removing and fitting a m20 engine?
Moderator: martauto
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joeadams1979
- E30 Zone Newbie

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If i have both e30 ready is it hard removing and fitting a m20 and could i get it done within an afternoon on my driveway novice lol
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

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Someone on here a while back magaged to do it by inserting long threaded studs into the front subframe bolt holes, and winding it down to the ground - no engine hoist involved.
///M aurice
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ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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maxfield
- Old Skooler

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If you've never done one before. Give yourself a couple of days.

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jmc330i
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

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As Max says, if its your first time
I'd say a day to get it out and another to get it back in and running.
For my first real engine swap, I removed the M40 from my old touring and refitted an M20 over two days and that included doing the cambelt, water pump and all the other jobs that are easier to do with the engine on the floor.
If I'm simply swapping like for like engines (cambelt, gaskets etc already changed), I can do them in a day, but it's a non stop day!!
The time taken can also depend on if you come across any stubborn nuts or bolts... one rounded exhaust nut or stubborn prop bolt can really ruin your day
For my first real engine swap, I removed the M40 from my old touring and refitted an M20 over two days and that included doing the cambelt, water pump and all the other jobs that are easier to do with the engine on the floor.
If I'm simply swapping like for like engines (cambelt, gaskets etc already changed), I can do them in a day, but it's a non stop day!!
The time taken can also depend on if you come across any stubborn nuts or bolts... one rounded exhaust nut or stubborn prop bolt can really ruin your day
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
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bmw9818
- E30 Zone Addict

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^ exactly, its easily done in a couple of hours if your simply pulling it out and putting back in, then an hour or two more to plug back in and get everything done back up, but one bolt can seriously ruin the time! I fucked up the bolt on the diff as it was rusted completely,spent about a day trying to cut it off as it was so awkard!jmc330i wrote:As Max says, if its your first timeI'd say a day to get it out and another to get it back in and running.
For my first real engine swap, I removed the M40 from my old touring and refitted an M20 over two days and that included doing the cambelt, water pump and all the other jobs that are easier to do with the engine on the floor.
If I'm simply swapping like for like engines (cambelt, gaskets etc already changed), I can do them in a day, but it's a non stop day!!
The time taken can also depend on if you come across any stubborn nuts or bolts... one rounded exhaust nut or stubborn prop bolt can really ruin your day
