Another type of car you frequently ask about in broadcasts is project cars: entry-level models that can be found for almost half the price of the original and have been transformed into the most powerful version in the lineup (e.g., 320i > M3).

When evaluating such listings, there are two key questions we need to ask:

1. How close does the converted car come to the original in terms of mechanics and feedback?
2. How is the conversion carried out—how are the engine, transmission, and other components sourced from the donor vehicle?

Let’s start with the first question, focusing on BMWs, as they are the most common example. There is a common misconception that the differences between M models and standard models are limited to bumpers, wheels, and interior trim, along with the engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension. In reality, M cars undergo a much more extensive transformation, down to the chassis, resulting in a vehicle that is not only more powerful and better handling but also more rigid and agile. Additionally, while M models are often slightly heavier than their standard counterparts, significant weight reduction efforts are made to offset the added mass of upgraded components.

Here are a few examples:

• The E30 and E30 M3 only share the headlights, front grille, side windows, and some interior components.
• The front suspension setup of the F30 and F80 is completely different.
• The E92 M3 has a carbon-fiber roof.
• Steering systems and ratios are different in almost all cases; for instance, the Z4 M uses hydraulic steering instead of the electric system found in standard models.

Of course, no conversion project goes into this level of detail. If someone were to order all original parts from Borusan (BMW’s distributor in Turkey), the cost of the project car would exceed that of an actual M model, let alone being half the price.

Depending on the owner’s intended use, these "details" may not matter. If the main goal is aesthetics and straight-line performance, project cars can offer much of the original's enjoyment. However, this brings us to the second question—the legality of the process.

I exclude those who carry out these conversions properly, with registered vehicles and all necessary invoices and documentation. However, the majority of conversion cars on the market go through one or more of the following processes:

• A foreign individual from Bulgaria or Georgia imports an original M model into Turkey. These vehicles are often initially imported to those countries from the U.S.
• The donor car is stripped, and its essential components are transferred to a damaged but non-salvaged vehicle, with the remaining parts sold to junkyards.
• The stripped donor chassis (imported from abroad) is discarded, and when asked, the importer claims the car was stolen.
• Under "stock amnesty," unregistered engines without invoices can be assigned a motor number by the police and registered in the vehicle’s documents.
• Alternatively, a standard car is taken to Georgia or Bulgaria, where the same process is carried out—components from a donor M model are swapped onto the taken vehicle. Since border checks verify only license plates and chassis numbers, but not engines, there are no issues upon re-entry.

The donor car’s history is unknown, and the recipient car is usually selected as a high-mileage, heavily damaged, or mileage-rolled-back vehicle to keep costs low. As long as the chassis is intact, the rest doesn’t matter.

Because the donor car’s ECU must be installed, the actual mileage of the converted car is also unknown. As long as the donor car’s mileage is higher than the last recorded inspection, the odometer can be adjusted accordingly. For example, if a car with 120,000 km last passed inspection two years ago at 80,000 km, and the donor car had an unknown mileage, the odometer can be rolled back to 90,000 km.

The government has not yet intervened in this illegal practice, but in the future, all vehicles created through such conversions could be banned from the road with a single legal decision.

Sources

• TechTurkey
• E30Zone
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