This Blog is being moved

A this has grown, I've decided to go with my own Server and Domain.

From now on, please visit me at http://theconnoisseurdriver.com/

Thanks for reading, I'm excited to see where this leads.
-Jonas

M52 turbo motor and more...

Here is a BMW twin-cam 2.8 litre six-cylinder(M52) that's good buy. This is a relative term, it's cheaper than building your own m52. Even if you were assembling it your self, it would cost more in parts and machining than the $5000 asking price. The best part, it's a low(8.5) compression turbo engine with 0 miles.

BMW 2.8 built M52 turbo motor - $5000 (Winston Salem)
This is the kind of motor that I fantasize about putting into the blue twin-cam 320i(e21) below or in my silver one. From the factory, this engine produced 200+/-hp and with a built engine like this 325?

The problem with putting this into an e21 is the comparative value. The engine is worth twice what the car is. In all honesty, for a daily driver I would prefer a '97 3.2litre M3 engine (s52-b32 converted obd1) in stock form plus you can get one for $2000. This is really a matter of preference, some people like driving the high strung turbo engines and in the end...much as I love the exotics, I prefer the hum of good running, stock engine.

Regarding Steve, no need to continue pursuing that one as I hit the nail on the head. Yesterdays, BMW 635CSi is perfect, he should just buy it. Check....obviously.


PS I tried to include pictures of the CS coupe, as my close yesterday. The pics I see are only available to "members". So I re-hosted one, that's it at the top. Look for a a list of this guys' projects in the next couple days.

Continuation

This is a continuation of yesterdays thoughts about Steve's situation. As he doesn't have easy access to a garage, I'm trying to think in terms of running/driving/not too shabby to sit in front of the house kind of projects.

Here is a near perfect(for Steve) option, but is a high mileage example. Sport interior, runs, looks decent. If a project e24 is in your future this would be a good starting point. Thats it at the top.
1986 BMW 635CSi 635 CSi E24

This is one of my favorite BMW engine and chassis combinations. The 1991 318is was produced only one year, the last of this chassis(e30). The twin-cam 1.8 litre four cylinder(m42) is light and revs beautifully. This is a close as you can get from the factory to an e30 M3 without the insurance. This one is in Texas, so no road salt, and is in White, my favorite.
1991 BMW 318is

In not-so-Steve related news, here are a pair of 2002s in one sale together. Sounds like there is one complete car between the two. For $1800 this a good opportunity for the shade tree mechanic.
Pair of E10s

Thoughts of a friends project...

My man Steve has been wanting a toy/project car the whole time I've know him. He's had a boat and an RV so it was put off but he is warming up to the idea of getting to the next toy car.

So here is what he wants:
-rear wheel drive
-comfort and sporting
-easy to work on
-reliable
-probably a BMW
So what does a friend recomend?

I dunno, he's leaning toward an e24, 80s 6-series. I can think of no reason to discourage that. Big six(m30) power and reliability are both great. They look good, w/o the federal bumpers of course.

So here are some links I came across while I was looking.

87 BMW E30 325es 5spd Black - $3000 (Greenville/Greer)

92 BMW 525i 5 speed - $1200 (Fairview, NC) but it has a blown engine. This would make a GREAT donor for a twin-cam swap.

I'll continue this later...

Here is a beautiful build finished...e9 BMW CS coupe

if that doesn't leave a good taste in your mouth nothing will....obviously

A super rare e21 find in Virginia

In the super rare catagory, this one makes the list of era-tuner vehicles.
At first only because it's a Baur. As the add says, it's a Dietel car as well. If Dietel tuned the engine and body kit and suspention as the owner says, it's extra rare, but the opportunity is there that it might also be a genuine Alpina. As i said, it says Dietel tuned but...my geuss is it's atleast Alpina parts. At that price, it still makes good as a parts car. The rust looks bad enough, parts cars makes the best assumption.

1979 Dietel Alpina Baur

Couple of BMWs

These are all on eBay and as always, no affiliation.

This is a very nicely redone e30. Clean and five lug to boot but it's an automatic.
1991 BMW 3-Series 325iA

E12s are always nice looking, vintage but this one has had the drive line replaced with e28 M5 parts. Since then however, the M5 engine was totally destroyed but is still in the car.
1979 530I with M5/6 running gear

Update plus some...

