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Sept 5, 2013 18:52:42 GMT
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Sorry to ask questions about a car which is such a well known staple of the retro scene, but I'm not too familiar with BMW's in general. E30's have been on my hit list for nearly 10 years and curiosity is starting to get the better of me. I don't want a standard one though. I require many, many torques. I want it to be quicker than my Cosworth Capri but hopefully not handle so terrifyingly. I want it to look standard though. I'm thinking an early model, chrome bumpers, in a nice goldy beige colour. Maybe even a 'grandads taxi' sign in the rear window. Lots of those around! The cheapest ones to buy seem to be early model automatics which is fine if I'm planning to set about it with some extra cylinders. That's where my questions start. If you want to build a quick road car (i.e. occasional track use, not stripped out racer) does it matter which model you start with? Is there any differences to the shells? Is there a right or wrong model to start with? I'm also torn on engine choice. There's a few lads from Teesside who get to the drift days running V8's and there's the Gamma V8 from a few years ago. They sound utterly, pant wettingly amazing and are no doubt super quick. But when I think E30 I think light and agile and does the big V8 not ruin this a bit? Better to go with 4 or 6 cylinders and keep the weight down? Any tips or links regarding sorted E30's are very welcome. Sorry to ramble, but please give me some tasty info to supply tomorrows daydream material.       |
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dave80
Part of things
Posts: 408
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Sept 5, 2013 19:16:43 GMT
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e36 m3 engine?sure it would go in and would be silly quick in a e30 surely...
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sierra 1.6 ghia
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Joe T
Part of things
Posts: 711
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Sept 5, 2013 19:21:56 GMT
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I believe Paragon in Northampton put a 3.5 in an e30 m3 for Jethro Bovingdon. Not exactly sure which 3.5 it was though.
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Sept 5, 2013 19:24:36 GMT
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e36 m3 engine?sure it would go in and would be silly quick in a e30 surely... I thought about this but my previous enquiries into E36's put me off. Too many mixed reviews and bad experiences. I'm willing to be swayed either way though if anyone has the evidence. |
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dave80
Part of things
Posts: 408
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Sept 5, 2013 19:36:21 GMT
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unless you could squeeze an lsv8 in...
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sierra 1.6 ghia
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Sept 5, 2013 19:40:11 GMT
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isn't there a company that stuffs the BMW V8's into E30's?
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Sept 5, 2013 20:04:47 GMT
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M60 4l v8 from a 540i is a common swap, standard bodywork, 5 stud m3/e36 compact conversion with some 16x8 bbs mesh wheels from an 8 series and some coilovers. Standard bodywork and a tissue box on the parcel shelf. Sorted. No, it doesn't matter about what model you get. The only real difference is the front struts being narrower for 4cyl cars, and pov spec ones having drums on the rear. But all that would be changed anyway if you're dropping a whopping engine into it!! Sounds fun though!  |
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786 
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Sept 5, 2013 20:08:45 GMT
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Quite a few V8 E30's about. I'm sure someone on here knows more about it.
My limited 'knowledge' leads me to believe that the automatic versions ahve a larger transmission tunnel, which would help, but the lack of third pedal brings about it's own issues. (Unless you're staying spazmatic)
Edit: See ^^^^^ told you someone would be along!
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Last Edit: Sept 5, 2013 20:09:57 GMT by MrSpeedy: for being too slow at typing
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Sept 5, 2013 20:13:06 GMT
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A well built V8 powered E30 would likely handle better than a standard 6 cylinder one. The BMW 6 pots are big heavy engines, and due to the V design, a V8 tends to be lighter per cylinder. Think of a V8 as 1 1/2 4 pots, there's only 4 cylinders worth of block and crank, just twice the amount of head/pistons/rods. (The weight of the pistons and rods is negligible compared to the block and crank with iron production engines), where as with an inline 6 you've got basically just half the engine stuck on the front. Plus the weight of a V8 is lower down and further back (if installed sensibly) so you've got better balance.
Personally, I'd love to see a 318is with some weight removed and a turbo added, I think it'd make a brilliant toy.
(Sorry I can't help with more e30 specific stuff, not too sure about the model differences.)
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Last Edit: Sept 5, 2013 20:14:58 GMT by RobinJI
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Sept 5, 2013 20:46:08 GMT
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Also the 4 litre V8 is all ally so its probably lighter than a 6. Its quite small once you get all the unnecessary curse word off it too! And it sounds better - just!
