M52 328i engine conversion

[forty]

Hi all, considering using the 328i motor from an e36 into a classic car & wanted to know if anyone can help out with basic dimensions

- front pulley to leading edge of bell housing
- bell housing to end of gearbox
- gear lever point- from rear of engine

most importantly is the height- I am very restricted in height. The sump looks to lend itself to the GT6 chassis as the main well is at the rear of the engine however the angle that it sits as may make it too wide to clear the hump on the engine cowl- I am loathed to start cutting up rare body panels & I prefer to keep it looking as standard as possible.

Next question is wiring- can these engines be wired in without the need for keeping the standard instrumentation/central locking/immobiliser without going to an aftermarket ecu?

Thanks in advance.

[Brianmoooore]

Engine is 700mm from front of aircon pulley.
E36 gearbox is 530mm to back of drive flange, but some E30 boxes will fit, and are slightly shorter.
Gear lever selector shaft is at the back of the gearbox, and connects to the gear lever by two hinged rods. The length of these varies with BMW model, and specials can be fabricated.
Engine loom is completely self contained, and just requires earth, 12 volts permanent live, 12 volts ignition switched live and 12 volts starter signal, and has an output of 12 volts for a fuel pump. The only complications for the M52 are it requires a road speed signal (from the original instrument cluster and diff. sensor) to stop the ECU going into 'limp mode', and it will have an EWS immobiliser, which only needs power, the original ignition key chip, and a single wire to the ECU. Both the above can be dealt with by software changes to the ECU, which I believe DanThe can help with.

[forty]

Many thanks, Brian. Just to be clear this isn't going in an e30- Triumph GT6, so engine wiring is going to be pretty critical. Ideally on a cost basis keeping the standard ecu will be beneficial so having a stand alone (standard) ecu will be excellent. Just need to get the body off and start choping bits of frame rail up!!

[DanThe]

No need to use standalone for M52, I can rejig the loom to suit your requirements if needed

This is one converted to fit an E30 engine bay, connector plug and diagnostic port on the right in the standard E30 location on the wiring tray



Compared to how it comes out of the E36 engine bay

[forty]

Hi Dan, litterally have a feed from the ignition switch and to the starter motor

Sounds like a plan, can the ecu be mounted in the engine bay or best to have it int the cabin?

[stew72]

I have an e36 with that engine and I used to own a mk2 GT6.

I think the width is going to be your main problem, but height at the front could be too. Might fit in a herald or vitesse though.

[jmc330i]

There was a member on here (Turbo-Brown iirc) trying to fit an E36 S50 engine to a GT6. From memory he was planning to widen the chassis to give the engine a chance of fitting. I don't think it was ever finished and his website has long gone.

[stew72]

I have an e36 with that engine and I used to own a mk2 GT6.

I think the width is going to be your main problem, but height at the front could be too. Might fit in a herald or vitesse though.

[forty]

I am going to measure the frame rails to check clearance but mounting a bit further back in the chassis isn't totally out of the question. If you can get an LS in there, pretty sure a straight 6 will go in

[forty]

Can the engines be run without aircon and pas on a modified loom? Looking at images of the motor with all ancillaries it will never fit unless space framing the front end.

It may well work with a modified sump and run the water pump and alternator only.

[DanThe]

The ECU is best mounted inside the car

[Brianmoooore]

Aircon pump is on a separate belt from everything else, so can just be removed. Steering pump is on the main serpentine belt, so a shorter belt will need to be found and suitably routed.
Aircon wiring isn't on the engine loom, and the steering has no electrics.

[forty]

Cheers guys, got to get busy with a tape measure then!!

[dsm2002]

Engine loom is completely self contained, and just requires earth, 12 volts permanent live, 12 volts ignition switched live and 12 volts starter signal, and has an output of 12 volts for a fuel pump. The only complications for the M52 are it requires a road speed signal (from the original instrument cluster and diff. sensor) to stop the ECU going into 'limp mode', and it will have an EWS immobiliser, which only needs power, the original ignition key chip, and a single wire to the ECU. Both the above can be dealt with by software changes to the ECU, which I believe DanThe can help with.

Is this the same for an early 328i (June 1995) with the MS41.0 ECU?

All of the E30 wiring and instruments have been removed. I plan to run the speed signal into a data logger.

[DanThe]

Yes

[dsm2002]

Thought so. Thanks Dan. PM sent