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So you bought a shell that needs complete restoration before a complete rebuilding of the car it used to be and your dream car will cost you double it's market value, but hey: there's YT money for you. selling legal advice is as bad as a car salesman's pitch. Clickbait BS:
Dude, fix that engine bay before you put a motor in. Knowing how bad it is will always bother you. Take the time and do this one right. Love me some E30 vids.
Agree with this, it's not that much work, strip the engine bay and sort it properly. You will be so glad you did otherwise every time you look in the engine bay you will wish you'd done it. Too much hassle to sort it once you put the engine in.
this is so true and exactly what i was thinking, dont rush it take your time, these cars are rare and you wont regret it, do it once and do it right... plus more content for the channel
Hi Matt, there’s a number of things I noticed. 1. E30 m3’s were all 5 stud/lug so it’s had standard 4 stud/lug e30 parts fitted. 2. The front legs that are in your pile of bits are e30 m3 front legs as e36/z3 ones have a separate knuckle and suspension body. 3. The rear trailing arms are either genuine e30 m3, z3 or e36 compact. They would have to be measured and part numbers checked on them to be sure. But they are all very similar and fit. The rear beam is the same across the board. 5. Those leather seats are the correct ones for an m3 as well as the rears. 6. That is an SE spec steering wheel and not the correct m-sport 1 or 2 wheel. That’s what I’ve noticed. Engine wise I’d say an s54 although an s62 v8 (e39 m5) would be awesome! As for upgrades. An e46 quick rack Rear brake upgrade to vented disks (either z3m or a compact upgrade) Obviously a front brake upgrade. A decent lsd differential. Dual hanger rear differential upgrade. Some coilovers or at least a H&R cup kit. Some nice wheels. And for the love of god please redo the engine bay as that is horrible. Hope that helps.
@@disuye Hey, very nostalgic for me, I actually had the 320is a long time ago, that thing was so fun..unfortunately it was a bad financial time in life and car needed much work and the chassis was pretty bad..so I had to let it go:/ Probably had 20 owners and no one really cared about it, but the s14, dog leg tranny and lsd diff were still going strong! Oh and I think it was around 3000 euro back then, crazy! Now these cars or any old legends are just insane amount of money:/ Enjoy it, cheers!
@@z_855turboR Cheers! Sadly all old car prices have shot up, and I doubt they'll come back down again. For years I wanted an M3 but the price raced away from me about 5~6 years ago... then last year I stumbled across a nearly-mint E30 320is in Portugal. Annoyingly more than €3000, but far less than an M3 :)
I had an e30 M3 for years and absolutely loved that car. I sold it 10 years ago for a 996TT 10 years ago which I still own. I'm actually looking at another e30 M3 tomorrow because I miss it that much and it will pair nicely with the Pcar. IMHO only a S14 engine belongs in an e30 M3. I am looking forward to this build! BEST OF LUCK MATT!
Seriously..? in a 22 minute video about reviving an interesting car, eleven minutes are devoted to talking heads, barely four minutes are given over to spanning, and for three minutes we are watching it being washed. That's not 'great content' in my book.
Z3 5 lug will increase your track width so you will have to run high offset wheels. I’d keep an eye out for e30 m3 5 lug stuff. KW sells e30 m3 coilovers with forged knuckles already attached to the struts. I’d do something like that as used e30 m3 5 lug stuff is pricey
Redo the engine bay Matt, get paint off where it shouldn't be, keep it stock and doesn't have to be concourse !!! Yes an S54 would be nice but an S52 would be excellent too !!!
I fell in love with the M3 at the ‘89 NY auto show. It was just stunning in white, a real crowd pleaser and even overshadowed its bigger brother, a charcoal gray M6 that was parked next to it. The flared fenders and boxy spoilers really set it apart from the standard 3-series and made it something very special.
To see an original M3 motor and trans would be great…but we all know that would be super expensive and not be easy to though. So I would say S54 would be cool.
I remember the E30 M3 dearly as I used to work for BMW in the 90 to mid 2000's here in the UK. I noticed that your dashboard has a few cracks in it, you could go down the road of repairing it or buying a new (secondhand) dash for around $350, but the OEM genuine M3 clock set will cost around $1300. Matt, if you can and I know it'll be expensive, try looking around for a genuine M3 engine! I have seen that some people have put the E46 M3 engine in the E30, that'll make the M3 fun to drive! 😂
do it once, do it right man! re-paint the engine bay. u wouldn't stop thinking about it if you decide to leave it as is. might take a little bit longer before you get to drive it again but it'll be worth it for sure 🙏
I saw this car listed. Even with its History / missing parts. You can easily rebuild her! Can’t wait to see the progress! If you need any parts reach out i have some left over parts from mine.
Heck ya! One of my dream machines. Can’t wait to see what you do with it. Side note….do the engine bay now while it’s easy access and once u drop the engine in it will make you and everyone else happy.
The VERY BEST engine and drive Train option for this car is without any doubt the E46 M3. S54 engine 6 speed manual Getrag trans with the "M" Diff!! Or at least a very good LSD of some sort!!!! (4:10 gears make it SCREAM with Torque and FUN!! It is the combination that EVERY car person that has driven it says is the BEST car combination ever dreamed of! Handling is helped by some E36 parts but it might only be the steering rack I don't remember off hand.
@arthurlekov2947 cool idea but no way that works...at least not affordably or reliably. The beauty of the e30 was the lightness and balanced handling. That goes out the window when you drop a giant V10 in it.
@@charless2684 You are 100 percent correct. It would be a silly car. I really like the sound of the engine and how reliable it is for the most part. These are the only two reasons why I agreed.
Hi Matt. Great choice. I love BMW'S. About 15 years ago I bought a 1986 E30 325i exactly in the same area you perches yours. I recognized the location, mines was parked in a garage three blocks down. I no longer have it, but i sure regret selling it. It was in beautiful condition, minor repairs Red with black Recaro seats and performance tires. I wish you the best.
Yes my boy, that is a true dream car of mine as well. Congrats! I’m looking forward to seeing you make it perfect as you always do. My support anyway I can.
