Never been in an M3...

[texas2201]

it also depends on the track a well driven 318is will keep up with a lot "faster" cars around the Ring

[Dave_M3]

Don't say that now about the 318iS being faster than alot faster cars.
I know it's true, but some people that think the number of pistons they have will get upset
Even though we all know it's true

The person in the GT3 was the race instructor for the day.
And the Noble was a race driver (he took me out)

The few M3's I did see keeping up with them was properly sorted!

250hp+, sorted suspension etc.

I think Kevin (not sure on username?) was keeping up with them on standard suspension!

Haha, now Gus. And ye were all telling me to stop talking rubbbish on owners a few weeks ago when I pointed out that a good E30 M3 can still keep up with a CSL.

I doubt the race instructor or a racing driver would want to be shown up by a 17 year old 6K car, So I reckon they will drive on, They should know the track better than anyone else in fairness



I'd love to get a spin in an M3 round a track myself.

[fuzzy]

the heavy e46 m3 was almost equal to my touring

Where did i put that pinch of salt

from a standing start in front of me at the lights he opened up about a 20 metre gap then it was even all the way up to 120 until we ran out of road

[rThor234]

There is something special about the E30 M3's. Just winding up the little 4-pot is a blast.

I have an E36 M3 and E46 325i, neither can match the feeling of the old M3.

And is left hand drive really exotic? Around the US the only right hand drives are post vehicles.

[Joshy]

Round the bends is where it makes sense, a sorted M3 WILL keep up with an M3 CSL, Noble M12 and a Porsche GT3 on the track!

How impressive a feat this is depends entirely what you'd define as a "sorted M3". If by sorted you mean modified then that's not an impressive feat at all.

A "sorted" enough Nissan Micra could keep up with a M3 CSL, I'd still say that's a selling point of the car.

[maxfield]

Well a 10k car with 20k mods vs a 70k GT3, is that not impressive?

[ShakeyC]

For even playing how would OE e30m3 fair up against e36m3 on ze track?

[Joshy]

Well a 10k car with 20k mods vs a 70k GT3, is that not impressive?

No, not particularly.

There are plenty of cars out there that could be built up with a 30 grand budget that could take out a GT3

[maxfield]

A 20 year old 4 seater Saloon?

[Joshy]

A 20 year old 4 seater Saloon?

Yes.

Off the top of my head the R32 skylines and 190E evos, though I could find plenty of other examples if I could be arsed.

[Rich_W]

How much have Evo magazine spent on the "Project 8 Minutes" E36 GT?

I'm almost certain thats well under £15k As he says in the current issue. "The guy throwing the cheap car around is having more of a laugh. Want proof? Look at the guy whose just binned £70K worth of 911"

[Karan]

Well a 10k car with 20k mods vs a 70k GT3, is that not impressive?

No, not particularly.

There are plenty of cars out there that could be built up with a 30 grand budget that could take out a GT3

a 200/sivia for example...mine 'only' has 293bhp but its light and well setup so does the job

i just cant get my head around an e30 m3 taking out a well driven gt3 or noble... but im not doubting it..just cant really seriously imagine it

In that vid also looks like jags obviously knows what hes doing and the csl guy just lifts at the slightest hint of a bend, i dont think thats a fair video

[maxfield]

They weren't really taking them out just sat on their bumpers...

I do believe Kevin's car is running 240hp and is fully stripped out and he didn't have much of a problem keeping up.

The other 2 cars were running about 300hp fully stripped etc...

[Andy325i]

Interesting thread. Slightly off topic, but wich would be quicker around an average track, an E30 M3 with an S50B32 or an E30 M3 with S14B23/B25 running standardish power?

Andy

[low325icab]

e30 m3 with a b52 in would be wicked on the straights althought i reakon the extra weight from the engine would upset the handling. the e30 m3 s14 would be best through the corners id say but slower on the straights.

ive offen wanted to take the engine out of my evo and buy a e30 shell and put it in too see what it would be like lol

[Andy325i]

e30 m3 with a b52 in would be wicked on the straights althought i reakon the extra weight from the engine would upset the handling. the e30 m3 s14 would be best through the corners id say but slower on the straights.

I guessed that much But it would be interesting to have a thrash between the pair

Andy

[Karan]

e30 m3 with a b52 in would be wicked on the straights althought i reakon the extra weight from the engine would upset the handling. the e30 m3 s14 would be best through the corners id say but slower on the straights.

ive offen wanted to take the engine out of my evo and buy a e30 shell and put it in too see what it would be like lol

it may upset the characterisitcs yes.... but that doesnt mean it still couldnt carry similar corner speed though this is a big common misconception

my s38 car is noseheavy and does feel it... it grips however just aswell as an m20 car would with similar suspension. the area where an unbalanced car loses out is under braking and direction change. Under braking my e30 is pretty dangerous as the back goes very very light so you have to be on the ball. With a skilled driver the s50 car would be miles ahead i feel, but with a novice, he may be inclined to push harder due to the great balance and very forgiving nature of the s14 engined car.

It a similar situation with porsches where i have heard that most people would be faster round a track in a bosxter than a 911 carrera due to the ease with which u can reacj the limits in the boxster

[Andy325i]

Under braking my e30 is pretty dangerous as the back goes very very light so you have to be on the ball

Hi Karan, is this because the rear wheels actually lock due to not having enough downforce on them to keep traction or just the weight out front lifting the rear up to break traction?

