E30 Zone

Hi all

I'm currently trying to restore a 83 316 carb coupe which is proving to be a money pit but have bought a 2003 330ci as a donor car as I want to do a M54b30 swap.
My question is, what parts can i transfer over to the e30 - i want to be able to use as many parts as possible from the e46 as getting hold of e30 parts is difficult and the e46 will have newer/better parts.

I know I can use the steering rack, what other components are a bolt on or can be used?
Brakes?
Suspension? any parts from this...


For the engine swap, i've seen subframes available to take the m54b30 without any modification and accepts the e46 steering rack too. There are also wiring looms too to make it a easy install as a plug and play (deleting the ews and abs i believe)

Just trying to maximise what i can strip off the e46 before scrapping it.

Thank you all in advance and apologies as this question must have been asked a number of time but did try to search for the answers first.

edit

The subframe is this one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333869367188
its made by ARM BMW Motorsport - they did say that not all sumps may fit and to send them a picture of the one I have on the car now

I've also seen the wiring loom here;
https://www.hackengineering.co.uk/produ ... 34-e36-z3/

I think both these (if the sump fits) should make the swap relatively easy....mount the gearbox (not sure which support can be used), think then need to get the prop shortened? and a rear diff (been seeing people mentioning to get a e36 diff?). Then rear brakes as currently they are drums. Not sure what else at this point.

If anyone has a part list that is needed - it will help me when looking for all the bits i need to get this project rolling.

Again - thank you all for any support

Have a read of this
https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/ ... swap-guide
Unfortunately the M54 is not plug and play and not as easy as the earlier M50/52

If you are UK RHD then you will need an exhaust making. Best way for sensible money is DanThe on here using M50 donor manifolds. If you are getting him to do an exhaust you may as well get him to do the loom if you cannot tackle it yourself.

There are no subframes for the M54 sump The ARM one will not work and it is a bodge. S54 sump does not fit the M54 without a lot of modification. Don't re-invent the wheel use the 5/7 series sump like everyone else

Prop will depend on the gearbox used but any combination will need balancing so you may as well get the place to make what you have the right length

you will need to make a gearbox rear mount bracket

E36 diff is the same asE30 just the rear plate and mount. Lot of fabrication work if you want to use one of them

As I said on your other post, nothing from the back end of the E46 330 much use on the E30

Otherwise much is the same as the M50/52 swap guide in the wiki

Thank you.. I’ll look at sourcing the correct sump, was the loom link no good? DanThe is really busy with other work at present so just trying to locate as much of the things needed myself before taking it to someone to do the swap.

A e30 325i diff should be fine with my buoy I take it, I look at getting one of those too