E30 Zone

Looking to have a engine conversion in my 1.6 e30, I need a engine that's usable every day for work but also has a little more power than what mine has now (which isn't hard )

think the obvious is the 325 but that's far to juicy, but I've been thinking about the m42/44 1.8 or maybe the 2.2 from a z3 (if it will fit?), any advice or ideas?

Would like to add that money is an issue lol....will just have to do the best with what I can afford...[/url]

M52 b28 will return decent mpg and has enough power to keep most people happy

Have a read:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... gine_Swaps

£20 does about 80-100 miles in my m52b28 and the whole conversion will cost about £1000-£1500 to do it right by yourself.

Thanks for the info....I'll have a read, found a nice m52tub20 for sale....

eazyzeeky wrote:found a nice m52b20 for sale....

Really really really not worth fitting. If you're going M52, go for the B28.

It is worth fitting when compared to my 1.6i lol but ill look into the 2.8...

It will be better than your 1.6 and you can always upgrade to 2.8 at a later date.

eazyzeeky wrote:It is worth fitting when compared to my 1.6i.

As Lee says, the B20 will be a step up from your M40, but for all the bits you need for a conversion (to fit a B20) plus the hassle of having to change engines twice to fit a B28, it really isn't worth it when for not much more cash you can go straight for a B28.
Rather than mess around with a B20, stick with your M40 until you get the cash and time together to fit a B28.


The other option as you mentioned is stick with 4pot and go for an M42 or M44. I've gone for an M44 in my daily, although I have found myself looking at Eaton superchargers and M42s on ebay for my other touring lol

If I went for a m44 what other bits would I need for the conversion?

eazyzeeky wrote:If I went for a m44 what other bits would I need for the conversion?

The M42/4 sounds about the best choice, given your situation.
Nearly everything you could ask about an E30 has already been written about on the zone. Search before asking.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=159615

eazyzeeky wrote:Thanks for the info....I'll have a read, found a nice m52tub20 for sale....

Avoid the M52Tu. Electrical complications.

suedenim wrote:

eazyzeeky wrote:If I went for a m44 what other bits would I need for the conversion?

The M42/4 sounds about the best choice, given your situation.
Nearly everything you could ask about an E30 has already been written about on the zone. Search before asking.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=159615

That link is good for the M42 conversion. The M44 is a little more involved.

I plan to do a write up of my M44 swap once it's done, so I should have a list of all the parts needed.

I could search and read but it's nice to have a convo with people that have actually done the conversion, I work as a car paint sprayer and I could write from start to finish explaining how to repaint a car but it would mean as much as if someone were actually talking to me about it..(if anyone needs any advice pm me)

I'm going to go for the m44, I have a friend who is a decent mechanic and seems to have a idea already, I just needed to be sure for myself that it's the right conversion for my day to day needs, Then on to the repaint... ^^

eazyzeeky wrote:
I'm going to go for the m44, I have a friend who is a decent mechanic and seems to have a idea already, I just needed to be sure for myself that it's the right conversion for my day to day needs

If you do go ahead with the M44, the first decision is how you want to do it - either keeping the M44 management or sourcing an M42 inlet manifold, ECU, loom etc and swapping that on to the M44.
I'm keeping the M44 management and tackling the wiring as you would an M52 conversion.

Either way, you will need M40/M42 upper and lower sump (the dipstick tube depends on which inlet manifold you use), M42 exhaust manifold and exhaust system. You can use either an M40/M42 flywheel, clutch and starter or M20 flywheel, clutch and starter. Assuming your E30 is an M40 316i, you can use your flywheel etc and gearbox and engine mounts, that's some money saved

As I said, I'll have a list of the parts I've used for mine and I'll update my thread (link in my sig) once I'm able to work on the car again, which should be in the next week or so.

willnz wrote:When buying the M44, make sure you get the ECU and OBD system with key/chip complete with the motor.

Good point. You will need the M44 ECU, EWS module and ignition key all from the same car.
If you decide to go with the M42 management, you won't need the M44 ECU or EWS etc.

If you can get an M42 from an e30, it really is plug and play. You can be really lazy like i was and leave your gearbox in place, unbolt the engine from it and slot the new one back on. You will need the complete M42 exhaust though, as none of it matches up.

Where are you based mate?

I'm in cornwall, (used to live in pompy for a few years actually lol)... The bloke doing the conversion suggested it to me because he has a 1.8 ti engine doing nothing in the corner of his garage, so im assuming he knows better than me, but with 120k, it's to high mileage for me, ill source a nice example myself, like I said before I work in the motor trade and want to make a project out of my e30..I have 4 kids so don't have endless money to spend but there are always ways and means!

...will also search car breakers, still a few of them that don't realise what decent e30 bits are worth lol

Brianmoooore wrote:

eazyzeeky wrote:Thanks for the info....I'll have a read, found a nice m52tub20 for sale....

Avoid the M52Tu. Electrical complications.

i was just going to say that.

you need the single vanos m52 and not the twin vanos [tub] one .