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E30 M3 Dreams and Cars We've Missed

E30 M3 Dreams and Cars We've Missed

Bring a Trailer Podcast Mar 12, 2026 53 min
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About this episode

The hosts dive into nostalgic car talk, focusing heavily on the BMW E30 M3 and the allure of engine swaps, especially the S54 swap. They share personal stories about their youth, memorable cars, and the challenges of modifying classic BMWs. The discussion covers technical details about the S14 engine, swap costs, and the appeal of different M3 models. Alongside this, they touch on the culture of finding and appreciating overlooked cars, the excitement of upcoming events, and tease a future episode about the classic film American Graffiti.

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Part

S54 engine

"I mean, do you want to talk about S54 swaps? I thought that was an interesting topic. ... So to recap, I have always wanted an S54 and an E30."

The S54 engine is a type of powerful motor made by BMW. People like to put it in older BMW cars to make them faster and better to drive.

Car

BMW E30M3

"Well, I actually didn't know you wanted a six-cylinder swap that car. This is in the E30M3. ... I've also always wanted an E30M3 ever since I was a little kid. My neighbor had one."

The BMW E30 M3 is a special sporty car made by BMW a long time ago. People love it because it drives really well and looks cool. It's a classic car many fans want to own.

Part

S14 engine

"I thought that was the point too. And it's so good. Because I'm not an S14 fan, but your motor is good."

The S14 engine is the original motor in the E30 M3. It's a special engine that can rev high and was made for racing, but some people prefer newer engines instead.

Car

BMW E30

"... So to recap, I have always wanted an S54 and an E30. Always, always. Over 10 years, that's like what..."
Car

S52-Powered 1988 BMW M3

Featured on Bring a Trailer: S52-Powered 1988 BMW M3

Term

BMW CCA

"But I'll still say, my neighbor had a red, black E30M3. And his dad was like a BMW CCA instructor."

BMW CCA is a club for people who like BMW cars. They do events and help members learn about their cars.

Term

AC Schnitzer

"He d-badged the BMW badges. In hindsight, this is horrible. I'd put AC schnitzer badges over the BMW ones."

AC Schnitzer is a company that makes BMW cars look cooler and perform better by adding special parts.

Concept

engine swap

"And also you have more S14 equity because you do the swap and you sell the S14. Right. So that's been in the back of my mind. ... They're sort of the experts in the S54 swapping world. They at least have the most notoriety and they have their own proprietary swap kits"

An engine swap means taking out the car's old engine and putting in a new or different one to make it better or faster.

Company

Castro Motorsports

"We've had a couple cars come through from Castro Motorsports in SoCal. They're sort of the experts in the S54 swapping world. They at least have the most notoriety and they have their own proprietary swap kits"

Castro Motorsports is a company that helps put newer BMW engines into older BMW cars to make them faster and better.

Part

carbon air box

"I'm just going to make the S14 as good as I can and do a carbon air box and a standalone ECU and make that 25 just rip."

A carbon air box is a part that helps bring air into the engine. It’s made from a strong but light material called carbon fiber, which can help the car perform better.

Part

standalone ECU

"I'm just going to make the S14 as good as I can and do a carbon air box and a standalone ECU and make that 25 just rip."

A standalone ECU is a special computer that controls how the engine works. It can be adjusted to make the car run better or faster.

Part

flywheel

"I actually had the Evo flywheel just laying in my garage. I didn't even realize I had almost like threw it away. I was like, just get this junk out of here."

A flywheel is a heavy part inside the car’s engine that helps keep the engine running smoothly. Some special flywheels are lighter to help the car feel quicker when you press the gas.

Term

Autocross

""I've ridden in one in anger during Autocross, back when you used to just sort of like wait at the entrance.""

Autocross is a type of car race where drivers drive through a course made with cones as fast as they can, showing how well they can handle the car.

Car

Pristine 69k-Mile 1990 BMW M3

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Pristine 69k-Mile 1990 BMW M3

Concept

Laguna Seca

"And so I was like, let me run you down the hill here at Laguna Seca. And it was me, him, and Roland in the car."

Laguna Seca is a well-known race track in California where people drive fast cars and race. It has tricky turns that make it exciting to drive on.

Term

twin cam head

"But it's an M10 block, right? Just with a twin cam head."

A twin cam head means the engine has two parts that open and close the valves to let air in and out. This helps the engine work better and faster.

Car

BMW 2002 TII

"Well, so I had a 2002 TII with an M10 block and very commonly people swap out bottom end internals."

The BMW 2002 TII is an older sporty car with a special engine block called the M10. People like to change parts of its engine to make it faster or better.

Part

M10 engine block

"Well, so I had a 2002 TII with an M10 block and very commonly people swap out bottom end internals."

The M10 engine block is the main part of the engine in some older BMW cars. People like to change or upgrade parts inside it to improve performance.

Car

BMW S14 engine

"People put the S14 head on M10 blocks, don't they? Not really worth it. You can, but it's much, I think there's a lot of modifications you have to do to make that work."

