Suggestions needed - New car or modify?

[Jim1556]

My dilemma is this: I currently own a lightly modified E36 328i Coupe running 228bhp. It’s a fantastic chassis but needs more power.

I’ve twice been to America and hired a Corvette with a 436bhp LS3 V8 and want the noise, power, torque and reliability, but not the weight or LHD, besides a C6 is out of my budget.

I want a car with a cracking chassis and a V8 around 400bhp ideally weighing no more than 1400kg.

My options are:

Modify mine with a crate LS3 V8 & gearbox at a cost of around £14k, making a bullet proof car with easy access to 500+bhp.

Buy a recent Vauxhall VXR8 (LS3 variant) costing around £20k that holds its value but weighs 1800kg.

Buy an BMW E39 M5 (400bhp V8) costing less than £10k, but a little older so may hit reliability issues and still heavy at 1700kg.

I even considered a TVR but I want reliability to cover Euro trips to the Alps and the Nurburgring – 15 laps this year and then onto the Stelvio in my Beemer with no issues...

In an ideal world I’d save up for my dream Porsche 997 but they’re out of range - my budget is around £20k.

Is there another solution I’ve not considered?

[tomsugden]

Audi rs4?

[v8will]

E46 M3, Job done.

Factory build reliability and although 2 cylinders short of the criteria, plenty of shove.

[V88Dicky]

Don't get hung up on just the LS3. The LS1 and 2 are essentially the same engines and can be tuned up to similar power figures. There's a Monaro VXR500 in the classifieds at the mo that's within your budget, and it's running way over 500hp

Or get a nice C5 ZO6 and put up with LHD. What made you think 'Vettes are heavy? They're all 'aloominum' and glass 'fiber' aren't they?

[harryowl]

Cerbera. Simples

[911p]

996 Carrera if you hanker after a 911? Pretty underestimated - quicker than an R8 and 997.1 C2S to 150mph for example. I've heard they're great fun with PSE too

[ambuletz]

14k on an E36 seems like overkill. You can buy alot of motor with 10k-20k that will tick those boxes.

[Steameh]

I wouldn't modify a car to that extent, it ends up as dead money.

How about a Mustang, maybe not the best handling car out there, but they shift some, sound great and look incredible.

Pure Muscle.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Steameh said:

I wouldn't modify a car to that extent, it ends up as dead money.

^^^^^^^This

Fact is, you've either got to go LHD or buy an M3. Both massively better than the heavy mods route.

[Olivera]

Steameh said:

I wouldn't modify a car to that extent, it ends up as dead money.

How about a Mustang, maybe not the best handling car out there, but they shift some, sound great and look incredible.

Pure Muscle.

Its not all dead money. Hoist the LS3 engine and gearbox out and you'll sell it for a good amount. Then just weigh the shell in for scrap.

[Jim1556]

Hmmm, some interesting thoughts, cheers!

RS4? No – too heavy, handling issues...
E46 M3? No – too heavy, not enough power, good chassis though...
Corvettes are around 1600Kgs and not known for handling – although the C6 surprised me...
Cerbera? Seriously? Beautiful, sounds phenomenal, if only the build quality/reliability was as good!
996? Great car, ILS bearing issues leading to expensive engine failures and the ugliest front end on a 911 EVER!
Mustang? Lardy, underpowered with barge-like handling... Unless I had £40k for a GT500, which I don’t...

Keep 'em coming!

[papercup]

Ozzie Osmond said:

^^^^^^^This

Fact is, you've either got to go LHD or buy an M3. Both massively better than the heavy mods route.

Thats funny.

OP - call Craig Taylor at Dyno Torque in Birmingham. He's put LS V8s in 15 RX7s, a Supra, several different TVRs, and at least one 3 series.

Once you've been in any of these, you'll get him to do it to yours. Then you'll laugh at people who think a production american car or an M3 is 'massively better'.

As has been said, the LS2 is far cheaper, still drive-by-wire, and only 20bhp less.

Andy

[jdwoodbury]

I would go with the Monaro, much more raw than the M5 and should be much cheaper to run. Almost bought one myself a few years ago, got a V8 5 series instead and regretted it.

[Matt p]

papercup said:

That
s funny.

OP - call Craig Taylor at Dyno Torque in Birmingham. He's put LS V8s in 15 RX7s, a Supra, several different TVRs, and at least one 3 series.

Once you've been in any of these, you'll get him to do it to yours. Then you'll laugh at people who think a production american car or an M3 is 'massively better'.

As has been said, the LS2 is far cheaper, still drive-by-wire, and only 20bhp less.

Andy

A massive +1 from me!.

Blown up rx7 circa £1250 maybe more with a few bits.

You could sell the bust rotary for £500 then boom!, you have a very good base for the ls1 or ls2 conversion. From talking to one of the guys who is funnily enough fixing my rotary lol!, a drive in drive out conversion with a new crate engine and a few trick bits was just over £10k Inc labour.

You know it makes sense

[Vytalis]

OT: but does he also put LS engines in land rovers or range rovers?

[J4CKO]

14 grand to put a V8 in a 3 series ?

Seems a bit steep, surely there are millions of unwanted V8 engines out there sat in crashed or cheap running Lexus LS series, other BMW's and loads of other cars ?

Most run 300 bhp, so you are only a supercharger away from 400 bhp.

[FreeLitres]

Does it have to be a LS V8?

Why not an exec saloon like E55 AMG, Supercharged 4.2 XJR, etc?

[Fatboy]

FreeLitres said:

Does it have to be a LS V8?

Why not an exec saloon like E55 AMG, Supercharged 4.2 XJR, etc?

Quite a bit over the OPs 1400 kg weight limit...

[PaulFontaine]

It starts getting a little "dodgey" to use british slang when you start performing engine and gearbox transfers. Yes it is possible but then the weight balance, structures capability to deal with the power etc etc and a host of other issues can possibly pop up. Why not just buy a vette? I disagree highly with the fact that you feel that vettes cannot handle. I would urge you to drive a C5 and reconsider. I assume the weight has more to do with power ratio remember if you feel that a car doesn't have adequate power , especially a V8 you can always increase it rather easily. TVR's and M series BMW's seem to fit your criteria. I also would say you are pretty off base on your assessment of the Mustang as well I am sure the Laguna Seca version is out of your price range however the standard 5.0 GT should easily meet if not exceed your criteria all your criteria but may be slightly more than your finances allow. I think you have to perhaps open yourself up to being a little more flexible and realistic in your criteria or increase your budget.

[V88Dicky]

You could take the massive lardy electric seats out of a Monaro and install some lightweight Sparco or Cobra style seats. That should drop it below 1400 kg