What to build?

[Spinnetti]

I'm kinda considering moving up from ITA to ITS or ITR, and was thinking a 3-series.

Pro's/cons? best year? was thinking about ITS 92-95 325. I know this is the BMW area, but is the 325 good, or is there better in ITS?

[Z3_GoCar]

That era 325 has the M-50, which has pretty much the best flowing intake manifold of any of the ITS/R BMW's. It's so good that e-36 M3's swap their stock manifold, which is the same as all the non-M's, for the M-50 piece. Still, I'd also reccomend the e-36 328 also. The extra ~300cc would just about make up for the loss of top end from the small runner manifold. Certainly, the M-52B28's 84x84mm motor has potential.

James

[Spinnetti]

That era 325 has the M-50, which has pretty much the best flowing intake manifold of any of the ITS/R BMW's. It's so good that e-36 M3's swap their stock manifold, which is the same as all the non-M's, for the M-50 piece. Still, I'd also reccomend the e-36 328 also. The extra ~300cc would just about make up for the loss of top end from the small runner manifold. Certainly, the M-52B28's 84x84mm motor has potential.

James

Hmm.. the 325's seem to be cheaper to buy, and I suppose the build cost is about the same? Is extra weight in the nose not an issue? (I'm assuming 328 motor heavier?)

[Z3_GoCar]

Hmm.. the 325's seem to be cheaper to buy, and I suppose the build cost is about the same? Is extra weight in the nose not an issue? (I'm assuming 328 motor heavier?)

No heavier than the 325. The block and head are the same, only difference is the 84mm crank stroke. With the smaller port intake the hp is even close enough they should probably weigh the same 189hp vs 191hp. I know that Wiki data can be dubious but this article has a good comparison:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M50

James