M52 engine?

[Brianmoooore]

I've just bought, the engine complete with ancillaries, the gearbox, and all the front and rear suspension etc, from a 2000 X reg 525SE Touring auto.
Don't even really know what I've bought. All I've seen is a photo of the stuffed car, and a photo of the engine bay, but for Ԛ£130-00 I thought it was worth a punt.
What I need to know, is what bits I need to overcome the immobilizer, where to find them and what they look like.
The auction description says engine complete, but whether this includes the wiring loom and/or ECU, I shan't know untill I collect it. Hopefully the donor will still be around, so I can try to blag any bits I need.

[Jhonno]

From the donor car, you will need the ECU, EWS box and ignition key. These really need to be a matched set from the same car, or you will have fun getting the engine to run. You will also need the loop antenna that fits around the ignition switch, and the small transmit/receive module that it plugs into. These are not coded, and can come from any post 95 E36. It's also a big help if you can get the electrical connectors that plug into the EWS box and the transmit/receive module. It would be a nightmare to plug everything in without these plugs.

Not my words - the legendary Ian

[buster]

you'll need the ews stuff,ive just pulled the same from a e36 for my s50 conversion.

heres a pic,


you'll need the key also.The big box with the ///M on it is the ecu which you need but the other stuff are ews box ,reciever module and the ring antenna

[ian332isport]

You guys beat me to it

I think that pretty much covers it though

Ian.

[buster]

were all experts now thanks to you !

[Jhonno]

Yeah - you've taught us well Yoda

[buster]

lol,no you mean.

Tought us well you have !! hmmm

[Jhonno]

[randomdave325]

apparantely the ews system is only on the e36. the 46 immobilizer does not affect the engine system. so i heard from someone who has fitted an e46 m3 lump to an e30.

[Jhonno]

this is an e39 tho...

[randomdave325]

this is an e39 tho...


could be different then. i'll get my coat.

[ian332isport]

apparantely the ews system is only on the e36. the 46 immobilizer does not affect the engine system. so i heard from someone who has fitted an e46 m3 lump to an e30.

Sorry, but you have been mis informed.

Both the E46 and E39 have a fully functional EWS (EWS 3.3) system that will disable the engine unless you have the matching key etc.

The system is basically the same as the EWS 2 that is used on the E36 range, but they have incorporated the transmit/receive module into the main EWS module. The functionallity did not change.

Ian.

[Brianmoooore]

Thanks a lot for all the replies so far, especially to Ian.
Gives me some idea as to what I'm looking for.
I'd no intention of buying this engine, but when I saw it sitting there at Ԛ£120 with 5 minutes to go, I had to put in a bid. To my surprise, no one came back at me and it was mine.
It would look nice under the bonnet of my bargain 318 touring that I'm collecting tomorrow.

[glenn]

apparantely the ews system is only on the e36. the 46 immobilizer does not affect the engine system. so i heard from someone who has fitted an e46 m3 lump to an e30.

Sorry, but you have been mis informed.

Both the E46 and E39 have a fully functional EWS (EWS 3.3) system that will disable the engine unless you have the matching key etc.

The system is basically the same as the EWS 2 that is used on the E36 range, but they have incorporated the transmit/receive module into the main EWS module. The functionallity did not change.

Ian.

i can confirm that, yet again, ian is correct.
my e39 m5 loom has the EWS 3 system

[Brianmoooore]

Anyone know where the EWS unit lives on the E39?

[ian332isport]

Anyone know where the EWS unit lives on the E39?

Brian,

I'm not 100%, but believe it's behind the footwell trim - possibly the left one.

Ian.

[Brianmoooore]

Thanks Ian. I shall be calling in to see what I've bought tomorow, as I'm passing that way on my way to collect the new touring.

[Brianmoooore]

Right, I've seen the engine now, and brought home a couple of boxes that were just sitting on top the engine, before they went walkies.
The two boxes are the main ECU and the control for the auto gearbox.
These have the VIN on them, so I've fed that into my ETK, which gives the build date as Sept 2000, twin vanos, what looks like a fly-by-wire throttle, funny cats that are built into the exhaust manifolds.
I've looked up the EWS on the ETK as well, and this lists two boxes, an EWS control unit, and a transmit / receive module, that look identical to those in the photos above.
I don't recall seeing either of these two in my pile of bits, so what sort of problems am I likely to have if I don't get them?
I've got a spare E34 525 gearbox from a 93 car, and a spare flywhhel from a M50 320. Anyone know the chances of these fitting?

[Andy325i]

Brian I know I can fit the normal M20 flywheel to my M52, I know it is a lot lighter than the M50/M52 dual mass flywheel, but not sure which is better overall. I guess a lighter flywheel will rev more, but think the heavier flywheel will give more tourque? Anyone got any ideas on this?

I have left the dual mass on there for now

[Brianmoooore]

That's one bit of good news then on the flywhhel front. I would expect that the E34 gearbox would fit as well.
Any thoughts on the lack of EWS module? Are there slightly dodgy characters with laptops around that can disable the EWS?
I expect I'm going to be asking lots of questions soon about simulating loads of E39 sensors that the E30 won't have.
Wouldn't think a normal weight single mass flywheel would affect torque noticably, and would improve reliability.

[Brianmoooore]

Been checking the ETK again, and see that I'd better rename this thread.
It's a M54 not a M52.

[Toby_Unna]

yep i thought it was an m54 when you put the thread up but i wasn't sure!

[Brianmoooore]

By about a month, by what I've found out so far, I think.
Anyone fitted a M54, or am I a pioneer?
Anyone know if the EWS module is absolutely essential?

[ian332isport]

By about a month, by what I've found out so far, I think.
Anyone fitted a M54, or am I a pioneer?
Anyone know if the EWS module is absolutely essential?

Hi Brian,

The EWS module is absolutely necessary if you want to start the engine. I'm afraid there is no way around this without some very specialist re-coding of the software. I'm not sure who would be able to do this, or even if it's actually possible.

The EWS 3 module should look very similar to the EWS 2 module pictured earlier. The main difference is that you don't require the smaller transmit/receive module, as the loop antenna connects directly to the EWS module itself. All my E39 info is based on LHD models, so may not be 100% accurate for RHD, but it does show the EWS module fitted in the left side foot well. Possibly the right side over here.

If you can PM me an e-mail address, I'll send some info.

Cheers,

Ian.

[Brianmoooore]

I've got the VIN for the car now, and have been checking things out on the ETK.
ETK shows an EWS III control unit and a seperate transmitter reciever module, which look very much like the modules in your photos.
I've seen the engine now - it's been cut from the car, and is still on the crossmember, with gearbox, suspension radiator all attached and pilled onto a pallet.
Unless the EWS module is attached to the loom somewhere that's thrown over the engine, then I fear it's probably gone to the crusher.
The outfit I bought it from shifts over 100 cars a week, so they don't keep scrap hanging around long.

[ian332isport]

If they can't supply the matching ECU, EWS box and ignition key from this car, can they supply them from another car ?

At a push you could probably get away with just the EWS box and key from another car, and get the originl ECU aligned to the new EWS box.

Looking through the wiring diagrams, you may also need the Instrument cluster, as there appears to be some comms going on between the instruments and the EWS.

Ian.

P.S. E-mail sent.

[Andy325i]

Been checking the ETK again, and see that I'd better rename this thread.
It's a M54 not a M52.

That makes more sense I thought they only did a 2.5 (classed as 323i or 523i) or the 2.8.

Looks like you are breaking new ground Brian. Good on you