Gus 5 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 (edited) well since there is so much going on at the moment (and always has been) about the merits and originality of the 325i motorsports floating around i thought i would try and shed some light on the dicussion. I am no encylopaedia, but am going off what i have seen, as opposed to what people have told me. The 325i Motorsport is known by many names in different countries. M325i in NZ, 325iM, 325i Motorsport here too. 325i Sport in the UK. Sweden M Paket? Sam help a foo out The Options that defined it as a Motorsport are as follows: 2 Door Body shell 5 Speed Manual LSD (3.64, 3.73, 3.91 mostly, NZ seemed to get 3.64 in NZ new cars) Sport Seats (a recaro copy, referred to as such however. have chunky side bolsters) Black Headliner (different material to the stock beige one, more of a matte finish and finer material) Shadowlined door/window trims (ie they were not chrome) 14.5mm rear sway (vs 12mm, helps reduce understeer) 15x7" Basketweave style wheels Common options that appeared on them (but not all) Tweeter side pods (behind the wing mirror) Map Light Mirror (the rear view mirror had map lights in them) Now they came in pre Facelift (Mtech 1) and facelifted (MTech 2) models. I will illustrate: MTech 1 is the top two pictures attached. Notice the more angular look, smaller lip wing. MTech 2 is the second two pictures attached. Notice the more rounded look and large wing. They tend to be slightly more expensive. For further clarification, Motorsports were NOT 4 door, automatic (not very sporting options) open diffed cars. They may have an M stuck on somewhere, but if a car is advertised as a Motorsport people are expecting the above options, and will be suprised when they dont see those options. Some people get wound up about this subject for some reason, at the end of the day there are some very nice e30s out there that are not motorsports and there is nothing wrong with that as the Motorsport is just a few option boxes ticked that make driving the e30 more fun. I have owned both an mtech 1 M325i and mtech 2 m325i and have built a 4 door 325i mtech 2. All different cars yet pretty similar. I hope this helps the discussion, its getting a bit old to have endless threads about the same subject. I welcome this thread being added too, however if you are going to add something that others may disagree, have some sort of evidence to back yourself up. And this does even count getting into the special edition debates! 325iS and 333i etc Over and Out from an e30 anorak Edited November 1, 2007 by The Gus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nic325i 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 Nice and concise. Am I right that the first Mtech 1 models came with 14x6.5" basketweaves? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 Damn,that tech 2 looks hot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jpp 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 Damn,that tech 2 looks hot. + 20,000. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yuen 16 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 Great post. Love how the E30 Motorsports look! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gus 5 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 (edited) Nice and concise. Am I right that the first Mtech 1 models came with 14x6.5" basketweaves? I wouldnt have thought so Nic, i imagine its more likely they got replaced at some point as they are cheaper and easier to find than 15's. sounds more plausible anyhow. Also, I have heard and see cars that are M325i Facelifts, with every option but the body kit. Thats a tough one, as i have seen the build sheet and its the same as a normal one, maybe just the option deleted? and about that tech2 , here you go fullas http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46884 its super tidy and some good photography and backgrounds. great combo! Edited November 1, 2007 by The Gus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 Great post. Love how the E30 Motorsports look!Anfd there in lies the rub....BMW are masters in adding a few subtle touches that make a "normal car" look a 100 times better..so every one jumps on the bandwagon and adds a badge spoiler ,bigger wheels etc and calls there car a "motorsport". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gus 5 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 agreed, a M325i aint that special, but is a nice looking car, and good combination of ownership such as cost of running, looks, handling, power etc BTW i would like anyone who has any questions/issues to raise them in here, as i am sick of having arguments about genuinicity and ruining FS threads Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1043 Report post Posted November 1, 2007 the mtech 1, m tech 2 and m3 all have there own look. I _really_ like look of all of them. They all have there own stance. and look the money in the rear vision mirror. