Project E3 is Go! 2014

The place for everything non E21. Now with dedicated E12 & E30 sections
Post Reply
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by nas80 »

Rob, you have free licence to plagiarise all you like brother


[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
rob0r
E21 Pro
Posts: 771
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 6:03 pm
Location: Colchester/Sudbury

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by rob0r »

I will accept my license! I'm still debating engine choices, I have a lead on an E34 Alpina B10 M30 3.5 engine circa 255bhp for £1K, I already have an E34 M30 box so that's going to be miles easiest/cheapest of any engine I'm contemplating. I still have an M60 wedged in the engine bay of mine which is nowhere near fitting (to be fair I didnt remove any of the ancillaries/engine mounts), but I think this swap would be too hard and won't be an enjoyable process! That said it should fit... https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum ... 748/page1/

Then again I also have a spare M70 V12 laying around which I could drop in and mockup :twisted: It came with the 6 speed manual V12 box that's going in my E32 750i, so I'd have to adapter plate a box onto it.
ImageImage
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by nas80 »

if it was up to me id have gone for the e34 m5 engine any day of the week. life would have been simple but then again what im doing here is a bit more trick more modern and with a 6 speed box makes the car a much better all rounder.

The v8 is a massive engine and im not surprised it doesnt fit very well. the v12 is a monster but i think you should bag that m30 alpina engine if you can, you wont have problems with anti roll bars and its pretty much a bolt in affair.
[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
User avatar
arshad76
E21 Pro
Posts: 951
Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 am
My E21(s): Considering another E21
Location: Manchester England

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by arshad76 »

nas80 wrote:if it was up to me id have gone for the e34 m5 engine any day of the week. life would have been simple but then again what im doing here is a bit more trick more modern and with a 6 speed box makes the car a much better all rounder.

The v8 is a massive engine and im not surprised it doesnt fit very well. the v12 is a monster but i think you should bag that m30 alpina engine if you can, you wont have problems with anti roll bars and its pretty much a bolt in affair.

Hey Rob,

please feel free to copy with pride. I've keeping an eye on the few updates you've made on Facebook to your E3. I was being a bit of a stick in the mud with Nas with engine choice, because I basically liked the idea of a modern E3 Alpina-esque car.

The M5 Nas mentions really should be all the engine anyone would need - I just didn't want anything M-Sport in an Alpina style car. The M30 you mention sounds like a great upgrade, the only two minor negatives I can see are age (perhaps) and weight (perhaps again). I've been told that it's a really good combination by someone who has gone and done it though and like Nas mentioned will cause you a lot less angst, by using the same mounts, worries with wiring and gearbox.

The V12 to me is overkill, but if you're not planning on it being a daily, why not.
UK Moderator
rob0r
E21 Pro
Posts: 771
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 6:03 pm
Location: Colchester/Sudbury

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by rob0r »

I hadn't really considered an S38 for a few reasons I think. I get the impression they all need £££ rebuilds by this age and they seem very expensive in the first place. Buying an engine for £2.5K and then rebuilding doesn't really meet the budget. Also aren't S38s noticably heavier than M30s? If I had unlimited cash then S38B38 would be top of the list.

I'm not really sold on the S50 either, I've driven an E36 M3 and was left very underwhelmed, I really had to rev it! I'm then worried if anything ever happened to an M engine then I'm going to go bankrupt, whereas something like a V12 is cheap to replace :?

Talking of mine... I'm not sure when I'll get some actual progress done! I'm weighing up rebuilding my original black E21 316 or the E3.... after the 750i... :hammer

I'm still tempted to drop the spare V12 into the bay in the meantime :twisted:
ImageImage
User avatar
arshad76
E21 Pro
Posts: 951
Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 am
My E21(s): Considering another E21
Location: Manchester England

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by arshad76 »

I'm on the Alpina forum as well and while they're clearly biased towards their cars, the general consensus is that most M cars need to be revved to get the full returns, while the power for Alpinas is available lower down the rev range and therefore make it more of a better driving experience overall.

