E30 Zone

Does it matter which model of e30 is the doner car if you're getting aftermarket suspension and brakes?
I ask because I had a phone conversation with a chap at fritz bitz and he was adamant that the only car worth starting off with was the 325i and prefferably the sport model.
Is there anything other than the engine/brakes and suspension that would make the change really difficult going with, for instance a 316 as the doner and an S50 engine?

Who did you speak to at Fritz?

The only mechanical things a Sport differs from any other 325i is the gearbox and LSD (which could be ordered from new anyway on a non Sport). Both of these will be replaced when fitting an S50, so theres little to no point in buying Sport for that reason. The Mtech suspension is all well and good, but it will most likely need renewing after 20 odd years, so getting a non Mtech car and upgrading the suspension is just as easy/cheap.

A 325i (or any touring, 316i-325i) would be a good base car, as it will have the larger 51mm front struts and rear discs, all of which will need renewing/upgrading for the extra weight/power of the engine, so theres no real reason to pay the extra 'Sport tax' when a basic 325i will do.

If you start with a 316i for instance (as some on here have), you will need to source the bigger front struts and rear disc conversion, but then a clean 316i will most likely be cheaper than a tarted up Sport with rot issues.

The most important thing is the condition of the body regardless of what engine it started life with, all other bits can be swapped/upgraded.

Have a search for Jhonno's S50 conversion - that started life as a 316i and is one of my favourite cars on here, but dont tell him I said that

Didn't get the chaps name jmc330i. He sounded knowledgable enough and said that there have been a lot of e30/s50/52 engine swaps at done at FB. He was more talking with regard to doing a professional job I guess. I'm not blasting him or anything. I just thought that with everything that was said i wasn't convinced that I had to get a 325i sport because a) I've read on here that people have used other cars b) as you've confirmed, i'd need to change a lot of things in order to cope with the extra power anyways.

Most people on here would beg you NOT to rape a Sport...

"A 325i (or any touring, 316i-325i) would be a good base car, as it will have the larger 51mm front struts and rear discs, all of which will need renewing/upgrading for the extra weight/power of the engine, so theres no real reason to pay the extra 'Sport tax' when a basic 325i will do. "

Does the 318is fall into this category as well. I mentioned to the guy that this could be a good base car but he said not to bastardise them as they're so few left.

johnscales wrote:b) as you've confirmed, i'd need to change a lot of things in order to cope with the extra power anyways.

Im still running mine on the standard Mtech suspension. It needs uprating. Its ok, but needs stiffer shocks to cope really.

When Im finally done, the only things left of the original car will be the interior and body kit, no other Mtech2 bits are left, so I dont see the point in paying the premium Sports have today, just to remove the bits that make it a Sport. - Ive had mine nearly 10 years now, so I didnt mind converting it.

johnscales wrote:Didn't get the chaps name jmc330i. He sounded knowledgable enough and said that there have been a lot of e30/s50/52 engine swaps at done at FB. He was more talking with regard to doing a professional job I guess. I'm not blasting him or anything.

No, they are all good guys down there, helped me out no end with various E30 issues.
Sounds like you spoke to Rich maybe, I dont think Dave would care what car its is
I reckon he meant from an ease point of view - if you buy a 325i (or other with 51mm struts, rear discs etc), then its less to swap and less hassle. But most of it will need upgrading anyway, so to me it wouldnt matter what the car started out as. Front struts are easy enough to come by as are rear arms with discs.

johnscales wrote: Does the 318is fall into this category as well. I mentioned to the guy that this could be a good base car but he said not to bastardise them as they're so few left.

Yeah, pretty much the same as a 325i, but with different springs and shocks for the 4cyl, still 51mm IIRC.

Its the same argument as with the Sport - some people will hate you for converting a Sport/318iS, but if you paid your money for it, its down to you.

Personally Id go on body condition first, its easier and cheaper to fix/replace mechanicals than it is to sort bodywork to a good standard.

I know of a pretty good shell in lachssilver for sale soon with the right bit removed ready to accept an S50. All you would need is front legs, front cross member, rear subframe and trailing arms with brakes.