Yet Another 335I! ... Now With Turbo

[alan335i]

i think some of you guys could help me,i'm new to the zone but liking it already,i've hade my 325i sport for about over two years ,i spent a bit of time and money on it in that time incl.a full respray and m3 leather but it incountered a engine problem few months ago so i've decided to go for the m30 transplant.Just back from a trip to England to pick up the e34 535i donor car(not east to find in NI )I've read a bit about it and not to worried about the fitting of the engine its just the elecrical side of things i'm not to sure about,any help on anything to do with the conversion would be appreciated,cheers.

[gareth]

do a search mate, basically, everything you'll need (electrically) will be on the donor car

[DRIFTBOY]

Welcome dude!

Yeah, the wiring for these is quite simple.

Mostly they will run just by plugging the M30 engine loom into the E30 body loom but a couple of minor things won't work.

I may be able to help depending if your project car and donor car have the same colour wires / pin configuration as mine! I wrote down what I did to make everything work, I can dig it out.

You will need an E30 temperature sender to go in the thermostat housing for the temperature guage to work also.

Good luck!

[DRIFTBOY]

Well, I've been too ashamed and distressed to say anything until now!

But now I'm it's ok!
I got the engine back together with the new, shiny parts.
And that involved a LOT of swearing and tool throwing! I put the timing gear on originally without the sump on, and this time it got right in the way but I didn't have a new sump gasket so I struggled through. In the dark. And cold.

And.......




It hasn't stopped the rattle. Although there is definately a bit less engine noise.

And.......





It now has a HUGE oil leak!




And the last couple of days I've noticed 'mayonaise' on the expansion tank cap! Could be head gasket on the way!


On the good side though, I replaced the thermostat while I was there and that has made it run a little cooler which I hoped it would.

And my exhaust note has changed! It sounds smoother and more 'straight six silky'.
I reckon the camshaft sprocket was very worn and changed the timing a fraction perhaps ? Or a duff chain tensioner ?

Anyway, looks like more surgery to come.

[gareth]

[nickso]

Anyway, looks like more surgery to come.

your a trooper mate. ive all but given up on the mystery top end rattle on mine. seems like everyone has it so i figure its not too important and i hate working in the cold and wet

i just hope she holds together for next winters project

[gareth]

one thing i tried on mine at the weekend to trace some of my engine noise... i built the revs up and killed the ignition and behold, the noise stopped! that'll be a noisy injector then

don't suppose that helps you much though

[DRIFTBOY]

Cheers guys.

Gareth, I've tried the injectors, I'm sure it's not them.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ant the other day, he suggested little ends which has crossed my mind and certainly a possibility. A bad one, but still a possibility!

It's alot better now than when you last heard it though Gareth!


Nickso - dare we ask what next years project would involve ?

[nickso]

i have to keep it under wraps for a while as it depends on quite a few things happening first.

its something ive wanted to do for a very long time though and will be interesting and very expensive

[DRIFTBOY]

Sounds good!

I hope the project goes well and we find out what it is asap!


I might have a long-term plan for mine too!

I'm not shy about it, but I'll give you a clue!




So far I just have this and potentially a fuel pump (from a friends modified Supra ?). I bet most of you can guess which way this is going!


Eventually!

[charlE30]

Sorry to hear your having problems dude
If it's not one thing it's always another with old E30's, you must be quite frustrated. Your new manifold looks great and am I right in assuming your going F/I??

Good luck

Charlie

[DRIFTBOY]

Thanks Charlie!

It is frustrating - and expensive! - but I'm sure I'll get there in the end. Not got much spare time at the moment though.




And yes, you are correct, I'm planning to gather the parts as and when they are available / I can afford them, to give it a bit of turbo action!

It's a long, long way off yet though.

[Andy335Touring]

Sorry to hear about the H/G and oil leak, sounds wronge but i'd sooner change a H/G rather than mess with the sump gasket, how did you get enough clearance to get the sump off ?

Shame you're not closer mate, i'd have given you a hand

And my exhaust note has changed! It sounds smoother and more 'straight six silky'.