The e30 platform is my favorite platform of all time. I have an 89 325is that is my baby. I will now vicariously live out my E30 m3 dream through you. Thank you Matt!
Loving the new E30 project! Re-do the engine bay if you are not going to repaint the whole car and that's the only paint stuff you're gonna do! It will be done right away. Interior wise let it super stock please!
7:12 the 5 lugs on E30 M3 are stock the normal E30 have 4 lugs, so maybe inside the parts inside the car are the correct ones ! Check also the struts they must be 51 mm in diameter ;) And please fix the engine bay!
s52 for cheap, s54 for power, and a proper built s14 for original. the choice is yours. don't rush the project. I would definitely address the rust on the underside of the car as neglect is what kills these cars. it looks like someone already welded in a new floor board at some point. check the integrity of the repair because those repairs could be make all the difference god forbid theres an accident. trust me, its not easy doing this work. I have an e28 m5 and it finally got driven the other day because of an extensive rust repair and assembly process that took about 3 and a half years. you got this! remember, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!
The steering wheel is also e30 non-e30. Everything points to this being a replica. Or at a minimum gutted for parts and regular e30 parts added. If it is a replica, the body at least looks accurate
Not a BMW guy but very excited to watch the new project! And these E30s are very handsome and understated compared to the modern monstrosities they're producing today. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it
The fact that we have very similar tastes and ownership in cars never ceases to amaze me. That's the reason I find your channel so interesting. My current stable is 911/997 Porsche, E30, E46 and X5. Looking forward to this build as the E30 M3 is one of my dream cars too
I think you should put a K24 in the car. It's similar to the motor they put into the E30 M3 from factory but more refined and a reliable beast for a daily driver. S50 or s54 would also be cool although that's what everybody does.
That bay is save-able .. knock down all the clear , shoot in some base where it’s missing like you said ; and 2k clear it , wetsand if necessary and follow with a compound and polish .. aerosol’s have came a looooong way , especially a 2-part 2k clear that has a hardener … it’s basically automotive grade
I’m a new subscriber. I really enjoy watching channels as yours where cars are restored or just put back together. Me and my dad who I just lost use to do this. He had a body and every chance we got to do a project we did it. All through out my high school years I drove 57 Chevy wagon then a 65 fastback mustang that we put a newer 5.0 motor in. And then after that 67 mustang gt coupe. I had a chance to get a newer car but didn’t want one. I loved it to. Got a lot of attention. The crazy part I sold my 57 wagon to my art teacher before going to college. I miss my dad and the good ole days. It’s funny how time flies. Thanks for sharing your projects. It brings back a lot of good memories. I can’t wait to see the progress and then the finish. Good luck. I hope all goes well. I will be here with everyone else cheering you on to the finish line. Have a great night.
Having owned a mildly upgraded e30 M3. Whatever you do, don’t even consider putting a stock motor back in. It’s not great and not worth the money and headaches.
My man has exceptional taste in cars & I can’t wait to see this when it’s finished.I was a young man when these first appeared….. iconic dream car.S54 engine suspension & brakes 👍
Make sure your 5 lug rear trailing arms are from a Z3M otherwise your wheels will poke out 20mm wider on the rear, alternatively to save money you can run 318ti RTA's with no consequence other than a smaller diameter wheel bearing. Look into SRS concept 5 lug swap kits as they offer many plug n play options and also have BBK. As for the front I would ditch those non-m3 front e36 spindles as they will have your wheels sitting further back in the fenders (wheel caster is different on non-m3 spindles). Buy yourself a nice set of e36 m3 front spindles with m3 brakes & control arms included, they are 100% bolt on to your front housings and greatly increase braking. For suspension run a regular e30 m3 suspension kit for the rear & e36 front suspension WITH e30 top hats, it will NOT bolt up with e36 top hats. Would love to help you any way I can, e30 m3 is my dream car as well!
@@matt13ross my pleasure! E30Zone has a great write-up on 5 lug swaps in case you’d like additional info. Get yourself some offset control arm bushings as well for the lollipops. Lastly CATuned now sells a 5 Lug coil over kit that is also plug n play so you don’t have to swap over any top hats👍🏻
E30 owners are the most interesting people in the car scene, they all seem to be frightningly knowledgeable in the craft of maintaining their cars, so You'll definitely have a lot of help of fellow E30 owners.. beautiful car by the way, can't believe how tidy the under is. 👌🏻
Dude! Awesome choice. You're building quite the investment of appreciating cars. nice job. For the value of a well sorted E30 M3, I would take the time to get it to a nice driver quality car. Redo the engine bay.That thing is a basket case. You'll get a hell of a resell value if you can source an S14 engine. Otherwise get an S50 from an E36 M3.
If you know what is good for you, get an m54 3.0L stock: 225/214. It has a broad torque band which is important. It is also BMWs most reliable and fixable engine. Two oil changes per year. Do all your repair work while it is still on the bench, much easier. Some tunes can easily put the output to 240/220 and lightweight e30 will see 100 mph quarter mile speeds.
Hey Matt, I’m actually doing an e30 M3 conversion right now too. The rear suspension depends on how much you want to beat on the car. Best is Z3m because the brakes are bigger and they’re reinforced to track use. There is another route with what you have though. Let me know if you want to hear about it.
Sure, E36 M3 front fits but compromises geometry unless you know what you’re doing. Anyway, the original front suspension was in the back seat, so probably no need to do a whole e36 upgrade.
awesome project! I would absolutely take the time to paint the engine bay, it will make any motor you put in there pop that much more. I would also wash and look at the floor closely, if there are any patches needed, now is the time. Can't wait to see more content on this!
Best to remedy that engine bay so you'll have peace of mind and not have to constantly think you should've redone it or make it more better than it currently is. When it comes down to an engine, my recommendation is a K20/24 hybrid setup using a ZF gearbox. That combination grands you an equivalent of what the E30 M3 had factory; however, you'll have it with an engine package that allows a lot of part availability, aftermarket support, copious amount of room to work with (even some extracurricular activities if you wish to add a little spice to it), and all around fun vehicle to drive both spiritually and daily.
