swap or buy - United Bimmer Community

**Addicted?** · 05-08-2005, 06:46 PM

just want to see what you guys think.. i pretty much already have my mind made up... but if it was buy it might not be an e36 m as it would be an m coupe (seeing as how dan is close to maybe buying an e36 m3 in the future... i cant drive the same car? hahaha... just playing i really like the m coupe funny looking but awesome!)

anyways vote and thoughts

David

Rooz · 05-08-2005, 07:03 PM

I would buy if I were you, just bcs it's what seems the right thing to do

**Longhairedhippy** · 05-08-2005, 10:26 PM

go for the M coupe - you barely see the things and they're amazing. nothing else like them on the road.

**Spieluhr** · 05-09-2005, 01:35 AM

if anyone has any specs. on an m coupe i would love to see them. personally i love the wheels, they are so sexy looking, and DEEP.

**Addicted?** · 05-09-2005, 01:46 AM

dont know if this is euro or us spec.. hp kind of seems like euro.. but read the descrption... ugly duckling turned swan once you sit in the drivers seat haha

http://www.autofan.com/review.asp?ID=62

David

**catalyst** · 05-09-2005, 02:16 PM

Swap.. do it yourself.. you save a shit load of money, and learn a ton about your car.

Your 17 right? insurance on a fucking mcoupe is NOT worth it now my man. Swap an s52 OBDI into your chassis and call it a day. 325i insurance, and M3 power.

**Addicted?** · 05-09-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c4talyst

Swap.. do it yourself.. you save a shit load of money, and learn a ton about your car.

Your 17 right? insurance on a fucking mcoupe is NOT worth it now my man. Swap an s52 OBDI into your chassis and call it a day. 325i insurance, and M3 power.

**EnvyM3** · 05-09-2005, 04:05 PM

Yeah you should def swap. The whole insurance factor brings up a great point. Plus. peeps would try fuckin with you b/c they wouldn't think its an M

**devinwwu** · 05-09-2005, 04:42 PM

its all about goin sleeper! i want to do the swap too just cause it wouldn't trash my insurance after my ticket for 90 in a 65

**dwrx04** · 05-09-2005, 04:48 PM

yeah do the swap........but an m coupe would be sick as hell!!! Officially 55/45 ur doin the swap

**spiff** · 05-09-2005, 05:38 PM

i will be so incredibly jealous if you get an Mcoupe, are you gonna get the S52 or S54 engine?

**Addicted?** · 05-09-2005, 05:50 PM

52 just cause it would be more in my price range..

and if i did the swap it would probably be s50, just cause i love that motor

David

**RealBmw 02** · 05-09-2005, 07:48 PM

Very tough subject here. you have alot of options to look at.

First off I will start with the swap:

If you intend on doing this yourself you better have some serious help from friends who know a SHITLOAD about cars. Swaps are very intense if you don't know to much and don't have the proper equipment. You could be looking at a full month of work (considering you will be keeping your life while you do this) to fully complete everything once all the little miscellaneous bits and pieces are finished. The plus side like you said is that you would have cheaper insurance and you would learn a ton about cars.

BUT, if you think about a swap you need to address a few other parts of the car at the same time. You will definately need to upgrade your brakes. Stock brakes will keel over and die within minutes of abuse from an S50 engine. They would have no chance of survival.

Also, your suspension will still be that of a stock 325is. Not tuned like an M coupe.

So, the money you will save from insurance and swapping yourself just might go bye bye when you buy performance brakes and new suspension to bring your ride up to M status.

Mcoupe:

Do I really have to say the pro's of buying an M coupe???? Great car, can't really say anything bad about it.

Except...more money, higher insurance and two seats (I think)?....

Another option that you could look into:

Driving school. Unless you want the power of the S50 or Mcoupe for straight line accel. you could get the same results from your car by learning how to push it to the fullest. Now, I do not know your driving skill at this time, and I am not trying to say anything here. But most likely you are not able to get the most out of your current car in the twisties or on a track. That being said, you probably would not be much faster in a swapped car or in an M coupe. (see spiffs vids. where he owns people with stock SAAB....car doesn't always matter)

If it were me I would wait at least until i was 18 to do either a swap or purchase an M. Your insurace should really drop when you become a legal adult (assuming you have a clean record). Then your options might seem a little easier to decide upon.

Hope this helped

**RealBmw 02** · 05-09-2005, 07:52 PM

interesting, just noticed that the Mcoupe doesn't have overdrive....5th gear is 1:1. that might be interesting for long trips

**Addicted?** · 05-09-2005, 08:27 PM

i will be waiting till im 18 for sure which is very soon, anyways me and dan (dwrx04) planned on taking a few weeks on the swap to make sure everything happens right... i could also shell out around another 1000-1500 and ahve a place i know install it for me... I might end up going this route. Anyways the thing about the brakes and suspension... they will both be upgraded before the swap, (if i bought an m3 the brakes and suspension would be upgraded also, so it doesnt really matter) im saving for my coilovers right now.

David

**Spieluhr** · 05-09-2005, 08:45 PM

this is going to be a crazy machine when you are all done with it man! i can not wait to see it. do you have a timeline of when you think you will be all done?

witeshark · 05-09-2005, 11:18 PM

This is really a tough choice. I can't make up my mind yet

**Addicted?** · 05-09-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spieluhr

this is going to be a crazy machine when you are all done with it man! i can not wait to see it. do you have a timeline of when you think you will be all done?

Well if i do go swap into the 325 i should have the car all ready for the swap by end of the summer... Then since winter is coming i think i will continue to save for the motor and come the first day over 50 i will get ready to do the swap. (knowing me though i will find a motor i want and will buy it way before this and drive the car all through winter haha)

if i dont go swap i will probably be purchasing an m3 or m coupe around february or march 2006

David

**RealBmw 02** · 05-10-2005, 02:50 AM

where are you getting all this money at 18? you must have one hell of a job

edit: o ya...you don't pay rent

**dwrx04** · 05-10-2005, 05:19 PM

haha Chicago Title = BADASS JOB

But you guys should hang out with David everyday at work like me its hilarious. One day he's like I want to do the motor swap and have a sleeper that will own all...next day i want an Mcoupe cuz there hideous and i love them...couple days later...I want an STi...I HATE MY CAR I HOPE IT DIES... Its soooo funny and i do the same thing. you guys arent helpin though cuz the poll is pretty much dead even and everyone keeps going back and forth. Who knows what will happen...I say do both!!!! haha yes