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TrackBeemer
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Registered: 11-2004
Posts: 3
325 0r M3

Hi Everyone,
I know this must have been discussed before but i'm new here and I'm just about to buy a e30 for use as a track day car, not for competition but just for fun once a month. I'm looking at either a 325 sport or m3. Are the standard suspensions similar on these cars? Does anyone have any suggesyions for some mods on the 325 to save on the cost of an m3? Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Nov/24/2004, 12:47 am Send Email to TrackBeemer   Send PM to TrackBeemer
 
karlp
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Re: 325 0r M3

What sort of cash would you be expecting to pay for this setup - it may help the decision.
The reason I ask is that i have a 325 that I have been preparing for the Kumho but as I have just purchased an M3 I am looking to sell.

Karl
Nov/24/2004, 8:43 am Send Email to karlp   Send PM to karlp
 
TrackBeemer
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Registered: 11-2004
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Re: 325 0r M3

somewhere between 3 and 6 thousand (sterling), the only thing is that i'm not in your country, i'm writing from southern Ireland and with import taxes etc., to import a car makes it a financial black hole so i will probably have to source something here..

My dilema is whether to buy a 325 sport and modify it a little for the track, or just try stretch the budget to an m3. Would a 325 sport with a suspension upgrade come close to the buzz factor given be an m3?

Nov/24/2004, 6:40 pm Send Email to TrackBeemer   Send PM to TrackBeemer
 
topwelshman
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Re: 325 0r M3

Would you get a decent M3 for 6k that would be good enough for the track, probably not? It depends on whether you have the budget to develop the M3 after you've bought it and modified it as ultimately it's the better car and a higher platform to start off. If not buy a decent 325, strip the balls off it, fit a cage & some Leda's and go thrash it, emoticon emoticon emoticon


You could always have the car driven over to Ireland and not declare it, if you're going to track it it doesn't need to be road legal

Last edited by topwelshman, Nov/24/2004, 6:49 pm


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Nov/24/2004, 6:46 pm Send Email to topwelshman   Send PM to topwelshman
 
TrackBeemer
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Re: 325 0r M3

thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I would need to have it road legal from time to time.. I guess it would be prudent to have some spare cash to get the items you mentioned and possibly do a few mods to get some more horses out of the 325... Is the steering set up identical in both cars and is there any other major differences between the two? Does the sport 325 borrow any m3 parts above the standard 325?


Nov/24/2004, 10:00 pm Send Email to TrackBeemer   Send PM to TrackBeemer
 
topwelshman
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Re: 325 0r M3

If you need it road legal then i'd buy the M3 as it's better car for the track in standard trim, better suspension, steering, power etc etc. The only way a 325 could come close to an M3 is if it was heavily modified and that means not being road worthy.

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Nov/25/2004, 1:29 pm Send Email to topwelshman   Send PM to topwelshman
 
e21jason
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Registered: 10-2004
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Re: 325 0r M3

Hi

Big difference are M3 is LHD, and has a lot of M3 only componets including the engine so the running and devlopment costs are more but it is the better base car.

I would go look at a few m3 and blagg a test drive, or go to one of the BMW club better driving days at mondello and tri and get a spin in one.

Then make you mind up.

Jason
Nov/25/2004, 7:19 pm Send Email to e21jason   Send PM to e21jason
 
Karan
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Re: 325 0r M3

essentially i reckon u could get a 325 as fast as an m3, as mine is faster for sure in a straight line, but the M3 driver always has to put less effort in than the 6 pot driver!

id go m3 for track and heavily tuned 6 pot for the road!!

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Dec/17/2004, 2:39 pm Send Email to Karan   Send PM to Karan
 
topwelshman
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Re: 325 0r M3

There are 2 possibly 3 cars in the Kumho's that were as fast as some of the M3's but they were the pretty standard ones. Any of the developed M3's were way ahead and at somewhere like Brands Indy were a good 2 seconds faster than the fastest 325 and 4-5 secs faster than the rest of us, that's a BIG difference.

If money wasn't a factor then it would be M3 but the 325 is a great place to start and is just as rewarding.

 emoticon

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Dec/17/2004, 8:40 pm Send Email to topwelshman   Send PM to topwelshman
 





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