Lotec M3 Turbo

[Rich_W]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/848961.htm £20K

I know nothing about this car. Anyone?

Seems like a poor advert though. I'd expect at least a pic of the engine bay.

EDIT:

Found some pics from the magazine article.

http://www.behindmatrix.com/e30/fotost/ ... f00155.htm

[a_kara]

very rare car

very fast car

[pony2]

Very interesting article, never heard of these. Bet it would take a bit of looking after.

[Rich_W]

I'm not sure I like the actual work thats been done though. T4 is a bit big for that car. There's apparently no Intercooler. I wonder what else has been missed. Primary thing would be can the fuel pump keep up?

[ShepsEvo3]

This depends on if it has low compression engine. But T4 is ok for a 2.3, I know of larger on 1300cc

The lack of intercooler though is asking for trouble, but if it doesn't have lower compression, low boost from a T4 would not create tooo hot a temperature. I wouldn't risk it though.

I done some intercooler testing on an Audi S3. Saw 192'C in and 55'c out! Still not cool enough

[fuzzy]

a t4's ok on a 2.0, laggy but used for higher power.

[e30_Turbo]

An effecient IC is a must, having gone from a interheater to the current intercooler there is night and day difference between them. Go big or go home!

With ambient a 8'c I've seen -11'c IAT's at the TB, now that's cool! LOL

[magpie]

a nice stable that.i spy a lotus sunbeam in pic 1 of piston heads.

[Rich_W]

This depends on if it has low compression engine. But T4 is ok for a 2.3, I know of larger on 1300cc

RX7 doesnt count

If the car was going for big power then fine. But a T35 (or even T3) would be better idea surely. He's only running 350bhp. Stage 3 Cossie will be around that and won't need a T4.

[fuzzy]

a t34 would be ideal for 350bhp.a t3 would be to small for that. t4's are 500+ usually.

[ShepsEvo3]

This depends on if it has low compression engine. But T4 is ok for a 2.3, I know of larger on 1300cc

RX7 doesnt count

RX7? Try Swift GTi

[harry_p]

i'd guess it's setup for a gradual spool and not all that much boost and a decent topend. always wondered what a nice subtle low blow turbo'd m3 would feel like. a more muscular midrange up without narrowing the powerband would be fantastic, but i wouldnt want to turn it into a nothing ...nothing .... nothing ... 300bhp type engine.

didnt the old metro turbos use a T3 on their 1275cc lumps running about 5psi max to give a gradual building power and keep it driveable without blowing the gearbox apart.

[ShepsEvo3]

didnt the old metro turbos use a T3 on their 1275cc lumps running about 5psi max to give a gradual building power and keep it driveable without blowing the gearbox apart.

Those were the days Pull the wastgate pipe off and you'd have something really special untill you hit 3rd gear

[steve_k]

very nice looking car but it would be totaly useless round my way because of all the twisty back roads but it would be a hell of a lot of fun on some of the long straights out near lincoln

i'm sure there was a black lotec m3 turbo with acs type 1's in performance bmw mag last year (correct me if i'm wrong)

but either way it would be nice to have such a car & take it to germany to see what it could do on the autobahns

[ShakeyC]

Reading that link its got stupidly long ratio gearbox which makes 28mph per 1000rpm with theoretical top speed of 195mph with 336bhp