M3 Owners.

[GermanGorilla]

No, Gorilla is fine.

E30 M3 true M3.

E30 'M3' Convertible is really just a standard e30 Convertible shell, that BMW slapped two arched quarter panels and two arched front wings on.

Then they used the S14 engine and box, M3 running gear, and thats about it.

The Coupe was designed for Structural stiffness, hence the main screens are bonded in and the rear 'C' pillars were stiffened up to act with the structual rear quarter panels to spread the load over the car.

The actual specs to the chassis and way the shells were welded was nothing like an e30 Coupe shell, hence why the M3 Coupe is still regarded as a fantastic drivers car, and the most successful touring car of all time.

If you take a standard E30 Convertible, change the rear quarter panels, change the front wings, source a couple of side skirts, I believe the Cab ones are different, bumpers, and put M3 running gear in it with S14 Engine and box, you E30 would now be a 'M3 Cab' and if done correctly, identical.

BMW just used standard e30 Convertible shells, stuck the wider arches on, which were purley cosmetic on the convertible, and created a fantastic way of making customers pay way over the odds for a standard convertible, with a body kit.

Sure the engine is a gem, but it shines so much better in the real M3.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Jimb]

No, Gorilla is fine.

E30 M3 true M3.

E30 'M3' Convertible is really just a standard e30 Convertible shell, that BMW slapped two arched quarter panels and two arched front wings on.

Then they used the S14 engine and box, M3 running gear, and thats about it.
...etc...



Sure the engine is a gem, but it shines so much better in the real M3.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

Hi Gorilla,
ALL upgrades that went into the tintops also went into the Cabs...except of course the slanted back window.
Only on the track is this difference noticeable.
I also have a 325ic and the M3Cab is sooooo much better. However there is no noticeable difference betweent the M3 tintop and the M3Cab on the street or highway driving.
Cheers,
Jim

[GermanGorilla]

Hi Jim,

The 'A' pillars on the Coupe M3 are totally different that the 'A' pillars on the 'M 3 Cab'.

Not only is the rake of the screen different, but the cab is a 'beaded' rubber type screen which offers no structural rigidity what so ever.

This is a throw back to using the E30 convertible shell for the 'M3 Cab'

If you put the same running gear, drive train and engine/box in your 325Ci as you have on your 'M3 Cab' then apart from the cosmetics they would drive and handle the same. Apart from the arches, they would be identical.

As i said, I have nothing against the 'M3' Cab, and in Germany its value is far greater that the Coupe, and rising.
But if you want the real M3, there is only one, and its the Coupe.

Enough said,

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[gazm3]

Sounds very plausable, I believe you.

One things for sure I wouldn't buy an M3 Cab if I had a 325i Cab.

Cheers Gareth

[Lordschleife]

Well whether or not they have all the bits on the cab is probably irrelevant, a cab is never going to handle as well, but then you don't buy a cab for that do you?

If I was going to buy a cab, i'd just get a 325i
However there is a case for buying an m3 cab - you're getting a rare car that will hold its value and was hand built.