1986 BMW 325e Yay or Nay

So, I got a shot at a 1986 325'e' yup the Eta model.

Any mods that can be done to make it sportier, or just hold out for an 'i' model?

Thanks in advance, and one day I wll actually get something and stop spamming the message boards.

Swap the head to an i or just change out the whole motor to the 3.5 L engine out of a 5 series.

Buy the car and freshen the suspension/steering end of things before messing with the engine. When the rest of the car is up to snuff you can stuff an m50 under the hood and go forth to receive bountiful speeding tickets.

One of the best source of information and support for e30's listed below. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/index.php?s=3d9ac570a30bb13a69c95620990ebca6

for the right money I'd definitely get an eta.

Check it well for rust.

exactly.

I'd rather have a rust free ETA than a crusty 325is.

If its in goos shape, buy it. Id rather swap an engine then try and fix up a neglected and abused e30 if i wanted a daily driver.

For an instant dose of extra go, you can swap out the rear diff for one from a 318is. That'll yield you LSD and lower gearing.

Or a 325is diff, e = 2.93 is = 3.73 318is = 4.10 for 5 spd or 4.33 for auto I believe.

If its clean go for it. Do all the suspension consumables first, Control arms, CABs, tie rods, sway bar links, rtabs, subframe mounts, don't forget about the engine, tranny and diff mounts.

H&R race springs + billie sports + H&R sways for good suspension setup (Turner Motorsports J-stock kit or GC or TC Kline or AST (Vorshalg) coilovers if you really want to spend some money)

Drop in S50 + ZF tranny

Profit?

There wasn't a 318is automatic, but a diff. swap would be on the agenda.

That and a "chip".

Cabbie then? Maybe on just on crack about the 4.33 thing.

Isn't the problem with the Eta intentionally restrictive fuel/air intakes, or something like that?

If it's a solid car and a good deal, grab it. Chip it and swap the diff. Don't spend a fortune on it trying to make it an "i" beater. Just enjoy it for what it is: a fairly fun, durable car, that just doesn't happen to rev that high.

Salanis wrote: Isn't the problem with the Eta intentionally restrictive fuel/air intakes, or something like that?

Not really. The head is a different design than the 325i. The crank, rods, and pistons are different too.

The valve springs are soft. If you did get it tor rev, you would float them quickly.

Yeah, it is and it isn't. I mean it's just different.

The 325i and 325e are both M20's and all, but there aren't but a handful of things exactly the same on them. the eta is stump puller designed to save gas by turning low revvs. So the intake manifold has thinner runners, it has extra CC's over a 325i, the throttlebody's barrel can literally fit inside the mouth of a 325i throttlebody.

there should be a ton of info out there on this subject by now. If not I can go on and on, but a little time on e30tech would probably go a long way.

Thanks everyone, my timming is bad and it slipped away.

I am moving on to a two door convertable....