Love it! I have a 1989 e30 M3 “tribute” car in Thailand ( we didn’t get real M3’s here because they didn’t make rhd cars). Nonetheless it’s an awesome car! The z3 e36 suspension parts are great for the 5 lug conversion and give you the ability to use a Porsche big brake kit ( I know you like those). I have a ‘96 M52 engine in mine and it just fits…big improvement. I would recommend an S52 or 54 if you can find one. I’m upgrading mine with S52 cams and ITB’s. Love the channel!
If you push most German cars around without a stub axle in the rear hub, then it will destroy the bearings. The stub axle when tightened down with that nut that took you so long to get off, supports the bearing and keeps it from being wrecked. You can remove the axle from the stub axle so it's not flopping around.
A S65 swap would be very different and really cool I can’t lie. Some BBS wheels would really make the car look insane. Can’t wait to see what you end up deciding with this car
What a great project, I think with this one you should really take your time and do it right (i.e. fix the engine bay), this could be your "show car" and it would be great to really elevate the build to something like a factory refresh. I think everyone would love to see that.
Swap the engine with an S55 or S54 but if you want to be crazier and different, swap the RB26dett, that all would be really cool and really crazy for sure.
Ok now I am 100% certain you will hit 100k subs before 2025, earlier my guess was July of this year but hey 80k is amazing. Well, you asked about repainting the engine bay, based on your comment about powder coating the subframe parts then redoing/painting the engine is a given. What engine for this E30 M3 is way out of my wheel house, I would say whatever is reliable and parts both OEM and quality aftermarket support is the way forward. Again guessing from your other BMW's you have some good connections within the BMW community to find a perfect engine/ trans/diff combo or you wouldn't have bought this car. Looking forward to this build for sure!
I'm an e34 guy, but, Matt, this is going to be great! Especially with your editing and presentation along with great wrenching to teach us all! :) Fortunately, my e34 535i has lived its life in Florida and I'm only the second owner. Looking forward to more of this M3! :)
I feel you. My dream cars are a GC8 WRX STI and an AW11 MR2. I already own the latter, though I still need to restore it. I'm sure I can acquire the former eventually.
0:48 My dream car is somewhat unusual, too. Its a Lexus IS 200 / Toyota Altezza. Its been my dream car for 10+ years. Maybe one day I will own one. Who knows.
I bought a 1988 E30 M3, same color, tan interior, for $4500 back in 1999 and drove it home. Someone had pimped it out with chrome Borbet wheels and a massive stereo/security system. The paint was dead and the windshield and front bumper cover were cracked but otherwise ran ok. I bought a set of used TSW wheels off Ebay, polished the dead paint, and it looked great, fixed the cracked front bumper, found out that the M3 windshield is slightly different than my spare standard E30 windshield (made it work anyway), and spent a day rewiring the dash back to original. Had to replace the intake throttle body mounts that always cracked and replaced the timing chain tensioner and it was good to go. I didn't care much for the short 1st gear which I usually didn't use much but it ran well for 132k miles. Plan was to give it my 17 year old son to drive as a first car but he had trouble with the sensitive clutch so decided to sell it and get something he could drive (1986 E30 325e). Only kept it a couple of years and sold it for $7500 (what I had invested in it), obviously before the prices skyrocketed. Son never forgave me. He drives a newer X5 5.0 now and has a 02 E46 M3, manual trans, no sunroof, manual buckets, in his garage now. Your probably would be a lot better off with just an E36 M3 engine/trans and that wouldn't cost a lot of money.
Great car! Plus Wayne is a stand up dude from Yonkers. Ask him to show you pics of E30 (bat mobile) he did for HIP from many stylez another guys from Yonkers.
Hi Matt, I just subscribed and found you 30min ago with this new video about the m3 e30. I will continue watching this saga without a doubt because I love that car, please I ask you not to get carried away by the stance and leave the car as racetrack clean as possible... engines that would work well are: s54, s64, s55 or 2jz with good transmission. I trust you, greetings from Argentina
Very cool. Back in the Plymouth, England, I was once picked up by temp work agency person as they needed someone urgently for a job. He arrived in an M3 just like this. Was awesome being driven in it all all the winding back roads into Cornwall. I vividly recall how it felt and sounded. Maybe one day I will own one.
Excellent next car. I only watch your Porsche videos but will be following every video of this car. Please continue to be your anal self with this car. Bring to same level as your 911s.
While the back seats are out and they're exposed, might be a good idea to check and/or change out the fuel pump on the gas tank. Especially moreso if it sat with any ethanol gas in it for years. That stuff eats fuel systems up
knowing matt, he will likely clean, replace, and upgrade to his liking, so we already know that he will address the engine bay. i look forward to this build, for sure!! now, if *i* had my say, i would reinforce the chassis, upgrade the bushings to a stiffer but daily driver friendly compound, upgrade the interior and sound system to make the driving experience more pleasurable, and keep the powertrain simple and tasteful with an s54 and 6 speed. yes, it may be an original m3, but as it was stated, it is to be driven and enjoyed and not a garage queen. as such, just like his (used to be orange and now is grey) porsche, he made it his own and unique. besides, the only people who ever make money on a restoration venture are the guys actually doing them for collectors. the rest of us wind up like the previous owner, in over their head and looking to cash out. did i mention how much i am looking forward to this build yet??
Broski, as a veteran New Yorker shout out to you on taking the risk on a Bronx owned car. The boroughs roads are unforgiving on all cars. Can’t wait to see what you find hiding inside!
Z3 suspension swap is a great conversion, I've done that half a dozen times and it's fast. Also I typically would buy the Z3 as a running driving vehicle and could use the engine and transmission in the e30 and sell off parts I didn't need.
Hi Matt, a retired BMW TECH here and the E30 M3, my all time favorite. An S54 it has to be, I loved that 3.2L performance and straight 6 sound, however as a daily driver the 3.0L M54 would be the better choice. A 51% - 49% choice.
