Countless bench races between BMW enthusiasts have highlighted the virtues from the different generations of M3. In fact, whenever we had a nickel for every time somebody claimed the E30 was the quintessential M3 platform, we’d be millionaires. Sure, it’s slightly antiquated by modern standards, but purists think it speaks to the driver unlike any M car since.
Proponents also believe it’s blessed using a characterful personality lost in gizmo-laden vehicles, and that the E30 requires greater respect and skill to operate at the limit. In other words, the requirements are high but so might beObviously, we’d additionally be wealthy whenever we collected money every time somebody claimed the very best M3 motor is the S54 3.2L straight-six from your E46 M3. Sure, somehow, the S54 receives the most votes, even though the preceding in-line engines were gems, and the high-revving S65 V8 is amazing. Despite a remarkably long stroke, the 3.2L could spin to 8000rpm and, in doing so, garnered a top ten spot inside the highest stock piston speeds of all time!
How fast you ask? Try 4773.33 feet each minute. Many thus claim the S54 was the most highly tuned six BMW ever created along with the quintessential BMW engine.
So what on earth happens when you combine the E30 M3 chassis with all the S54 straight six? Road-going nirvana, as outlined by Ryan Gangemi.
“”After building a high-compression S14 2.5L 16v four-cylinder stroker motor and enjoying it for six years, I was looking for more power while making the automobile even more unique. So I looked at an S54 swap, which had been then relatively unheard of way back in 2010,”” he told us.
Just before the aficionados start choking, Gangemi is a diehard E30 fan and has owned no less than 25 different models, including three M3s. He’s also awill get the power to the M Coupe LSD
“”I fell obsessed about the E30 M3 in college once I saw the unique factory widebody,”” Gangemi said.
Up until that point he’d been a hardcore VW fan, owning a modded Jetta and Corrado before jumping ship to the BMW side. “”I had loads of fun with VWs but the BMW build quality is so much better and I instantly fell in love, “” he continued.
He fell deep, receiving his Auto Tech degree and working with a local BMW dealership for seven years, eventually earning certification being a Master Tech. His zest would drive him to start his own shop, operating the BMW tuning and repair business for the last three years.
“”My first E30 M3 was really a red-on-black 1990 with 75000 miles that I loved nevertheless it was totaled,”” he explained. “”The insurance payout led to this car in San Diego. I bought it from your second owner in stock condition with 109000 miles around the clock.””
That was 11 yrs ago; a long time for the enthusiast to keep one car, but Gangemi is an E30 man for the core. “”I began with a spring and shock combination before swapping the tired, stock motor for a lower mileage example,”” he added.
Like many E30 M3 drivers, he eventually spun a rod bearing and decided it was an opportune moment to up the ante in the form of a built 2.5L bottom-end sandwiched under the stock cylinder head and valvetrain.
06 1988 BMW m3 oil pan
10 1988 BMW m3 JEDM3 carbon kidney grilles
07 1988 BMW m3 AKG front control arm
Shortly afterwards he took the brave decision to fit 19″” M3 CSL wheels. “”Not long after buying the car I seriously wanted to push the envelope and run 19″” wheels on an E30,”” Gangemi explained. “”I knew it would be controversial but I spent the time to properly paint, roll and flare the fenders to the perfect fit.””
The modification put the car on the map. For better or worse, it gained him plenty of attention and ignited his desire to dive deeper in the M3. “”It encouraged me to modify the car beyond what I’d initially planned. In a short time, I’d removed the cylinder head and built the most notable-end to match the two.5L bottom-end,”” he said.
The tuned S14 was beneficial to 205hp at the wheels as a result of a ported and polished head, Schrick cams plus a modification that would soon become aThe Very Best Of Both Worlds
The built four-banger was eager to rev but it just wasn’t enough. Bitten from the tuning bug, Ryan lay out to realize his vision of M perfection.
“”I was very familiar with doing S52 swaps after completing dozens at my shop, but I wanted something more unique. And since the European S50B3 E36 M3 engine was expensive and scarce, the E46 M3 S54B52 was the likely candidate,”” he said. “”At that time it wasn’t a common swap and certainly proved difficult.””
In 2010 people hadn’t started modifying the E46 M3 wiring harness for the conversion, so Ryan decided to utilize a Typhoon standalone ECU from Specialist Components. It has since been replaced but at the time it was both affordable along with the ability to control the Vanos system.
“”Prior to the Typhoon I ran my first S54 motor around the dyno together with the Vanos locked but it melted a piston. I assumed the tune was wrong so ripped out the motor and built this second one together with the standalone,”” Gangemi explained.
The newest motor also received ceramic-coated Supersprint headers and a 3″” mandrel-bent exhaust system by using a Borla muffler and Gangemi-created carbon fiber tips. In addition, it sports VAC underdrive pulleys, while another Markus carbon fiber intake plenum takes pride of place beneath the hood.
However the wiring wasn’t the only nightmare, because the front subframe and oil pan needed fabrication to shoehorn the big six into the tiny bay. However the body escaped without modification. I have done get creative with the drivetrain,”” he said, although “”I didn’t hammer the firewall, beat metal or bend any body panels to make the S54 fit.It offers an E36 M3 ZF transmission, E34 M5 clutch and M Coupe 3.25: 1 limited-slip.
Obviously, no power increase is done without chassis mods, so Ryan started with Ground Control coilovers, utilizing Koni SA shocks with 650 lb front and 1200 lb rear springs, put together with AKG control arms to make certain it corners flat even without sway bars. Furthermore, it uses AKG subframe bushings and weld-in caster/camber/toe kits plus an E36 M3 steering rack without power steering. “”I love the direct feel of the manual brakes and steering without nannies like ABS,”” he said.
Ah yes, Gangemi is a purest and drives without the assistance of assistance to his custom Brembo setup from Lee Motorsports. The stoppers consist of four-piston calipers on all corners with a Ron Lee rotor kit employing 14″” Dodge Viper floating discs up front, and 13″” C6 Corvette Z06 rears.
The massive binders are paired with Mintex ceramic pads and a 21mm/17mm master cylinder that have proved more than sufficient to haul down just 2700 lb of Bavarian steel.
Ryan didn’t restrain on the exterior either. “”I wanted our bodies to be subtle, yet aggressive, so the 19 and mods”” Morr VS7 forged wheels set the tone I was trying to achieve,”” he was quoted saying.
Additions included M3 Evo Sport fenders and rear wing by using a carbon Gurney flap and front splitter in the Evo 2 front spoiler. It also has JEDM3 carbon kidney grilles, smoked Hella headlights and yellow fogs. “”To fit the wheels I had to flare the rear arches but also shaved the door locks, bumper lines and washer nozzles ahead of theto get squeezed over custom Brembo brake kit
Inside, you’ll find Recaro-style front seats, a Momo Comp steering wheel, ZHP shift knob and leather-wrapped German console. “”The interior is understated but I’m in the process of swapping up to the Evo’s tri-color interior with Recaro S30 seats, tri-color consoles and leather door handles – it will make a nice addition,”” he suggested.
As you’d expect from a fanatic, the job is rarely done and Ryan’s considering several other updates but hinted he might sell the car for the right offer to recreate an E30 Convertible he still misses.
“”You can find faster cars out there, but few have the visceral appeal of a proper S54-swapped E30 M3 since the chassis is all about 700 lb lighter than the E46. It’s alive in such a way you never imagined possible,”” he stated. Naysayers need only look at the black lines behind Gangemi’s creation to understand he’s not bluffing.
