Everything you need in one place

[RickX]

Apologies if this isn't the right place to put such a notice.

After 10 years of prevarication, I've decided not to go ahead with dropping a M54 into my E30 cabrio so I'll be looking to dispose of the collection of parts that I've built up. Will need to fight my way into the shed for a stocktake, but basically:

All of the bits made by Dan - exhaust manifolds, steering linkage, pipework
The requisite diff and prop-shaft
Suitable sump, with a takeoff for oil temp gauge
Pair of engine mounting arms
E36 engine wiring loom

Regarding power plants there are two options:

1. 2001 E46 M Sport 3.0l auto as a donor car. Used as daily runner until 2 years ago. Fired up instantly a few months ago but has lost tickover (MAF?)

2. Similar vintage Alpina 3.3l engine/flywheel/clutch/gearbox in pieces (bottom end complete). Fully refurbished cylinder head. Alpina ECU. Original documentation with VIN.

If anyone is interested in any of this, please get in touch otherwise it's off to eBay

Merry Christmas to everyone in the zone!

[noorshah]

Hey Rick,

I'm interested in most bits that you've there to go - I've dropped you a PM there. You can get back to me when you get a chance.

I'm sure we'd all like to know what was the reason not for not goin the M54 Route?

Noor

[RickX]

I'll take a look at messages - haven't been on the forum for years so bear with me.

The project stalled five years ago or so due to family illness and I started to look at it again this year. Main issues were my insistence that I wanted to keep the car as an automatic (I taught myself to left-foot brake 20 years ago and it's my default driving style) and the fact that I have no workshop or even garage. I found a local garage willing to do the work, but there are so many potential little niggles that could cause problems.

A couple of weeks ago I decided that replacing the current 2.0l engine with a 325 unit and maybe tuning it a bit would be much more straightforward way to go, although finding a 325 motor was likely to be challenging. So I went to eBay and top of the list was a 325 engine bored and stroked to 3.1l which is now with the garage waiting to be installed, in theory a straight swap.

[twenty]

I'll take a look at messages - haven't been on the forum for years so bear with me.

The project stalled five years ago or so due to family illness and I started to look at it again this year. Main issues were my insistence that I wanted to keep the car as an automatic (I taught myself to left-foot brake 20 years ago and it's my default driving style) and the fact that I have no workshop or even garage. I found a local garage willing to do the work, but there are so many potential little niggles that could cause problems.

A couple of weeks ago I decided that replacing the current 2.0l engine with a 325 unit and maybe tuning it a bit would be much more straightforward way to go, although finding a 325 motor was likely to be challenging. So I went to eBay and top of the list was a 325 engine bored and stroked to 3.1l which is now with the garage waiting to be installed, in theory a straight swap.

Interesting that you wanted to keep it an auto. I looked into the same and found that folks use the E36 gear shift assembly as part of the process, which is the bit that really put me off as IMO it looks totally out of place in a E30. Were you going down that route or found a way to keep the E30 auto gear shift mechanism intact.

[RickX]

I've had the car for 20 years and the left-foot braking is so much part of the driving that I didn't want to give it up, plus an auto to manual conversion was just more complexity. The E46 auto box is a delight in sport mode but I was told that it would foul the transmission tunnel in the E30.

There was the option of using the Alpina gearbox with its flywheel and clutch, but in the end I gave up on the whole idea and went looking for a 325 engine.

Regarding "looking out of place", my E30 was non-standard when I bought it (lowered, de-chromed) and now is even more so (crystal rear lights, angel eye headlamps, E46 electric seats) so originality isn't an issue for me

I knew it was a "bitsa" when I bought it - needing 3 keys is always a giveaway! One for ignition, one for driver's door, another for glovebox.

[Corasdad]

How you getting on with this project