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Here's a complete newby as far as kitcar building goes. I'm still (for a long time now) thinking about what to built and if I could make it work. My choice was almost made for an Autotune Gemini, but recently I found out about the Marlin Sportster. I like the BMW idea of this built, so I'm considering the options now.
My actual question is: Could I use suspension, gear box, rear axle etc. of E30 BMW's and use the BMW E36 M3 engine, wiring loom etc ? I think it would be cheaper to use as much E30 parts as possible, but I like the M3 engine ... Besides that I read somewhere that using E36 suspension, axle, diff bits give more trouble in mounting ? Or is this all just coming out of the mind of a mad man and would I better buy a complete E36 M3 ? Finally perhaps anyone who says that an M3 enginge is not necessary or useless anyway ?
Like to read your thoughts on this ! Guess I'll might have some more questions/thoughts before and after the purchase ! Hope to read some usefell stuff !
Most of the Beemer builders (myself included, but I'm still at the stripping stage, not the building stage) have plumped for a straight-6 325i out of an E30, thus keeping the whole project to a single donor. It's the KISS principle. Plus 170bhp in something that weighs less than half of the original car should be powerful enough (for me, at least!)
I dunno about mixing and matching, but I guess it could be done - the Beemer modifiers out there seem to swap engines about with little or no issues...
If you decide to go for The E30 only option, the M3 only has a 4 cyl engine, IIRC - they didn't move to 6 until the E36
If you want to stick to a single donor and still use the E36 M3 engine (S52 I think) then you can use an M Roadster or Coupe as your donor. Its rear trailing arms are the same as the E30 (same goes for the E36 compact)
Otherwise the rest of the E36 range has different rear axel/trailing arms so you would need marlin to prepare an E36 kit - which the do.
A lot of parts such as the rear suspension top mounts are the same from the E30 to the E46! Gear levers can be interchanged for example. I've got one form the 3.0lr Z4 in mine giving it a very short short shift.
Your best bet is to give Marlin a call and have a chat with Terry Im sure she'll be able to explain all the options to you
