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+--- Thread: if you were me (/showthread.php?tid=338)
- G.Irish - 04-09-2004
I agree with Chan, any M3 with 200K miles is probably going to be ragged out, E30 or E36. If you were going to budget a few thousand into improving/maintaining Christina anyway I'd say go for it but I doubt you were going to do that and I imagine its going to take a few thou to get the M3 where you want it to be.
Now if the M3 has good compression, has the rear shock mounts replaced, new wheel bearings, new shocks, relatively fresh clutch, no slop in the transmission bushings, and maybe has some of the electrical stuff replaced I'd say maybe. Even then, most of the time there's no such thing as a free lunch with street/track performance. You'll either pay more up front or you'll have to pay more to fix/maintain.
And as Chan said, the E30 M3 is a cool car and all but its not going to be cheap to keep it running in good condition. Much the same as one of the Porsches or *gasp* the FD. If you have it in your budget to pay for replacement parts go for it but I think its more hassle/expense than you'd want right now.
- .RJ - 04-09-2004
Sell that pile and track the STi
- Beej - 04-09-2004
If it was an e36 - no. They seem to have become boy racer cars lately and with 200k...
e30 M3's are more of a cult thing, kinda like 2002's (but much, much more expensive). There's generally a $15k rule where you either buy a good example for $15k or buy a lesser example for less and make up the difference in repairs. S14's are incredibly finicky engines and to do a rebuild *right* is very expensive (not to mention you'd want to go 2.5...the list goes on). If he's trying to trade for a teg with ~200k, the M3 will need every single bushing replaced, shocks, a shitty interior, probably a not so hot exterior, and be beat in general. That being said, they are incredibly fun and rewarding to drive.
An e30 325iS is a good, fun substitute, but it won't have that e30 M3 feel. (and apparently, isn't an option)
- Chris - 04-09-2004
G.Irish Wrote:Even then, most of the time there's no such thing as a free lunch with street/track performance. You'll either pay more up front or you'll have to pay more to fix/maintain.
ahh!! don't remind me of that awful Econ class/professor!!!
- Maengelito - 04-09-2004
i have read many good points so far. lets say its not really a trade per se, but an extremely good deal on an e30 m3 with 200k miles on it which would prompt me to sell my teg. the following situations have crossed my mind but they are all dependent on the condition of the m3.
1) dont buy the m3, keep the integra on track, and the sti on the street
2) buy the e30 m3 for the track, sell the integra for i'd say $2500ish?
3) buy the e30 m3 perhaps for the track (depending on condition), keep the integra because i already own it and am not making payments on it, and street the sti. (3 cars... gasp!)
4) buy the m3 and track the STi <--- i just wanted to throw that in there so you asshats think i will track the sti
the things i know:
M3 (not sure if its an e30, just a presumption)
200k miles
94 integra
150k miles on it
valve tick that wont go away
burns a little bit of oil
compression is decent and even across the board
suspension and control arm bushings are shot
a "whirrrrrrr"ing sound at 3200 and 4000 rpms thats very quiet and subtle and very quick but makes me think its a bearing of some sort
but its got all sorts of ricer parts!
but this is a completely hypothetical situation...
- Evan - 04-09-2004
get more info on the m3
at least what year!! If its a e30 m3 for ~$3k then its probably already gone anyway
- .RJ - 04-09-2004
If you can pick up an e30 M3 for $2500 you could probably resell and double your money.
- Evan - 04-09-2004
exactly
my guess is its a 318 that some dumbass put an //M badge on. Like I see in autotrader all the time.
- G.Irish - 04-09-2004
Speaking of 318, its been classed for ITA. Will it destroy all comers there the way the 325 does in ITS? Who knows...
- Mike - 04-10-2004
I think it has a good chance at doing so, but didn't both the Neon and Sentra SE-R get reclassified to ITA as well? I don't follow SCCA stuff too closely but it looks like the competition is heating up in ITA!
- G.Irish - 04-10-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:I think it has a good chance at doing so, but didn't both the Neon and Sentra SE-R get reclassified to ITA as well? I don't follow SCCA stuff too closely but it looks like the competition is heating up in ITA!
Yes and yes. You're right on I forgot about those two cars. Competition should indeed heat up in ITA/Spec CRX. Now that the Miata, 318, SE-R, 2nd Gen Integra, and Neon are there I think it should be much more diverse and interesting. At least until the new overdog is determined.
- Feersty - 04-10-2004
If I were you I would post pictures as soon as possible.
- BLAIR - 04-11-2004
m3 = multiply times 3 for price of parts :oops:
- Seantn1k - 04-12-2004
My only question is... why haven't you bought it yet?
I have been in the market for one for so long... preferably without a motor.
The last one I came across went for 2.75k without the motor and the body was in great shape.
If the car is in good shape I would definately go for it. Remember there were a series of different motors that came with the e30 m3 with different horsepower ranges.
Initial Motor/Evolution I 2.3 1987-1989 - Power: 195hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 169lb @ 4750rpm
Second Motor 2.3 1989-1990: Power: 215hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 170lb @ 4600rpm
Third Motor/Evolution II 2.5 1990-1991: Power: 220hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 181lb @4750rpm
Last Motor/Evolution III 2.5 1989-1990: Power: 238hp @ 7000rpm Torque: 177lb @ 4600rpm
Also, the car only weighs 2600 pounds stock.
The only thing I would worry about is who has owned the car before you. If they haven't been tending to it, which is a very unlikely thing because of the rarity of the vehicle, then it may not be in decent shape.
If you feel that the car isn't for you please give me some more info....
Thanks
Sean
- Maengelito - 04-12-2004
good stuff to know, thanks sean... like it was said before, i dont have a whole lot of info on this, but i'll find out soon enough
- Mike - 04-12-2004
Seantn1k Wrote:Third Motor/Evolution II 2.5 1990-1991: Power: 220hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 181lb @4750rpm
Last Motor/Evolution III 2.5 1989-1990: Power: 238hp @ 7000rpm Torque: 177lb @ 4600rpm
How come the "last" motor is older than the "third" motor?
- Beej - 04-13-2004
That motor stuff info is pretty useless over here in the US. All US models got the same 2.3 195hp powerplant. Those fuckers across the pond got all the cool stuff.
I thought they were more like 27-2800ish, but can't back it up.
- Seantn1k - 04-13-2004
All my info comes from what I pick up along the way. From what I've heard a few of the EVO m3's made it to the states but not many people can tell them apart.
Yes mike, the last one comes up like that because of the engineering side. The EVOIII was suppost to be released after EVOII but for some reason they brought the III out first.
Sean
- G.Irish - 04-13-2004
Seantn1k Wrote:Initial Motor/Evolution I 2.3 1987-1989 - Power: 195hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 169lb @ 4750rpm
Second Motor 2.3 1989-1990: Power: 215hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 170lb @ 4600rpm
Third Motor/Evolution II 2.5 1990-1991: Power: 220hp @ 6750rpm Torque: 181lb @4750rpm
Last Motor/Evolution III 2.5 1989-1990: Power: 238hp @ 7000rpm Torque: 177lb @ 4600rpm
My question for the BMW boys is how much those 2.5L Evo motors costs? I have an idea and it ain't nuthin' nice...
- Seantn1k - 04-13-2004
Yea purchasing them straight up isn't the best thing to do. A big suggestion is to either swap any BMW motor made after 1988 or get a stroker kit from Ireland Engineering or Metric Mechanic (I prefer metric mechanic because they take care of you).
Sean