karlp
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Registered: 05-2004
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E30 M3 vs 325
I am sorry for this post BUT I have never driven an E30 M3. I am in a bit of confusion on what to do so need opinions off those that have the knowledge.
I have an E30 325 that is nearly finished as a race car (LEDA suspension Eibach anti roll bars) but I still have quite a bit to spend on it (engine recon, carbs).
I was looking to convert my E36 M3 EVO into a race car BUT was advised that the EVO will cost too much to get it right (change box to 5 speed, change rear diff etc) and that the E30 M3 is a much better car.
My question is should I spend the money on the 325 with cams et, engine rebuild or is the E30 M£ a better option and just transfer the goodies off the 325 like roll cage, suspension.
Thanks for all opinions.
Karl
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Nov/20/2004, 12:14 pm
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topwelshman
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Registered: 12-2003
Posts: 425
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Re: E30 M3 vs 325
Karl,
You need to ask yourself what you want from your 1st season in Motorsport and what you want to do after that.
I can assure you that you won't be as fast as you think, Paul will testify to this, we all think we're fast but when you get out there with people that have being doing it a while and they're whizzing past you 2" away at 130mph you'll soon realise that you have alot to learn, racing is COMPLETELY different to trackdays or the like.
The E30 325 is the perfect place to start and can be made to be very competitive with relatively standard m3's but it'll cost to do that and at the end of the day it'll never be an M3 and that's that. There were 5 325's in Class D, 2 should have been in Class C due to their power and my only real competition was Paul and then Terry towards the end of the season as power wise we were all very similar. Paul and I had an amazing dice at Oulton and I had a great Battle with Terry at Brands and for me that made the year. But, even when I beat Terry and Paul I still came 22nd out of 24! It wasn't about the power or lack of it, it was about dicing with those that were evenly matched. To dice with an M3 you'll need an M3and a well developed M3 will leave a 325 standing.
This is what I mean by deciding what you want from your 1st season. For me it was more about finding my feet, getting some mechanical understanding (as I had literally none) and learning the ropes. Given the time again I might have done things differently as I have to admit that I made one of the biggest mistakes ever with buying the car that I did, it was a complete pig as I didn't undertand what I was buying. I had the option of buying an E30 M3 that was immaculate, full T45 cage, new respray in white inside and out and only needed new Leda's to comply with the regs, nothing major. It would only have had a standard 2.3 but it was only 2k more and I turned it down as money was tight, it was a bargain. I have spent at least 5 times the difference already getting the 325 decent as I wanted to make the car look the part inside and out as well as be competitive. But I'm fussy and a respray doesn't make it go faster and in real terms is a waste of money. It's only because of Dave that it's not 10 times more! That money could have been spent developing an E30 M3. The point i'm making is that you should spend your money wisely and only once, once you have decided what you want from it.
The E30 M3 is a true classic and was built as a race car from the outset and handles superbly but a decent & competitive one will set you back at least 15k, building one for less is false economy and parts are a hell of alot more expensive than on a 325. There are certain E30 M3's in the Kumho's with engine's that are 7k alone, that's alot to pay out when it goes bang! The E30 M3's are also not competitive with the E36 M3's and that's why they are in different classes (unless the new regs allow for a standard 3.0 to run in class B. If you were to run a standard m3 then I suspect you'd be beaten by a few of the 325's out there as a few of them were dicing last year quite successfully with standard M3's and next year they'll have more power. If that's the case I can't see the point.
A decent E36 M3 can be had for around 15k but it won't be on the pace and it'll need development work, so bank on 20k+, the next step is E46 and I know Martyn Bell's car's up for grabs but you'll need 40-45k!
So you see it's all relative to what you are prepared to pay and want to achieve. Knowing what I know now I would not spend the amount I have and just accepted the 325 for what it is, a great starter car and save the money for the season after. Then you can either up the power, buy an E30 M3, develop an E36 or go elsewhere to race. I also wouldn't go too mad with the engine either, wait for the new regs and then decide where you want to run and build an engine to suit that class, you might not need to run carbs or go for a really wild cam if you stick in class D and again save the money.
But, if you're like me and are likely to spend a shedload on a 325 anyway then I'd spend the money once and buy an M3, pity I didn't take my advice last year!
Sorry for the essay! 
Last edited by topwelshman, Nov/20/2004, 11:44 pm
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Nov/20/2004, 11:11 pm
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karlp
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Registered: 05-2004
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Re: E30 M3 vs 325
Dom
Thanks for the informative reply. I have actually now bought an M3 and the reasoning for doing so is as follows.
My 325 is nearly finished to race BUT would need a lot of other things added like. Ali petrol tank with swirl pot, brake bias valves, inlet and carbs, brake servo moving, lightened bonnet and boot. On top of all this I may need an engine replacement/rebuild, cams, ignition system and remap on rolling road.
After all this it is still a six cylinder car which is heavy on the front end.
I have numerous items I can either use or sell such as
6 branch exhaust system (Jaysons old one) + full stainless back system.
Inlet manifolds
3.91 LSD (a good one)
but I may run the 325 this year just to feel my way because as you said - there will be a lot of much quicker people out there.
Karl
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Nov/21/2004, 10:06 am
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topwelshman
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: E30 M3 vs 325
Karl,
Like I said if I'd thought it through and understood what I was buying in the beginning I would have bought an M3 rather than spend it on the 325 as the money needed to make a 325 competitive in Class C is M3 money. But, my main objective was to find my feet and for that it was a great car, albeit very expensive!
I wouldn't run 2 cars, i'd sell the 325 and all the goodies and put all that into developing the M3 and getting as much tracktime as possible before the start of next season. You'll be in Class B (unless they allow standard M3's into Class C) against some very fast & well sorted cars.
What's the spec of the M3?
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Nov/21/2004, 12:23 pm
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