BMW M3 E30 gets a Corvette engine

How many times have I said that BMW owners are just simply “crazy”? Yes, many times I said that, and this fella from Gig Harbor, WA. proved again my theory. His 1988 E30 BMW M3 went up for sale on eBay for a starting price of $30,000.

The original U.S. E30 M3 model by a 2.3 liter engine producing 192 horsepower and a top speed of 146 mph. The eBay M3 has under the hood a Corvette LS1 engine from 2002 which was dissembled and built back to LS6 specifications. The engine is connected to a new 6-speed manual transmission from a Camaro. It also has an M-Roadster front and rear suspensions and brakes, GC coil-overs and fully adjustable Konis shock absorbers.

The modified E30 M3 has about 50 hp more than the LS6 engine, which brings the “M3 Corvette” to 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The bigger V8 engine adds about 50 lbs to the overall weight of the car. The owner decided to sell the classic M3 since “it has been boringly reliable”.

He believes that the modified E30 M3 would cost you $50,000 if you would go ahead and build the car yourself, or somewhere around 75k if done by someone else.

I wish the owner good luck with the sale, but as far as myself, I wouldn’t paid $30,000 for it, even if it came with a second Porsche engine in the trunk.

Thanks for the tip Sjoerd!

Youtube Video of the BMW M3

[Source: Autoblog.nl ]

12 Responses to “BMW M3 E30 gets a Corvette engine”

Tom says:

January 16, 2009 at 2:25 am

So wrong!

Matski says:

January 16, 2009 at 3:52 am

So so wrong.

Josh B says:

January 16, 2009 at 5:04 am

no longer an M3

pimp says:

January 16, 2009 at 6:13 am

bleah .. BMW with corvette engine …

The Lee says:

January 16, 2009 at 8:52 am

As much as I may come off as a BMW “purist” most of the time, I would drive the HELL out of that car. I have a TON of respect for the LS6 powerplant.

405hp LS6 v8 > I4. Doesn’t matter who makes the I4.

E92-TORONTO says:

January 16, 2009 at 11:13 am

WONT FEEL THE MPOWER ANYMORE :<

musam says:

January 16, 2009 at 12:22 pm

it will burn the wheels only

kodey says:

January 16, 2009 at 3:10 pm

What a disgrace to the Legend.

Mat says:

January 30, 2009 at 5:04 pm

It was actually started at $25k not 30 and built to the LS7 Specs. Its still a beautiful car and all the haters above are just jealous they cant afford it and didnt think of it first. I would also like to add that it sounds like a fun car to drive and with the added weight in the front end it would probably handle even better.

RebornS14 says:

July 14, 2009 at 8:17 am

is the car still for sale? im very interested.

E30bimmerdriver says:

August 24, 2009 at 3:27 pm

wow u just ruined a great car u should sell it to a real e30 driver so he can take out the vette engine sell it and with the money he made put in a s52 in it wow im sry but all the work u put in that car was a waste go on r3vlimited and show that car off and ur gunna be messed with

baha says:

November 7, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Hi
How you put this engine in E30 , mail me PLZ
baha
baghdad