320i ? Would like some opinions.

[benz-tech]

Edit: Help me out if I'm wrong about the following,  maybe I just went to the wrong gathering...

The e30 community seems different from the 510 community. Dimers were welcoming to EVERY 510 that came to a meet since there were so many ways to do a 510... correctly even. Turbo SR guys next to VG30s next to L16-L23(my fave ) guys.
The e30 community seems a bit less tolerant.  4 cyl cars seem to be shunned, at lesst at the few meets I've been to. And it may just be where I live. The purists around here walk around with their noses up unless its  a s50 or a cammed to hell m20. Must have real BBS etc... enough of the rant, I do hope its mellower elsewhere.

I do have 2 questions, 
Do you think my 320i badge is acceptable,  given my 1950cc displscement?

I will soon have the following M parts in my engine: s52 pistons, beehive springs, 33mm buckets and s50ish cam profile. I don't dare put an "M"  in front of the 320i do I?   Maybe one in the grill?

At least, as much as I want to call it an s42, I will refrain.

[DesktopDave]

I don't bother much with E30 communities. Most of them think efficiency doesn't equal real performance. What can you do? Haters gonna hate. I blame it on the general lack of STEM education...

 

I wouldn't bother with the ///M crap unless you like glossy magazine articles. It's all just sales, BMW Motorsports has very little to do with performance any more IMHO. You're using the same tricks the real race engineers used back in the good old days of Can Am & DTM.

I'd leave it totally stock, personally. No need to show your hand too early.

[Darky]

Hi

Go for it, your car your rules!

Wouldn't bother with m bits.

Loved fj20 hated the move to sr. Chain to belt yuk!

Cheers

[benz-tech]

Hi

Go for it, your car your rules!

Wouldn't bother with m bits.

Loved fj20 hated the move to sr. Chain to belt yuk!

Cheers

Oh I forgot about the beloved FJ20. Unobtainium. And soooo beautiful.

[DesktopDave]

Makes me wonder how many of us came from the Datsun/Nissan community?

I had a couple of Silvias myself...an '87 200SX XE hatchback with a nice CA18E. I had planned on building up a Gazelle RS once upon a time (before the whole "JDM" thing caught on, LOL), but I ended up buying a '97 240SX XE Kouki instead. The KA24DE wasn't as bad as everyone says it is. Tough, great torque but a bit asthmatic.

I bought the wife a few Sentra wagons over the years too. When the family arrived we ended up with a '96 Quest (VG30E). My In-laws owned a bunch - '81 Stanza, '86 Maxima and the delightful '91 Sentra SE-R (CA20DE).

I still keep an eye out for the occasional 200SX turbo or the rare SE/V6. Neither are nearly as good all-rounders as our little BMWs, but they're fun and very tossable little cars with great potential.

[benz-tech]

Makes me wonder how many of us came from the Datsun/Nissan community?

I had a couple of Silvias myself...an '87 200SX XE hatchback with a nice CA18E. I had planned on building up a Gazelle RS once upon a time (before the whole "JDM" thing caught on, LOL), but I ended up buying a '97 240SX XE Kouki instead. The KA24DE wasn't as bad as everyone says it is. Tough, great torque but a bit asthmatic.

I bought the wife a few Sentra wagons over the years too. When the family arrived we ended up with a '96 Quest (VG30E). My In-laws owned a bunch - '81 Stanza, '86 Maxima and the delightful '91 Sentra SE-R (CA20DE).

I still keep an eye out for the occasional 200SX turbo or the rare SE/V6. Neither are nearly as good all-rounders as our little BMWs, but they're fun and very tossable little cars with great potential.

I don't know why but I got a soft spot for ghe 200sx also. The vg30 was just a slug, unless it was turbo'd. I spent a ton of money on my 2nd 510 to get just about 200 to the wheels.

JDM was was ruined by punk kids. My old buddy's 510 with an fj20det was clean and stupid fast back in the late 80's. My 2.3L 510 could pull on a 5.0 mustang when I ran race gas (i left the 1600 valve cover on it). We were just geaheads that weren't keen on building another american v8 thst handled like a pig.

And don't get me started on why I love the gtv6 and Milanos. Damn Alfas.

[DesktopDave]

And don't get me started on why I love the gtv6 and Milanos. Damn Alfas.

 

Just saw a clean GTV6 manual for $1600. Probably a good bet, only needs the same thing they all do...TLC. They're a lovely ride down the rabbit hole though.