The BMW S14 engine is a special, powerful engine used in the E30 M3 car. It has two camshafts which help it run better and faster.

Part

starter

"Or additionally, what I did and a lot of people do is the E30M3 starter on an M10. It just helps it kick over faster."

The starter is a part that helps the car's engine start by turning it around quickly.

Term

iron block

"I mean, I presume an S14 is an aluminum block, right? No, you're both right. It's an M10 block with a shortened S38 head. Yeah, it's an iron block. Okay, even an S14 is an iron block still. Interesting."

An iron block means the main part of the engine is made from a strong, heavy metal called iron, which lasts a long time.

Term

K-swap

"K-swaps have more of a lower dollar connotation to them. You could do one in just a regular, like a 325 or 318 or something, but you don't get all the flares and cool stuff."

A K-swap means putting a Honda K-series engine into a different car to make it faster and more fun to drive. These engines are popular because they can go fast and have many parts available.

Car

Porsche 997 GT3

"But there's a couple out there, man. There's a K-swapped 997 GT3 out there on the forest."

The Porsche 997 GT3 is a fast and sporty version of the Porsche 911 made for racing and fun driving. It has a strong engine and special parts to help it go around corners better.

Term

turbo

"And it's making, I think, over 400 horsepower. With a turbo. Probably."

A turbo is a part that helps a car's engine make more power by pushing extra air into it. This makes the car faster.

Term

SMG transmission

"Like a beater. SMG. Have you enjoyed SMG? Right, a beater."

SMG is a type of transmission that changes gears automatically but lets you feel like you're driving a manual car. It can be tricky to use and sometimes needs expensive repairs.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"...d them out and like taping. Yeah, our old Toyota Corolla used to get them all the time when we was street ..."
Car

Acura Integra

"On the Integra? Not on the Integra."

The Acura Integra is a small sporty car that many people like because it drives well and is fun to own.

Car

Toyota Supra

"On the Supra? And then-"

The Toyota Supra is a fast and sporty car that many people like because it can go really fast and can be customized easily.

Car

Volkswagen Jetta

"The other hilarious one I got on was obviously Julius Beter Jetta with the smashed windshield and then it up had the same note like Xeroxed and everything."

The Volkswagen Jetta is a small car that many people use for everyday driving because it's comfortable and easy to drive.

Car

Honda Civic Si

"My dad used to get them on his terrible Super High Mileage 2000 Civic SI. They got a 450,000 mile SI with its original clutch, so good luck to them."

The Honda Civic Si is a special version of the regular Civic that is made to be more fun to drive. The 2000 model is well-liked because it is reliable and can be made faster with some upgrades.

Term

original clutch

"They got a 450,000 mile SI with its original clutch, so good luck to them."

The original clutch is the part that helps the car change gears, and it’s the same one that came with the car when it was new, which is rare for a car with many miles.

Term

bare metal full strip down restoration

"There's a guy doing a bare metal full strip down restoration of my dad's old car. No way. Yes, of the Civic, which you wrote in one time."

This means taking the car apart completely and removing all the paint so you can fix it properly and make it look like new again.

Term

California car

"And he's saying things like, California car. You can tell his car was loved. I was like, yeah, it did live in California."

When someone says a car is a California car, it means the car lived in California where the weather is dry, so it usually doesn’t have much rust or damage.

Term

VIN

"You knew it was yours because of the vin? Vin and color and then like the small details of like, oh, I bumped the garage there."

A VIN is a special number that every car has. It helps people know which car it is and its history.

Car

Ford Mustang

"Please bust it out. Okay, SHO Taurus, SVO Mustang. I have stories for all these."
Car

4,700-Mile 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 4,700-Mile 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Term

automatic transmission

""There was a 4,500 mile maroon one on the site last week, but it was an automatic.""

An automatic transmission is a type of car gearbox that changes gears by itself, so you don't have to do it manually.

Car

Dodge Charger

"Yeah, I need a VR6. The G charger four cylinder is not supposed to be great. But t..."
Car

19k-Mile 1989 Ford Taurus SHO

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 19k-Mile 1989 Ford Taurus SHO

Car

Ford Taurus

"I'm running through my car roll-a-dex. the Taurus sold for 19,250. I know, I'm aware of what it so..."
Car

Alfa Romeo Milano

"... the car that I had. So like I had an Alfa Romeo Milano, but I had the Silver, which was the 25 and, you..."
Car

Alfa 164S

"...thing that doesn't come up very often, right? Or 164s. Those come up a lot."
Car

37k-Mile 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 37k-Mile 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

Car

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde

Car

Ford Explorer

"I can't remember. We had a Ford Explorer in 97 that I believe. Did you use it all the tim..."
Car

Mercedes-Benz Cclass

"but the CLK hatchbacks, which I think came with a V6 and a six-speed at one point. I mean, it's not a CLK, just the C-Class hatchback. Is that what it's called?"
Car

