Newbie wanting info on 335 or turbo 325 etc...HELP!

[dannynewport]

Im going to buy a 1986 e30 325 2 door after xmas just for a project to track. Im also looking to go for a bit more power so Im thinking of an M30 535/735/635 lump conversion or maybe a turbo conversion depending on bhp increases and the main thing cost as Im hoping to do it as cheap as possible. Ive found a few people on here and elsewhere that have done the same conversions but they all seem to have different views and ideas on these swaps,can anyone please tell me exactly what I would need for both conversions or what would be the best one to opt for??

Any help will be muchly appreciated.
Cheers,
Danny

[E30Mark]

There is no 'one' answer

It will come down to

How much work your willing / able to do yourself
How much knowledge you have / or are willing to learn
How big your budget is - obviously!

The words cheap & power don't mix very well.

[AndyTouring]

A turbo will push costs up significantly as will any tuning involving camshafts, modified heads etc. Therefore the cheapest way forward is to get the most powerful standard engine in the first place.

However, the first question is, why do you think you need "a bit more power"? The 325 already has more than enough power for its chassis & brakes. Adding more power won't help.

You need to be thinking of suspension tuning & brake upgrades (which of course aren't cheap) before you add more power. The car will handle better & let you learn how to get the most from it before progressing further.

Track days are notoriously hard on brakes so you'll need to budget for quite a few replacement parts.

[12345kevin]

A turbo will push costs up significantly as will any tuning involving camshafts, modified heads etc. Therefore the cheapest way forward is to get the most powerful standard engine in the first place.

However, the first question is, why do you think you need "a bit more power"? The 325 already has more than enough power for its chassis & brakes. Adding more power won't help.

You need to be thinking of suspension tuning & brake upgrades (which of course aren't cheap) before you add more power. The car will handle better & let you learn how to get the most from it before progressing further.

Track days are notoriously hard on brakes so you'll need to budget for quite a few replacement parts.

Agreed, I would buy a decent 325 and then get all the suspension and brakes up to spec before contemplating an increase in power.

[Turbo-Brown]

The 325 already has more than enough power for its chassis & brakes.

BAH! you can never have too much power!

[Ant]

^ you can Alex, fowlers white touring has too much power.

check the times in PBMW, slippery when wet !

re the post, Toby has put enough info on his M30 Turbo to replicate it easily enough, same for the various M20 T's out there.

put a power target up, then a budget and go from there

Welcome BTW

[dannynewport]

The 325 I am planning to buy already has bilsteins allround,LSD and the brakes are uprated.Ive had a 325i before and I know how well they go but I want it to be quick as my everyday e46 M3 is in a totally different league obviously so just want more.

[dannynewport]

BAH! you can never have too much power!

[AndyTouring]

I want it to be quick as my everyday e46 M3

Better off buying an E36 M3 then.

[dannynewport]

I know how well they go but I want it to be quick,as my everyday e46 M3 is in a totally different league obviously so just want more.

Too expensive mate,I mean that my M3 is totally different in performance so I dont want anything such as a standard 325i performance.

[AndyTouring]

They are available for under £5k now. By the time you've fettled a 325 E30 & turbo'd it (or fitted an M engine) you won't be far off that.

The E30 will never match the E36 for handling & you'll have to go some to get near 286bhp let alone 321bhp.

However, if it's the spanner challenge you're after then I'd look at an M60/62 V8 as it's lighter than the M30, shorter & more powerful.Even the 3.0 litre isn't bad with 218bhp.

[Turbo-Brown]

I pulled a good two car lengths out of an E46 M3 with just 270bhp in Brown. The chappy did not look happy

This was all in gear acceleration for me (40-70) but Brown covered himself in glory that day