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Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:47 pm
by 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
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:03 am
by a_kara
very rare car
very fast car
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:15 am
by pony2
Very interesting article, never heard of these. Bet it would take a bit of looking after.
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:35 pm
by 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?
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:42 pm
by 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

Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:44 pm
by fuzzy
a t4's ok on a 2.0, laggy but used for higher power.
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:53 pm
by 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
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:58 pm
by magpie
a nice stable that.i spy a lotus sunbeam in pic 1 of piston heads.

Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:29 pm
by Rich_W
ShepsEvo3 wrote: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.
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:31 pm
by fuzzy
a t34 would be ideal for 350bhp.a t3 would be to small for that. t4's are 500+ usually.
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:32 pm
by ShepsEvo3
Rich_W wrote:ShepsEvo3 wrote: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

Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:37 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:39 pm
by ShepsEvo3
harry_p wrote: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

Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:58 am
by 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
Re: Lotec M3 Turbo
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:43 pm
by ShakeyC
Reading that link its got stupidly long ratio gearbox which makes 28mph per 1000rpm with theoretical top speed of 195mph with 336bhp