Mercedes-Benz CLK

"but the CLK hatchbacks, which I think came with a V6 and a si..."
Car

Acura CL

"I think there were C230. CL class. CL, okay."
Car

F-150 Raptor

"...50s. Oh, and then if you get a hot truck, it's a Raptor, right? There's that too."
Car

Ford SVT Lightning

"... there was an SVT contour and an SVT Mustang and SVT lightning and a Focus. Like, it felt like there was this, ..."
Car

Toyota Celica

"...m adding this to the Alex Shitbox list, the last Celica they sold here, the little angular one. I've alw..."
Car

Celica

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Celica

Car

Porsche 944

"...shooting up all these prices. Yeah, specifically 944s would love a twin cam of some sort. Oh yeah, you..."
Car

Porsche 924

"...e the best one in the world for under 20K is the 924S, which is 944 Mechanicals, but in the Dumpy 924 b..."
Car

Acura RSX

"Yeah. I bought that RSX for like a minute. Oh, that's right."
Car

BMW E28

"...ut it sounds like it's something I should avoid. E28 M5? E28 M5."
Car

BMW M5

"...t sounds like it's something I should avoid. E28 M5? E28 M5."
Car

R53 Cooper S

Featured on Bring a Trailer: R53 Cooper S

Car

Porsche 914

"...sches. And there was a couple of guys with those 914s where they chopped the roll bar and those were s..."
Car

Porsche Cayenne

"... there was one time at a PCA event, there was two Cayenne turbos that showed up. Wow."
Car

Chevrolet Corvair

"...d of interesting modified cars. I think he had a Corvair with a V8 in it. He had some interesting cars."
Car

Chevrolet Beretta

"His GTU class Pontiac. Or was it a Beretta? I think it was his Beretta."
Car

IMSA, NASCAR, RX-7s, and Land Yachts with Tommy Kendall

Featured on Bring a Trailer: IMSA, NASCAR, RX-7s, and Land Yachts with Tommy Kendall

Car

Mazda Rx7

"... listen to that episode? He also has his OG IMSA RX7 still. Oh, interesting."
Car

No Reserve: 49k-Mile 1992 Ford Taurus SHO

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 49k-Mile 1992 Ford Taurus SHO

Car

Original-Owner 1979 BMW M1

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Original-Owner 1979 BMW M1

Car

1989 Chevrolet Corvette Challenge Race Car

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Ex–Stu Hayner 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Challenge Race Car

Car

The Gilmore Car Museum Collection, Offered at No Reserve

Featured on Bring a Trailer: The Gilmore Car Museum Collection, Offered at No Reserve

Car

Ford Model T

"...ven earlier stuff as well. There's a 1930 Hudson Model T, and then a 57 Pontiac Chieftain,"
Car

Pontiac Chieftain

"...e's a 1930 Hudson Model T, and then a 57 Pontiac Chieftain, as well as a 66 Lincoln Continental Convertible..."
Car

No Reserve: 1993 Geo Tracker LSi 4x4 5-Speed w/Camso Track System

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 1993 Geo Tracker LSi 4x4 5-Speed w/Camso Track System

Car

1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL Fastback R-Code 427

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL Fastback R-Code 427 4-Speed

Car

Euro 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Euro 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB

Car

BMW 328

"...ue, red, color combo. And GTBs are even rarer in 328s than they are in 308s. It's pretty sweet."
Car

Peugeot 308

"... And GTBs are even rarer in 328s than they are in 308s. It's pretty sweet."
Car

2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster

Car

Lotus Elise

"... And it looks like it's the size and weight of an Elise. You undershot that 1,800 horsepower."
Car

Mercedes-Benz Clk Gtr

"...er in the Mercedes LMP car that flew up? Oh, the CLK GTR, Zach's dream car. That's like, oh, man."
Car

1968 Mazda Cosmo Series II

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 1968 Mazda Cosmo Series II

Car

Lamborghini Lm002

"Sold strong. I watch every LM002 that hits the spot. Oh, yeah."
Car

RoW 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe

Featured on Bring a Trailer: RoW 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe

Car

Whale Tales: A Visual Guide to the Evolution of Porsche 911 Spoilers

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Whale Tales: A Visual Guide to the Evolution of Porsche 911 Spoilers

Car

Dual-Quad 350-Powered 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop Coupe

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Dual-Quad 350–Powered 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop Coupe

Car

Chevrolet Bel Air

"...aking ton of the wings on the back. There's a 56 Bel Air with a dual quad on it that I really liked. Did ..."
Car

Bill Goldberg's Twin-Plug 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo

Featured on Bring a Trailer: Bill Goldberg's Twin-Plug 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo

Car

Porsche 356

"Correct. Or even 356. So there you go."
Car

Porsche Carrera Gets

"...o there you go. And then it's really when the 32 Carrera gets its own dedicated spoiler, because if you ordere..."
Car

RoW 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Coupe

Featured on Bring a Trailer: RoW 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Coupe

Car

1975 Porsche 911 Carrera

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera

41 cars featured

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