This is simultaneously the best and the worst idea ever.
This is a classic BMW formula. Big engine, little car. People have been shoving V8s in Miatas for the same reason for years.
But if you want a little more luxury to go along with your sporty roadster, you're looking at a tough proposition. You either spend all your money on a new Miata with a V8, or you do something insane like this.
This is the kind of insanity we can get behind. Someone in the Netherlands has stuck the V8 from an E90 BMW M3 into a tiny BMW 118i convertible, and it might be the cleanest engine swap we've ever seen. Oh, and it's for sale.
We're not saying the owner hit a blunt before coming up with this idea, but when in Rome…
Max Verstappen has earned himself the nickname "The Flying Dutchman," but we think he's just lost that title to a car.
Gone is the original N43 2.0-liter inline four, and in its place is the S65 V8 from the E90 M3. Let's hope the builder did the throttle actuators and rod bearings while the motor was out of the car.
The manual gearbox was also carried over from the M3, meaning most of the driveline is M3. Other M bits include the cluster and steering wheel. Of course, there's also the famous bulging hood.
The front and rear subframes are also from an E90 M3 and support new 19-inch M Performance wheels with sticky Michelin rubber.
Those hide a StopTech Big Brake Kit, which probably means this car stops better than the M3 did from the factory. Of course, the exhaust system had to be replaced, which might give away the car's new M3 power to bystanders.
But the best part of all this is the fact that the gearbox we mentioned earlier isn't the E90s horrible dual-clutch unit. As it's the six-speed manual, just as the motoring gods intended.
KW dampers should also ensure the car's new owner can use it daily. The firm now offers its own aftermarket adjustable dampers, which mimic the ones you'd typically find in an M3 of similar vintage. Those have three settings of varying stiffness and can be adjusted in the car thanks to a button next to the shifter.
No actual power modifications have been made to the V8, which still produces 420 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Obviously, the car is significantly heavier than stock, at 3,571 lbs, but who cares when you're making V8 noises? If you're located in the Netherlands, You'll need to fork over €38,450 ($37,635) to make said V8 noises.
Shortly before applying to law school, Chase decided to take a chance on pursuing his dream job: playing with cars and getting paid for it. Law school was just a means to an end, after all. His first writing job was freelance and barely paid his grocery bill. It quickly turned into a full-time position, eventually leading Chase to join CarBuzz in 2022. Chase now tests cars, and sits comfortably at the news desk when he's not in the driver's seat. In his spare time, Chase can be heard trying to play guitar, or out enjoying Colorado's natural splendor in his BMW M3.
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