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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: Well sold the M3.... what's next? Alien

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 26 2005, 09:37 AM

Most of you know I am a car with an interest in all things cool. I purchased a wrecked 1995 BMW M3 a few years back. I probably only drove the car like 4 time since we finished it and never on an long trip. My son Aric took the car over and that was that.

One of his friends fell in with it and had to have it. So it's gone and Aric is back driving his Jeep.

What's next on the horizon in Area 51? Well I found a wrecked BMW 750I (12 cylinder!) a year ago or so. It's in a remote little salvage yard in the middle of "Union" Iron ore, be american, buy american country.... So were going to go check on it to see if it's still there among the rusting fords and chevies. I had a deal with the salvage yard a while back. $ 650.00 for the complete motor, harness, and accessories. I'm currently hunting for a clean, rust free, no damage, E30 3 series. This will be the next addition to the Alien Hanger. I'm sure there are a few around, but I've only been able to find one and again like the 918-S it's in Germany. Any stumble across one of these transformed cars post it here.

There is very little info on line about the workings of the V12. The guys that have them don't work on them. The V12 looks like a nice fit in the E30 chassis. The E36 front suspension bolts in as well. (5 bolt and big brakes) I guess the Z3 rear trailing arms fit as well for the rear 5 bolt conversion. So.... that's the plan... we shall see.

Her's the only car I've seen on line.

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Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 26 2005, 09:39 AM

and an other..

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Posted by: Long Prong Jun 26 2005, 09:45 AM

awesome dude! LOOKS freaking sweet. I love BMWs

635CSi????

Posted by: scotty b Jun 26 2005, 09:46 AM

Funny you should bring this up. I have been eyeing a vandalized 740i (V8) car at my new shop. Thought about putting the engine in my CJ-7, thought about the engine in a teener, and thought about fixing the car and driving it as is Too many freeking options. Always loved Bimmers, had a 320i years ago and want a bigger one now M3

Posted by: Brett W Jun 26 2005, 10:08 AM

I looked for one of those engines when I was planning the engine for my race car. The Kit car crowd doesn't like them. They are really heavy and make no power, but they do sound good. The ones I have worked on all needed head gaskets. check out this link:

http://www.lambolounge.com/Chassis/Engine/BMW-V12/BMW.asp

Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Jun 26 2005, 10:15 AM

Welcome to the world of $750 throttle units, and there are 2 and they're a "service item". The V12 cars are a money pit, and it's only the engine part of the car. The rest is just expensive. The Cap'n

Posted by: Long Prong Jun 26 2005, 10:17 AM

BMWs are expensive, my parents had a 7series, and it was like $750 to replace the sensors and stuff.....real alot.

Posted by: scotty b Jun 26 2005, 10:24 AM

Yeah say goodbye to the reasonable Porsche prices BMW parts are expensive No more of those cheap parts for you

Posted by: scott thacher Jun 26 2005, 10:54 AM

i have an idea only you could pull off rick, a 928 motor in a vanagon, now that would be a sleeper

Posted by: Mueller Jun 26 2005, 11:54 AM

QUOTE (scotty b @ Jun 26 2005, 08:46 AM)
Funny you should bring this up. I have been eyeing a vandalized 740i (V8) car at my new shop. Thought about putting the engine in my CJ-7, thought about the engine in a teener, and thought about fixing the car and driving it as is Too many freeking options. Always loved Bimmers, had a 320i years ago and want a bigger one now M3

I'd love to get a 7 series and put a small block Chevy into it

Posted by: neo914-6 Jun 26 2005, 12:11 PM

QUOTE (Mueller @ Jun 26 2005, 09:54 AM)

I'd love to get a 7 series and put a small block Chevy into it

I was wondering what your next project will be...

Posted by: spare time toys Jun 26 2005, 02:54 PM

since you got this 928 thing down ..... ....... why not find an old 911 do the wide body on it and stick the V8 where the back seat should be and do the short trans mod

Posted by: Tom Perso Jun 26 2005, 05:21 PM

Rick, don't tempt me!!!

I just got my E30 and there's that 850i in the pick and pull near me!!! My wife will KILL me!!! LOL

So, E36 front suspension and Z3 bannana's in the back for a 5-lug conversion???

I've got a set of 17's from my mom's 330i sitting around....

user posted image

This what the engine bay is SUPPOSED to look like...

Tom

Posted by: hargray2 Jun 26 2005, 06:22 PM

QUOTE (scott thacher @ Jun 26 2005, 08:54 AM)
i have an idea only you could pull off rick, a 928 motor in a vanagon, now that would be a sleeper

Here's a vanagon with a rsr engine and a turbo from a kenworth truck!?
http://www.needforspeed.ca/img/features/steve/sideleft3-BIG.jpg
They claim 170mph with more to go according to their GPS.

There are a few videos on the site, but the good vids of the van have disappeared over the last 2 years. I have the 170mph run stored somewhere on my old 'puter. Maybe I'll go dig it out.

WICKED nonetheless

Posted by: Dr. Roger Jun 26 2005, 07:03 PM

Here's a fun engine weight link.