Update on the e21 m50 on eBay. It got no bids at $3000. The owner is taking offers on the Bimmerforums.
Ended Auction for e21 m50
Bimmerforums thread

To continue the work truck thought, here is one in NC with powerstroke and 6 speed, plus best of all a Reading service bed.
02 Ford F350 Service Truck

Totally off topic, I thought this Bonneville motorcycle was just an entertaining find.
2006 Suzuki gsxr 1000 turbo bonneville land speed racer

Last but not least, the new issue of BMW Performance features two cars that you would recognize. Top left corner is an E21 from an Aussie that is a regular contributor to the Bimmerforums. Along the bottom, is featured the 2002(e10) with the twin turbo m54.

Update

The add for the transmission below was pulled by the owner, as was the obd1 intake, but the point was just the cost of the project. Less than a $1000 for the whole swap, if you do your own labor, and you're realy creative with the sourcing, and soo that might realy add up to more but not that much more. That is not much more than just getting a new m20...obviously.
Here is a, seemingly, high quality s52 for swap, with everything, but it's $3000.
97-99 BMW S52 with trans.

None the less, at $3000 it's half the price of a Metric Mechanic m20. So if you have an e30 with a blown engine, you could get an s52 installed professionaly for less than the engine alone from MM.

To be fair, Metric Mechanic's sport/rally m20 is 255hp so it is not any less than an s52. It is however $8700! For that much, you can have the above setup(treehouse bits, s52, obd1, installed) with a supercharger and be in the 350-400hp range.

again...Twin-Cam wins!

Twin-cam Swap Parts

The m50/52 based build in mind, here are most of the big parts.

Bmw 1996 M52 Engine 328i - $500 (Mboro)
bmw 325i e36 5 speed transmission - $250 (nashville)
bmw e36 obd1 intake manifold - $100 ( nashville)
BMW M3 Camshafts and trays - $350 (Charlotte)
Of course, no affiliation and these are all craigslist links. so best of luck and don't send any princes of countries you've never heard of your bank info...obviously

Updates and more...toys!

Just to try to keep up with it. The e21 m50 in electric blue that I featured a week or two ago, is back up on eBay. This time with a starting bid of $3500!!!! The cost-to-performance rating on this car is out of this world.
1978 BMW 320i M50b25

As another side note, here is a good writeup by my man Steve Wager.
http://motorpool.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/go-have-a-little-virtual-fun/

More toys on eBay

As always, th e30 twin-cams make the worth watching list. This one seems nicely sorted. Willwoods, 5-lug, obd-1 s52 w/ supercharger(AA) coilovers and camber plates, etc.
1986 BMW 3-Series 325 es
Personaly I would either polish and clear the wheels on the car or put these on.
BBS Style 5s

Here are a pair of nice e36 M3s. They both are slighly damaged in one way or another and as such are a cheap way to get into fast cars.
1995 BMW M3 w/ Dinan Supercharger
1995 BMW M3

Last but not least,
1980 BMW E21 it's not an Alpina but a nice e21

Some BMWs in the western Carolinas

Here are a couple of random cars in the western Carolinas. The first one is a 525i that would make a great m50 donor but for the long block being blown. This car, an e30 chassis and an s50 long block would be a such a great combination.

92 BMW 525i 5 speed - $1200 (Fairview, NC)
plus I bet it could be parted for more money than it costs(aka free parts).

The second one is a 1994 325is(e36) with M3 body kit. The good looks of an M3 but the insurance of a 325i and at a reasonable price($4200).

1994 BMW 325 is 5 speed 116K M3 - $4300 (Inman, SC 29349)

-as always no affiliation

Jeep FC Series

This is an extension on the work truck post but also a natural extension to me being in the market for a new truck.

Until I ran across this one on eBay, I was totally unaware of the FC(Forward Control) models. This certainly is less than surprising as my knowledge of Jeeps is limited to non-existent.

So here is the Wiki entry on the Jeep FC series.

The long and short of it goes like this. The cab over design began with the FC150 which is a 1/2 ton truck built on the CJ5 frame, the later models had a much wider and longer wheelbase. The FC170 was the 1 ton variant, sold in a number of forms including deully rear axle and everything from box to tow truck bed configurations.

Cliff notes: FC150 is I4 powered cab over with a wheelbase that is usable in town.

So this begs the question, with what power plant would you replace this? I'm a fan of a modern driveline, but what would fit and be fun? Probably an I4 but maybe an I6? Torque is a requisite but what else? Did jeep make an engine later that is the obvious fit? a diesel?