RE: You Know You Want To: BMW E30 M3

[g3org3y]

Maxus said:

g3org3y said:

Depends if you want to drive it or polish it?

There's something rather cool about a well used dirty example .....

Just for you

So much win!

[martyspain]

I had an E36 328 Sport a few years ago and loved it. Was going to get an E36 M3 but waited a little longer and bought an E46 M3. Hugely capable, very fast but I didn't get on with it. No idea why. If I were to return to the M-car fold in a few years, it'd be a hard decision between an E30 M3 or an E46 CSL. Right now, I'd probably go for the E30.

[Fury RS]

P/X'd this Cecotto about 10yrs ago, the stealer bid me £7,500 plus I gave him £7k toward the new purchase, the guy reckoned he was doing me a favour too.
Within approx 10mins of driving it home I knew i'd made a massive massive mistake, originally went there to buy an Escort Cosworth but came home with this. Never take your other half with you when you buy a car!!!

From this



To this

[J4CKO]

s m said:

J4CKO said:

E30 or E36, now I like both, but which is best, FIGHT !

Would make a nice Monkey production, a track and a standard example of each, perhaps some road driving involved as well, easy to set up, perhaps throw an E90 into the mix as well.

I've got a link to the Steve Soper/Colin Goodwin article from Autocar if you want?

E30 M3 Sport Evo vs 3 litre E36 M3 round Goodwood

Was trying to get Monkey a nice day out and us a good video but I suppose it will do, needs the other two models including really.

[estoril]

daveco said:

Here's a question for you E30 afficionados-

Would an E30 325 with uprated brakes and suspension give an M3 of the same a run for its money on the twisties? Surely from an ownership point of view the 6 cylinder 325 would be a nicer engine to work with and listen to at the very least?

I think it would be relatively cheap to make a 325 handle and go like an M3 but I think you will not have the same "feel"....remember that thread a while back....the E30 M3 is one of those cars...

[PPPPPP]

estoril said:

daveco said:

Here's a question for you E30 afficionados-

Would an E30 325 with uprated brakes and suspension give an M3 of the same a run for its money on the twisties? Surely from an ownership point of view the 6 cylinder 325 would be a nicer engine to work with and listen to at the very least?

I think it would be relatively cheap to make a 325 handle and go like an M3 but I think you will not have the same "feel"....remember that thread a while back....the E30 M3 is one of those cars...

A 320iS is a good option.

[chrisr29]

daveco said:

Here's a question for you E30 afficionados-

Would an E30 325 with uprated brakes and suspension give an M3 of the same a run for its money on the twisties? Surely from an ownership point of view the 6 cylinder 325 would be a nicer engine to work with and listen to at the very least?

It's a cheaper engine to work with, m3 engine bits are pricey to say the least. As for keeping up, I think that would be more down to the drivers abilities than the cars.

I have a std e30 325 that I use every day and it drives like a bus compared to the m3. Slower and more prone to understeer. Steering is dead in comparison......still prefer it to a e36 though.

[TimmD]

As every one else has, this was mine. A rare 2.5l homologation special, very nice. Sold it for buttons to Munich Legends a few years ago.

The rust had started...

But I have to say sometimes a really good 325i is a sweeter road car, but saying that, mine was quite track orientated.

[s m]

chrisr29 said:

s m said:

I've got a link to the Steve Soper/Colin Goodwin article from Autocar if you want?

E30 M3 Sport Evo vs 3 litre E36 M3 round Goodwood

Yes please.

Click

[PPPPPP]

estoril said:

Any excuse...here's mine..

& one more

[J4CKO]

Fury RS said:

P/X'd this Cecotto about 10yrs ago, the stealer bid me £7,500 plus I gave him £7k toward the new purchase, the guy reckoned he was doing me a favour too.
Within approx 10mins of driving it home I knew i'd made a massive massive mistake, originally went there to buy an Escort Cosworth but came home with this. Never take your other half with you when you buy a car!!!

From this



To this

Thing is, they didnt seem all that sigificant at the time, nobody knew it was going to become a bit of a Holy Grail, I think it was just a fast-ish old BMW with a bodykit and the wheel on the wrong side back then. Sure they are really good but I do think they have perhaps been a little over eulogised a bit perhaps.