Lots of NLA parts on this one. It's a great little car once you get it sorted. Plenty of cars have M50/M52/S50/S52 retrofit parts in them for exactly this reason. Sweden/Denmark/Finland do a ton of these upgrades and turn them into monsters.
Hello Matt Ross! I discovered you here today since I am a enormous car enthusiast and I have a deep love for Porsches and BMW's, but more.. It is nice to have discovered you and your projects! The M3 is also secretly a dream car/project of me)! It would be awesome to put a M5 6 cylinder engine in it! It's going to be very tight and you will obviously need some adjustments but it will add definitely more to the project and your investment! Good luck and I'm looking so much forward to the episodes to come! I can't wait!!
Cool car. If I had one of those, I would try to put a E34 M5 engine in it. The S38B38 has a 3,8L displacement and makes 335HP N/A. Pair that to a six speed manual and it's a fun machine! Cheers!
From experience with a friends E30M3 who did exactly this (ok with the 3.6L version of the E34 M5) this didn't work at all in terms of handling. Way too much weight added forward. If you want to stay close to the spirit of this car it's not the best option.
@pieterverboven4853 I see how that would play out with the extra weight of those 2 cylinders... you are absolutely right. But the idea of having a small car with a bigger engine is just cool. Also, it's pretty awesome that your friend tried that. Cheers!
Fit an e36 European 3.2 evo in it , great car and the most successful racing car in history I think and also my dream car with pedigree and gorgeous looks
Since it was the S12 engine to start with, and ive seen some drop S52’s in it, id source a B58 turbo 4 for it to keep it in the same general range, high revving 4 cyl. Modern tech and reliability, ton more HP and Torque would make this project really cool. Imo. 😂
Gen 1 b58 ( a lot cheaper then gen2 ) would be good option. Reliable and makes decent power that you can enjoy without worry. Another cool option would be the s55. Since it is an e30 m3 id personally keep it all bmw. But that’s just me
Good luck on this build! Great color also I would clean the engine bay and repaint it in the way you want. Or just dont and then never complain about it in the future...
I had a 91 BMW M3 in Cambridge mass , I was the fastest around and had 18 thousand dollars in parts to the motor Customized the whole car but sold because I didn’t have a garage People tried to steal it so had to Car is worth 100,000 dollars now 😢
The S54 from e43 m3 fore sure (if you would have lived in europe, the S50B32 from the e36 m3 and the z3m would have been the obvious choice) would be an awsome build! The chassis from the e36 compact and the z3 are based upon the e30. I’m sure it wont be a walk in the park, but it sure will be great content! Love the channel! Keep it up Matt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The suspension you found in it is actually an upgrade so you should go with those one and change out the original suspension. I am working on the same generation E30 with my brother (not and M3 though)
I would say repaint now since the engine is already out, in the long run saves you time and energy cause as it dries you can be working on the exterior or interior of the car but if you do it later on you’ll have to the engine out and wait.
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Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. You can start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan at ForThePeople.com/mattross without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win.
Rats attitude.
Use a S50B30 or 32, preferably euro spec because ITBs and it’ll be like the m3 we never really got other then the neutered US variant (for e36s)
So you bought a shell that needs complete restoration before a complete rebuilding of the car it used to be and your dream car will cost you double it's market value, but hey: there's YT money for you.
selling legal advice is as bad as a car salesman's pitch.
Clickbait BS:
@@Team33Team33 his sponsor is absolute cancer as well
Lol what clickbait?
Dude, fix that engine bay before you put a motor in. Knowing how bad it is will always bother you. Take the time and do this one right. Love me some E30 vids.
Agree with this, it's not that much work, strip the engine bay and sort it properly. You will be so glad you did otherwise every time you look in the engine bay you will wish you'd done it. Too much hassle to sort it once you put the engine in.
I think you guys are right!
Yes true
Put S54 inside
this is so true and exactly what i was thinking, dont rush it take your time, these cars are rare and you wont regret it, do it once and do it right... plus more content for the channel
Hi Matt, there’s a number of things I noticed.
1. E30 m3’s were all 5 stud/lug so it’s had standard 4 stud/lug e30 parts fitted.
2. The front legs that are in your pile of bits are e30 m3 front legs as e36/z3 ones have a separate knuckle and suspension body.
3. The rear trailing arms are either genuine e30 m3, z3 or e36 compact. They would have to be measured and part numbers checked on them to be sure. But they are all very similar and fit. The rear beam is the same across the board.
5. Those leather seats are the correct ones for an m3 as well as the rears.
6. That is an SE spec steering wheel and not the correct m-sport 1 or 2 wheel.
That’s what I’ve noticed.
Engine wise I’d say an s54 although an s62 v8 (e39 m5) would be awesome!
As for upgrades.
An e46 quick rack
Rear brake upgrade to vented disks (either z3m or a compact upgrade)
Obviously a front brake upgrade.
A decent lsd differential.
Dual hanger rear differential upgrade.
Some coilovers or at least a H&R cup kit.
Some nice wheels.
And for the love of god please redo the engine bay as that is horrible.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for all that info, I appreciate it! I'm trying to learn as much as I can as I go along.
@@disuye Hey, very nostalgic for me, I actually had the 320is a long time ago, that thing was so fun..unfortunately it was a bad financial time in life and car needed much work and the chassis was pretty bad..so I had to let it go:/ Probably had 20 owners and no one really cared about it, but the s14, dog leg tranny and lsd diff were still going strong! Oh and I think it was around 3000 euro back then, crazy! Now these cars or any old legends are just insane amount of money:/
Enjoy it, cheers!
@@z_855turboR Cheers! Sadly all old car prices have shot up, and I doubt they'll come back down again. For years I wanted an M3 but the price raced away from me about 5~6 years ago... then last year I stumbled across a nearly-mint E30 320is in Portugal. Annoyingly more than €3000, but far less than an M3 :)
Yup 4 lug M3 was a red flag for me. Someone robbed a lot of parts out of that chassis at some point.
e39 m5 has a fun engine but a lot of them grenaded. So maybe a different route for this car. . .