BMW V12 weight is WHAT????
Whoa! An LS1 engine would be so sweet.

http://www.team.net/sol/tech/engine.html

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 26 2005, 10:22 PM

A couple things you guy's should have learned about me by now. It's about the cool factor. Not the fastest, best handling, or the shortest stopping distance. It's not as if this hasn't been done before because it has. But the motor seems to have gotten a bad rap. Good for me... Makes the entry level reachable for me.

It's true I've heard these things aren't the fastest motor on the planet in stock form. But as mentioned... Most of the V12's need head gaskets. If I've got the heads off I'll be sending the cams out the Berry Cams to have them alter the base circle, increasing the compression, free flow exhaust, and Waa la! After up-ing the HP and loosing about 3000 lb.s of car, this bad boy will cook the tires!

Yes the drive by wire throttles are out rageously expensive! But I believe this is a stand alone system.
Very easy to eliminate on a conversion.

Myth about the cost of parts. There are a few parts that are exclusive to the V12 otherwise, the thing is like six two cylinders mated together. I've owned and repaired several 6 cylinder BMW's. I find the parts equal to Chevy parts in cost.

I have one Ace up my sleave when it comes to the twin management system. I have a very close friend that just got a job as an instructor in a BMW training center. We call him McGuiver. He's way more than a nuts and bolts parts changer. He lives for the weird and unusual. I called him about the wiring diagram. He said, I can send you the book if you want it. Then he say's... better yet, if your not in a hurry I'll send you instructions on how to make it run.

This thing is going to ROCK! rocking nana.gif

Posted by: DougC Jun 27 2005, 10:15 AM

Hey Rick, I will be putting my '88 E30 M3 on the market real soon if you are interested. I'll be offering it at 8k obo. It's been my daily driver for the last 6 years and has been very dependable, the head was completely rebuilt less that 2 years ago (less than 14k). Alpinweise (white).

Doug C

Posted by: 1bad914 Jun 27 2005, 10:28 AM

Have to agree Ric, I have a 97 328i and have found most of the parts to be fairly inexpensive, new front control arm with new inner and outer ball joints installed for $97.00, do that in a 911 or 914 for that matter.

Posted by: airsix Jun 27 2005, 11:28 AM

If you don't have your heart set on a 3-series...
You probably don't want to move a roller that far, but I've got a neighbor who just picked up a non-op 80-something 5 series. Looks fairly clean from my drive-by assessment. He was looking to get it running and get rid of it. Maybe he'd skip the 'get it running' part and you could both benefit (assuming you want to transport such a long distance).

-Ben M.

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 27 2005, 12:10 PM

QUOTE (DougC @ Jun 27 2005, 08:15 AM)
Hey Rick, I will be putting my '88 E30 M3 on the market real soon if you are interested. I'll be offering it at 8k obo. It's been my daily driver for the last 6 years and has been very dependable, the head was completely rebuilt less that 2 years ago (less than 14k). Alpinweise (white).

Doug C

Perfect car, Perfect color, price way out of our budget. Not that your car isn't worth it because it is. I'm simply looking for a close to local roller. (like within a 36 hr round trip with the trailer)

Thanks for the offer

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 27 2005, 12:11 PM

QUOTE (1bad914 @ Jun 27 2005, 08:28 AM)
Have to agree Ric, I have a 97 328i and have found most of the parts to be fairly inexpensive, new front control arm with new inner and outer ball joints installed for $97.00, do that in a 911 or 914 for that matter.

Great part pricing, lots of sources.

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 27 2005, 12:13 PM

QUOTE (airsix @ Jun 27 2005, 09:28 AM)
If you don't have your heart set on a 3-series...
You probably don't want to move a roller that far, but I've got a neighbor who just picked up a non-op 80-something 5 series. Looks fairly clean from my drive-by assessment. He was looking to get it running and get rid of it. Maybe he'd skip the 'get it running' part and you could both benefit (assuming you want to transport such a long distance).

-Ben M.

Thanks man, looking for the smallest box for the biggest diamond.

Posted by: jasons Jun 27 2005, 12:19 PM

QUOTE (DougC @ Jun 27 2005, 08:15 AM)
Hey Rick, I will be putting my '88 E30 M3 on the market real soon if you are interested. I'll be offering it at 8k obo. It's been my daily driver for the last 6 years and has been very dependable, the head was completely rebuilt less that 2 years ago (less than 14k). Alpinweise (white).

Doug C

Trade for an '89 944S2?

Sorry to hijack, I love E30 M3's...

Posted by: airsix Jun 27 2005, 12:49 PM

QUOTE (rick 918-S @ Jun 27 2005, 10:13 AM)
Thanks man, looking for the smallest box for the biggest diamond.

I completely understand.

-Ben M.

ps - I'll keep my eye out for an Iseta.

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 27 2005, 01:32 PM

QUOTE (airsix @ Jun 27 2005, 10:49 AM)

QUOTE (rick 918-S @ Jun 27 2005, 10:13 AM)
Thanks man, looking for the smallest box for the biggest diamond.

I completely understand.

-Ben M.

ps - I'll keep my eye out for an Iseta.

I could make it fit....