Long story short, someone is selling a 1994 EuroSpec M3 (canadian limited edition), and I started getting info on it. Before I take the plunge, if I ever do, I would like to know what are the known issues for this car, especially the engine.

It has 100k miles.

TIA.

They're not maintenance nightmares whatsoever. Just keep up with the regular maintenance (valve adjustments, oil changes, etc.) and it should run flawlessly. Although the 3.0 single vanos units have proven to be more reliable than the 3.2 double vanos units, just make sure it isn't making any weird noises.

What # are you interested in? Color combo? Options? Accident history? We have a registry for the 45 cars and we'd like to add it if it's not listed already.

ooo.... maybe Hugo going EuroSpec....

The car is nice, Dakar yellow, the guy swapped in a leather interior, but the cloth interior is available. He has all the stuff to convert to the 18 button OBC.

It's lightly modded already (suspension-wise), and he has some mods laying around, which I could make an offer on.

I figured I could buy it, and if it turns out to be a bad idea, sell it and break even.

These cars are bound to appreciate in value, no? It's #31 out of 45.

Only $18k???

Is it a rebuild?

if u change the oil reguarly well u should be fine. only other hassles i guess is the cars are getting older and sometimes the electrical systems (windows ect) can fail, but it would be the same with a 318i. the rear subframe (diff cradle) can crack but there aftermarket solutions for this.

Only $18k???

Is it a rebuild?

Nope. Timing. Bad season to sell, and the guy has a Porsche to pay.

The Euro Spec is a great car.

i have an S50B30 1994 Dakar M3.....
Maintenance is not a nightmare what so ever. I mean just do the reular usuall stuff (Right oil brand and grade, spark pluges, and valve adjustment) ull be completely fine. The S50B30 is a very strong engine that can survive alot of beating.......

If the car is sound, do it! You won't regret it... real S50 motors are night and day better.

If I get it, I suppose my heavy-ass 'vert with 240hp will feel sloooooooooooooow.

If I get it, I suppose my heavy-ass 'vert with 240hp will feel sloooooooooooooow.

An S52 coupe feels sloooooooow! Basically in comparison it feels like an S50 with a 100lb flywheel

The Euro Spec is a great car.
Do you guys have stuff for euro motors? :devillook

These cars are bound to appreciate in value, no? It's #31 out of 45.

I toyed around with the .ca spec S50B30, but all of them that I looked at have been wrecked and bodywork done.

I think you are better off with a done right S50B32 with U.S. chassis. I gave up on the idea because OBDII S50B32 M3 sedan is not passable due to CARB.

say a guy wants to get ahold of one of these... motors i mean i heard that abl original parts is a good source, would you guys know what id be lookin at price wise for a s50b30 as opposed to an s50b32? sometime im really considering... my motor was recently rebuilt and im thinking about going euro

Yes, but you will probably not pass CARB in California with any form of Euro engine.

For street or track, I prefer the displacement and double-VANOS advantage of the B32. If you're just looking for big power, turbo a US M3 motor. If you're looking for excellent power, torque, daily driveability, and reliability at both the track and on the street, then a Euro motor fits that bill. You can also have that with a top-shelf turbo kit, but I prefer NA power for the track. Too many issues with boosted US motors at the track, esp due to heat.

i think ill pass smog no prob... if u get me... im looking for some more power than was the US motor offers while keeping reliability up. im in between s/c and euro... 321crank for stock is gonna be hard to beat with that kind of reliability and i know that with some cams and a tune i will get the reliable power i am thinking of. already have a bbk for added stopping haha. so now i need to sell my rebuilt US motor...

You'll definitely enjoy the Euro motor over a built US motor, no doubt. Nothing against the US M engines, but the Euro is just a different machine. And the S54 is another step above the Euro motors, as well....

before this, I had a m50b25. that was a nightmare. the s50b30 is more stable, less problems... and oh, more power :buttrock

The S50B30 are definitely more stout, VANOS wise at least, than the S50B32s. Mind you, i haven't REALLY had a problem with it yet, but it has been changed before. Then again, the power of the B32 is definitely nice.

If you are considering tuning, go for the B30, though. It's fun to rev those engines to 8k.

I always enjoy screamers :)

Oh, and I <3 NA as well :buttrock

I'm considering the purchase of '98 Eurospec (S50B32) M3 sedan. It's got 105 K on it and its carfax checks out. The dealer is asking $11000. I'm gonna see if I can haggle him down to 10. It looks really clean inside and out. Alpine white/offwhite. My only concern was mentioned earlier in the thread. Worried about the availability of replacement parts in light of the high milage. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm considering the purchase of '98 Eurospec (S50B32) M3 sedan.

are you absolutely sure? they were never available in Canada ey, more likely to be US S52 M3

s50b32 were only coupe's in europe, too

s5030 is a great engine....last forever
i found my s5032 slower than the s5030....no idea why...but on 0-100km/h, the 3.2 is definitely faster
just sold my spare s5030 engine....sti have tons of stuff left!!!
so...anyone need anything, give me a shout...but they needed to be shipped from HK

