"90 316i 2 door M44 ITB's

[Caravanking]

Very well documented and well executed swap.

Sorry for the slow response. I'm sure everybody can agree that it's a strange time. I've actually just qualified as a school teacher and have been working towards getting a job (which I've just accepted in the last few days).
Thank you! I'm still driving it and still loving it. The car does have a few issues. I bought the engine without hearing it run. Although it's not bad, its not as smooth as one that I have in my e36 compact.
It seems to run a little rich but it does have an end ward map on the ecu which could possibly bring the mpg down.
I have noticed that I really need to kick the cars head in to get it up to temp, otherwise it sits in the blue section on the gauge.. Again, could bring mpg down if ecu temp sensor is reading that it's cold. I feel like the thermostat is possibly sticking open a bit.. However, I can confirm that the m40 cooling system is definetly up to the job for spirited driving on country roads as needle has never passed half way.

I'm still yet to come up with a solution for an oem airbox, but I guess I can do that over winter.. Potentially adding m42 e30 intake manifold, intake boot and airbox could be one of the best options. I'll have to look at the sensors and electrical components to this to see what will need to be done.. But then again, after cost, could it be worth paying a bit more for itbs?

On a side note, I've also added a rear anti roll bar and had a play with the damping adjusters on my spax dampers. I got pretty giddy (you know where you slap the dash and say "good lad") and realised that it's pretty much as I want it now.

[Caravanking]

Non M44 related fault.
My wipers seem to have developed a strange fault where, when the wipers are in use, they suddenly just switch the wash wipe on and will stay on until power is cut. I can however change the speed of the wipers and put them into full speed.
After looking at the schematic diagram, it looks like either the relay is sticking on, or something is grounding out.
Can anybody advise?

[Brianmoooore]

Check for metallic debris under the wiper control module in the fusebox , shorting pins together.
The wiper's don't and can't control the screenwasher pump. The connection from the washer pump control wire to the wiper module is an input, not an output, and starts the timed wiper sequence when the washers are used.
If it's not debris under the module, then it's likely to be damage to the wire leading down the inside of the wiper stalk from the screenwash switch, shorting to earth when the wipers are on.,l

[rix313]

There is quiet a big thread on here but it's more M42 based than M44.

[Caravanking]

Check for metallic debris under the wiper control module in the fusebox , shorting pins together.
The wiper's don't and can't control the screenwasher pump. The connection from the washer pump control wire to the wiper module is an input, not an output, and starts the timed wiper sequence when the washers are used.
If it's not debris under the module, then it's likely to be damage to the wire leading down the inside of the wiper stalk from the screenwash switch, shorting to earth when the wipers are on.,l

Thanks! To be fair, I've had the steering column Cowel trim off a fair few times, especially recently so there's chance that I've damaged some wiring and it's earthing on the steering column.
I also opened the fuse box whilst I was doing my conversion because I considered putting my relays in the box and wanted to see what space I had.
I'll have a look on Wednesday and report back.

[Caravanking]

As a follow up to the windscreen wipers that had a mind of their own.. I managed to get some time to check it over. Turns out that one of the spare fuses had fallen out of the holder and managed to bridge the wiper relay. Kind of funny really. Anyway, it's sorted now haha.

[Brianmoooore]

Escaped fuses are included in my definition of metallic debris . What you found is surprisingly common.
While you're in the fuse box, get that 15A fuse 11 changed for the correct 7.5A brown one.

[Caravanking]

Ah you did! I'd done a fair bit of cutting the body so I interpreted it as like metal filings but makes sense now. Thanks for the advice! E30 is no longer a daily but will still get used until I see the grit trucks. I'm back in my e36 compact for the long haul of winter. Just put the 16x8 bbs on it and I've got some d2 adjustable damping coilovers to go on it.. The 4 year old Joms aren't cutting it anymore haha.

[Caravanking]

Update. I ordered some RHD ITB's. These will be going on and see the road for spring time.

[Caravanking]

The M44 has been making a "whirring" or grating/metallic noise for some time now. It got to the point where I was worried that something was happening inside the timing chain case that was going to get real expensive. That or one of the pulleys was making a noise.

I don't know how I found it, but I gave the viscous fan a wobble and found a hell of a lot of play in the water pump (which is what the fan threads onto). On closer inspection, rusty water has been leaking out of the pump and has dripped down the case slightly.. Not enough to directly notice mind. Long story short, the pump failed.

