Bimmer Pics as promised!

Wow, 11.2? That is great, must be quite a sight and sound to behold.
Is your E34 a US spec with the 3.6 or a gray market import with the 3.8? Dinan makes a hard stroker kit for the S38, but I think you have ecplised that by a lot. Good deal indeed. Have any sound clips or 1/4 run videos?

Yup M&Ms, I'm pretty much set on snatching up an e46 when i find the "one." I've been looking at a few other cars but keep drawing back to BMW. Unless I can find a Porsche in my price range!

Hey Barry, M&Ms mentioned you the BMW guru, do you have any advice, info I should know that would help me in the decision making process? I'm currently looking for a 99-01 323i or 328, or '02 325i. I'd like a 330 but it may be out of my price range. I've currently got an integra so I'm use to the modding scene etc. But I'm looking for something with a bit more class, ergo BMW. And doesn't require too much modding, although i know i'll be tempted and probably will end up dumping a nice amount into her. Suggestions, advice?

I would go with the E46 328Ci. I have a lot of experiance with the 2.8L (M52) as it powered my E39 528. Great engine, and through a function of shorter gears and less mass the E46 is a lot quicker. 80% peak torque (206ft-lbs total, so about 180ft-lbs) at only 2000rpm thanks to VANOS, and it screams all the way to redline.
I think if you got the 323 you would be wanting more power right off the bat. The 328 gives you more stink from the get go, and since both are modern BMW engines, both cost about the same to mod, but the M52 has more power to begin with.
I love the E46 330, as I have driven them in SMG and 6spd with the performance package. However, the 328's cost a lot less, and there is some easy power to be had by going to Dinan, RMS, Active Autowerke (sp?) and many others. Not sure if Evosport makes any mods, but they tend to be cheap while holding good quality.
IMHO, get the most powerful engine you can afford, as the gains will go higher in the end, and you have more power till the mod bug hits hard. Just be careful, as mods for BMW's can tend to be expensive, but in the end well worth their cost.
Oh, I dont think I need to say this, but be sure it is a stick. Most BMW I6's dont mate up to autos well, as although they make good torque, the torque converters are a little loose and tend to water down performance a lot. The only exception is the E60 530 auto I drove, it seemed to do well.
Here are a few links to some sites you might enjoy thumbing through:
http://www.dinancars.com/default.htm
http://www.racemarque.com/rms_bmw/
http://www.evosport.com/home.html
Hope this helps at all. You know, for the price of an E46 328 you can also find a E36 M3, and with a little help by active autowerke you can have a nice turbo setup and be on the way to ongoldy 1/4 times. But, in the end, I think any of the 3 series line after the E30 (except the old E30 M3...those are gems) will treat you much better than almost anything thing else you can buy.
:cheers:

See I told you he knows his shit.

i don't have any sound/video clips at this point, barry - will have one of my buddies take my vidcam to the track next time I run (either autocross or drag) - then i'll share it with you guys. note: i'm travelling for work the next few weeks - so it will be after that.

btw: the 3.8 is under the hood. i'm not sharing what else has been done at the moment though. i'd like to enjoy the 'sleeper' image for a while longer

Good stuff, I cant wait.

I think titluhva is just trying to build anticipation

right on barry! good info, thanks for the sites, I've been hanging around e46fanatics.com how do you think those forums are? And of course its going to be a stick! i don't think i could drive auto ever again. IMO, its too boring. I'm afraid I'll wreck due to sleeping at the wheel.
That's also pretty incredible to be at 80% of peak torque at only 2k rpms! I could be right on the money in power delivery in normal city driving. Do you happen to have a stock dyno chart for the 328? When does peak TQ occur and how is the curve after, decently flat?
I'd really like to find a e46 328 but they rarely seem to be for sale here, its more common to see the 323s. But now that you mention it my search now is aimed more towards the 328 or e36 m3 if I can find one in great condition.
Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. Now that youve let your knowledge loose I'll be bugging with the questons! lol. Thanks again tho man, and you to M&Ms for the reference.
Now back to my search for my BMW!

good luck dude, i hope you find something nice. I've put 600+ miles on my car since I've been driving it this week. Totally see why it is BMW carries the reputation. You'l definitaly love it!

Sorry for the late reply, I was in Phoenix for the weekend trying to scam on some ASU girls..ahh Starbucks at 12am on Mill ave..oh, wait, BMW's? Sorry, lost myself there.
E46fanatics is a good site, but a little too much flaming and nonknowladgeable know it alls there. Hate to be rude and criticize, but it seems like 10% of that site is stand up guys, with a lot of "cool guys" (in their own minds) who think they know everything b/c they own a BMW. Check out www.m3forum.com, as there is a lot of good info there. I would send you to the best IMHO BMW site around, but they only really talk about the E39 and the E60. Their E46 forum is a little slow, but hey, who knows www.m5board.com/vbulletin Ask almost any question there, and some top guys will get back with you.
Here is a link to a Dinan page with their mods, with some dyno sheets from stock to their slightly tuned car. http://www.dinancars.com/default.htm Hmm, seems you need to do some navigation to get to it. Click "products/pricing" then 3 series. Then E46 328, and then under engine tuning, click on the performance engine software link. That will get you to the page with the dyno sheets.
As you'll see, the HP curve is a nice linear line up to redline, and the torque is a nice plateau. Here is what I love about the M52: torque is within 10ft-lbs from 2500rpm to 4500 rpm. Thank you VANOS! As M&M found out in his M50TU equipped car, there is no wait for power, just push and go, no matter what gear you are in (with some reasonabilty factor there).
Feel free to ask anything you want, if I dont have an answer right off the bat, I'll go get one from good sources. Do you use AIM at all?