mm drop hats, this time I decided to see where the ride height would land with all the pads left in. Not bad, but I'll probably grab some more drop hats for the front ;-)
Untitled by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


For my "shakedown run" I left my center caps at home just-in-case I needed to tighten lugs or remove a wheel, and I ended up liking the look. So much so that I painted the centers of these wheels black Alpina-style, just to have a little fun with them. I ordered some custom center caps to fit inside which I'm hoping will arrive today!
Untitled by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr



And lastly, an upgrade I desperately needed, the 370mm Mtech 2 steering wheel. I am a tall guy with long legs so the 385mm wheel had to go ASAP. It needs a new M badge and the horn button is all wonky, but it's here and I didn't pay an arm and a leg for it so I'm happy.
370mm Mtech 2 steering wheel -E30 M3 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

[Panici]

New wheel looks good.
IMO the M-Tech 2 wheel needs at least a plastic bumper car otherwise it looks too "new" for the chassis. M3 works even better!
Agree that the 370mm feels just right. Stock steering rack in there still? What's the lock-to-lock on an M3?

I have the H&R / Billy combo on my E30 and E36 328i.
I increasingly feel like the Billy Sports (now called B8s?) are valved too aggressively for the soft H&R Sport rates.

Actually switching the E36 to a set of Koni STR.T in the near future to try and get some more comfort.

[IronJoe]

New wheel looks good.
IMO the M-Tech 2 wheel needs at least a plastic bumper car otherwise it looks too "new" for the chassis. M3 works even better!
Agree that the 370mm feels just right. Stock steering rack in there still? What's the lock-to-lock on an M3?

I have the H&R / Billy combo on my E30 and E36 328i.
I increasingly feel like the Billy Sports (now called B8s?) are valved too aggressively for the soft H&R Sport rates.

Actually switching the E36 to a set of Koni STR.T in the near future to try and get some more comfort.

I agree with you about the Mtech 2 wheel... to me they feel much more "90s" than what belongs in an '80s BMW. In fact I didn't originally want one, I wanted a 370mm Mtech 1 wheel which I had for the M3 cabrio tribute project but had to sell it before enjoying it. In the end, the thicker hand grips won out, and I wasn't about to pay $1000+ for a used steering wheel so this deal was the way to go.

I re-soldered the connections for the horn contacts in the pad and it's a little better, but I think I'll need to come up with a better solution long-term. Two of the three horn contact "spring" plates are cracked which makes for intermittent horn activation, which in my opinion is a safety item and needs to "just work". More to come on that.

[IronJoe]

Not much in the way of updates, but I took my M3 to Griot's Garage for their monthly Caffeine & Gasoline meet this month and it was a good time. I was the only E30 M3 there but there were a good showing of BMWs and a few other E30s.

1458AC4F-7CD9-406C-89B9-D46109C476C7 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


I also swapped out the BMW center caps for BBS ones I had lying around, just for kicks. I'll probably switch them back before show season starts.
IMG_5020 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Lastly, I'm starting my interior project soon, looking forward to getting rid of the Natur interior altogether. I've never been a fan of tan interior, these front seats have seen better days so I'm using it as an excuse to swap everything over to black. Currently in the parts-gathering phase, fun!
20231030_112027 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

[BlackbirdM3]

Wow, nice score. That engine sounds like fun. I have to admit, its giving me ideas for my S14 rebuild.

I wouldn't go any lower on the suspension. You are already close to having the roll centers below ground level.

Will

[reelizmpro]

I'm the same way. Tan interior is nice when clean but easily looks terrible when it's not. Then there is the discoloration that often happens. However, yours doesn't look bad. A nice cleaning and treatment would have it looking fresh again.

[Mazi!]

that's a beauty!

[Donkeyshins]

Not much in the way of updates, but I took my M3 to Griot's Garage for their monthly Caffeine & Gasoline meet this month and it was a good time. I was the only E30 M3 there but there were a good showing of BMWs and a few other E30s.

1458AC4F-7CD9-406C-89B9-D46109C476C7 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


I also swapped out the BMW center caps for BBS ones I had lying around, just for kicks. I'll probably switch them back before show season starts.
IMG_5020 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Lastly, I'm starting my interior project soon, looking forward to getting rid of the Natur interior altogether. I've never been a fan of tan interior, these front seats have seen better days so I'm using it as an excuse to swap everything over to black. Currently in the parts-gathering phase, fun!
20231030_112027 by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

You're in the Puget Sound region? Sweet! We need more E30 M3's up here!

[kronus]

Nice to read up on this. Wild story on the motor. I remember you trying to figure out WTF was going on in the S14 FB group.

Are you going to be dyeing the rear parcel shelf or finding a black one? I've been on the hunt for a tan M3 one for months..

[IronJoe]

Nice to read up on this. Wild story on the motor. I remember you trying to figure out WTF was going on in the S14 FB group.

Are you going to be dyeing the rear parcel shelf or finding a black one? I've been on the hunt for a tan M3 one for months..

Yes I'm either going to dye it or recover it in black material. Pretty simple either way and I'm not too crazy about that part being original.

[kronus]

Can I mail you a non-tan one? I can’t find a tan one and aiming to keep my interior original.