Letting the 325i breathe...

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#4
In NZ msport kitted cars have the mbadge, usually with the 325i after it. But not m3. Different badging in different countries.

I've been through this before on this board.

We had the 325i - run of teh mill 325, then the m325i which had mtech kit, LSD, bilstein shocks, black headliner, sports interior, manual trans and other goodies, and only in 2-door, then there is the 325i Sport which is much the same, but the UK import version, and then there is the 325iS which is 5-stud, has aluminium body panels, mtech kit, LSD, uprated suspension and a 2.7l similar to what some guys do with the eta motor and an i head, and finally my car which is South African, has all the msport/m325i goodies except black headliner and in 4-door. Technically not an m325i.

The m325i and 325i Sport both came with m badges.

None of the above are m3's.

P.S. Wikipedia quote: Later when it became clear that South Africa would not be getting the M3, the 325iS was created. Initially this was merely a 325i 2-door fitted with a bodykit and a close-ratio gearbox (improving acceleration at the expense of top speed and economy) but more changes where made to keep the car competitive in South African saloon car racing. Nevertheless, these cars were always sold to the public. This culminated in the 325iS Evo II of late 1991. By now several body panels were made of aluminum, preventing the car from being washed by automated car washes, and the M20 engine grew to 2.7 L and now produced 155 kw (210 hp)and a 0-62 mph in a mere 7.5sec.

Here is a pre-f/l m325i for sale in NZ - the mbadging is factory.
 
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Big Daddy

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#5
Wikipedia is written by anyone who wants to submit information and commonly contains errors, like the "S" on the 325iS you quote. BMW never used a capital "S" on the sport models, it has always been "s", as in 318is, 325is.

I read the entire Wikipedia on BMW and never saw any where where they say a 325 was badged with an "M" for South Africa or else where. Further my reference, "The Complete Book of BMW" does not reference any 325M's.

Why the reference to the ad when by your own admission the M is on the wrong side, obviously placed there by the owner and not BMW.

And you state, "my car which is South African, has all the msport/m325i goodies except black headliner and in 4-door. Technically not an m325i.", so why does it have the badge? Just curious, in reality I do not care if you want to put an M badge on it or not.
 
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#6
On my car the badge is there because I removed it and the paint is a different shade beneath so I put it back. it shouldn't have it on it. It is the exact same spec as m325i though save the extra 2 doors. As you can have all that from the factory with the m badge I sleep well at night knowing I havn't committed any heinous bmw crime.

I only put the wiki quote in as it backed up what I was saying. If you want to pretend that BMW didn't make a m325i for the NZ market, a 325i Sport also called a 325im for the UK market and a 325is for the South African market then go ahead. I have seen examples of all of the above in the flesh. This is a common argument NZ Australia, and UK BMW enthusiasts get from those stateside, so I'm used to being harangued, but unfortunately you are wrong.

Read this

320iS was a to get around portuguese / italian tax laws on cars over 2 litres, used an S14, deststroked to 1.995L. Came in a normal E30 shell - but could be optioned with 15" basket weaves / M-tec bodykit / options.., LHD only.

325iS was built to go group N racing in South Africa, against the Opel Superboss. Came in three iterations, the 325iS, which had alloy doors / guards / bonnet, 3.73LSD, full m-tec bodykit, leather or "uberkaro" check cloth, sunroof (option), powersteering, ABS, 5 lug hubs from the E30 M3, E30 M3 brakes, alpina sway bars, 15" BBS et30 BBS basketweave wheels, a mild 2.7 using a forged BMW crank from the E28 524 turbo diesel, alpina pistons and rods, a cam of unknown spec (milder than the alpina 262 degree unit), and modified BMW management using an Alpina chip.

The 325iS Evo came in two batches (known as the Evo 2 and 3 respectively), and had some slight changes compared to the Evo 1. These included a 3.91:1LSD, all alloy panels reverted to steel, a full alpina C2 2.7 motor and management, including the head which featured bigger valves on the exhaust side.