Steve
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Sept 5, 2013 20:46:33 GMT
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This
Apparently the 328 will run 300bhp plus on standard internals with a turbo
or this
A widearched E30 with a turboed 328 or v8 is my itch. Loads of conversion threads on E30 zone
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Sept 5, 2013 22:28:53 GMT
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V8 conversion is great but expensive and quite envolved. M52 2.8 is the most popular at the moment as you can buy the parts/ donor vehicle relativly cheap. I'm going to be putting an m30 3.5 in mine pretty soon (already have the donor will be swapping it over in the next few weeks)
The m30 is a good swap as its the most straight forward, have big torque and can be turbo'd up to 400bhp on stock internals (apparently). But engines/ box's are getting abit difficult to get hold of compared to m52.
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Sept 5, 2013 22:40:57 GMT
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Personally, I'd love to see a 318is with some weight removed and a turbo added, I think it'd make a brilliant toy. If memory serves me correctly the M42 engine found in the e36 318is (maybe e30 to, not sure) can run a Supercharger quite happily from it's own ECU. 220bhp in a light car with a good chasis could be quite fun. |
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Sept 5, 2013 22:44:21 GMT
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Sept 5, 2013 22:53:28 GMT
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The 24v 6cyl engines from the e36 are a fairly easy swap, and they do go quite well, but nothing compares to a v8 e30. Weight wise the engine is no heavier, but it is a big job to to get the engine in the car, then a massive job to fit everything else under the bonnet. Most parts need to be custom made or altered, and the brake servo will give you nightmares! I've nearly finished mine after 3 months of head scratching, swearing, and welding. 330HP in a light weight e30 2 door is very fast.  |
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Last Edit: Sept 5, 2013 22:58:26 GMT by carat 3.6
1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp
1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon
1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered!
1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
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M50 with a big turbo, skogen racing style!
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ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,117
Club RR Member Number: 134
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I used to tread E30 waters years ago, and i think from memory the 6 pots will, as mentioned, have beefier brakes and struts as standard than a 4 banger, but a word of caution... those cheap 6 pots are in my experience always faaaaar rustier than the 4 pots. Must be systemic of the life and owners they have had, but worth considering. 325 sports came with LSD's too, and many breakers donated these to lesser models. Worth keeping an eye out for if you want to retain a standard rear axle.
I had a 8v e30 4 door much like the one you are thinking about. The wheelbase of a 4 door will make it a lot more tail stable than a similar 2 door, which would be quite snappy when running big power. Sounds like a good project, but i always have a twitch to go back to an E30, and even 4 door chrome bumper models seem to be fetching big moneys these days.
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sonus
Europe
Posts: 1,386
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Hartge H35-24 copy is what most build here in Norway as we can get them approved for road use. wp1016621.server-he.de/fotost/f01013/f01013.htmI'm hoping to do a similar conversion using the 3,2l E36 M3 engine (S50B32) as it has approx the same BHP as the H35-24. |
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Current
1968 TVR VIXEN S1 V8 Prototype
2004 TVR T350C
2017 BMW 340i
Previous
BMW 325d E91LCI - sold
Alfa Romeo GTV - sold
Citroen AX GT - at the breakers
Ford Puma 1.7 - sold
Volvo V50 2.0d - sold
MGB GT - wrecked by fire
MG ZT 1.8T - sold
VW E-golf Electric - sold
Mini Countryman 1.6D -sold
Land Rover Discovery TD5 - sold
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sonus
Europe
Posts: 1,386
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Hartge H35-24 copy is what most build here in Norway as we can get them approved for road use. wp1016621.server-he.de/fotost/f01013/f01013.htmI'm hoping to do a similar conversion using the 3,2l E36 M3 engine (S50B32) as it has approx the same BHP as the H35-24. |
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Current
1968 TVR VIXEN S1 V8 Prototype
2004 TVR T350C
2017 BMW 340i
Previous
BMW 325d E91LCI - sold
Alfa Romeo GTV - sold
Citroen AX GT - at the breakers
Ford Puma 1.7 - sold
Volvo V50 2.0d - sold
MGB GT - wrecked by fire
MG ZT 1.8T - sold
VW E-golf Electric - sold
Mini Countryman 1.6D -sold
Land Rover Discovery TD5 - sold
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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The wheelbase of a 4 door will make it a lot more tail stable than a similar 2 door, which would be quite snappy when running big power. There were no differences in wheelbase between the 2 and 4-door models.   |
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