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Old 03-25-2019, 04:37 PM   #11
Jeff_DML
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so which one is your favorite? And considering if they were all stock?
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Old 03-25-2019, 04:42 PM   #12
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so which one is your favorite? And considering if they were all stock?
The E36. The E46 is on its way out. The E90 is a minimum usable sedan solution. The E30 needs a better engine than the S50US that I threw in to get it driving.

All stock, I think that I would still like the E36 best. Even if the US drivetrain is a bit low rent, it just feels so nice.

It is interesting how much closer the E46 feels to the E36 now that I have the E90, though. If the E46 had a cable throttle, I’d probably have a much higher opinion of it. (Note, however, that the E46 requires a tune for drivability. The stock tune sucks for responsiveness.)

All that said, it’s hard to understate just how much I enjoy driving the E30 325is around. If I had to pick three cars ( ), I’d probably pick the 325is over the E30 M3 just because it’s so much more usable. This opinion is subject to review if and when I ever get the S14 rebuilt.
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Old 03-25-2019, 04:57 PM   #13
Jeff_DML
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nice, thanks for the quick review

I have mentioned it before but yeah I prefered my E36 over my E90. I am interested in getting a e46 if my perfect spec fell into my lap.
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Old 03-28-2019, 11:13 AM   #14
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Some inspiration for what to do with the white E30?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-m3-72/
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Old 03-28-2019, 11:58 AM   #15
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Some inspiration for what to do with the white E30?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-m3-72/
Still kicking myself for not driving to Chicago to buy the parts M3 with good S14 for $3,500 that I was offered. Just did not have time. (This was a while ago.)

I have a relative with a wrecked M3 that I’ve been trying to talk into lending me the S14 out of, but he keeps saying that he’s going to fix it next year. (For something like the last five years.)
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Old 03-28-2019, 12:16 PM   #16
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Still kicking myself for not driving to Chicago to buy the parts M3 with good S14 for $3,500 that I was offered. Just did not have time. (This was a while ago.)

I have a relative with a wrecked M3 that I’ve been trying to talk into lending me the S14 out of, but he keeps saying that he’s going to fix it next year. (For something like the last five years.)
Is the engine from the one that you've got that bad?
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Old 03-28-2019, 02:05 PM   #17
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Some inspiration for what to do with the white E30?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-m3-72/
Nick will probably disagree about the engine but that thing looks about perfect and seems to have the ideal mods. I would put the orange reflectors back in, too monotone looking.
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Old 03-28-2019, 02:09 PM   #18
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btw, did they off sunroof delete on e30 m3? I don't think I have seen one without one.
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Old 03-28-2019, 02:37 PM   #19
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Nick will probably disagree about the engine but that thing looks about perfect and seems to have the ideal mods. I would put the orange reflectors back in, too monotone looking.
I wouldn’t build the engine exactly that way - the consensus these days seems to be that a 2.7 is more durable (!), but I would happily take it.

And they did not offer non-sunroof M3s in the US. The only US slicktop available E30s were some very early cars, and the ‘91 318is. Unfortunately, that was also the time of aftermarket sunroofs, so a significant fraction of the (tiny) slicktop 318is population had a hole cut in the roof anyway.

They were available slicktop, and in a bunch of different variations in Europe.

My M3 was converted to slicktop when I restored it. The sunroof cartridge was rusting badly, and I wasn’t interested in welding a new one in.
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Old 03-29-2019, 07:53 AM   #20
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Tremendous thread. Thank you, Nick.

I drove past an e90 m3 the other day and that’s still my move favorite M car because of the engine.

But for driving it would always be the e36 for me. It had just enough power to get into trouble.
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