An interesting take on the future of the M3 as a restomod...

[Icecream]

No time soon. Seriously. We’ll need a lot more “resto” and most here won’t even own their cars by then. Think 2035 when we’re all putting battery operated drivetrains in the cars to deliver Tesla like performance, at the absolute earliest. Then the car will be resto modded. This isn’t a “classic” car and it won’t be any time soon. At most, they’re future classics, emphasis on future. These are all just mods. I have another “future classic” thats 15 years older than these, more rare and more classic, and it’s still nowhere near restomod thought. $.02

maw

I mean we can turbo these to get "tesla like" performance but that kinda ruins the car, as would an electric drivetrain. Not the right car for that kind of mod tbh (electric assist maybe. Like a supplemental 200hp motor might end up pretty Cool) . Now a big old lincoln with a 1000hp electric drivetrain, that would be awesome.

[Toby22]

Tiag/Dove/SMG vert as tribute.

Haha this is hilarious

[BTB]

You wouldn't buy a 996 GT3 and say 'oh this is 20 years old I guess it needs to be stripped and brought up to modern standards' (except that new CarPlay mod if you do long trips). The M3 is fine with its power and torque from factory, it will putt around a country road at 2k rpm or rip to the stratospheric 8k without complaining either way.

The E46 M3 'restomod' equivalent is simply OEM+, as there is nothing to 'restore'. All that's worth doing is to tweak things that can be improved. Really no engine that can replace the S54 imo.

[maw1124]

Haha this is hilarious

Indeed it really is... if SMG Verts keep going under appreciated as at current I might be the first to go for an EV conversion ... I have other iconic petrol engines in the stable... but EV technology needs to advance a bit, so the 50/50 ish weight distribution can be maintained... but a pure battery replacement for all the fluid hydraulic stuff in cars of this era makes TONS of sense to me... I see zero reason why the SMG shifting, hydraulic top and Mercedes ABC systems shouldn’t all be pure electric.

maw

[Icecream]

Indeed it really is... if SMG Verts keep going under appreciated as at current I might be the first to go for an EV conversion ... I have other iconic petrol engines in the stable... but EV technology needs to advance a bit, so the 50/50 ish weight distribution can be maintained... but a pure battery replacement for all the fluid hydraulic stuff in cars of this era makes TONS of sense to me... I see zero reason why the SMG shifting, hydraulic top and Mercedes ABC systems shouldn’t all be pure electric.

maw

Reliability is probably one reason. The smg’s biggest failure is the electric motor and relay. The hydraulics are usually pristine and dead reliable and can move\react to high loads exceptionally quickly. packaging is probably another reason. Doable for sure (and if built into a car new makes sense) but just cause electric is hot sh** right now doesn’t mean everything has to be converted to electric.....or does it?

[Obioban]

Cars designed to be ICEVs are shitty EVs— that’s why Tesla’s products continue to be superior to the German’s (most German EVs are converted ICEVs or platforms designed to do either/both).

[maw1124]

The smg’s biggest failure is the electric motor and relay. The hydraulics are usually pristine and dead reliable and can move\react to high loads exceptionally quickly. packaging is probably another reason. Doable for sure (and if built into a car new makes sense) but just cause electric is hot sh** right now doesn’t mean everything has to be converted to electric.....or does it?

Robust debate... electric now and electric 20 years ago are on separate planets... that is of course WHY “electric is hot shit right now”... and will continue to be so... it’s also why restomods are a thing worth discussing... the SMG motor and relay are precisely the items that are likely worlds better now than when this car was engineered... you know, kinda like your iPhone today is worlds better than the Mac computers of 2001... you’re aware of this, correct?

maw

[heinzboehmer]

that’s why Tesla’s products continue to be superior to the German’s

Taycan is the one exception to that imo. If only they weren't so heavy (and expensive)

[Obioban]

Taycan is the one exception to that imo. If only they weren't so heavy (and expensive)

Twice the price for half the real world range of the Tesla Model S. And, with refreshed Model S, considerably slower, too. And the back seat in the Taycan is about as spacious as the 3rd row of seats in the Model S (something you can’t get on the Taycan). And the Model S frunk is much more useable.

[Icecream]

Robust debate... electric now and electric 20 years ago are on separate planets... that is of course WHY “electric is hot shit right now”... and will continue to be so... it’s also why restomods are a thing worth discussing... the SMG motor and relay are precisely the items that are likely worlds better now than when this car was engineered... you know, kinda like your iPhone today is worlds better than the Mac computers of 2001... you’re aware of this, correct?

maw

Battery technology and power management is on separate planets and why it is “hot shit now”. All I was saying is maybe there are areas where electric might not be the best option - jfc . I’m just having some conversation here but feel free to continue to denigrate me.

[heinzboehmer]

Twice the price for half the real world range of the Tesla Model S. And, with refreshed Model S, considerably slower, too. And the back seat in the Taycan is about as spacious as the 3rd row of seats in the Model S (something you can’t get on the Taycan). And the Model S frunk is much more useable.

Agreed, but it's the one german car that stands out to me as being tesla-like, in the sense that it was always destined to be an ev and isn't what basically amounts to an ev swap into an ice vehicle (i3 might fit the bill too, but that's a totally different type of car).

[maw1124]

I’m just having some conversation here but feel free to continue to denigrate me.

Nah man, no disrespect... just making the point that the tech has come a long way in 15years, and that makes the whole discussion around a restomod worth having, if at all... there are failure points in these cars where better tech can make a HUGE difference, for not a lot of money... like electronic fuel injection systems in old cars... Denigrating people isn’t my thing. There’s too much of that shit on the internet these days.

maw

[Icecream]

Twice the price for half the real world range of the Tesla Model S. And, with refreshed Model S, considerably slower, too. And the back seat in the Taycan is about as spacious as the 3rd row of seats in the Model S (something you can’t get on the Taycan). And the Model S frunk is much more useable.

You are being too practical. This is subjective of course but the Taycan is much better looking and has a much better interior that more than makes up for the price(and I get to go to the porsche dealer and look at GT3's while I have it serviced). Tesla is about as exciting as a prius with brembos in the looks department (and 90 percent of the driving experience when youre not on it, drab interior, no engine noise etc). The Taycan at least gets me excited and has a cool factor the tesla cant match (as does the i3 for some reason).

[EthanolTurbo]

What about electric motors on the rear axles that are tuned for different power curves by reading data from the DME and applying power as necessary? Would make city driving a breeze, that's for sure. It'd also add weight on the rear at the right place.

[Icecream]

What about electric motors on the rear axles that are tuned for different power curves by reading data from the DME and applying power as necessary? Would make city driving a breeze, that's for sure. It'd also add weight on the rear at the right place.

I like the idea of adding a nice boost like this very much. But did you mean at the wheels/hub? Axles would move too much and would be a challenge. Integration at the flange right at the differential might work or at the driveshaft input, even the flywheel would work if space permits. Would be a project I would actually love to do one day.

edit. No way flywheel has anywhere near enough room. Between the clutch, forks and everything else, nope. Actually the more I think about it the more it seems there just isn’t the room for it anywhere except maybe retrofitting a hub motor at the wheels. Even that seems like it would be a major operation.