Maybe we should start a new thread to keep this one on topic?

Andy

[Falkster]

This is what my M3 is about, and it's not even a fast one. (car with the camera is my mates CSL)

http://www.bmsport.com/project-cars-3.htm

How long ago was that trackday Jags?? Im sure I was there....remember something about the reason why you painted your wheels that colour due to getting black flagged when it wasnt your fault.

[ShepsEvo3]

You can't say though that an M3 will keep up with a Noble, GT3 etc just 'cos you saw it.
It doesn't take into consideration driver skill at all and in fairness, a person in a 7k car is likely to be pushing to the cars limit a bit more compared to some guy in a 70k car. Most people I've seen in a very expensive cars drive nowhere near flat out cos:
A - half them cant even drive properly
B - pranging a 70k motor would be horrifying

The person in the GT3 was the race instructor for the day.
And the Noble was a race driver (he took me out)

The few M3's I did see keeping up with them was properly sorted!

250hp+, sorted suspension etc.

I think Kevin (not sure on username?) was keeping up with them on standard suspension!

Oh, Kevin's car was going well then? Glad, as I tuned his Alpha N for him

[maxfield]

It was keeping up with my Dad's on the straights, but that's just because he hasn't got as much weight.

He's a fair driver too!

[ShepsEvo3]

Kevin can drive pretty well. He took me round Silverston GP circuit a few years ago before the Alpha N and roll cage was fitted, but he had the Toyo Proxis tyres and ACS suspension (as now) fitted. I was VERY inpressed with how well it gripped. Put some Porsches to shame (GT2's back then). I also thought his car felt flat on performance compared to mine. But he's rebuilt his engine with cams and the Alpha N and I have to say it goes really well now. But hasn't got 260+BHP that your dads has though Max. I am sure Kevins is still a 2.3ltr.

[texas2201]

Kevin's is a 2.3 ltr like mine but with cams, alpha n etc which I think is putting out 236bhp. spoke to him the other day and he is going for the Gaz suspenion with Ground Control top mounts

Martin

[ShepsEvo3]

Martin, I wonder how much better his car would be with that Gaz suspension? It grips very well now, I couldn't imagine it being much better except for a little less roll maybe?

[texas2201]

Hi Paul

I followed Kevin a few times around the Ring on the last trip and the suspension was very bouncy and loose - causing the car to lift front and rear wheels all the time - so I think the new suspension will give the car a lot more grip and make it more planted on the track

Martin

[ShepsEvo3]

Hi Paul

I followed Kevin a few times around the Ring on the last trip and the suspension was very bouncy and loose - causing the car to lift front and rear wheels all the time - so I think the new suspension will give the car a lot more grip and make it more planted on the track

Martin

Is it tired? He's offered the ACS suspension to me, but its way to dear for me. I must admit to it feeling a little soft on the road.

[78dude]

The M3 E30 is a classic, its a 80s "supercar" and I hope that one day I can own one! Yes an M3 E30 is fast around the track and there is no doubt about that, but there is more cars around and I must say that I fell more and more in love with the E34 M5 the older I get and I would love to see them both on a track because I do think the M5 will be faster....

[texas2201]

Ceccotto Kevin has both and sent me a video of both at Croft driven by himself and there was virtually nothing in it between the cars - different laps but essentially the same time

Martin

[JungleGus]

the 4 cylinder e30's have a feeling of balance about them that the six's dont....it not necessarily about grip or speed but how the 'feel'. the front feels lighter and the whole car more controllable. the sixes arent bad, but there is a reason they raced the 4 cylinder over the 6's.

the balance reason is tough to get, my turbo is 4 cylinder but doesnt feel as balanced as i would like due to the power...looking forward to developing it further when i get back to NZ. N/A is best but your trading off a lot of power! (going way OT!)

E30 M3's rock..would have one over most cars any day...a stock standard e30 m3 with race tyre and pads kept up with a mate of mines heavily modded 325i race car (drivers were quite even) with about the same amount of power, much more suspension mods and wilwood 4 pots..they are a well setup car from factory

[kevscecotto]

im on my 3rd m3 now & my 2nd cecotto , ive got a nogaro silver cecotto which im restoring to concors condition (should be ready for the next gaydon show) , id be lost without an e30 m3 even if i dont drive it at the mo, but i enjoy restoring it , ive got an audi A4 1.8t quattro sport for everyday driving ,i hate to say it but its better built than any bm ive had (ive had 15!) but no where near as fun to drive , cant wait till the cecotto's done

[maxfield]

raced the 4 cylinder over the 6's.

The M3 was 4cyl because of the rules.

Who knows what it would of been without those rules!

[wiledw]

raced the 4 cylinder over the 6's.

The M3 was 4cyl because of the rules.

Who knows what it would of been without those rules!

and for balance.

[playo]

Here's a nice little vid

[ShepsEvo3]

Here's a nice little vid

Problem is when looking at links to youtube like this is you end up spending a couple of hours looking at other videos too

[madaboutthe30]

Hey guys what do you think of this video???, its when fifth gear reviewed the e30 m3

""

A bit dissapointing towards the end where the e30 m3 wasnt that much faster than a sport ka around their track