RE: M3 V 325i

[Thi VanAusdal <tvanausdal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Patrick_Dwyer@domain.elided
> Hi All,
> I am thinking of selling my 1987 325i and buying an E30 M3. I 
> don't know what year yet (the newest I can afford).
> Question is - will I notice much of a difference in 
> performance between the two cars. I know the M3 has a 4 cylinder
> engine but what cc is it, 0 - 60 time etc.
> What I'm really asking I suppose is, will I have a much more 
> powerful car than the 325i if I get an M3.
> Any comments welcome.
> Thanks,
> Pat
> 

Two things come to mind. [Comparing a stock '87 325i to a, say, '88 M3]

Is there anything wrong with your 325i?  Need more power, or is it
tired?
You're going to get a more highly-tuned 2.3 liter four with similar
mileage
to replace a smooooooth six-cylinder.  Is that what you want?  Assume
the PO
drove it hard a lot.  Do you think a 100K M3 motor has more life left
than
a 100K 2.5 M20?  The four is relatively gutless at lower rpms.  Do you
want
to have to make that downshift in traffic all the time?  The 2.5 is
smoother
down low and has slightly more torque down there, I believe.

The M3 will outhandle the 325i if for no other reason, because it has 
205/50/15 or so tires v. your 195/60/14s.  Oh, and it has better
springs/shocks/
swaybars/geometry, too.  So you could invest some cash and have a setup
ALMOST
as good as an M3.  Or a lot worse ...

So ... you can spend $1500 on suspension, $3000ish to drop in a motor
from
a newer (E36) 325i/s or (E34) 525i and have a better refined 200 hp.
(Twincam/VANOS
will provide you with better torque curve and larger displacement all in
one, out
of a stock motor you can service out of the book.)

Or you can spend the same type of money upgrading to a nice E30 M3, and
do nothing
to it, and enjoy the hell out of it.  And have one of the best stock
vehicles around.
I wish I had these choices to make.  

My wife and I haggle over good AC/POS car (Geo Metro) or bad AC/nicer
car ('87 325is).
I am stuck with the Geo for now since she got a job 2 miles from the
house, and I drive
20 miles in Texas heat.  Dammit.

 - thi v.
Austin, TX

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