I believe that saleri are the oem brand, which use a composite impellor. These are apparently good for 70k-100k miles.

The plastic impellor ones are known to break up.

I had one that's clearly aftermarket, a cheap one at that. The casting broke on removing it.. To remove, you thread two m5 bolts into the pump to use as like a puller. The casting cracked before the thread stripped. Nice. The spot welded impellor is apparently known to suddenly break up and cause all sorts of headaches.

I ended up getting a hepu branded pump ordered last night. These are popular, with a heavy duty metal impellor. Good for 70k - 100k also and about 40quid.

Also ordered an elring intake manifold gasket for itbs.

[Brianmoooore]

You should rotate the pump with a large pair of grips to remove it, tightening the bolts in the lugs slowly by hand or a very small amount of torque any time you can move them. The lugs aren't strong enough to lever out a pump from scratch.

[Cypriotgeeza]

Firstly I'd like to say I'm loving the build thread! Just sat and read through the whole thing!

My first E30 was a 318is and unless you drive an E30 with an M42/M44 in there you just don't understand..it feels like that was the engine an E30 was supposed to come with, light and nimble and rev happy for the small light car the E30 is!
(I do prefer the sound of a 6pot though )

Looking forward to updates with those throttle bodies on mate!

[Caravanking]

Thank you! Yeah, it's certainly been a learning curve.

I ended up putting a Hepu water pump on this and a Mahl temp sensor. For the first time in my ownership, it gets up to temp and maintains it. Good stuff.

As for ITB's.. They came and I've started fitting them. M44's in e30's are awkward, mainly because of the intake. I ended up having to remove the brake master cylinder to get the intake off, otherwise it would have been lifting the engine for the intake to clear this.

I removed the plastic loom tidy part off completely and I've spent a bit of time tidying the wiring from the centre of the intake. I need to sort out the coolant lines that go through the old throttle body heater. I'm going to send off the injectors to have them tested and cleaned. Then I can get on with firing it up.

The rhd itbs are for an e36, so when ordering, you need to ask for shorter spacers. This allows clearance on the bonnet. However, you also need to cut the carbon plenum to clear the brake servo.

Anyway. Here's what I've got and where I'm up to. I'm going to have to sort the valve cover out..

[Cypriotgeeza]

[Caravanking]

ITB's are on and it runs. Phew. I'm running this on stock ecu as RHD suggest this can be done with plenum and all stock sensors in place. Eventually, I plan to go standalone to get this absolutely spot on but for now, this is all I can justify paying for. I wanted to add a bit more info about this as online, it is vague about what needs to be done to get these ITB's to fit.

The RHD M42/44 kit has been designed to be used on an e36. To fit to an e30, its a little more than just bolting it on. You need to request shorter spacers (Rama told me they were from a Porsche kit that he sells) and cut the brand new carbon plenum.. Noice. This is to clear the brake servo. Needs must and I've cut the plenum, made a Cad (cardboard aided design) mock piece and given it to a friend to replicate and bond in professionally. Can't wait to get this back.

You also need to put a hose fitting in the back plate for the icv. I'm also putting a second fitting into this for my pcv.

M44 engines come with an air shroud on the injectors. This basically allows metered air to be drawn through the injector from a vac line coming from the intake boot. I believe this is to do with emissions at idle? Either way, I have deleted this to simplify the system, simply blocking with 8mm blanks.

The m42 and M44 also have a heated throttle body plate with coolant lines running to them. I have completely removed/deleted this line and capped this off too. Car runs at a normal temp and is fine. There is no need to loop this system.

I'm also using an M44 throttle cable with this and have routed it in the try under the scuttle where the loom and relays are.

Is there any way to change the name of this thread as the car never got a turbo?

[Brianmoooore]

Looks like it might be too late, but a smaller diameter servo can be fitted to an E30, and that servo can be fairly easily moved towards the inner wing.

[Cypriotgeeza]

Very cool update mate! I hope to see some vids in the future!

To update the thread go back to your first post and click on the "edit" pencil..should be able to change the post title there mate!

[Caravanking]

Looks like it might be too late, but a smaller diameter servo can be fitted to an E30, and that servo can be fairly easily moved towards the inner wing.

