Stupid question - United Bimmer Community

**BMWLotAttendant** · 03-29-2006, 07:35 PM

So today I drove an e30 325e.

It was a manual, and on the top left of the stick where the numbers are....were 3 //M color stripes.

And it made me think if this had anything to do with sport or performance packages? Like e38s, e39s, e46s, etc.

On top of that, today I also drove an e36 M3, also an manual...and it was wood stick shifter...and on the top left it had the EXACT same //M colors as the e30.

I was wondering if anybody more experienced with e30s could shed some light on my stupid question.

Thanks

**xsperf** · 03-29-2006, 08:29 PM

its probably an upgraded shift knob, if the shift knob was in fairly good condition, you know its not the original, and if someone was gonna upgrade, might as well go for the ///M look

**doughboyea** · 03-29-2006, 09:17 PM

I was just thinking that... upgrades.

**german speed demon** · 03-31-2006, 10:42 AM

Upgrades. If there was a performance pkg, there wopuld have been addiional badging somewhere else on the car. A lot of stateside HARTGE cars (mainly e30 models) are aftermarket additions due to HARTGE not having a very large customer base in the US at that time. Perhaps this car was a similar product, that never got completed.

witeshark · 03-31-2006, 10:48 AM

Not to mention that no eta car would have any real ///M equipment

**Antiburn** · 03-31-2006, 05:07 PM

The e at the end of the 325 is the model tag for economey model. The 325e's have a different cylinder head that has smaller valves and not such an agressive valve spring as an i or an is. A 325e is pretty much a car to drive to work in, not some car youde want to race anybody in.

**BMWLotAttendant** · 03-31-2006, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the inputs....I really didn't know what to expect.

And, no, this e30 was nothing special....it had no additional badges...marking on the stearing wheel or whatever.

But that was the only thing that caught my eye...was the faded //M colors...and it didn't have upgrades at all.

The lady who drove it was in her early 50s. If that says anything.

Oh well...thanks again!

If you can think of anything else.....shout it out.

**TJsBimm** · 03-31-2006, 06:46 PM

My E36 has a wood grain shifter with the M stripes. it has the sport, premium and weather package on it. Also my steering wheel is an M it has the stripes with the M on the very bottom of the steering wheel. Maybe M sport package appearance toys but not mechanical.

Storamin · 04-01-2006, 06:17 PM

probaly just replaced the shifter after it became worn. doubt it was stock on the e(conomy) model... which, btw, has a lot of torque and is a very fast car despite being labeled economy.

**Akuma** · 04-04-2006, 08:00 AM

as its a eta model, might be worth doing the 2.7 conversion, bottom end of the eta engine mated to a 325i head, would give out good response and torque. Just a suggestion though.

Storamin · 04-04-2006, 02:10 PM

ewww... you drove an m3 with a WOOD shifter? That's quite disturbing.

**BMWLotAttendant** · 04-04-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storamin

ewww... you drove an m3 with a WOOD shifter? That's quite disturbing.

Are you serious?

I drove another e36 //M3 today. Drove fine and looked good too.

The //M on the wood shifter was faded yet again, must be a common theme among older e36 //M3s.

You know what?

You are disturbing for NOT liking that.

**doughboyea** · 04-04-2006, 11:01 PM

Haha... wood imho makes it look more classy... a little style never hurt anyone...

Storamin, would you rather have it in plasitc? That's disturbing

. But really, does it matter what the shaft is made out of as long as it does it's job?

Dough

**mullethunter3** · 04-04-2006, 11:36 PM

i hated wood until my mom got a sweet 528 with burl maple in it.

damn, i want wood now.

**doughboyea** · 04-04-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

....damn, i want wood now.

That didn't come out good... haha. Speaking of Burlwood, that shit is expensive.. it's like $200++ for my car.

Dough