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew 30 Report post Posted November 2, 2007 This thread will be locked if you go off-topic. It is worth to note it is different in any country. The cars we know here (325iS, M325, whatever you want to call them) are BMW made cars. Then there are the dealer optioned cars (you could spec every Motorsport option, even the black headliner) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30Conman 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2009 333i, now there's a memory! One center air vent made way for an oil temp gauge! My neighbour had a black one, choice was air con or power steering! 1st was down bottom left and he clutch needed a mule's hind leg! 145kw then was the business though she went like stink. Somewhere I have an old Car SA roadtest that I could scan if you're interested? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted September 3, 2009 Wow, this has to be some kind of record Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drifty325i 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2009 Wow, this has to be some kind of record +1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SIR E30 68 Report post Posted September 3, 2009 Justin my friend, this is what we call a thread dig. Notice how old the post above yours is? Noobie error Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ED1RTY 2 Report post Posted September 3, 2009 Its still stickied so sits at the top of the page.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted January 1, 2010 What do you call a 4door MT2 LSD 5Speed Manual etc etc etc everything listed above just 4 doors? is that not a Motorsport? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted January 1, 2010 What do you call a 4door MT2 LSD 5Speed Manual etc etc etc everything listed above just 4 doors? is that not a Motorsport?I'd call it what it is, a replica. Hasn't this all been talked about to death before over and over again? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30ftw 410 Report post Posted January 1, 2010 I think he means a 4door with all the motorsport stuff, but it aint a motorsport.. Just a option ticked 325i? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted January 2, 2010 I'd call it what it is, a replica. Hasn't this all been talked about to death before over and over again? This is the first place that i have seen "2 door" as a prerequisite to being a motorsport thats why i was asking I think he means a 4door with all the motorsport stuff, but it aint a motorsport.. Just a option ticked 325i? Yeah. Authentic factory unmodified 4 doors with all the M-Tech stuff, MT2, LSD, 2.5L Manual, Sport Suspension, Sport interior etc etc etc... I wasnt even thought of when E30s were being produced so i dont know what the options list looks like Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HELLBM 1552 Report post Posted January 2, 2010 In NZ (i.e NZ new) we have M325`s only in 2 door. In 1990 there was a no. of 325ise`s in 4 door. These were Tech2 kitted. I own have owned many of them from all years. I`ve made plenty of replicas from M Sports I have dismantled but would never call one a M Sport. Just like calling replica Alpinas (19 spoke) Genuine Alpinas (20 Spoke). Call me a purist but that`s a big part of my passion for BMW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted January 2, 2010 In NZ (i.e NZ new) we have M325`s only in 2 door. In 1990 there was a no. of 325ise`s in 4 door. These were Tech2 kitted. I own have owned many of them from all years. I`ve made plenty of replicas from M Sports I have dismantled but would never call one a M Sport. Just like calling replica Alpinas (19 spoke) Genuine Alpinas (20 Spoke). Call me a purist but that`s a big part of my passion for BMW. That must be the car that i got all my motorsport stuff off then. thanks for clearing that up, i did wonder! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sutherr 0 Report post Posted January 5, 2010 Thats confirmed for me that I have an MTech11 kit on my E30. I was never sure but there were few around when I got it. It seems the main difference is the side panels above the sills up the doors and rocker panels which give the car a wider stance overall. See the attached pic of mine taken a few years back when I regularly used it on Dunlop Targa NZ. I'm on the drivers side. The car is an English import and we suspect it was converted in England before import. It has all the specs mentioned except a 3 spoke steering wheel, I now have one to swap! Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sutherr 0 Report post Posted January 17, 2010 (edited) additional pics of same car without the dudes and stickers... easier to see the shape is more "square" both side on and from front/rear. Please resize your photos and respost them.. thank you Edited January 17, 2010 by *Glenn* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beemwr 46 Report post Posted February 25, 2010 Motorsport and Mtech are chalk and cheese talk. M Series cars are the Motorsport cars created and produced separately by the Motorsport Division own workshop and factory. (Since 1972, by the elite for competition purposes). Mtech cars are/were made in various places with varied enhanced specs as decided for marketing. A car with Mtech gear fitted is not a motorsport produced car. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
btccm3 1 Report post Posted July 4, 2010 tech 1 with a tech 2 fnt bumper ftw. deap side skirts with the more agressive bumper..... i miss my e30... sigh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites