Anyone dailying an M30?

[JdmFanBoy]

Just bought a 4 door 316 and looking at doing an M30 swap for mad skidzzzz. Its also gonna be my daily run about so just wondering what it'll be like? what sort of problems have people had and what sort of MPG am I likely to see?

[leeparkes]

M30'd E30's make brilliant dailys if you can cope with low 20MPG,
They have a huge torque curve which is great for lazy daily driving, ie pulling off in second with ease then straight to forth.
Reliable lumps too..

[mcbonio]

Yeah I'm using my m30 3.5 as a daily, well I say daily I work 2 days at home 3 days in a studio. So there are occasional days I don't go out. They love a drink they do, but I get the same return as my 325i auto around 20mpg. All depends on how you drive it which if you convert you'll be driving like a looney for the first few weeks.

Great engines, bag loads of power you'll smoke most things on the road with the 3.5. Don't go for the 3.0 version as the power increase from a m20b25 isn't really worth it.

Mine is currently a pov spec 325i, bog standard trim, suspension, bottle cap wheels. People's faces are priceless when you open it up against their new Audis and the like. Utter WTF is up with that moments! Lol

Also if you are converting from a 316i you'll need to upgrade the brakes as the thing won't stop with those 316 brakes.

[Rav335uk]

I used the Cab for about 2 years as a daily, and as above, mpg is ok around town, better on the motorway, BUT it'll depend on the diff you end up using.
For drifting, I would say a 3.64/3.73.
3.91 will five you an un-usuable 1st gear.

[rob0r]

As above, great if you can live with the fuel

Insurance maybe an issue due to the jump in capacity. 1.6 or 1.8 to 3.5 might raise eyebrows of insurers, I know mine did from 2.0 to 3.5!

[zaust]

I used to use mine but have to use a co car now. Miss it terribly as a daily and used to get high 20s mpg and have a smile on every journey.

[JdmFanBoy]

Awesome thanks for the feedback chaps, I can deal with the MPG's but its always nice to have a rough idea. I'm trying to make a nice daily/drifter. I.e full interior and some comfort but with enough power to keep up with the S bodys/skylines. Seems an M30 has enough torque to carry the extra weight with ease

[rob0r]

Thats pretty much how my old touring was, except it wasn't that nice

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=204335

You can't go wrong. Even with the old 2.5 and full interior it was a capable drifter, with the 3.5 it was an animal!