E30 to M3 wheel flares
 

EDIT: Title should read E30 to M3 wheel flares...

My 17 y/o son is off the jacked up F150 truck idea and has seen the light with my 1991 E30, but he want's an E30 M3. Real E30 M3's are out of our price range, but buying an 87-91 E30 to fix up over time and convert the E30 fenders to M3 fenders is an idea I'm bouncing around.

We don't want to build a full blown replica (too much time and money), but just want the flared fenders with wider wheels, new paint, a clean interior with aftermarket seats, etc. The front fenders and side skirts bolt IIRC, but the rear fenders will need to be grafted on.

What is the downside to doing this project? How hard/easy would it be to graft the rear M3 fenders on the E30? Remember, we are not looking for a show car, but a car he and I can work on together and make into a cool little street car for his senior year.

Pics for inspiration.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365140578.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365140808.jpg

needs LS2 !

I'd like to find an E30 with the M42 engine as the donor, as it's been a great little motor in my car.

The rear C pillar/window frame is going to be the hardest part. Only place you can get it is off of an M3 parts car.

This thread will give you a good idea of what the process will be: E30 M3 Steel Bodywork Conversion - R3VLimited Forums

BTW, you might want to use an early E30 ('87 and older) for the conversion since they have the correct tail light panel already.

I've seen a few similar builds on bimmerforums, if you are bodywork savvy it's totally doable. I'm not sure about sourcing either the flares or the entire fenders to install, if there aren't aftermarket options it could get expensive fast. 5-lug conversions are really common so that shouldn't be an issue, and it's a good time to upgrade brakes/suspension. Personally I would swap in an S50/S52, they are cheap and easy to find and fitting one into an E30 is easy and well documented.

The rear (flared) fender work would be tricky

I would keep a close eye on your budget and goal. You may end up with a clone of a car that is actually more expensive then the original.

Can it be done? Sure, but it is going to be very expensive and time consuming to do it right. Here is a thread where someone did the body conversion the propper way:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=196500

And while I understand the desire to have the e30 M3 look, maybe something along the lines of a euro bumper conversion would make sense, that way if you son changes his mind back to wanting an F150 you have not thrown tons of money at a project you cannot sell.

Euro bumpers can be seen on this car:

http://bringatrailer.com/2009/05/12/rare-in-the-usa-1985-alpina-b6/

Give him some time, he'll change his mind again.

Skip the M3 clone idea and buy a 325iS, preferably a later one, and fix it up. Those can be made to look nice and they are a nice driving car. You'll get more of your money back than if you try to make an M3 clone. There are a lot of differences on an M3 body and the fenders are just the tip of the iceberg.

JR

This >

I do feel very qualified to comment on this as I have completed many restorations on very different types of vehicles. A better way to do this would be to skip the body mods and find a good E30 'IS' 6 cyl / manual trans car. The "IS" cars already have the sport suspension, sport seats, lower rear gearing usually with posi-trak and the 6cyl cars respond really well to the typical bolt on / chip tuning mods.

The problem is with this particular model is finding all the stuff to make it a clone and the work and $$$ that goes with it.

M/O is the 6 cyl IS car is a much cheaper choice and a really good platform to start with and in all honesty, when modded will probably out-perform a M3

There's a kid locally that's done an S50 conversion in an E30, but he left the bodywork stock.

I used to see another E30 running around that had an S50 conversion and M3 bodywork, but I don't know if it was a real M3 or an ///Mposter

+1

My 1st BMW was a 1989 E30...

Thanks guys. The front fenders are $250 each new. Rear fenders are $400 new each. Side skirts $200 I think. We would keep the stock engine and suspension. Just wider 4 lug wheels (unless I could swap to 5 lug hubs very cheap to get 5 lug wheels cheaper). In no way are we looking at a clone, but just a fun car for his senior year and college.

All a pipe dream? Maybe, but it keeps us talking and thinking.

Keep in mind that he will have to cut off the entire rear quarter panel and weld on the M3 rear fenders. At the same time, he'll need the M3 trunk lid and also the rear roof.

My thoughts were to graft the fender only. No C pillar or trunk mods. The trunk wluld have a small apoiler like my e30.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365177831.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365177867.jpg

I could always go the Vorshlag route, temping up cardboard adn converting it to steel. :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365180287.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365180301.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365180326.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365180341.jpg

Notice the engine in the Vorshlag? And yes, I would think that you could form your own for sub $800

Save money, buy and restore a 944 Turbo, it already has the flares and the power and a far superior chassis to a stock E30.

Probably not the advice you're looking for.

Just not sure why you'd want to make it look like an M3 rip off. Especially if you are keeping the stock motor and suspension. An E30 is one of the prettiest cars of the last 25 years -- and I don't think an E30 M3 is any prettier than a standard one.

I'd rather take the resources to making a fast, reliable E30, than a half-assed M3 replica.

Sounds like the kids with non-turbo 944 n/a's that want to 'convert' then to turbos on the cheap.