I had an e30 M3 for years and absolutely loved that car. I sold it 10 years ago for a 996TT 10 years ago which I still own. I'm actually looking at another e30 M3 tomorrow because I miss it that much and it will pair nicely with the Pcar. IMHO only a S14 engine belongs in an e30 M3. I am looking forward to this build! BEST OF LUCK MATT!
Man a 996 and an M3, perfect combo!!
Looking forward to this one - S54 is my vote. Great content Matt!
Seriously..? in a 22 minute video about reviving an interesting car, eleven minutes are devoted to talking heads, barely four minutes are given over to spanning, and for three minutes we are watching it being washed. That's not 'great content' in my book.
Frank Ocean nostalgia album
Z3 5 lug will increase your track width so you will have to run high offset wheels. I’d keep an eye out for e30 m3 5 lug stuff. KW sells e30 m3 coilovers with forged knuckles already attached to the struts. I’d do something like that as used e30 m3 5 lug stuff is pricey
Redo the engine bay Matt, get paint off where it shouldn't be, keep it stock and doesn't have to be concourse !!! Yes an S54 would be nice but an S52 would be excellent too !!!
BMW = worst car ever made.
Prepare for it to be an endless money pit.
Too many issues to list.
I fell in love with the M3 at the ‘89 NY auto show. It was just stunning in white, a real crowd pleaser and even overshadowed its bigger brother, a charcoal gray M6 that was parked next to it. The flared fenders and boxy spoilers really set it apart from the standard 3-series and made it something very special.
To see an original M3 motor and trans would be great…but we all know that would be super expensive and not be easy to though. So I would say S54 would be cool.
Took the thoughts right from my head! S14 would be cool, but pretty slow AND expensive.
@@matt13rossplease do the S54
And please do the carbon intake plenum
You're reading my mind!!
I remember the E30 M3 dearly as I used to work for BMW in the 90 to mid 2000's here in the UK. I noticed that your dashboard has a few cracks in it, you could go down the road of repairing it or buying a new (secondhand) dash for around $350, but the OEM genuine M3 clock set will cost around $1300.
Matt, if you can and I know it'll be expensive, try looking around for a genuine M3 engine! I have seen that some people have put the E46 M3 engine in the E30, that'll make the M3 fun to drive! 😂
do it once, do it right man! re-paint the engine bay. u wouldn't stop thinking about it if you decide to leave it as is. might take a little bit longer before you get to drive it again but it'll be worth it for sure 🙏
my thoughts exactly. take as much time as you need to fix up everything right, get it done the first time instead of having to go back.
I saw this car listed. Even with its History / missing parts. You can easily rebuild her! Can’t wait to see the progress! If you need any parts reach out i have some left over parts from mine.
how much was it listed for?
In the screenshot of the ad I think they were asking $28.5k
@@AndrewDRoyappa ah didn't spot that, thought it was cut off, crazy tho lol
Restored correctly it’ll be a 6 figure car
@@daveduarte1806this car needs atleast 50k in parts and paint if you are going to make it a collectors car
Heck ya! One of my dream machines. Can’t wait to see what you do with it. Side note….do the engine bay now while it’s easy access and once u drop the engine in it will make you and everyone else happy.
The VERY BEST engine and drive Train option for this car is without any doubt the E46 M3. S54 engine 6 speed manual Getrag trans with the "M" Diff!! Or at least a very good LSD of some sort!!!! (4:10 gears make it SCREAM with Torque and FUN!! It is the combination that EVERY car person that has driven it says is the BEST car combination ever dreamed of! Handling is helped by some E36 parts but it might only be the steering rack I don't remember off hand.
Do an S54 motor or if your feeling crazy do an S65 and if you want one of the coolest BMWs on UA-cam do an S85
S65 ftw
I agree with putting an S85 into the e30. Some V10 action.
@arthurlekov2947 cool idea but no way that works...at least not affordably or reliably. The beauty of the e30 was the lightness and balanced handling. That goes out the window when you drop a giant V10 in it.
@@charless2684 You are 100 percent correct. It would be a silly car. I really like the sound of the engine and how reliable it is for the most part. These are the only two reasons why I agreed.
@@arthurlekov2947 ua-cam.com/video/7Xxv0buRUUw/v-deo.htmlsi=Z-J7MtG-bHIfJnKa
Hi Matt. Great choice. I love BMW'S. About 15 years ago I bought a 1986 E30 325i exactly in the same area you perches yours. I recognized the location, mines was parked in a garage three blocks down. I no longer have it, but i sure regret selling it. It was in beautiful condition, minor repairs Red with black Recaro seats and performance tires. I wish you the best.
Thank you!
Yes my boy, that is a true dream car of mine as well. Congrats! I’m looking forward to seeing you make it perfect as you always do. My support anyway I can.
Appreciate it!!
The e30 platform is my favorite platform of all time. I have an 89 325is that is my baby. I will now vicariously live out my E30 m3 dream through you. Thank you Matt!
19:52 you very rarely see cracked e30 dashes in Germany
Loving the new E30 project! Re-do the engine bay if you are not going to repaint the whole car and that's the only paint stuff you're gonna do! It will be done right away. Interior wise let it super stock please!
7:12 the 5 lugs on E30 M3 are stock the normal E30 have 4 lugs, so maybe inside the parts inside the car are the correct ones ! Check also the struts they must be 51 mm in diameter ;) And please fix the engine bay!
s52 for cheap, s54 for power, and a proper built s14 for original. the choice is yours. don't rush the project. I would definitely address the rust on the underside of the car as neglect is what kills these cars. it looks like someone already welded in a new floor board at some point. check the integrity of the repair because those repairs could be make all the difference god forbid theres an accident. trust me, its not easy doing this work. I have an e28 m5 and it finally got driven the other day because of an extensive rust repair and assembly process that took about 3 and a half years. you got this! remember, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!
there was like no rust under it
check the VIN to ensure that is a real M3. M3s didn’t come w 4 lug breaks. And i’ve never seen one swapped to a normal e30 4 lug setup.
