Video Series: E30 as fast as a modern G80 M3 CS?

[2mAn]

Just thought I would share this and see what they end up with...

https://youtu.be/orJalvgERX0?si=BVLQFw2sIWI7nbXM

What do you guys think they will use for the engine?

[patrick88m3]

Gonna guess S54

[varg]

I'm curious what he means by sticking to a budget, because if you're asking what drivetrain budget has a huge effect on what you'd use to do this because you could do it with a turbo M20 or an S65 and spend wildly different amounts of money. If I was just setting out to beat [insert new car] it I'd probably go for the E30's strength which is light weight and use a turbo K20 and a DCT.

Hard to watch these over-produced and sound effect laden high dollar youtube videos though.

[MrBurgundy]

Remember when Jason Cammisa's e30 325i with a eta bottom and some decent tires was one second behind a 2016 340i with a track package?

The e30s greatest strength is the weight. It doesn't take a lot of tire or power to slingshot it around a track.

The 4000lb g80 needs all the power to move it but the catch 22 is now it needs AWD to keep the rear tires from burning up.

Anyways I think an e30 w an s54 swap and sticky tires will be on a bumper of a G80.

They will basically have the same power to weight ratio. If you add a DCT to the e30 I think its going to take it for sure. Also with the NA s54 its going to be more forgiving than a turbo setup when you're getting out of a corner vs a turbo m20

[FredK]

Well, in the comments they say the final curb weight of the finished product is 2950 lb. That is pretty heavy lol, unless they kept the stock interior and did no other mods to lighten the car up, OR, it speaks to a fairly heavy drivetrain, like an S65 and a DCT, which would be mega heavy and not even be altogether that powerful. That said, it's nice they're giving the E30 its due, but it is definitely an antique at this point, so it is light years behind in chassis stiffness, suspension design, track width, wheelbase, ABS system, ability to take on extremely meaty tires like 305s, etc. that would make it a modern track weapon.

[DesertBMW]

just another youtube guy making content just for the show, and I can see the guy is full of it

[varg]

Well, in the comments they say the final curb weight of the finished product is 2950 lb. That is pretty heavy lol, unless they kept the stock interior and did no other mods to lighten the car up, OR, it speaks to a fairly heavy drivetrain, like an S65 and a DCT, which would be mega heavy and not even be altogether that powerful. That said, it's nice they're giving the E30 its due, but it is definitely an antique at this point, so it is light years behind in chassis stiffness, suspension design, track width, wheelbase, ABS system, ability to take on extremely meaty tires like 305s, etc. that would make it a modern track weapon.

2950lb. A stock 4 door 325i is what, 2850? Probably an S54 then, those things are heavy. I wouldn't do an S54 because it would make the car more front heavy and they barely fit, but it's pretty obvious that I wouldn't do things the way a youtuber would.

[2mAn]

I agree with the consensus that the S54 is the choice, but also hate the imbalance they bring to the table...

I recall when my 2350# Aluminum Monster with its 225whp regularly surprised many cars that weighed significantly more but felt their horsepower would embarass my car... and didnt.

[MrBurgundy]

Cant this just be done in forza

[2mAn]

Whats forza?

[FredK]

I think it's cool that this guy is doing a project like this to get his channel off the ground. The proof will be in the pudding with the lap times, and it's not going to happen without a big slug of power, tires, and probably aero. I don't think a 2950 lb E30 is a great place to be weight-wise, and I think it'd be tough to hang with a G80 M3 even with a 350whp S54. It is pretty easy to get an M20 car down to 2500 lbs with a cage and sunroof delete. It is an interesting conversation though, when you ask the question, "how can an E30 be built to compete with a G80 M3". I look forward to a tast of his skills.