Sunbelt 97 M3 runs to 7400 RPM

This is not an acceleration clip - This is a sound bite of a Sunbelt Cam 97 M3 with a built 3.2L motor winding down from 7400 RPM and then up again to hit the rev limiter.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMWM3
• Sunbelt
• Cam
• Built
• motor
• Patrick
• Duffy

[boing767]

the color is perfect for this car !

[iggyspeed]

nice sound...

[ydoczxcvbnm]

@D151NT3GRAT0R Nope. the U.S. didn't get the e36 M3 evolution (s50b32). Also, the s52 powered obd2 M3 has the same power output as it's s50 obd1 counterpart, with slightly more torque due to it's increase in displacement. Swap out the restrictive intake manifold with an obd1 M50 manifold, with supporting mods, and you'll push power beyond that of an obd1 s50 with similar mods.

[ydoczxcvbnm]

@hexstaticleon Wrong. It's just shy of 8k rpm

[D151NT3GRAT0R]

@hexstaticleon I guess its the EVO, lol. Its the OBD2 so it has less horsepower than the 1995 M3, which is OBD1. But still love it!

[hexstaticleon]

nice car! but the e36 M3 EVO revs to 9000 RPM with a dual vanos system ;-P

[hexstaticleon]

@D151NT3GRAT0R nice!! I really want one of those!! you have the 3.2, so that is an M3 EVO ??

[D151NT3GRAT0R]

I have the same car. xD 1997 BMW M3 5 speed coupe, 3.2. Estoril Blue. LOVE IT!

[jtjt663]

real car..

[hvissotz]

@Vaders50 I've heard the S52 bottom ends are even more problematic, though personally I've had more trouble with piston rings on the bottom end than anything else ... I guess that's not much of a concern for NA cars. A lot of the problem with high revs is floating exhaust valves interrupting the pistons. I've rebuilt my share of top ends and usually upgrade the springs to 125 or 150 lb; it makes it a lot safer to run at high rpms.

But 7400 rpm? Thats not quite the end of the world for these.

[Vaders50]

The bottom end won't "let go" as it's entirely forge and fully balanced from the factory; Although - the bearings which do function as a bottom end component will WILL give out on the car as a daily driver / street car. There are several stories of these cams destroying S50 bottom ends. The US S series straight sixes purely just weren't built for the rpms this one is seeing. You can actually hear the fuel cutting 2 or 300 rpms or so before it's new redline.