E30 Zone

Firstly hello to everyone. I've been reading this forum for a little while now,and its an excellent source of information, its a proper credit to all of its members.

A bit about me anyway, I'm 26 and from Peterborough way. I work heat treating metals, and have been working on cars for a few years now. Having not had a project to play with for a while, i've decided its time i found something to play with!

So I've been hunting around for a bargain 320/325i coupe, to then take apart and use a 7 series to form a nice engine conversion from.

I'm still undecided on whether to take the 4.0 V8 route, or even try attempting the 5.0 V12 route, as i see glenn on here has had success with! - I have to say i've massive respect for you seeing your threads!

Having seen a bargain 750iL for a nudge under £400 I'm seriously considering going the V12 route. But i have a few questions that remain unanswered from spending hours on here researching.

1) If i get the 750iL, will it be wise to use the auto box from the donor car as well? Or am i going to be better getting a manual box from another model? My reason for asking is due to the torque of the engine - What would be my best option; I'm thinking auto would be good for lazy driving, but due to the engine/car it should still shift plenty!

2) If i use the autobox, i presume i will also require the use of its existing ECU (for both the engine and box), so in terms of wiring, is it a much easier task getting a E30 with an autobox to begin with?

3) In terms of wiring; is the process of wiring up the V12 going to be much more involved than say wiring up the M60 4.0 V8 instead?

I have to be honest, to begin with i was mainly considering getting a M60, and fitting that, but having looked, it seems cheaper, and easier to find a 750iL, than a 740i. Hence my thoughts of maybe doing the V12 conversion instead.

Right now i still don't have the E30, I've seen a couple that interest me, but i didnt want to rush into anything and get a unsuitable car.

Sorry for the semi-technical, first post. I hope that you don't mind it, and i look forward to posting on the forum, and hearing from you soon.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome mate ,

i think v12 is going to be a tight fit , like many e30 around with the E39 M5 (1998-2003) v8 lump and the engine bay seems rammed packed , so to fit a V12 you might have to move the firewall back or modify the slam panel, not an expert on this but just going on wat i have seen done.

Thank you for your reply sati.

From reading threads on this forum i got the impression that it wasnt quite so bad. But there seems to be issues with the exhaust, and with finding and fitting a suitable radiator as well.

I'm not too concerned (within reason) about any fabricating needing doing; the company i work for have full engineering facilities and anything can be made (with enough bribing!) from any manner of alloys or steels.

One of my primary concerns are the engine mounts, and the wiring to be honest. Thank you for your advice though, I'll continue looking.

- E30 v12 start up (good veiw of engine bay)

- E30 V12 5.0 tt on dyno

you tube is a good place to find video of other cars done with the engine , the 2 above were the best i can find , might be other around.

how much will a insert for a backbox cost? plain old steel will do. like this:
as ive got a golf and the guy before welded on this big fart box and i can find a shop that sell's them alone.

Thanks for the links sati.

Have to admire the loony's bolting two turbo's to that V12! - Sounded like it was boosting pretty high pressure too! Thats a bit too much for me, i think!

Loving the sound of the V12 in the first clip though!

i bet thats the real reaon you want a V12 lump , badge the car as a 316i and have a v12 under the bonnet it will be a true sleeper! ,lol lets see the faces on the boy racers now.

I have to say it doesnt really bother me at all these days. My 9-3SS TiD leaves most boy racers standing without any real effort anyway!

I'm much more interested in the mechanics of it all these days. I'm more interested in it being perfect, and OEM fitted in apparence, than showing off how fast it is.

Its not as cheap to do as it seems everything on the V12 is expensive to replace in parts alone a set of cams for example standard costs more than a new Chevy V8 engine complete!

If your hearts set on a V12 you best have very slim arms and lots of patience. You will need a different sump to clear steering rack, the v12 loom, ecu and ancilleries actually get a broken but well running 750 and transfer all you need over to e30 is the safest and most logical way.

Thanks for advice ShakeyC.

I had read in several places about the sump being an issue (and changing the sump gasket is a must too!), but by changing the rack across (to an e36/z3 i think?) would help with clearance. I planned to get a running 750i, for the same reasons above.

My biggest concern right now is the engine mountings to be honest.

ShakeyC wrote: You will need a different sump to clear steering rack

renegade_e30 wrote:I had read in several places about the sump being an issue (and changing the sump gasket is a must too!), but by changing the rack across (to an e36/z3 i think?) would help with clearance.

i didn't have to change the sump, or modify the sump on the V12 i installed into dips e30
space was at a premium of course.

There are some few ppl in Sweden who have used the M60 lump in a E30 (That means the V8 engine) and its to hard to do it after what I have heard, but your eninge bay will be tight as a virgins p...sy
If you want to use the V12 from a 750iL you should start looking for a 6 speed manaul gearbox from a BMW 850, because it makes no sence to use such a big motor in a small car with an autobox.

If I was you, find an scrap 540i E34 with a manual geabox (it have a 6 speed one) and fit twin turbos to the engine, then you will have an road going version of the SR-71 Blackbird

If I was you, find an scrap 540i E34 with a manual geabox (it have a 6 speed one) and fit twin turbos to the engine, then you will have an road going version of the SR-71 Blackbird

I like the idea of that...... just upgrade to one of those green HUD's that project onto the windscreen, and of course you would have to paint it black, perhaps a US airforce roundel on the doors as well

I would personally like to see a V12 auto E30, reckon it would be quicker than a manual and let's face it, you're not going to be totally throwing it about with something beloning in the belly of a cross channel ferry up front. Although I guess the V12 probably isn't actually that heavy for it's relative size