Why do people pick the E30 M3 to do an engine swap?

[Alpina]

As i am NOT an owner of E30 M3,, but i think i would NEVER sacrifice an M3 with a 6/8/10/12 cyl swap ,,

as i have just driven 2 M3 .. one oem .. Europameister,, it surpriced me how fast it is
I know it is not a thundering blinding fast car ,, but enough,, and a sport-evo with 238 ponies must be fair enough

and the other RNGTOY,, one of the most changed E30 M3 EVER ,, and really powerfull

No i would like to keep my M3 oem

there are enough e30 out there that can be converted with what ever engine you want to put in to the car

I have one and like it A LOT

[mpire]

The problem is the E30 looks severely dated, while the M3 Fenders and rear aerodynamics makes it look different enough that people still like it.

While I am sure we can argue our personal preferences on the motors, the reality is the S14 is a notoriously expensive motor to keep running. If people want to put a different motor in their car, then who cares. At least they are keeping the car on the road.

[Steve88M3]

While I am sure we can argue our personal preferences on the motors, the reality is the S14 is a notoriously expensive motor to keep running.

That's a myth.

[Alpina]

That's a myth.

I will agree with that comment,,

a young fellow i know owns 2 S14 and have been voted a 2 in a row drifking here in Iceland ,, and he was hammering the engine all day long flat-out ,,

just bullitproof :blues:

I think the S14 is in the same league as M30+S38 in reliabuility

[mpire]

Funny, I don't know anyone with an S14 that hasn't rebuilt it at one point or another.

[Steve88M3]

Funny, I don't know anyone with an S14 that hasn't rebuilt it at one point or another.

That's because most S14s are old...old stuff breaks.

There is nothing inherently unreliable or hard to maintain on this engine.

[mpire]

If you say so.

[Carfantiti]

Warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spell and write like crap so do best to understand .

I don't really understand the swap on this car either?
The beauty of this car is its legendary history.
The Handling,the looks,the feel and the amazing sound the 4 cylinder makes.

Just go to Utube and watch the DTM and rally races.
The s14 engine can give all the horse power this car needs and sound amazing doing it.

BMW isn't all about striate line drag racing acceleration.
I just sold my e36 m3 supercharged 360 hp and kept the e30 m3 over it.
I also have owned a 475 rwhp camaro.
I feel that most people can put the gas pedal to the floor of the car.
It is more about deep pockets to go fast.
The rally race ,auto cross and twisties take more skill than HP.
The speed game is never ending and you just will never be fast enough.

The e30 M3 is not a cheap car to own or maintain.
If you want 0 to 60 and quarter mile BMW really isn't the best car for the $.
There is a really large list of reasons why you should not do a swap .
the list why to do the swap is really small .
why by the e30 m3 than swap the engine?
you cant say the fact it is a e30 m3 has nothing to do with it.
What I mean is all the components of the car together as a whole.
when you take away a major component such as the engine you really are taking away from the car not enhancing it.
If you can't afford to rebuild the engine or enhance it to the level wanted than you should be left with some choices.
1.wait till you have the money
2.sell the car to some one who has the money
3.buy a different car that is cheap to make go fast in a striate line.
Thanks good luck , peace and respect .

[mpire]

While I might not advocate swapping out a running motor, I don't have any problems with someone else swapping out a non-running motor.

The less cars there are, the more the surviving originals are worth.

[evommm]

plain and simple a swapped engine M3 is not an "ORIGINAL" M3 and they as most special cars are original only once!
how many 60's or 70's Ferraris have their engines swapped for something its not
the auction/market will tell which side will be right or wrong
i say enjoy it as it is and get something newer to screw with
Mike

[Larsen-Racing]

All I can say, is that if you think the S14 belongs in the E30M3 chassis, you have not driven a proper swaped car!

**putting his finger in his ears and closes the eyes**

[Carfantiti]

All I can say, is that if you think the S14 belongs in the E30M3 chassis, you have not driven a proper swaped car!

**putting his finger in his ears and closes the eyes**

lol
I been in a s50 swapped e30 325i.
I really wasn't that impressed.
I think my stock engine in my super eta that
I stroked by putting the 325i top end is pretty close in acceleration.
I know my supercharged e36 was faster.

[francis]

Unless you have a very, very low milage COMPLETELY stock mint E30 M3 you do not have anything special. No way can you compare these to Ferraris in terms of value. With that said they are great cars and have there place in rennsport history. What is funny is people change or modify suspension, S14 engines, interior, brakes, why the absolute critical view when it comes to the engine swap, at least it is oem parts.

[Larsen-Racing]

lol
I been in a s50 swapped e30 325i.
I really wasn't that impressed.
I think my stock engine in my super eta that
I stroked by putting the 325i top end is pretty close in acceleration.
I know my supercharged e36 was faster.

Well, as I said, PROPER swaped car...
S50B32 E30M3 is fast, talking about 0-100km/h in 4.8sec.

[jibbajabba]

For my S38 swap, I'm keeping the S14...slowly doing a 2.5 which I've acquired all of the parts for already and I'm not modifying anything (other then the air box bracket) that I can't drop the original S14 right back into it. If your going to swap, keep the original equipment. That's the only way to do it.