I remember someone saying to me that you want an engine in a car that when you pull up to shows will make people ask how the f£&@ing hell did you manage to get that in?! A V12 would definitely tick that box and if you have one spare then definitely give it a punt.
UK Moderator
pandemonium001
E21 Pro
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 1:19 pm
My E21(s): E12 535i T (ish)
Location: Scotland Ayrshire

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by pandemonium001 »

m30b35 turbo, not that I am biased or anything. :thumbsup
User avatar
arshad76
E21 Pro
Posts: 951
Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 am
My E21(s): Considering another E21
Location: Manchester England

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by arshad76 »

pandemonium001 wrote:m30b35 turbo, not that I am biased or anything. :thumbsup
I actually think that would be a great choice too :thumbsup
UK Moderator
rob0r
E21 Pro
Posts: 771
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 6:03 pm
Location: Colchester/Sudbury

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by rob0r »

We're clogging up this awesome E3's build thread :x I'll say one last thing, I was hoping to stay NA or a pre-turbo'd engine ideally. I've costed up M30 turbos in the past and I can't get the figure below £3.5-4K to do it properly.
ImageImage
pandemonium001
E21 Pro
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 1:19 pm
My E21(s): E12 535i T (ish)
Location: Scotland Ayrshire

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by pandemonium001 »

Nas
See Link:
http://www.classicdaily.net/2012/10/24/sway-bar/

may be some pics and info of use. :driving
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by nas80 »

he missed out something pretty vital like where he got the ARB from!
[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
rob0r
E21 Pro
Posts: 771
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 6:03 pm
Location: Colchester/Sudbury

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by rob0r »

That's a really interesting blog :) One part states using E28 steering components/linkages which I didn't know was possible.

That ARB is mentioned again here as an "ST" ARB
http://www.classicdaily.net/2012/09/21/engine-back-in/
ImageImage
User avatar
Jason_323i
E21 Pro
Posts: 756
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:43 pm
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/e21jason
Location: Dubai UAE

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by Jason_323i »

I guess ST is suspension technics a U.S. company
BMW e21 race car supercharged s14 cage and fabrication by www.chizfab.com
Z3M Coupe
2.8 Z3 Coupe
Caterham Supersport
Clio 172 Cup factory race car(50%)
Ferrari 348 Challenge track car
User avatar
arshad76
E21 Pro
Posts: 951
Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 am
My E21(s): Considering another E21
Location: Manchester England

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2015

Post by arshad76 »

Hello All,
It's been a fair while since an update, so I thought I'd give a little report. Nas has been working away hard and in true Mike Brewer style I've been sourcing any parts that are needed. I've had mixed feelings about these car stripping and dipping places. Initially I loved the idea of every bit of rust being stripped thoroughly and areas that needed remedy becoming immediately obvious, but I also heard some negative comments about difficulties with painting the car afterwards, as the chemicals used can apparently affect the ability for paint to etch afterwards. After some toing and frowing, we decided to go for it and Nas sent it off post stripping to a shell to a place in Birmingham – envirostrip - http://www.envirostripukltd.com/.
Image

Image

Image

Image

Some better photos to follow as work progresses, but very excited but hoping there is something left of the car post treatment!
The other area we were struggling with was choice of side mirrors. I looked far and wide for some period genuine E3 electric mirrors, but they are a bit on the ugly side. Plus it’s difficult to get hold of any replacement rubber mounts and glass too. I really wanted the convenience of electric mirrors, but not if they spoiled the lines of the car.
Looking at another nice E3 restoration, I really liked the look of these smaller, manual mirrors on this black UK car. I’ll probably snag the idea for Osram H4 bulbs too in this car as they’ll improve the lighting, without looking too out of place.
Image

We managed to track down a new pair on ebay Germany and they were duly ordered.

Image

Image

Still nowhere near halfway through the build yet, but I’m really pleased so far with the progress.
UK Moderator
User avatar
Manitoba
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 2380
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:47 am
My E21(s): '80 323i, 5-speed manual Kastanien rot
Location: Utrecht area, the Netherlands

Re: Project E3 is Go! 2014

Post by Manitoba »

Nice progress, love the shiny mirrors!

Greetz,
Walter.
Post Reply