I considered a clio servo but some of the plenum would still have needed cutting apparently. I didn't see much point in buying a servo to still have to cut some of it anyway. Thanks for the heads up though

[Brianmoooore]

I considered a clio servo but some of the plenum would still have needed cutting apparently.

Even if it was mounted as far as possible towards the inner wing?

[Caravanking]

That requires cutting the bulkhead though doesn't it?

[Brianmoooore]

It does. Making a plate to blank the existing hole and reinforce the new one, along with a longer pull rod.

[flybynite]

Another one to look at is the E90 servo.

You need more length clearance being a double diaphram but it is smaller diameter than even the clio

[steve_k]

Another one to look at is the E90 servo.

You need more length clearance being a double diaphram but it is smaller diameter than even the clio

got any more info on using an E90 servo?

[flybynite]

got any more info on using an E90 servo?

Lots out there on this if you google it. I have not tried it in anger but have one here and it looks promising but tight for an M54 with DISA because of the length

This is LHD but should give you the idea

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/ ... 90-booster



Looks like we have the better candidate for it this side of the pond for once

[steve_k]

got any more info on using an E90 servo?

Lots out there on this if you google it. I have not tried it in anger but have one here and it looks promising but tight for an M54 with DISA because of the length

This is LHD but should give you the idea

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/ ... 90-booster



Looks like we have the better candidate for it this side of the pond for once

cheers for that sean

i've got one on the ay so fingers crossed.

[Caravanking]

Awesome, didn't know about this servo but I committed to chopping the plenum and I've got it finished. Guess this just compiles options for dingbats like me

Anyway. I ended up getting a friend to finish my plenum as this is what he does for a job, I'm dead happy with it. He was telling me about a tvr plenum that he'd designed and made made 25hp gains on the dyno over stock before it was mapped! Said my plenum was a good shape and that the modification to airbox shouldn't make any noticeable difference.

I just have a few bits to tidy up and then it's ready to go.

I ended up buying a fuel filter bracket that mounts under the brake master cylinder for the oil catch can too. There are two m6 bolt holes that are unused on some cars, so utilised this mounting point. I'll get pics when I mount it up. Any reason why I shouldn't vent to atmosphere from the catch can? Also, any inline 16mm pcv valve recommendations? I can't find any?

[steve_k]

looking good,

as for the catch can? always best to have a closed system as you dont want the smell entering the cabin or leaving stains n the floor,

a cheap baffled catch can will do the job.

[rix313]

That RHD kit is really much nicer than the Dbilas one I bought for my racing car. How long did it take to arrive from ‘Straya?

[Caravanking]

The RHD ITB's took something like a life time, or maybe a million years to arrive.. Maybe that's an exaggeration, since I just wanted them to arrive. I ordered on 24/12 and I think they took about 3-4 weeks to arrive.

As for the catch can, I've mounted this by using the fuel filter bracket that bolts inside the engine bay. I don't know what models of cars used these but it's just a nice easy place to mount it. Bracket is about 15quid from bmw. The catch can that I've used is a Chinese "radium" replica that basically looks exactly the same as the genuine one, minus the branding.

[Caravanking]

Took the car for its first drive with itbs on. Certainly feels quicker and even spun up second gear for a few seconds in the dry. It's never done that before..
However, the diff mount bushing started knocking. Bought a PowerFlex heritage bushing and got it fitted super easily.
Gave the diff a bit of a scrub up too whilst it was out.

[Caravanking]

Bit of an update since the last time I logged in. I ended up buying a kdata ecu, Bosch 330cc injectors (0280155759), bds motorsport v1 cams and taking it to bds motorsport for remapping. The car is now 178.5bhp and 191nm. Drives really well and sounds biblical.

[rix313]

I must admit I was on the phone to Bruno to get my car back on the dyno when I saw your impressive results from this set up. Doesn't make much less than the complete build he did for me.

How are you finding the small case diff? I recently blew the spider gears apart on mine having a bit of roundabout fun.

[Caravanking]

Small case diff is alright so far.. however, I do like to kick the clutch so time will tell on that one I was planning on getting an lsd of some sort in the future but front dampers are more important as my spax are absolutely shot. Currently got 45mm struts so planning to use this as an excuse to put some 51mm on it. Will build these up off the car and then do a straight swap. It’s sort of just nice driving it about for now. The noise is absolutely insane!

[rix313]

Ah is it still an open diff then? Bruno just sent me a video of my race car with open stacks on the ITB's and it sounds nuts