I'm considering the purchase of '98 Eurospec (S50B32) M3 sedan. It's got 105 K on it and its carfax checks out. The dealer is asking $11000. I'm gonna see if I can haggle him down to 10. It looks really clean inside and out. Alpine white/offwhite. My only concern was mentioned earlier in the thread. Worried about the availability of replacement parts in light of the high milage. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

i had a 3.0 sedan before, now driving a 3.2 sedan....great car!!! go for it, 105k on the clock is nothing

s50b32 were only coupe's in europe, tooi have seen them here in holland

i have seen them here in holland

m3 3,2l 321cp sedan?

m3 3,2l 321cp sedan?yeah look on www.mobile.de (http://www.mobile.de) and you will see them

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?id=38070026&__lp=2&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&sortOption.sortOrder=ASCENDING&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelId=45&makeModelVariant1.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant2.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant3.searchInFreetext=false&vehicleCategory=Car&segment=Car&maxPrice=11000&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&customerIdsAsString=&lang=de&pageNumber=2

cool :D i never knew that they exist. for what regions they were made ?

cool :D i never knew that they exist. for what regions they were made ?this is a german site(www.mobile.de (http://www.mobile.de) ),they are rare in holland ,i think they all were imported from germany

Hugo is the car that your talking about the one thats on maxbimmer?
i talked to him a while ago and he said it isnt for sale... maybe he just changed his mind..

wish i could get it..

Careful there.

Valves are bigger on the intake v 3.2. Shims are heavier.

I would not rev the 3.0 quite that high.

3.2 is ok at that rpm.

(I've posted in multiple other threads on the other virtues of the 3.0 vs 3.2 however, but max redline is not one of them)

cool :D i never knew that they exist. for what regions they were made ?

i got 2 so far!!!
they are nice...as fast as the coupe but looks like a 318i
i like sleeper cars more

euro m3's rock

I have a 7/1994 build Japanese market Euro M3 with S50B30 engine....not a maintenance headache at all...I would even say that that car is more reliable than my EVO7! haha! But seriously, that car has never gotten me into any trouble at all...since I got it, its only had gaskets replaced, oil, spark plugs, and filters...the regular stuff. Had it custom flash tuned and got 255WHP on a dynapack with no mods whatsoever.

My only issue is some knocking on the low end, which I hoped the flash tuning would cover, but it did not. Checked the shims for valve clearances and it was all within spec, so tomorrow I am checking the timing chain tensioner.

Other than that, the only engine component I changed in the car was the busted knock sensors, all 3 of them where the failure was in the plastic portion...I guess due to old age.

s50b32 were only coupe's in europe, too

:confused S50B32 came in M3 Evolution coupe, vert, and sedan.

S50B30's are virtually bulletproof engines !!!

Careful there.

Valves are bigger on the intake v 3.2. Shims are heavier.

I would not rev the 3.0 quite that high.

3.2 is ok at that rpm.

(I've posted in multiple other threads on the other virtues of the 3.0 vs 3.2 however, but max redline is not one of them)

Can you explain that a bit more Alex?

General idea here is that the 3.0 will rev higher because the stroke is shorter :)

My mate used to own a S50B30. He wanted to have work done on the engine but his missus said "If it's not broke, don't fix it" For the next two and a half years he drove it like he stole it, he tried everything from bouncing it off the limiter doing doughnuts to seeing how tall a number ll he could make ha ha

He could not blow it up... no matter how hard he tried! He and his magazine buddies could not believe how a car that was thrashed as much as his ran so sweet... ... ...
Bullet-proof??? I converted the s50b30 into my 318is coupe. Tha's how much the engine impressed me. 286bhp normally aspirated... Awesome, Driving is believing. The only regret you'll have is not doing it sooner.

Good Luck

Can you explain that a bit more Alex?

General idea here is that the 3.0 will rev higher because the stroke is shorter :)

Stroke is not always or even often a rev limiter, but instead valvetrain. Sound like the '32s have lighter / smaller valvetrain parts allowing higher rpms before float.

That's the big limiter with our USA engines, otherwise 8300rpm money shifts would not be called that. :D

If I ever blow this engine for some reason, I'd seriously look at a Euro motor, already have a shop that smogs for me. (have to pass sniff, but they don't always look that close under the hood)

Hmmm, interesting. I always thought that its the stroke that limits the rev limit...because essentially, the probe, would be the piston speed and its weight. Too much speed and weight will lead to too much momentum for the crank and other parts of the engine. That's why F1 engine strokes are short.

I also always though that to increase the rev limit and prevent float, you'd just have to upgrade the valve springs and retainers to stiffer and stronger ones.

Stroke is not always or even often a rev limiter, but instead valvetrain. Sound like the '32s have lighter / smaller valvetrain parts allowing higher rpms before float.

That's the big limiter with our USA engines, otherwise 8300rpm money shifts would not be called that. :D

If I ever blow this engine for some reason, I'd seriously look at a Euro motor, already have a shop that smogs for me. (have to pass sniff, but they don't always look that close under the hood)

Hm no as far as I am aware of the 3.2's have slightly bigger valves, with thinner valvestems.

But expirience in the past shows that engine failures on tracked euro engines are almost always in the bottom end, not the head. So that's why I would be more comfortable revving a 3.0 past 8000 RPM then a 3.2 :)