The steering wheel is also e30 non-e30. Everything points to this being a replica. Or at a minimum gutted for parts and regular e30 parts added. If it is a replica, the body at least looks accurate
I'm guessing it was gutted and a lot of it parted out
Not a BMW guy but very excited to watch the new project! And these E30s are very handsome and understated compared to the modern monstrosities they're producing today. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it
I think a k20 or k24 would be a great choice for an engine pretty cheap and you’d be keeping with the spirit of a reving 4 cylinder
Thinking about that!
The fact that we have very similar tastes and ownership in cars never ceases to amaze me. That's the reason I find your channel so interesting. My current stable is 911/997 Porsche, E30, E46 and X5. Looking forward to this build as the E30 M3 is one of my dream cars too
Very similar taste for sure!
I think you should put a K24 in the car. It's similar to the motor they put into the E30 M3 from factory but more refined and a reliable beast for a daily driver. S50 or s54 would also be cool although that's what everybody does.
That bay is save-able .. knock down all the clear , shoot in some base where it’s missing like you said ; and 2k clear it , wetsand if necessary and follow with a compound and polish .. aerosol’s have came a looooong way , especially a 2-part 2k clear that has a hardener … it’s basically automotive grade
I reckon a n/a S54 would be good, or if you wanna go crazy try and buy an s85 (if it would fit)
I’m a new subscriber. I really enjoy watching channels as yours where cars are restored or just put back together. Me and my dad who I just lost use to do this. He had a body and every chance we got to do a project we did it. All through out my high school years I drove 57 Chevy wagon then a 65 fastback mustang that we put a newer 5.0 motor in. And then after that 67 mustang gt coupe. I had a chance to get a newer car but didn’t want one. I loved it to. Got a lot of attention. The crazy part I sold my 57 wagon to my art teacher before going to college. I miss my dad and the good ole days. It’s funny how time flies. Thanks for sharing your projects.
It brings back a lot of good memories. I can’t wait to see the progress and then the finish. Good luck. I hope all goes well. I will be here with everyone else cheering you on to the finish line. Have a great night.
I'm glad that brings back memories! I'm hoping to look back on these someday too.
Having owned a mildly upgraded e30 M3. Whatever you do, don’t even consider putting a stock motor back in.
It’s not great and not worth the money and headaches.
I agree!
@@matt13ross Agreed if you want to loose money
BEAUTIFUL!!!! very excited to see what you do with this one! maybe some black headlight surrounds ?
e46 m3 motor and you have to get the bay painted again. Also get the whole car color sanded
My man has exceptional taste in cars & I can’t wait to see this when it’s finished.I was a young man when these first appeared….. iconic dream car.S54 engine suspension & brakes 👍
Make sure your 5 lug rear trailing arms are from a Z3M otherwise your wheels will poke out 20mm wider on the rear, alternatively to save money you can run 318ti RTA's with no consequence other than a smaller diameter wheel bearing. Look into SRS concept 5 lug swap kits as they offer many plug n play options and also have BBK. As for the front I would ditch those non-m3 front e36 spindles as they will have your wheels sitting further back in the fenders (wheel caster is different on non-m3 spindles). Buy yourself a nice set of e36 m3 front spindles with m3 brakes & control arms included, they are 100% bolt on to your front housings and greatly increase braking. For suspension run a regular e30 m3 suspension kit for the rear & e36 front suspension WITH e30 top hats, it will NOT bolt up with e36 top hats. Would love to help you any way I can, e30 m3 is my dream car as well!
Thanks for all the info!
@@matt13ross my pleasure! E30Zone has a great write-up on 5 lug swaps in case you’d like additional info. Get yourself some offset control arm bushings as well for the lollipops. Lastly CATuned now sells a 5 Lug coil over kit that is also plug n play so you don’t have to swap over any top hats👍🏻
E30 owners are the most interesting people in the car scene, they all seem to be frightningly knowledgeable in the craft of maintaining their cars, so You'll definitely have a lot of help of fellow E30 owners.. beautiful car by the way, can't believe how tidy the under is. 👌🏻
bro has a nostalgia ultra bmw😭
Dude! Awesome choice. You're building quite the investment of appreciating cars. nice job. For the value of a well sorted E30 M3, I would take the time to get it to a nice driver quality car. Redo the engine bay.That thing is a basket case. You'll get a hell of a resell value if you can source an S14 engine. Otherwise get an S50 from an E36 M3.
Stick to your usual attention to detail and redo that engine bay! Will always bother you in future once the engine is in!
If you know what is good for you, get an m54 3.0L stock: 225/214. It has a broad torque band which is important. It is also BMWs most reliable and fixable engine. Two oil changes per year. Do all your repair work while it is still on the bench, much easier. Some tunes can easily put the output to 240/220 and lightweight e30 will see 100 mph quarter mile speeds.
Ignore the purists!! K swap turbo!!!!!!!!!
Turbo M50 with an M54B30 crank, grind down M50TU head for use with dual Vanos.
GS6-37DZ (6speed) from a Euro diesel 320i E90.
As an E30 owner myself, that's a pretty amazing find brother, keep up the good work
K24 swap all the way.
Hey Matt, I’m actually doing an e30 M3 conversion right now too. The rear suspension depends on how much you want to beat on the car. Best is Z3m because the brakes are bigger and they’re reinforced to track use. There is another route with what you have though. Let me know if you want to hear about it.
Yes the more info the better!
Z3M is not a good idea for E30 M3's unless you are doing a front BBK as well, due to the offset and track width mismatch.
@@lekronus e36 m3 front big brake kit goes along with a Z3m
Sure, E36 M3 front fits but compromises geometry unless you know what you’re doing.
Anyway, the original front suspension was in the back seat, so probably no need to do a whole e36 upgrade.
You can't leave the engine bay as it is, it's horrible. Original engine is the only way to go for this, if it's possible 🤞
awesome project! I would absolutely take the time to paint the engine bay, it will make any motor you put in there pop that much more. I would also wash and look at the floor closely, if there are any patches needed, now is the time. Can't wait to see more content on this!
