Essex Specialist

[Muzz2676]

...just bought this bad boy

3.64:1 zf clutch plate limited slip differential.

any one know a specialist in Essex that i should use to fit it. How many hours should it take?

[Brianmoooore]

If this is for the ebay M52'd engined E30, then a 3.64 is far from an ideal ratio, if it has the E36 gearbox as the ad. says.

[Muzz2676]

oh crap....i've just sent the money to Theo....

[Theo]

Your car has the e30 318i box, 3.64 diff will be good.

[Brianmoooore]

Would work well with an E30 iS gearbox.
E30 boxes have a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth, as a result of the design evolving from a four speed box.
E36 boxes were designed as five speed from the start, and have a direct fifth gear.
Your box in fifth is the same ratio as an E30 box in fourth.

Edit: Just read further down the ad., and it does say it has an E30 box. Mislead by :Engine/transmission-
M52 2.5 24v engine removed from a 323i E36

Not an ideal box for the conversion, as it will be sitting at a ten degree angle, with twisted linkage to suit.

[Muzz2676]

Your car has the e30 318i box, 3.64 diff will be good.

Phew

[gooner1]

PM Theo, under the circumstances I'm pretty sure he'll understand.


Edit, No need to, Theo's put you straight I see.

[Muzz2676]

Errrrr sorry chaps, i'm confused, is this LSD going to be okay or not?

[Brianmoooore]

See my edited last post.

[Muzz2676]

Would work well with an E30 iS gearbox.
E30 boxes have a direct fourth gear and an overdrive fifth, as a result of the design evolving from a four speed box.
E36 boxes were designed as five speed from the start, and have a direct fifth gear.
Your box in fifth is the same ratio as an E30 box in fourth.

Edit: Just read further down the ad., and it does say it has an E30 box. Mislead by :Engine/transmission-
M52 2.5 24v engine removed from a 323i E36

Not an ideal box for the conversion, as it will be sitting at a ten degree angle, with twisted linkage to suit.

Should i get an e46 box fitted?

[Brianmoooore]

E30 318 iS is the ideal box for use with the M52 and a 3.64 ratio. The M42 iS engine sits at the same angle as the M52.
If the 318i box works and changes OK, then there's no point in changing it now.

[bss325i]

Not an ideal box for the conversion, as it will be sitting at a ten degree angle, with twisted linkage to suit.

Only a getrag 260 or 240 from an M20 E30 will be at a ten degree angle.

A getrag 240 from an M40/42 E30 will sit at the same angle as the M52.

[Muzz2676]

Sorry guys...so basically you're saying if it changes okay then stick with it, if not then change for a 318is box?

[bss325i]

It will be fine but may get noisy and wear out quicker as it is not designed to handle as much power as an M52.

[Muzz2676]

I've spoken to the seller about about the M52 engine and 318i gearbox and he say's

If you use the e34 engine mounts it all lines up correctly..

[bss325i]

Yes it does.

I have done an M52 conversion using an M40 318i gearbox as well and used a 3.64 LSD.

[Muzz2676]

Okay, owning a BMW Specialist I'm glad he knows what he's talking about. He comes across as a good chap that is very knowledgeable

[Sambe30]

JustE30z in basildon I believe, I picked up a steering wheel a while back, as there name States, just loads of e30s lol

[scallyally]

JustE30Z are located in Barking (just off A13), check out their Facebook page.

[Muzz2676]

Shaz Fayaz? Strange Facebook page with no real info....

[German-Whips]

[pacerpete]

I swerved that one nicely !

[Muzz2676]

Hi German-Whips

No not done by JustE30z, thanks for the warning though. Who was the specialist who checked it. I would like mine to have a once over. Feel free to PM me

[gooner1]

Muzz, have you actually collected and driven this car yet?

[Andyboy]

It's worth saying that when fitting flywheel bolts you must always use thread lock. Not just to prevent them coming loose, but to prevent oil leaking down the threads and onto the clutch - it will find a way!