The most expensive 944 Turbo is a non-turbo 944 conversion. Similarly, the most expensive E30 M3 is a E30 3-Series M3 clone.

Your son is better off finding a nice, clean non-M3 E30 and keeping it stock, especially if he wasn't planning on touching the motor. May not look as aggressive as an M3, but will give him less headaches in the long run.

My $0.42,
-Z

Buy someones stalled out project that all the hard work and gathering has already been done. Even if you also need to pick up a donor car to finish it you will be ahead of the game. These types of conversions are time consuming and your wallet will make sounds like a puppy being kicked if you try to keep a schedule or completion date.

These sorts of cars pop up in southern Cal often enough but you have to move fast, no thinking just buying when all the right parts are present. A few months ago a real m3 shell with all the m3 stuff like trunk lid suspension etc. but no interior, engine, trans or front sheet metal with a clean but wrecked 325is parts car came through craigslist for 5 something. seemed a good deal for someone who wanted to do the swap- find a M42 engine later on and have a real but mismatched e30 m3.

Just be patient, diligent with cash in hand & ready to pounce.

My son's first car was an E30 - we just worked on it to make it reliable and it was the first real car he turned a wrench on. Today, he owns a couple, plus a truck and works on them himself. As I type, a friend has her car over and he's fixing something. It's been a pleasure to watch someone once hesitant to tighten a drain plug swap a clutch like it's no big deal.

So many of us lust after an E30 M3 - so I like your approach to sort it out first and then look at the fenders, etc. But unless you want to get into metalworking, I think a clean semi-resto is the way to go. He now has a 318i, very original with sport seats, etc. Really a nice car without the ego involved in an M3. I love the way the four banger winds up, really a fun car - and just underpowered enough to keep him from doing stupid stuff with his right foot.

A well set up 944 is something else we've bounced around. Maybe I'll get that and he can have my car and leave as is. It's too nice to modify we think.

Again, we are not looking to make concours real M3 or poser. Just a car with wider fenders and wheels, aftermarket seat, RS style carpet, rear seat delete, momo type steering wheel, and maybe a roll bar. Practical? No, but who cares. My 930 wasn't practical either when I was done with it, but great on the track.

And the M3 is like the slant nose 911. Some like it. Some don't. It's just a look we prefer.

No roll bar in a street car......

I just wonder how your son would feel if he actually drove an E30 M3. They are pretty peaky engines. The baby six responds very well to light tuning. Headers, chip and a cam make a big difference.

Another thing to consider is finding a clean 1984-86 318i and doing a motor swap. Those have to be cheap these days. Swap in a M42 with a 3.73 and he would be happy.

The great thing about the E30 is that almost all the parts are interchangeable.

There's also the S50 swap.

944's are cheap, but you'll always be working on it. Pricey parts too.

The BMW stuff is more within the means of a teenager.

Fwiw, my 944 once the neglect was righted, hasn't been any worse than any other vehicle of that era, or than the newer M3 which had been hauled to the dealer for everything and still had entry of issues....

Why do you feel the need to defend your choice of car?

As an E30M3 owner it would be better to buy an E30M3 instead of converting as you'll spend plenty of time fixing one up and you'll have a lot better ride in the end. Sure its more dough up front, but grafting parts etc might be the same cost in the end and you still wont have the real thing. Bottom line is its your money and your project my 2cents is is exactly that. GL either way.
(If you need help finding an M3 let me know)

I got pulled over in 5 point harnesses, Rollbar, Fire extinguisher, fuel cell, non-DOT headlights and a few other mods in my Mustang. CHP officer was unaware of all that he could have writen me for.

I've had a few e30s & love the M3. Either get a real e30 M3, which may not be a great car for a 17 year old, or a 325/318is & enjoy it. A clone would be a lot of work & money that would not appeal to many for resale.

Perhaps your son would be interested in a clean, two adult owner, non M car:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365231167.jpg

^^^^ That is exactly what I was recommending.

JR

^^^ Beautiful :)

Great looking car!

Like Jim B, I've been pulled over in my 930 with a cage, 5 point harness, straight pipe, etc without problems. The roll bar would be padded and back far enough. It's simply fir looks. The rear seat delete keeps others out of the back.

We could buy a stock E30 all day long. That's what I have now. We could buy an E30 and do an engine swap all day long. I don't want him in a fast car, just what we think looks cool and one that a father and son can do as a project. It's NOT a CLONE or REPLICA or TRIBUTE car, just a car with wider fenders and wheels at the end of the day.

Dinan suspension parts + look for the motor from an M3 that was wrecked by someone else's 17 y/o son...

Don't alter the body ....save the money for engine upgrades and good tires.
I am with zoomiata on this one.

Unless you find a perfect mechanical/interior car that's been beat down an alley

Here ya go.

Yo little pimp can be BALLA!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365387455.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1365387481.jpg

Here are some pics of a pretty damn fine looking non widened car...

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