Best to remedy that engine bay so you'll have peace of mind and not have to constantly think you should've redone it or make it more better than it currently is. When it comes down to an engine, my recommendation is a K20/24 hybrid setup using a ZF gearbox. That combination grands you an equivalent of what the E30 M3 had factory; however, you'll have it with an engine package that allows a lot of part availability, aftermarket support, copious amount of room to work with (even some extracurricular activities if you wish to add a little spice to it), and all around fun vehicle to drive both spiritually and daily.
Super excited for this one! Definitely drop an s54 in it, I did an s54 swap for my e30 and I absolutely love it!
Love it! I have a 1989 e30 M3 “tribute” car in Thailand ( we didn’t get real M3’s here because they didn’t make rhd cars). Nonetheless it’s an awesome car! The z3 e36 suspension parts are great for the 5 lug conversion and give you the ability to use a Porsche big brake kit ( I know you like those). I have a ‘96 M52 engine in mine and it just fits…big improvement. I would recommend an S52 or 54 if you can find one. I’m upgrading mine with S52 cams and ITB’s. Love the channel!
I say S54 swap for sure, painted in Alpine White, with some silver TE37’s. Sure it’s basic, but man does that combo look amazing on these cars.
If you push most German cars around without a stub axle in the rear hub, then it will destroy the bearings. The stub axle when tightened down with that nut that took you so long to get off, supports the bearing and keeps it from being wrecked. You can remove the axle from the stub axle so it's not flopping around.
He's probably going to replace all that as someone has swapped in non m3 4 lug suspension.
you cannot remove the axle from the stub in an e30 without removing the stub from the hub. The outer CV is not bolted like the inner is.
It's all getting replaced no worries!
A S65 swap would be very different and really cool I can’t lie. Some BBS wheels would really make the car look insane. Can’t wait to see what you end up deciding with this car
What a great project, I think with this one you should really take your time and do it right (i.e. fix the engine bay), this could be your "show car" and it would be great to really elevate the build to something like a factory refresh. I think everyone would love to see that.
Congratulations on your purchase. My brother almost bought that M3. Definitely put a s54 in the engine bay, but clean that thing up first.
My E30 has a evo motor. 4G63, 2.3L stroker, built head, Garrett turbo, Surpa 5 speed and medium case diff. Just needs a Haltech and its done.
Swap the engine with an S55 or S54 but if you want to be crazier and different, swap the RB26dett, that all would be really cool and really crazy for sure.
What a great project to move your channel forward this might be your best build to date so can’t wait to see your plan for this rebirth.
You have the ability to make the basics right while everything is out now, so take this chance and do it up to standard so you will be proud of it.
Ok now I am 100% certain you will hit 100k subs before 2025, earlier my guess was July of this year but hey 80k is amazing. Well, you asked about repainting the engine bay, based on your comment about powder coating the subframe parts then redoing/painting the engine is a given. What engine for this E30 M3 is way out of my wheel house, I would say whatever is reliable and parts both OEM and quality aftermarket support is the way forward. Again guessing from your other BMW's you have some good connections within the BMW community to find a perfect engine/ trans/diff combo or you wouldn't have bought this car. Looking forward to this build for sure!
100k by end of the year would be amazing!
I'm an e34 guy, but, Matt, this is going to be great!
Especially with your editing and presentation along with great wrenching to teach us all! :)
Fortunately, my e34 535i has lived its life in Florida and I'm only the second owner.
Looking forward to more of this M3! :)
I feel you. My dream cars are a GC8 WRX STI and an AW11 MR2. I already own the latter, though I still need to restore it. I'm sure I can acquire the former eventually.
0:48 My dream car is somewhat unusual, too. Its a Lexus IS 200 / Toyota Altezza. Its been my dream car for 10+ years. Maybe one day I will own one. Who knows.
Same
aren't they like at most 5k?
@@alexstromberg7696 Yea, here in Germany you can get them for 2-4K in an alright condition. Really good ones are more like 6-7K.
I bought a 1988 E30 M3, same color, tan interior, for $4500 back in 1999 and drove it home. Someone had pimped it out with chrome Borbet wheels and a massive stereo/security system. The paint was dead and the windshield and front bumper cover were cracked but otherwise ran ok. I bought a set of used TSW wheels off Ebay, polished the dead paint, and it looked great, fixed the cracked front bumper, found out that the M3 windshield is slightly different than my spare standard E30 windshield (made it work anyway), and spent a day rewiring the dash back to original. Had to replace the intake throttle body mounts that always cracked and replaced the timing chain tensioner and it was good to go. I didn't care much for the short 1st gear which I usually didn't use much but it ran well for 132k miles. Plan was to give it my 17 year old son to drive as a first car but he had trouble with the sensitive clutch so decided to sell it and get something he could drive (1986 E30 325e). Only kept it a couple of years and sold it for $7500 (what I had invested in it), obviously before the prices skyrocketed. Son never forgave me. He drives a newer X5 5.0 now and has a 02 E46 M3, manual trans, no sunroof, manual buckets, in his garage now. Your probably would be a lot better off with just an E36 M3 engine/trans and that wouldn't cost a lot of money.
Great car! Plus Wayne is a stand up dude from Yonkers. Ask him to show you pics of E30 (bat mobile) he did for HIP from many stylez another guys from Yonkers.
Looking forward to this series. I miss the heck out of my E36 M3
And do this car correctly starting with that engine bay!
Hi I just discovered your huge channel a super rare E30 in all that a big UP to you from France 🇨🇵 and looking forward to the next video 👍👌💪😎🔥🔥🔥
Hi Matt, I just subscribed and found you 30min ago with this new video about the m3 e30. I will continue watching this saga without a doubt because I love that car, please I ask you not to get carried away by the stance and leave the car as racetrack clean as possible... engines that would work well are: s54, s64, s55 or 2jz with good transmission. I trust you, greetings from Argentina
Very cool. Back in the Plymouth, England, I was once picked up by temp work agency person as they needed someone urgently for a job. He arrived in an M3 just like this. Was awesome being driven in it all all the winding back roads into Cornwall. I vividly recall how it felt and sounded. Maybe one day I will own one.
