Ti better than a blown '95 M3

[Budget M3]

I haven't been driving my DASC'd '98 ti much lately...so I've been thinking about selling it to get a blown e36 M3. Rationale: long term collectibility of the M...even in modified form.

So...I went to look at and drive a '95 M3--Avus blue, black leather Vaders, sunroof, vortech supercharged, 3.2 OBD1, H&R coilover race suspension, front strut bar, anti-roll bars front & rear, urethane bushings F&R, aluminum radiator, fan delete, UUC clutch & flywheel, B&B exhaust, 18" BBS, 235/40R18 rubber, Brembo cross drilled rotors, stock calipers....etc...

My ti (owned since new)--Avus blue, black leather/grey cloth, Cali roof, M44 w/ DASC and AFPR (stock ECU and injectors), UUC flywheel, e34 M5 clutch, Remus exhaust, AC Schnitzer springs, Koni struts/shocks, front strut bar, 17" AC Schnitzer knockoff wheels, 235/40ZR17 rubber, 328i front vented rotors and calipers...etc...

Both cars had some minor chips/dings in the paint and both had approx 110k miles. No rips or tears in the leather, so they were equal in the cosmetic dept. I would have had to invest approx $5000 to "step up" to the M3.

Analysis: the M3 was faster than stink...much faster in a straight line than the DASD'd ti. My test drive was on public streets, but I suspect it would also handle circles around the ti on the track. On the street, however, the ti is much more civilized. While I used to think my ti rode somewhat harshly, it is a Cadillac compared to the highly modified M3. The ti has more roll in the corners (barely) and has more wheel hop due to the e30 rear trailing arms, too. The modified ECU in the M made fuel delivery much smoother and was more easily modulated. However, I could really feel the extra weight and length of the e36 M3 in the corners. While it was clearly faster overall, the ti FELT more nimble.

Result: The modified M3, although faster, is not worth the extra coin. Even if I had been offered an even trade, I don't think I would have taken it. My ti still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, and the performance difference between it and a similar generation blown M3 is, IMHO, negligible. The uniqueness of the ti body style in the USA, and the Cali roof still grab more attention than a "run of the mill" e36 M3, too, which is a nice little intangible.

Bottom Line: Long live the Ti!!!

[cooljess76]

Nice!

Solution = Sell the DASC'd M44, use the coin to buy a wrecked M3 and drop that s52 into the ti's engine compartment. I hear all the cool kids are doing it

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22341

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

Nice!

Solution = Sell the DASC'd M44, use the coin to buy a wrecked M3 and drop that s52 into the ti's engine compartment. I hear all the cool kids are doing it

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22341

Yeah...the M3 motor sounds cool. I decided against that, though, when I DASC'd mine 6 years ago. Too many other mods (and added expense) are required to properly set up the S52--different exhaust, AC, belts, etc...

I had the opportunity to drive an S52 ti on the track a few years ago when I was an instructor back in Virginia. The 6-cyl makes the ti faster, but much more nose-heavy--the already omnipresent understeer was even worse. You can dial it out with suspension mods, but then you have a race car ride for the street--kind of like the M3 I drove and not too balanced for both street AND track.

[cooljess76]

Not sure what wrecked M3's were going for 6 years ago, but I'm pretty sure they've dropped significantly. I picked up my M3 for just a little over 3 grand. Dropped a couple more grand on mods and replacement of common wear items. As for the Ti being nose heavy with the 6cyl power plant, I have to disagree with you on that. Remember, they offered 323ti's in Europe. The S52 only weighs about 80lbs more than the M44 and the weight could be easily displaced by shifting the battery to the cargo area. Just a suggestion, I'm sure you've already made up your mind and you have good reasons. I'm just saying that swaps are becoming the new standard upgrade in the ti community. Especially since DASC's are going for $3800 these days and that's before tuning and they net less hp than say an s50/s52. Again, not trying to raise an argument, I'm glad you kept the Ti in favor over the M3

BTW, your Ti looks awesome!

[pnosker]

Soon Jess... soon I will net more hp than an S50/S52 >}... muahahahahahaha...

but yeah the ti feels so nimble compared to the standard E36 because of its rear end. A ti has more potential than the E36 body on the autocross due to its footprint and rear suspension; it's just harder to learn how to control it.

[tiFreak]

trunks are sooo overrated

[woz]

iv just done the m3 engine into a compact conversion and its brilliant..not nose heavy at all..very very well balanced and goes like a rocket.....

[nickelNdime]

ive got a 95 m3 for sale cheap if anyone wants to do the full swap.