New Caro. I got a Bimmer.

[Aaron]

E34.

Actually, now that I've thought about it, I'd rather put a stickshift V12 into an E24 6 series.

I like my E34, but it isn't what I'd be looking for if I wanted to drop 20-30k on a BMW. It's like dropping a lot into a Fiero to try and beat a Corvette. It will never do what the Corvette does.

However, a 5.0l V12 in a E34 with a 6-speed would be sweet, although very nearly impossible.

An E39 starts in a better package than the E34, in both luxury and performance, and has a potent 400hp 5.0l V8 to begin with. My problem with the BMW though, is you're pretty much maxxed out with whatever you buy. The 5.0l can be modded, but without F/I will top out around 500hp or so, and need 8,000rpm. F/I is an option, but plagued with drivability issues unless you can find a shop that can tune, and tune the fuck out of, a stock computer.

Plus, I don't want my BMW to be a project car, that's what my Fiero is for. I want to buy it, throw some bolt ons, and drive it. After I've payed off my Jeep, I'm looking at either a E39 M5, or a E92 M3 (The new one). I just with I could get 550-600hp with a motor that runs like the stock one. LS1 swap is an option, but it will never have all of the features that the car does stock.

[The Dark Side of Will]

The only expensive part of that combo is the 6 speed.

An M70 can be had for under $1K, an M73 for under $1500. A Getrag 265 (5 speed) runs about $500. Project E24's (clean body, doesn't run) are available for under $2K. The only remotely hard part of the combo is making the bellhousing to put the 265 with the V12. The whole project should fit inside $10K.

[Aaron]

And you're left with just that, a project. I don't want a project BMW, I want a daily driver capable, high power BMW that retains everything a BMW is famous for. I've got a project car, this would be a driving car.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Chuckle... Car guys can't work construction. To a car guy the whole point of the project is doing the wrenching. To a construction guy the whole point of the project is *COMPLETING IT*.

Having worked construction management for the last 7 months, I think there's something to be said for this approach, despite having been a car guy for 15 years at this point.

[THE PUNISHER]

Gas mileage makes sense.


When I had my M3 , I got a spare E36 M3 tranny for $600 , which seemed to be the going rate.


Be a man an Old school V-12 it with webbers...

[Aaron]

Chuckle... Car guys can't work construction. To a car guy the whole point of the project is doing the wrenching. To a construction guy the whole point of the project is *COMPLETING IT*.

Having worked construction management for the last 7 months, I think there's something to be said for this approach, despite having been a car guy for 15 years at this point.

I'm definitely a car guy in this sense, but I've found the more wrenching I do, the more I lose the BMW-ness of an engine.

[CincinnatiFiero]

For the BMW guys out here, this website is really cheap! http://www.autohausaz.com/ My entire engine gasket set (Minus front/rear mains seals and

Just wanted to say thanks for this link. Between my 300D and my Jetta and my buddies E300D and 300D we've blown like a grand with them in the past month haha. I guess thats how they get you, the stuff is all good brands at too cheap prices so you end up buying like $250 worth of parts more than you need lol. I've got basically every gasket for my 300D sitting in a box right now haha.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Chuckle... Car guys can't work construction. To a car guy the whole point of the project is doing the wrenching. To a construction guy the whole point of the project is *COMPLETING IT*.

Having worked construction management for the last 7 months, I think there's something to be said for this approach, despite having been a car guy for 15 years at this point.

I'm definitely a car guy in this sense, but I've found the more wrenching I do, the more I lose the BMW-ness of an engine.

What wrenching have you ever done on a BMW engine?

[Aaron]

None really. Helped put a custom turbo kit on an E46 M3, did a head/cam swap on a Z3 3.2, and have worked on my 525 a lot. The thing I've noticed, a set of cams affect a BMW motor as much as it does a LS1. And I don't like that.

[The Dark Side of Will]

This is Aaron's thread. Let me get my pic out of here so he can have the glory.

[CincinnatiFiero]

M-parallel was one of the best wheels BMW ever made. They look good on everything.