You are correct about the notation (lower case 'S') but it is easier to emphasise by making it upper case. Here is a friends SA, 5-lug, alloy panel, 325is with 2.7l m20:



Specs:

1990 E30 325iS Evo 1
5/1990 build
NZ New
Polaris Silver sticker on the tower, known as "Astral silver" in SA.
Full M3 suspension/wheels and 5 bolt hubs, Alpina roll bars.
Aluminium bonnet, door skins and front wings..
Car weighs 1147 kg with PAS, air con, electric windows.
3.7 LSD, engine is an Alpina C2 2.7 block but with standard 325i cam, 197 bhp.
Leather, OBC, PAS, A/C
270,000km
7er tool kit
Full bootlid liner

I live and breathe e30's all day every day. No life I know, but at least my g/f has finally come around and she too now owns a modified e30.

P.S> I love this game.
 

Big Daddy

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#7
Don't get your panties in a bind, where did I say; "... If you want to pretend that BMW didn't make... 325is for the South African..." I never said they did not make a 325is, I said they did not use a captial s, as in Wikipedia's example as an example that they are (Wikipedia) full of errors. So you post a spec for a 325is, ok, cause I never said they did not make them, heck we have them here! As far as your other references I have no idea where you get that as you do not list sources. And I never said they did not make an M325 I just said that the references you quote do not say anything about an M325, nor does my reference book. Show me something from BMW where they did, not some rear deck lid, or auto sales write up. I am open to it, I just ahve never seen it in anyrhing official.

And in the begining Dan and I tease you about the M badge on YOUR car and you try to justifiy it than admit it should not really have one on it???
 
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#8
Very nice fit-up work on the exhaust system! One question - it looks like the muffler hanger is a metal hook on a metal bracket? Any vibration or rattles from it? It looks like a piece of high temperature rubber tubing might work if you have problems.
 
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#9
And in the begining Dan and I tease you about the M badge on YOUR car and you try to justifiy it than admit it should not really have one on it???
yeah I know - not the leader of the debate team obviously huh?



The hook is hanging from the factory rubber hanger. Just looks like steel in the pic. There is a second hanger with a rubber mount to the rear subframe (not shown).
 
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#12
I just had a good discussion with an avid E30 guy! You are a very astute E30 guy and I am gald your here.
Try having that same argument over on bimmerforums in the e30 section, ill tell ya - graham is one of few that actually takes the time to "talk" about whats going on, rather than "rant" about whats going on!
The system looks great, does it carry on crackling popping while backing off the throttle at all? Does it sound throaty down low? whats it like at higher rpms? 2 1/2" pipe all the way eh?
Peace.
 
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#13
I just had a good discussion with an avid E30 guy! You are a very astute E30 guy and I am gald your here.
Graham is very good, knows what he's talking about... learned a few things from him... also, his E30 is tight, M badge or not. (gotta get myself an M-technik body kit)
The Exhaust looks good, hope it sounds good. Just wondering about your front wishbone bushings... one looks like rubber and the other looks like urethane?
 
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#14
Thanks Joel, yep usual crackling and growl that you get from N/A's with a straight-thru system. SOunds tough, but actually louder than I wanted and a little ostentatious for my taste - I may muck around with anothe res or something to quiet it a little. Also deeper sound than I was after at redline - wanted it to be screaming, its roaring instead, but I'm getting used to it and still good.

yep, 2.5" press bent all the way from the down pipe. The reason for this is to cater for a future supercharger.

More mid range pull aswell.

Good eyes with the CA bushings. That was the PO - he was a muppet. Its on the list, but I plan to do all the rubber with urethane and its not cheap to bring it in from the US or UK and we have no local suppliers.
 
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#15
Good eyes with the CA bushings. That was the PO - he was a muppet. Its on the list, but I plan to do all the rubber with urethane and its not cheap to bring it in from the US or UK and we have no local suppliers.
Yeah, i hear you on that one...
I wanted the urethane control arm bushings though couldn't source them cheap enough, so standard ones went in instead...

Oh, and is "Joe" or Joey, or Joseph, or what most of my mates and tradesmans at work call me, Doughnut! [:p]

And I'm actually thinking of ditching the twin 1 1/4" pipes on mine (along with the loose baffled centre muffler) In favor of a system similar to yours....
Except 2" and downswept twin exits [paranoid]
 
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#16
Sorry joe, my mind has been elsewhere lately. Hence my slowness in sussing your clock - wrok is always manic up to xmas. Im currently working on a river system survey for flood control for the Regional Council. Big $$ which equals big pressure and big penalty clause if I don't deliver by next friday.
 


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