Re: M3 vs 325i

[Mike Orth <ORTHM@xxxxxxx>]

Patrick Dwyer writes...

> 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.
>
Hi Patrick,
Here's my 2 cents worth on the topic since I was having to make the same
kind of decision earlier this year. I was deciding between a 325is and
an M3.  I finally decided to go with the 325is and here's why:

1. Insurance cost
2. Parts cost
3. Lower purchase price (for cars of similar condition)
4. The 325 engine can be easily modified to produce similar output of
the M3(chips, exhaust,ect).
5. The 325 has more low to mid range torque which make it a little
easier to drive around town.  The M3 really doesn't have much torque
below 4000 rpm.
6. At certain engine speeds, everything in the M3 vibrates.  Not so with
the 325.
7. From the reading I was doing at the time.  The M3 0-60 times were not
much faster than the 325.  The winner of that race was more likely
determined by the driver.  At speeds above that, the M3 is the faster
car in stock form(see #4).

Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to gotten an M3 since I was
looking for something to use as a track car, but the ones in my price
range were pretty rough or needed engine work.  Trust me, you don't want
to get an M3 that needs motor work.  Have any M3 checked out by a
trusted mechanic before you buy it.  Fresh M3 engines are $$$$.

I guess it all depends on what you are looking for.  The M3 is the
faster, more powerful of the 2 but unless you take it to the track or
live somewhere that you can drive at 100 + MPH on a regular basis, you
will not be tapping the car's potential very often.  The E30 M3 is a
race car that has been de tuned for the street.  With the 325, you get
90% of the performance of the M3 for about 70% of the cost.

BTW, the stock M3 engine is 2.3 liters.

Hope this helps,
Mike

88 325is - track car/backup street car :-)
93 325is - street car/backup track car

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