e30 M3

[davpkav]

I bet if you had a wish list Rich, you could spend 10k in an instant??

I could easily!

Probably £2 to 3k on essentials, new front legs etc (last owner put Bilstein Coilovers on and I want it back to original), then a full leather interior, Shrick cams etc etc. and lastly a full respray.

Holy Cr*p!.....Where did my 10k go?

I've had mine for 8 years and started spending money, other than normal maintenance, started a year later.
I thought I'd done what I intended but I could go on forever.

Why would you want to go standard on shocks? They're rubbish, not that I'd want to go barmy with a group a set up but bilsteins with H&R springs and eibach arb is a great setup for the money.

Do you think I should stop driving myself mad trying to find some original legs and just get some new Bilsteins? I don't think the ones currently on are in great condition to be honest. And how much would the set-up you suggest cost (ish)?

[davpkav]

Sorry Falkster, I know you are not Teletext but you seem to know a great deal. So sorry for keep asking you questions

[Falkster]

I'm not one of these purists that have to have everything as it was when it left the factory but I wouldnt be happy with messy too much with the heritage. Everything I've done has been done after research. The bilsteins, H&R and eibach arb was something that was suggested by loads on the old BMWcc forum and s14.net. That setup costs pennies and turns heads when I pissed passed Kevin with his 2k suspension setup.
Don't go back to standard!!

[Falkster]

Sorry Falkster, I know you are not Teletext but you seem to know a great deal. So sorry for keep asking you questions

I know nothing. Rich, Harry and anyone on s14power know more than me.

[davpkav]

Thanks Falkster. I will speak to Sweep tomorrow when I take mine down for a few bits doing. MOT soon.

[M3Jim]

I'm not one of these purists that have to have everything as it was when it left the factory but I wouldnt be happy with messy too much with the heritage. Everything I've done has been done after research. The bilsteins, H&R and eibach arb was something that was suggested by loads on the old BMWcc forum and s14.net. That setup costs pennies and turns heads when I pissed passed Kevin with his 2k suspension setup.
Don't go back to standard!!

I have heard this is a good set up, when my edc finally packs up (yep it still works) i'll be going down this route! But I do love the edc it will be a sad day when it fails

I've been thinking about doing the alpha n before getting the box to spread the cost out a bit

[Falkster]

Thought about that one myself Jim but even split it'd two big buys. My wife is good but she's not that good. I would have another few jobs above that such as a few bushes on their way out and I want a bit of engine work done and my clutch release bearing needs replacing.

[M3Jim]

I started from the bottom and worked up. I've re built everything else so far so all that left is more power oh and paintwork! The two most expensive bits damn it!
Getting power out of these is soooo painful on the wallet! How much difference did the cams make? Quite noticeable?

[Falkster]

I started from the bottom and worked up. I've re built everything else so far so all that left is more power oh and paintwork! The two most expensive bits damn it!
Getting power out of these is soooo painful on the wallet! How much difference did the cams make? Quite noticeable?

I did a few things at the same time to notice it. 3.64/1, miltek now supersprint, cams and remap. Mine made 232 on the dyno and you can really tell the difference.
Depending what you do with the car I think I'd go for 2x schrick 284s instead of 276/284 cos the driving in slow traffic isn't as bad as I thought it would be. You do have to ring it's neck though.......it loves to scream.

[Rich_W]

Falkster. Oh yes, I've often wondered what I would do with it if I won the lottery. Sell it or spend a hill of cash on it. Probably flog it to be fair. People say to me "oh that's a good one" and it is better than probably 3/4s of the cars out there. But I know where there are lots of little pissy faults I should really sort. Nothing incredibly complex/terminal just finding time to sit down and spend on it to do the job properly.

I'd caution against the Alpha N with the airbox and consider Unichip Shep uses and is on Warren's car (fourmotion) Seems to be a better more adjustable system.

[harry_p]

mines on bilsteins and eibachs too, works brilliantly, lovely balance and can imagine you'd have to spend a lot on fancy stuff to improve it.

i've somehow managed not to be drawn into spending a fortune on mine, just the suspension, an exhaust, some shiny wheels and sportevo lookalike spoilers are enough to make it look and sound how i want it to without spoiling it.

obviously i'd love an airbox, cams, headwork etc etc, but as soon as you start playing you want to do more and more, and quickly spirals out of control, which is why i'm happy with a nice healthy standard lump which i can just get in and enjoy, even if it's not that fast by modern standards.

[M3Jim]

Thats a healthy output. I still haven't had mine put on a dyno, I'm sure that will the start of some serious spending in the quest for higher figures!!!
Well I already have a 3.64 although I recon 3.46 would be a bit better. And have the supersprint. Getting there!

[M3Jim]

Falkster. Oh yes, I've often wondered what I would do with it if I won the lottery. Sell it or spend a hill of cash on it. Probably flog it to be fair. People say to me "oh that's a good one" and it is better than probably 3/4s of the cars out there. But I know where there are lots of little pissy faults I should really sort. Nothing incredibly complex/terminal just finding time to sit down and spend on it to do the job properly.

I'd caution against the Alpha N with the airbox and consider Unichip Shep uses and is on Warren's car (fourmotion) Seems to be a better more adjustable system.

Do you know if the Unichip can be used with the carbon box?

If I won the lottery I'd just spend shit loads on mine, no way I'd sell it. I'd buy a evo sport to admire tho in my living room!!!

[Rich_W]

AFAIK Warren is running Unichip with the CF box.

Have a quick nose at

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... light=shep

[Falkster]

Unichip was the one I couldn't think of. Paul Shepperd gets some great results and they can be used with a carbon airbox.

[Falkster]

After last night I made a list of everything I think my car needs next and then the impatience leaps in!!! It's going to Metcalf Motorsport on Thursday, he's picking it up. Inspection 2, dizzy cap and rotar arm, rear sub frame bushes and clutch release bearing. Will the gearbox and diff oil be changed as part of an inspection 2? It's been a while since they were changed. Just ordered cap and arm from C3 and was suprised at the price, pretty good £90 for the pair!

[harry_p]

£90 a pair good for a rotor arm and cap for a 4pot motor?

good compared to bmw prices maybe, still 4x more than most other similar engines. it's 'just' a cap and arm

[Falkster]

You're right Harry, I thought it was cheaper than I expected.

[325isporttech1]

If you want an M3 with more power, have a look at this
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1537117.htm

[Rich_W]

£90 a pair good for a rotor arm and cap for a 4pot motor?

good compared to bmw prices maybe, still 4x more than most other similar engines. it's 'just' a cap and arm

And that's not the DTM spec one that I've got. (got the little centralising peg)That was £160 IIRC. Set of leads was £160 Rotor was £45 perhaps. I just figured I'd rather do the job once then every 2 years.

Over on S14, they have the Volvo part number which is the same!
http://www.s14.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5272

[harry_p]

mine had the non contact / pointy peg cap and arm replaced roughly 3 years ago, shortly before i bought it, with parts from bmw and a bill of around £200. i swapped to the c3 type this christmas as the old ones were totally shagged, don't let anyone pretend that either type will last forever.

although, doing only 200 miles a year they might

[Falkster]

That was the thread I was looking for rich.