Sound like the engine conversion was the typical job. I remember that shocking S54 (E46 M3 engine) conversion that looked like it had been done with an axe.

[bss325i]

Sound like the engine conversion was the typical job. I remember that shocking S54 (E46 M3 engine) conversion that looked like it had been done with an axe.

By another well known "specialist"!

[Muzz2676]

Muzz, have you actually collected and driven this car yet?

Nope deposit down, train booked for Saturday to pick it up. Anyone near Shrewsbury that fancies taking a look with me?

I'll obviously compensate for your time

[pacerpete]

Rule of thumb 7.86 = Assume all engine swapped / heavily modded cars are bodged up scrap. Every now and again you will be proved wrong , but do not hold your breath

[DanThe]

Muzz2676 was your car worked on and converted by JustE30z?


If so, be sure to double check everything for bodges in unsuspecting places, especially the engine bay!


My current cabriolet was converted from a 318i to a 325i by JustE30z and the amount of bodges during the conversion is shocking! Having remedied a few, I am still discovering more and more.


1) Oil cooler cable tied on
2) Silicone sealer on sump (NO gasket used)
3) Silicone sealer on AFM (Meaning it's been opened and fiddled with)
4) Silicone sealer on throttle body
5) Silicone sealer used in the proximity of water pump
6) HT Leads gaffer taped up to cover up missing chunk of non existent rubber
7) No fan shroud fitted
8 ) Exhaust badly fitted
9) Crank case flywheel thread stripped
10) Engine oil leakage into gearbox bellhousing contaminating clutch


Now here comes the WORST PART!

I felt the car low on power and sluggish, with not so 325i-like acceleration, and the car also needed a service so I thought I'd get it all checked over.


I gave the car to a well known very very well known and highly regarded Zoner on here who is a BMW Specialist and who knows his stuff for an Inspection 2, PAS change, Coolant change, Brake fluid change and clutch change.

Upon viewing the clutch, it was badly contaminated with oil, and there was engine oil all over the gearbox bell housing. It turned out the "Fitter" at JustE30z who fitted the lightened flywheel overly torqued all the flywheel bolts way past what they should have been torqed to. One was done so badly that it totally stripped the crank- case thread and one of the flywheel bolts was just literally loosely hanging in there. I repeat, it was loosely hanging there and the thread of the crank case was totally stripped! God knows what would of happened should that bolt have become loose whilst driving. In addition to this, there is a plate of some sort which I am not too sure of its name, but the incorrect plate was used, which was TWICE the thickness of what it should of been.


I have the receipt from JustE30z to prove the engine conversion, that the lightened flywheel has been fitted and a new clutch supplied and fitted, so it is definitely them who have carried out the expert bodges!

£950 lighter, the car still has some bodges related to the engine conversion which I am in the process of rectifying, along with a cracked sub-frame and a myriad of other issues.


I would of expected a much better level of workmanship from JustE30z, but frankly the work carried out on my car is appalling and I personally would NEVER use them, nor would I recommend them to anyone.

I know it's not very nice to leave such negative feedback, but in my eyes, using silicone sealer where gaskets should be used, cable tying things, gaffer taping things, and stripping crank case threads is not what I'd expect a semi-competent mechanic to be doing.

There are also other bits too which are too long to list.


JustE30z - AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!

Wow, and they get so many recommendations on here and facebook

[Nobby_N]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251764641725

This beast, is it ganna be scrap?

[Muzz2676]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251764641725

This beast, its ganna be scrap

I take it thats sarcasm

[Muzz2676]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251764641725

This beast, is it ganna be scrap?

Sorry, think you edited your post, i'm starting to get a bit sensitive and worried about this, something I was looking forward to getting I'm now dreading

[Nobby_N]

Dont worry you can blame your nephew cant you

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[Green]

Don't worry about it, just make sure to check the car over thoroughly before you hand any cash over to ensure it's been advertised correctly.

Rust is the biggest issue with these so might be worth educating yourself on what to look out for when you go to collect http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

M52 E30's are fun

[German-Whips]