Oh Deary Me, S38 Powered E31

"slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally) 01/29/2020 at 15:21 • Filed to: None

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Speedhunters has an upcoming article on a E31 with the drivetrain from an E34 M5. 335Hp with a 6 speed. Weight is down to 1590kg, which is a huge improvement. Still not a speed demon but a nice improvement. I had actually thought about this build years ago if I ever got my hands on an E31 shell, so it’s really cool to see someone else actually did it.

So nice.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:29

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Beautiful.

E90M3 > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:30

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Still half as many cylinders as it should half. 

feather-throttle-not-hair > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:31

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Isn’t that roughly the power that the V12 had? I always thought the less powerful V8 was the one to have, just because i’ve heard those V12s are nightmares, but this is probably a good alternative.

Obviously 850CSi is the dream (in that dream, i also have the time and money to keep it maintained perfectly. )

Discerning > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:31

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That is phenomenal. I've seen these with everything from an S50 to an S54 - but there's something really special about the S38.

slipperysallylikespenguins > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2020 at 15:35

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That white paint, red seats, and Alpina wheels are about perfect.

slipperysallylikespenguins > feather-throttle-not-hair 01/29/2020 at 15:38

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Base 850i V 12 was 296 hp, 850Ci was 322, 850CSi was 375(and super expensive)

Base 840i V8 was 282 hp.

So you get mid range v12 power with better reliability and less weight.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Discerning 01/29/2020 at 15:39

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There is even a few S85 v10 powered E31s built, that is the most interesting to me.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:44

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Very nicely done.

phenotyp > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:50

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Oh damn, I like this.

Discerning > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 15:56

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When I think of BMW, I think of inline 6 cylinders. I’m sure the S85 car is interesting, but I don’t think I’d want to own one with the main bearing and throttle actuator issues.

I maintain that one of the absolute best BMW engine ever made is the S50B30.

It is the closest thing to a BMW 2JZ. It can make as much power as you want, it sounds amazing, it doesn’t eat bearings, and it’s exceptionally durable.

The S38 is arguably better, but the cost of one and the cost of parts can be really high.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Discerning 01/29/2020 at 16:03

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I would take the S38 over the v10, I just think the V10 would suit the 8 series well. Like a better loooking m6.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 19:58

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I always wondered why 840 was never allowed to even approach E39 M5 V8 specs... I didn’t even think of going to an I6, but I should have.

I like a v12 as much as the next guy, but the lighter weight drivetrain, paired with a 6-speed manual, which the 850 had, but the 840 never did.

There was an 850 CSi… this should be called 83 0CSL. Even if it isn’t lighter than other BMWs... it is lighter than other variants of itself, and some other focus on decontenting and simplification, both inside and underneath, would have made the E31 into something pretty interesting.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 20:05

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Those are compelling numbers, but one has to wonder about the torque curve, rather than just peak power numbers.

slipperysallylikespenguins > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 01/29/2020 at 21:03

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It would have made a lot of sense to develop the V8 in the E39 M5 for the E31 first since it was a Halo product. BMW really dropped the ball on the E31 and let it flounder, as many carmakers did in the late 90s with their coupes.

Variance > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/29/2020 at 23:45

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Hm, I’m not sure I believe that weight figure... Even in V8-powered 840ci guise, the E31 is around 4100 lb (1860 kg), and I can’t imagine that the iron-block S38 is much (if at all) lighter than the aluminum-block M60/M62. BMW built the chassis like a brick shit-house, and the absence of a B-pillar means that a lot of extra structure had to be incorporated elsewhere to compensate.

M.T. Blake > slipperysallylikespenguins 01/30/2020 at 00:34

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Dude! I saw that! What a great way to use the drivetrain from an E34 M5. 

slipperysallylikespenguins > Variance 01/30/2020 at 00:50

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Hopefully they have more details on that when they post it to their website. 

slipperysallylikespenguins > M.T. Blake 01/30/2020 at 00:50

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So good, and very proper.