Few engine swaps go as hard as this one. The E30 is probably the purest expression of the BMW 3 Series. It’s more capable, more comfortable, and more usable than the E21 that came before it, and it’s lighter, more nimble, and simpler than every 3 Series that came after it. The E30 is the essence of a 3 Series. Its biggest problem is that even the fastest examples can feel a bit slow by modern standards. Not this one, though. This E30 BMW 325i that sold for $26,000 on Cars and Bids has an S52 inline-six from an E36 M3.
You’d never know it wasn’t anything other than a really clean E30 3 Series just by looking at it. Okay, so it has a Mercedes color, but it’s a stunning shade dubbed Twilight Blue Metallic. It also works perfectly with the dove gray seats and black interior. Oh, and it’s on period BBS-style wheels. This is absolutely dream-spec.
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What’s under the hood makes it even better. The S52 engine is a beaut. It isn’t quite as revered as the S54 that replaced it, but it’s a lovely engine back and it’s still great to use. More importantly, it’s much more powerful than the puny 168-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-six that came with the car. While the seller doesn’t say exactly how much power it has, the U.S.-spec E36 M3 made 240 horsepower. That’s quite a big bump and more powerful than anything that the E30 came with stock, even the M3. So in the E30’s lightweight body, that 240 horsepower is more than enough to be a riot. Naturally, it’s paired to a ZF five-speed manual.
It rides on KYB shocks with H&R springs, and the ride height looks perfect. There’s a Megan Racing front strut brace, aftermarket headers, a new intake and exhaust, and — for anyone who’s familiar with E36 engines — mercifully an electric cooling fan.
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This really is a dream-spec E30 and one of the most perfect BMW engine swaps I’ve seen. It’s just so tastefully done and there isn’t anything I’d do differently. No notes.