Excellent next car. I only watch your Porsche videos but will be following every video of this car. Please continue to be your anal self with this car. Bring to same level as your 911s.
Thanks so much guys!
While the back seats are out and they're exposed, might be a good idea to check and/or change out the fuel pump on the gas tank.
Especially moreso if it sat with any ethanol gas in it for years.
That stuff eats fuel systems up
So excited! One of my favorites to🤩 redoing the engine bay with a built m20 is the way!
knowing matt, he will likely clean, replace, and upgrade to his liking, so we already know that he will address the engine bay. i look forward to this build, for sure!!
now, if *i* had my say, i would reinforce the chassis, upgrade the bushings to a stiffer but daily driver friendly compound, upgrade the interior and sound system to make the driving experience more pleasurable, and keep the powertrain simple and tasteful with an s54 and 6 speed.
yes, it may be an original m3, but as it was stated, it is to be driven and enjoyed and not a garage queen. as such, just like his (used to be orange and now is grey) porsche, he made it his own and unique. besides, the only people who ever make money on a restoration venture are the guys actually doing them for collectors. the rest of us wind up like the previous owner, in over their head and looking to cash out.
did i mention how much i am looking forward to this build yet??
Broski, as a veteran New Yorker shout out to you on taking the risk on a Bronx owned car. The boroughs roads are unforgiving on all cars. Can’t wait to see what you find hiding inside!
Ahahaha the roads were rough!
@@matt13ross next time you’re in town, make sure you grab a chopped cheese
You finally have a BMW that I actually like. Congrats man!
Z3 suspension swap is a great conversion, I've done that half a dozen times and it's fast. Also I typically would buy the Z3 as a running driving vehicle and could use the engine and transmission in the e30 and sell off parts I didn't need.
A kid in my high school had a e30 M3, in the 90’s.
25 years later I’m still jealous lol
Hi Matt, a retired BMW TECH here and the E30 M3, my all time favorite. An S54 it has to be, I loved that 3.2L performance and straight 6 sound, however as a daily driver the 3.0L M54 would be the better choice. A 51% - 49% choice.
Lots of NLA parts on this one. It's a great little car once you get it sorted. Plenty of cars have M50/M52/S50/S52 retrofit parts in them for exactly this reason. Sweden/Denmark/Finland do a ton of these upgrades and turn them into monsters.
So great to see you grow! Been here since below 20k subs and not planning on leaving anytime soon. Greetings from your car‘s home, Munich!
Thanks for sticking around!
what an awesome new project Matt! ...I'd junk the E90 M3 you got a while back, and stick an S65 in the E30 ...Tha would kick ass!
Hello Matt Ross! I discovered you here today since I am a enormous car enthusiast and I have a deep love for Porsches and BMW's, but more.. It is nice to have discovered you and your projects! The M3 is also secretly a dream car/project of me)! It would be awesome to put a M5 6 cylinder engine in it! It's going to be very tight and you will obviously need some adjustments but it will add definitely more to the project and your investment! Good luck and I'm looking so much forward to the episodes to come! I can't wait!!
Thanks for joining!
E36 M3 engine EU spec engine with Dbilas ITB s ❤❤❤. Glad you bought an E30 M3 ❤
Agree, hate the wheels and don't worry about paintwork, get that engine in!
Cool car. If I had one of those, I would try to put a E34 M5 engine in it. The S38B38 has a 3,8L displacement and makes 335HP N/A. Pair that to a six speed manual and it's a fun machine! Cheers!
From experience with a friends E30M3 who did exactly this (ok with the 3.6L version of the E34 M5) this didn't work at all in terms of handling. Way too much weight added forward. If you want to stay close to the spirit of this car it's not the best option.
@pieterverboven4853 I see how that would play out with the extra weight of those 2 cylinders... you are absolutely right. But the idea of having a small car with a bigger engine is just cool. Also, it's pretty awesome that your friend tried that. Cheers!
Fit an e36 European 3.2 evo in it , great car and the most successful racing car in history I think and also my dream car with pedigree and gorgeous looks
Since it was the S12 engine to start with, and ive seen some drop S52’s in it, id source a B58 turbo 4 for it to keep it in the same general range, high revving 4 cyl. Modern tech and reliability, ton more HP and Torque would make this project really cool. Imo. 😂
Matt, I can’t wait to see where you go with this M3! A bucket list car for me but man are they expensive now!
I am super excited for this project!!!
im new bro, im a subaru guy but i love BMWs aswell, im rite here with u on this build
Great new build. I'd enjoy seeing you fully tidy the engine bay.
Congrats brother, so stoked for you man. Looks like you’re getting great interaction too
Gen 1 b58 ( a lot cheaper then gen2 ) would be good option. Reliable and makes decent power that you can enjoy without worry. Another cool option would be the s55. Since it is an e30 m3 id personally keep it all bmw. But that’s just me
Good luck on this build! Great color also
I would clean the engine bay and repaint it in the way you want. Or just dont and then never complain about it in the future...
I had a 91 BMW M3 in Cambridge mass , I was the fastest around and had 18 thousand dollars in parts to the motor
Customized the whole car but sold because I didn’t have a garage
People tried to steal it so had to
Car is worth 100,000 dollars now 😢
Just stumbled across this channel. I’m subscribing to watch the journey of this E30 M3. They certainly are iconic cars. Nice catch sir 👍🏻
The S54 from e43 m3 fore sure (if you would have lived in europe, the S50B32 from the e36 m3 and the z3m would have been the obvious choice) would be an awsome build! The chassis from the e36 compact and the z3 are based upon the e30. I’m sure it wont be a walk in the park, but it sure will be great content! Love the channel! Keep it up Matt 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you!
Love watching the trial and error, these videos are going to save some other poor bastard a lot of time
The suspension you found in it is actually an upgrade so you should go with those one and change out the original suspension. I am working on the same generation E30 with my brother (not and M3 though)
I would say repaint now since the engine is already out, in the long run saves you time and energy cause as it dries you can be working on the exterior or interior of the car but if you do it later on you’ll have to the engine out and wait.