Now that the end is in sight for the Miata's current transformation, I'd like to look ahead and start planning for the future. I'd love to get my hands on a BMW M60B40 Alusil, but does anybody have a rough estimate of how big the engine area is in an 80's era 325?

 

The engine area is pretty good AFAIK. My GF has an '88 535i and you could get lost in that engine bay. I'd speculate a little less room in a 3 series, but not tight. I could be wrong.

You're wanting to do a V8 swap on one? That could prove interesting.

 

I can appreciate the small car big power swap project idea. I've been itching to pick up an early 70s volvo 142s and add a mustang 5.0 driveline and low boost twin t3 set up. Lots of room, strong driveline with proven power and cheap. Yeah, nothing exotic about the swap, that's why I must add multiple turbos.

 

yeah, i would rather have the V12, but the wasted fuel is not worth the 40 ft-lbs difference in torque. That and i believe that the v8 would fit better. I plan to do only N/A modifications to the motor, help it breath good, maybe some headwork, nice beefy exhaust, in hopes of keeping some reliability. The only thing I'm still undecided about is whether I want a 325e or 325is, the 2-door is smaller and lighter, but i don't own a 4-door car and would be nice to have a people carrier. Also the rear quarter window on the 325is looks a bit awkward

 

Get a convertible 3 series. Still seats 4 and if getting in and out of the back a 2 door is an issue, just drop the top and tell them to jump.

 

Check out Vorshlag racing....
Terry has a GMW - Beemer with LS1 swap.
That car is a tire for hire!

 

My vote is a in an 80's 6 series! Car still looks good to me and isn't so valuable or rare to feel bad about chopping it up. Something around 500hp ought to make that car fun. Sure would **** off a lot of M car owners.

 

A 357is!

If the 3 series I test drove wasn't all worn to ****, (drove almost like a buick) I'd be driving a BMW and looking at that as the car's future.