Transfer LPG system from 728i E38 to 325i E30

Post Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:22 am

Anyone know if this can be done?

Both are 6 cylinder engines..

Thanks.

Post Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:50 pm

What type of LPG system? Vapour injection or venturi based?

Post Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:11 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:What type of LPG system? Vapour injection or venturi based?

Thanks for the reply,

Being completely honest, the 728i was the first i'd ever heard of LPG when I bought it and the system was already fitted to it so i'm not sure on the type.

I just did a little reading on vaporiser/venturi but didnt find any way of telling which one I have.

I checked the system in the dark and it says Alisei on it if that is of any help.

Hope you can help me soon.

Post Sat Jan 31, 2015 12:24 am

Alisei N is a vapour injection system from the Italian company, Zavoli, so it looks like it's a relatively modern system. There should be six small rubber hoses running to the inlet manifold near to where it attaches to the cylinder head, with the other ends attached to solenoid valves , which may be individual, grouped in threes, or possibly a block of six.
The tank may or may not be usable in an E30, but the filler should be.
I'm not familiar with this particular system, but the 'front end' parts should mostly be transferable to a 2.5 M20. A lot depends if the software for the system is freely available, to enable you to make the necessary programming changes to set things up.
Have you considered leaving the system attached to the M52, and putting the whole thing in your E30?

Post Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:54 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Alisei N is a vapour injection system from the Italian company, Zavoli, so it looks like it's a relatively modern system. There should be six small rubber hoses running to the inlet manifold near to where it attaches to the cylinder head, with the other ends attached to solenoid valves , which may be individual, grouped in threes, or possibly a block of six.
The tank may or may not be usable in an E30, but the filler should be.
I'm not familiar with this particular system, but the 'front end' parts should mostly be transferable to a 2.5 M20. A lot depends if the software for the system is freely available, to enable you to make the necessary programming changes to set things up.
Have you considered leaving the system attached to the M52, and putting the whole thing in your E30?

Its funny you posted that in regards to putting the whole system into the E30..

As of today, My botton end decided to crap out on me and it sounds like a massive box of nails.

Is it feasible to swap the engine etc out into the E30 from the E38 rather than buying a new E30 engine...?

Post Mon Feb 02, 2015 8:17 pm

Never mind feasible, its preferable!

Where abouts in the country are you? A mate of mine is looking for a scrap 325i engine/loom

Post Tue Feb 03, 2015 1:31 pm

E38 should have the right sump for an E30 as well right?

Sound like a perfect swap, 328 lump with the right sump and LPG from the start. Winner.

Post Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:16 pm

Indeedy

Post Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:41 pm

You need to fit a couple of E36 M50/52 alloy mounting arms to the currently unused (?? on the E38) mounting points on the side of the engine block, and, with suitable rubber mounts, it will drop straight into an E30 engine bay. Brake servo fouls the inlet manifold, exhaust manifold needs modifying, and there's a few other off the shelf parts required, but all well documented in our engine swaps forum and the zone wiki.
Engine loom mods are simple enough from an electrical point of view, but I've no idea where the various bits like the ECU can be fitted, if starting with an E38 loom. DanThe can supply a bespoke engine loom if you don't fancy modifying your own, and also does a modified exhaust manifold that connects up to your original E30 system.
You will also need a diff. with a much lower (numerically) ratio, if using the M52 gearbox, which will have a direct top gear instead of the E30's overdrive.