E30-323ti

gggrrrrrrrr, level 16 password: MERTIN

W@nker! What do you mean "what is wrong with a cab' M3" It's got no roof, what more needs to be wrong!! There prolly isn't anything more pretentious than a M3 Convertable, "oh look at all my money, I bought a M3 convertable isn't it fab, Pitty I can drive for sh*t otherwise I'd be worried about what happens when it lands the wrong way up", not to mention the handling compromises, increased insurance costs. People buy them purely as a status (wank) symbol. I bet 99% of the people that own one would drive it like a 318 cab, what a waste of an awesome engine. Not really a fan of that ACS E46 M3, looks to fussy, slightly riced even. Gimme a plain black one with red leather, and thats it!!

What do you need doing?? I'm no auto elec, but I managed to wired everything on my car up OK.

1st, and the most horrific. Crusing to Wgtn airport in the mother in-laws mini cooper through central wgtn and I spot a Red E36 M3, then everything went downhill, 1. It is a convertable 2. A woman is driving it (yes, with the top down) 3. the clincer, as most will know E36 M3's have staggered wheel setups, 7.5" wide fronts & 8.5" wide rears, well this one had the 8.5"s on the front and 7.5"s on the rear on the passengers side, OMG!!! Thank god they didn't make them in auto (well SMG can run as an Auto I guess). 2nd, Pitty it wasn't a Coupe. Estorial (sp) blue M Roadster, mmmm, dish, mmmm

Yeah, you'd definitley want some cash, then you could get some nice wheels for it, rather than those bling bling things!!mmmm, alpinas, mmmm

1 small thanks Andy, only been waiting a year or so!!

Don't like it with chrome bumpers!!!

Did your water cooling system fail

The M5 wheels aren't a true 2pc wheel. They have a alloy "hub cap" that bolts onto the main wheel. A true 2pc wheel has a centre (spokes, usually cast or forged) and a rim (bit the tyre mounts to, usually a piece of spun alloy). The 2 halves are held together with high grade bolts. Same deal for a 3pc wheel except the rim has an inner & outer half, so you can have any offset & width you like. They are usually expensive and light weight.

2.0l Z3

Or, you could do it the cheap way. Cut the shaft between the ball and the linkage point, add in a little piece of Al and get it welded back together, you could even get the bit you chopped off stuck back on. MZ-3 25 11 2 228 384 My ETK doesn't cover the Z4's

If I were you I'd get them regardless. Easy enough to sell!!

You got it Gus, I didn't want to get too technical I'm sure if you got them, and decided not to use them you wouldn't have any trouble selling them to one of the E36 guys. I don't think the rears will fit though, only the fronts.

330's have 325x25mm discs & the calipers take the same pads as the E46 M3. You will need the discs ($125ea from BMW) and calipers (no one has any unless you know some thing??). You also need 17" wheels. I believe the 330 has a bigger MC so the pedal may feel a bit spongy in the compact. All bolts on though.

Kewl How come you didn't put bigger discs on the front?? Half the problem with E30 brakes!! I'd love to see some pic's of the rear coilovers & trailing arm mods. I am about to put them back in my E30, It won't be as low as before (was ~100mm) so hopefully the camber won't be too bad, was -3.5d on the rear and -2d on the front. I've given up on finding a LSD so a open 3.91 will prolly be going in temporarily.

Thanks Matt. Bad timing unfortunatley.

How many wreaked E36 M3's have you seen?? The 3.2l's have a large case diff, the rear subframe is quite different to fit the diff in (which bolts into it's own cradle), which means you need to use 3.2l axles, which means you need 3.2l hubs which are part of the suspension arms, and rear brakes. So basically a whole E36 3.2l M3 backend just to get a LSD.

Does it have kewl 4pots on the front Gus?? V.Tidy

only the 3.0l M3, not the 3.2l ones, unless you are up to swapping the whole rear subframe & suspension. If you have a look on the ETK the E36 has the same LSD as the E30. And probably just as hard to find!!!

Welcome SRBMW. Interesting mods you have done. What Wilwoods are you running?? Dynalites?? Size discs?? Stock Rears?? I'd be keen to see some pic's of what you have done to the trailing arms. I take it by "full coilovers" the rears are done too (not very common due to the shock tower being weak)?? I assume it is a medium case diff you have if it is from a E30 325, not a large case from a E23/24/28 (735, M635 or M5)?? Have you had any problems with CV joints failing?? I imagine it would have pretty short gearing with a 4.27?? I have a 3.46 and pulling 190kmh at the end of third is quite entertaining

Sounds good to me. although, in a real world situation (not racing etc...) I would want the front to behave the best it can, brake/turn to avoid a collision (esp. if it is wet!!), and I'd expect new tyres to provide this. With worn tyres on the rear it is just as easy to modify your driving style to compensate (which is not a solution in a race situation 'cause it usually costs you time!!) My $0.02 Jimocles Would that explain why I see your car outside Kaiwharawhara Beaurepairs quite often??And, can you do good deals on race rubber?? PM me, thanks.

This one.

OT: Maybe if the M3 is knackered and the 325 is worked!!! The 2.5l 6cyl is more likely to have the bottom end torque to surge ahead off the line where as the revvy 2.3l (or 2.5l) 4cyl will have the topend power to pull away once it is up and going.

No boot pics of the E30 with the rear coil overs then!! Some people, where are your priorities, obviously the boot of a E30 is far more appealing than a shitty alfa!!! Good Pic though!!

Sam (E34-535ti) and I made the spread sheet. Dam website won't let me upload the excel file!! Sorry folks Here is a screen shot for you Jonty, getrag 260 w/3.64:1 & 205/50 R15's And funnily enough you get the same speeds w/3.91:1 & 245/40 R17's Like mine!!!