Too those contemplating a M30 swap

[Gunni]

Definitly do it,

IԚ´ve been riding in my customers ride for 2 days now the drivability
is awesome, way beyond what a M20 has ,

A friend in a 400hp Skyline was well chuffed with the power in the E30

itԚ´s the super strong low end that makes the M30 feel alot more powerfull then the 218hp it is supposed to be, put in a higher cam and some engine management and the M30 will really start to shine.

[Andy335Touring]

[euroshark]

I'm getting ready to begin my swap this week thanks to the people that have helped me complete my research, like Andy!! I've got my early eta chassis empty, e30.de mounts, E34 oil pan and pump, and all of the appropriate electronics. I can't WAIT to feel the acceleration with the 218hp 3.5 in that little chassis... This motor ran great in my 635CSi, it's going to be insane in my E30!! I agree, M30 swap owns!!

[DRIFTBOY]

Mine is now going well too!
With the 3.73:1 diff it rips through the gears, gets sideways VERY easily and with my home-made exhaust it really howls!
It's good, but I'm already wondering how I can get more power!

[Toby_Unna]

there's no wondering to do Driftboy, the solution is obvious

[DRIFTBOY]

Yes, that has crossed my mind!

What are youre 'more mods' following shortly ?

[Toby_Unna]

well nothing amazing, and they might not happen at all so i won't make myself look daft just yet.

more fuel pressure and more boost is obviously the most important upgrade

[euroshark]

The TCD guys are getting in the upper 300hp range and over 400ft/lbs around 10-12psi... That's where you should aim!!

[gareth]

it has to be said, the putting M30 in a E30 simply rules! it's not a highly tuned, unreliable (!!!!), highly stressed engine, it's just a sodding great big one! i love the jeckyll and hyde effect, totally mild mannered and comfortable enough to drive your granny about until you hit, say, 1200rpm where it all goes silly!!!

[ric325i]

oh yes its time to join the club!

i finally decided to get hold of the car! a nice 535i
will see how it is when i pick it up on sunday!

i have a long drive to get it but.......who cares......hum.?

anyway. it will take time because i need major help from gall but the idea is there and my mate who is doing a automotive journalism masters may actually write a article on the conversion? with before and after test drives.

guess i will have to let him have a go - since i have scared him enough times TRYING to get sideways!

all good fun and will post the article if both of us get are parts done.? ever?

looking forward to it! wish me luck.

P.s will but selling the rest of the car if anyone wants bits?

[Toby_Unna]

The TCD guys are getting in the upper 300hp range and over 400ft/lbs around 10-12psi... That's where you should aim!!

not too far off that actually

ric, is your 535i an e34?

[ric325i]

why yes it is! i hope thats good news.

why do you ask?

[Toby_Unna]

yeah that's the one you want.

was just thinking out loud really, would have been interested in the diff if it's an LSD (it's no use for putting in an e30) but you're a bit far away really!

[ric325i]

yeah well far away.
if its a LSD i will look at the postage and see what we can do.i have to break it so a sale is a sale.

am sure i will pm you at some point about it but i dont know how soon it will get stripped?
sooner the better really.

cant wait!

[Andy335Touring]

Ric, did you get my PM Re picking up the M30 head for Gall(Andy) ?

[Gunni]

I just raced a buddy who has a 325i today,

it was to wet for launches so we did rolling starts,

#1 50kmh, I 3rd gear, he 2nd gear, he blew the horn once and we began, at the end of my 3rd I had caught him at the end of his 3rd gear,

#2 50kmg both in 2nd gear, I left him as soon as he blew the horn, no contest,

[gareth]

....and so it should be!

[Eddy]

Comparison to the M50 B25 engined E30 anyone?It realy bugs me witch is the better

[Andy335Touring]

Comparison to the M50 B25 engined E30 anyone?It realy bugs me witch is the better

M30 = more BHP/Torque

M50 = more MPG

[Eddy]

What about the driftabilty of the M30...is it nose-heavy,or not? Cuse the M50 is just so great for this car in drift terms ofcorse...

[Andy335Touring]

I'm not a big drifter, the front end feels he same as when it had an M20 in, it's got plenty of torque to brake traction at the rear

[Gunni]

yea, IԚ´m a drifter and this setup definitly works,
Sorta like my s50 powered E30, real easy

[DRIFTBOY]

I find my M30 335i is very easy to start a slide in.
It has a lot of low down grunt so a drift is sooo easy to get started and to control on the throttle.

I haven't noticed it feeling front heavy at all yet, I've not had it on the road long but I've not yet had it understeering at all.

[Eddy]

hmm....hence another thing to think about
So far the M50 has been just great,with some mapping done,and the limiter on the 7k rpm the thing realy pulls,and pulls like a train...and doesn`t run out off puff so quickly,so the M30 has to be just as good,if not better...

the only problem is--->there arent too many engines worth buying here in Slovenia....

[DRIFTBOY]

I've never drive or even been in an E30 with an M50 engine in it but I suspect they both have their good and bad points.

They are both worthwhile upgrades from an M20 engine in my opinion.
They probably both can work out cheaper than getting the same power from an M20.

I'm not sure changing from M50 to M30 would be worth the cost and trouble - if at all. ?

I did an M30 conversion because I had the idea of doing it a few years ago (not knowing it had already been done so many times before!) and I like the idea of big is best, even though I know deep down that it is not always true!

I'm very happy with my car so far though.

[Gunni]

hmm....hence another thing to think about
So far the M50 has been just great,with some mapping done,and the limiter on the 7k rpm the thing realy pulls,and pulls like a train...and doesn`t run out off puff so quickly,so the M30 has to be just as good,if not better...

the only problem is--->there arent too many engines worth buying here in Slovenia....

get this,
a M30 has 3.5l , thats is a whopping liter above the M50 and M20,
and a whole lot more torque as well and spread over a bigger range also,

a cam (292deg or similar) and a engine management will send the 3.5 to the 250hp range with even more torque then before, 350nm

cost : not much ,
benefits : obvious

[Eddy]

i understand what Ur saying,but like I said,If there was a good engine to buy and relativly cheap,I whould go for another E30 project....or maybe a E28

[gareth]

i'd like to see what a M50 is like in a E30 having never been on one with that setup. i imagine it's a sportier feeling engine as it's a bit lighter and also needs to be driven harder with more revs to achieve its full multivalve potential, wereas the M30 is like playing golf with a sledgehammer! having all that low down and midrange torque makes 'playing' very easy indeed as if you let the revs drop, it's very hard to bog down and a squirt on the loud pedal sorts that out in no time!

i also dont think the M30 has upset the handling on mine other than the fact my springs were too low and too soft for the M20 and are now way underrated. some harder springs on the front are obviously more desireable. i suspect the difference (on a well set up car) can only be felt in a back to back test.

[DRIFTBOY]

When I fitted my M30 engine I removed all the bulkhead soundproofing, fog lights, headlamp wash/wipes, washer bottle (into the boot), battery (was already in the boot), excess electrical stuff and trim and got an aluminium radiator.
So I think I have near enough got the weight over the front axle about the same as the standard 325i se, especially as I used engine position 3.

I am very happy with the handling of the car so far and I've had plenty of oversteer but no understeer at all. Just how I like it!!!