The E30 has exploded in popularity recently, with well-maintained examples selling for huge sums of money on the used market and at auction. Now, there’s one very clean example going up for sale rocking a six-cylinder engine swap under the hood.
Continue reading for the full story.
The Full Story
For those of you who may be unaware, BMW introduced the E30 generation of the M3 in 1985, offering customers both a coupe and convertible body style. Framed as a track-derived version of the Bavarian two-door with a flair for touring car style and performance, the original E30 came equipped with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine (also known as the S14), which could spin high into the rev range and make upwards of around 200 horsepower.
The complement the power boost, the E30 also came with an updated chassis, a new wheel bolt pattern, a redesigned front suspension with additional caster angle, solid rubber offset control arm bushings, and aluminum control arms. The E30 also got upgraded brakes, while the drivetrain utilized a Getrag 5-speed manual transmission with a dogleg shift pattern.
All told, the E30 could run from 0-to-60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, with top speed pegged at 149 mph.
Outside, the E30 came with new aerodynamics, including unique styling for the uber-boxy exterior, flared wheel arches, a wider track, and bigger wheels.
Enthusiast circles often hail the E30 as one of the best Bimmers ever made. Production ended in 1992 with a total of 16,202 examples created.
The vehicle you see here is draped in a bright-red paint job (apparently the hue is dubbed “Zinnoberrot Red”), plus an all-black interior once you open the door. The seller says it was recently restored, and it keeps the original BBS RS three-piece wheels (an available option when purchased new). Wrapping the rollers are new Dunlop Direzza ZII tires.
All told, this E30 looks clean as hell, but it’s not all-original. Pop the hood, and you’ll find the four-cylinder tossed in favor of an S52 inline six-cylinder, as well as a five-speed manual from the E36-gen M3.
The engine looks as though it barely fits in the bay, but the shoehorn job does net some nice gains, with power upped to around 240 ponies and 236 pound-feet of torque. The seller also points out that the engine “runs great and is far more reliable than the original four-cylinder S14 motor.”
The drivetrain has around 100,000 miles on it, while the chassis itself has around 191,000 miles.
Interested buyers will find the car up for sale in a Miami craigslist post. There’s no price listed, but considering some original E30’s have sold for as much as six-figures lately, don’t expect this thing to go cheap.
References
Read our full review on the 1986 BMW E30 M3.
Read more BMW news.