M3 anybody know this car

[Corasdad]

Saw this at a car show is the owner on her

[fixedwheelnut]

https://www.instagram.com/karlandrew.jackson/

[martauto]

Looks great and a lot of effort and work has gone into this but sadly not an M3.
Look at the steering wheel .

Mart.

[Corasdad]

He told me it's got an m54 supercharged engine in it must be quite a handfull

[flybynite]

it must be quite a handfull

I don't think you are wrong, for me (apart from the willy-waving) I can't see the point in having more than 200-250bhp in an E30, the chassis just can't handle it, you only need to look at the problems the Z3M had.

Any engine change for me is to have something lighter and make it drive better but I guess I'm getting to that age

[Corasdad]

I want about 200bhp, but everytime I start reading about engine conversions I get confused about what's best

[flybynite]

I want about 200bhp, but everytime I start reading about engine conversions I get confused about what's best

Yes it can be confusing especially in the E30 crowd, you ask 10 people and you will get 13 opinions. Everything has been done and each thing has its fanboys

IMHO there are 2 ways to go, build one of the original engines or swap a different one. I'm doing both.

I am building an M20 but that is not cheap, it will have about 210 when finished and all done correctly irrespective of cost. Not worth it in itself but I have had the car over 30 years and it is to me. My other one is getting an M54B30

Before ULEZ you used to be able to get 330i for about £1k (about what I spent on M20 pistons ) engines are still reasonable. That gives you 230bhp and is a light engine and well trodden swap. M52 may be a bit easier but bits are getting harder to get now.

Two other engines I would do that would get to that power but not as easy/cheap as above. M40/42/44 Eaton supercharged or an old skool M10 Turbo. Both light with good weight balalce

[Corasdad]

Forgive my ignorance why does the ulez effect the 330i sales.
My car is an auto which I think makes the engine swap harder, I need a cost effect way of doing an engine conversion and needs to be budget friendly, I am will to have ago at fitting it but it needs to be a simple job as mechanics is all new to me

[flybynite]

Forgive my ignorance why does the ulez effect the 330i sales.
My car is an auto which I think makes the engine swap harder, I need a cost effect way of doing an engine conversion and needs to be budget friendly, I am will to have ago at fitting it but it needs to be a simple job as mechanics is all new to me

The E46 is ULEZ compliant, it is one of the few old 'classic' cars that is. A few blogs/magazines/websites have listed it as one of the top fun drivers ULEZ compliant cars so prices have gone up markedly in last few years It has kept the covid-bump most second hand cars had and lost because of the ULEZ compliance.

An Auto to Manual swap is possible and relatively simple if you can find the bits (but that is getting harder now). If you need to keep auto then that is more difficult because I don't think the 330i auto box will fit the E30 tunnel.

I forget, what engine is in it now?

[martauto]

I have a 2004 325 e46 so could that be ok for his "Tax" ?
I only ask as this is just the tip of the ice burg and it scares me a bit.
I travel six miles to work each day and travel through four different districts each of which are labour run and very poorly run finance wise.
What a cash cow this could be for them
Bradford has a clean air zone and is free for cars.........................for now !!
Mart.

[flybynite]

I have a 2004 325 e46 so could that be ok for his "Tax" ?

Should be, before 2006 and petrol. Put your reg into the ULEZ site to check

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/