E30 Zone

Ive got a mint 325 sport, totally original barring the genuine Alpina alloys, and the head gasket has gone, not a major problem i hear you say but i was after sticking a 2.7 in it.

A lad at work has a 530i and is breaking it, i was wondering if it was easier to stick the 3.0 in it, I'm not after a bling bling e30, its completely standard and i don't want to mess with it too much

What do you reckon, do i.......

Keep the 2.5 and get the work done ?
Do the 2.7 conversion ?
Or stick the 3.0 in it ?

do the 2.7 the 3.0 isn't all that powerful as far as i know(109bhp)

stand to be corrected, good lick with whatever you choose

get a proper 2.7 in it ,if the car is a mint sport it will be better off with the 2.7

^^^ That's what I'm thinking, its been on the cards for a while sticking a 2.7 in it but my mate threw a spanner in the works with his 530i and i was tempted

Which is the best way for the 2.7 ?
I was thinking the block of a 525e and my head, is that right

Just put a 2.8 crank in your 325 block with 320/323 eta con rods.

But if you build a 2.7

Early 325 pistons.
320/323/eta con rods.
In a 325 block which will have to be decked.
325 head.

^^^ for the 2.8 which 2.8 crank is needed, is that it 325 block woth 2.8 crank and 320? con rods? anything else? machining, etc?

The m52 crank, get a spacer machined from the timing chain pully cost me £20, use the shorter 320/323/eta con rods.

^ thats what im doing, done the 2.7 on the cheap, 2.0 head modified with 2.5 valves and ports opened out plonked on a standard etta bottom end. gave nice power and excellent torque.

picking up a m52 2.8 crank tommorow at gaydon, got the block and rods but need to spend on the bits to put it together.should make nice power.

tailoutcharlie wrote:do the 2.7 the 3.0 isn't all that powerful as far as i know(109bhp)

stand to be corrected, good lick with whatever you choose

looking at some figures it lists 2 different versions of the 3.0.the earlier being the 6 pot m30 (88-90)with 188bhp and the later giving 218bhp from the m60(93-96) 8 pot. the first certainly wouldnt be worth doing imo but the second could be a decent option if you get the parts cheap enough. i dont understand these figures though as the m30 3.5 is more commonly used but listed as lower power compared to the m60 3.0? is this a misprint?

There are alot of 2.8 being built.
I dont think they will make any more power then a 2.7 but are just easyer to put together.
It will be good to have a rolling road day for 2.8's

now that sounds like a plan

So what do you guys reckon, 2.7 or the 3.0, its a 89 530i if thats any use.

i would stick with the 2,7 option so when you open the bonnet it all looks standard ,and of course you can deny that the motor has been tweaked when you waste standard 2,5s

fuzzy wrote: i dont understand these figures though as the m30 3.5 is more commonly used but listed as lower power compared to the m60 3.0? is this a misprint?

those power figures sound about right, but the m30 3.5 is an easier cheaper swap, and probably makes more torque than the 3.0 v8.

bigkev wrote:i would stick with the 2,7 option so when you open the bonnet it all looks standard ,and of course you can deny that the motor has been tweaked when you waste standard 2,5s

also for insurance purposes, you can claim it to be a 2.5

As an alternative

How about the 3.1 litre M20 stroker kit?
IIRC Ireland Engineering do one .
Might cost a wee bit more than a 2.7 conversion BUT not too much more
Sure I spotted it the other day.


Just a thought

the 3.1 kits make the engine into a torque monster but they are so far outside the OE limits for the motronic a standalone or piggyback unit is a must have to get anything but poor running from them.

2.7/2.8 is plenty of poke if built correctly, great midrange torque and with a decent cam will wail into the higher RPMS with ease.