[Mermaid]

GuyS. said:

Did someone mention E30 M3's ? Any excuse to repost this classic DTM gem from YouTube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw-AxiVqihM

Thanks - one more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzKnUkHLkwY

[trackdemon]

Tyrewrecker said:

trackdemon said:

Real bargain is a 318iS: 80% of the driving experience for 20% of the price! Same power delivery, delightful steering, same architecture & same biddable balance - skimpier tyres ensure grip/power well matched. E30 M3 ('86 vintage) one of the most enjoyable cars I've ever driven though.....

Delightful steering? The 318is I drove was like a boat and no good for oversteer due to little power and no lsd (On that particular model). Not TERRIBLE to drive though.

Compared to most modern kit I'd say so yeah, its very nice. Maybe the one you drove was baggy, mine is pretty good. Oversteer easy in the wet, and in the dry you just need to load up the chassis before adding power - oversteer not hard to achieve; I find it great fun despite the lack of LSD. To each their own I suppose....

[s m]

chrisr29 said:

daveco said:

Here's a question for you E30 afficionados-

Would an E30 325 with uprated brakes and suspension give an M3 of the same a run for its money on the twisties? Surely from an ownership point of view the 6 cylinder 325 would be a nicer engine to work with and listen to at the very least?

It's a cheaper engine to work with, m3 engine bits are pricey to say the least. As for keeping up, I think that would be more down to the drivers abilities than the cars.

I have a std e30 325 that I use every day and it drives like a bus compared to the m3. Slower and more prone to understeer. Steering is dead in comparison......still prefer it to a e36 though.

'Motor' mag ( the one that got merged into Autocar years back ) did an interesting article ( if you like mechanical/chassis stuff ) comparing the handling/responses of an E30 M3/E30 325i Sport/E30 325iX around a little handling course they had set up

[E30M3SE]

PPPPPP said:

estoril said:

Any excuse...here's mine..

& one more

..........and another,

[Tyrewrecker]

trackdemon said:

Compared to most modern kit I'd say so yeah, its very nice. Maybe the one you drove was baggy, mine is pretty good. Oversteer easy in the wet, and in the dry you just need to load up the chassis before adding power - oversteer not hard to achieve; I find it great fun despite the lack of LSD. To each their own I suppose....

Perhaps it was, my experience was complete opposite. Lots of people say they are great so yeah, it could of been a dud.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

I wish you'd all stop posting pictures. I'm having a crisis at work. I may have just whimpered slightly.

[Agent Orange]

I think if you don't currently own an E30 M3 you've missed the boat and probably better looking off elsewhere.

I love E30. I genuinely believe the E30 was the peak of excellence when it comes to mass produced cars. I really don't see why any car should do more than the E30 did.

That said if I were looking for an E30 M3 I'd probably go for an E36 M3. Stood between an E30 and a E46 it's a bit ugly, actually stand it anywhere it's ugly, but you're getting very similar for a lot less.

[J4CKO]

16 grand is a lot of money, out of the reach of most of us but there are still a lot of E30's about, I am sure that £1500's worth of semi Roadworthy 325, full suspension refresh with Poly bushes, some decent aftermarket brakes, engine fettle or perhaps transplant etc and you could have a really nice approximation, obviously paying attention to what BMW did to the M3, should imagine there were a few changes like steering racks and other specifics but nothing is impossible and I reckon you could make something as good if not better, ok it will never be an M3 or as valuable but I reckon it could be pretty good.

[skh]

E30M3SE said:

..........and another,

Beautiful pair if I may say so!!!

Lets face it the vast majority of those who have the SportEvo's, and other 'specials' or low milers throughout the range, now have them as investments with minimal use and very little track action. They must be a better bet than £££ in bank or under bed and with their racing provenance will only go up in value, You only need to look at the e9 CSL & 'Bats' as comparison. The latter is why the SportEvo's will always command a larger premium too and as the prices rise the gaps the the others increases further too.
Buy soon or forever regret.