We all know that restoring and modifying classic cars can be expensive, especially since the market operates on a thin border between commodity and art. But how much is too much? What could incite you to fork over nearly half a million GBP for a BMW M3, even as iconic as the E30?
A tuner named Redux was responsible for the job. We understand that the client had to procure a donor M3 for £70,000–£90,000 and pay an extra £330,000 for the project. The company bored the S14 engine out from 2.3 to 2.5 liters of displacement and replaced the majority of the internals, including throttle bodies and the ECU.
As a result, the power output grew from 203 PS (200 hp / 150 kW) to 304 PS (300 hp / 224 kW). This may not seem like much, but for a vehicle weighing in barely above one metric ton (around 2,500 lbs), the difference can be decisive. A five-speed dogbox is tasked with delivering the momentum to the wheels, and the wheels themselves are custom 18-inch rollers inspired by the M3 racer from the E30 era. The same goes for the side mirrors.
Top Gear and Carfection have already had an opportunity to review the build (you can watch both videos right here), and the consensus is that it is very good – if not flawless. Price was the one point of criticism, and we can imagine why: handing over around 1,400 GBP for one horsepower to end up with a mid-spec, 300-hp retro sports car sounds unappealing for most.
Would you agree, or do you think such projects have their niche?