I must admit mine could do with some more silkyness, may be after the remap it will be better ?

[Andy335Touring]

Oh, you might have to lose your cam if you go F/I ?

[DRIFTBOY]

Thanks Andy!

I didn't take the sump off - didn't fancy that much!
But with the sump on it's very fiddly getting the oil pump chain tensioner and the lower timing cover on. I reckon it's leaking around the top timing cover somewhere. Another radiator out job but not too bad.

Head gasket change doesn't worry me too much, just that I've got a lot else on at the moment. At least when I get the head off I'll know if there has been valve-piston contact (a theory put to me by two engineering companies regarding the 'rattle' .), and should find if anything I didn't replace is worn, which only really leaves valves and guides, pistons and gudgeon pins!
That's if the head gasket has gone, it runs smoothe and cool still, at the moment!
Can't think why else it would have Helman's best on the expansion cap though!


I did think about my camshaft and a turbo being a bad combo.

It's such a long way off though it's the least of my worries at the moment! Keeping my options wide open.



When are you getting your's re-mapped Andy ?

[Andy335Touring]

Thanks Andy!

I didn't take the sump off - didn't fancy that much!
But with the sump on it's very fiddly getting the oil pump chain tensioner and the lower timing cover on. I reckon it's leaking around the top timing cover somewhere. Another radiator out job but not too bad.

Did the sump gasket end up ripping when you took the chain cover off ?

What about cutting the old gasket off cleanly right by the block and then cut down a new gasket and use some non-setting sealant by the join ?

Can't think why else it would have Helman's best on the expansion cap though!

Touch wood it will be all right ? How much mayo is there ?

It's such a long way off though it's the least of my worries at the moment! Keeping my options wide open.

How about's fitting Tobys old manifold and get it running on Mega squirt to start with then add the turbo gear when your ready ?

When are you getting your's re-mapped Andy ?

What i'm thinking of doing is getting it RR/crypton tuned at the local place so i know every thing is working right then take it to Dave walkers for it's re-map.

I'd hate to drive all the way over to Norfolk where dave is then find theres some niggly problem that screws with the mapping

Time wise i'd say the re-map will be about the start of April as i'm still messing about with throttle body related job's

[DRIFTBOY]

Yep, the gasket ripped!
I would have cut one but didn't have a new one. I selaed it carefully and so far hasn't leaked at all from the sump!

There is very little mayo and no sign of anything in the oil, I've been checking it every other day!

I have thought about fitting the manifold and MS, I'll just see how things go.


Sounds like a good plan for your's - should be a beast when it's fettled and mapped, especially if your old dyno sheet is anything to go by!

[Andy335Touring]

Above post been answered on another thread I believe!

Thought I'd do a bit of engine surgery today to try and get rid of my annoying rattle.
Was replacing (things I should have replaced in the first place ) the timing chain tensioner and slipper pad, camshaft sprocket and while I was there thermostat.

Just bumping this one up Martin because you've had the tensioner out recently and we have spoken about this mystery little ball that shown on the ETK diagrame.

I've now got a new spring(25),"piston"(27) and little ball(26), the ball is just a small ball bearing that at first i couldn't figure out where it fitted, on the diagrame it looked like it sat in between the spring and the piston but that isn't the case.



On closer inspection of the piston it has a small oil way that goes through it and trapped inside is a little ball bearing so thats got to be the little ball on the diagrame ? !

Sorry for the naff picture but here's the piston and "little ball".

[nickso]

i had mine out last week but yours looks pristine.....mine has some wear on the face between the two lugs...maybe time to replace it if its supposed to be wear free.

[Andy335Touring]

It looks good because it's new, apx £ 17 inc VAT. I'm not sure how worn my old one is TBH but i thought i'd get a new one whilst it was out to fit that little ball thing i was on about.

[nickso]

i tested mine according to haynes and it was ok....something about blowing through it one way or another.

£17 isnt a big deal though so i might just buy one for the sake of it.

[Andy335Touring]

£17 isnt a big deal though so i might just buy one for the sake of it.

Yeah, thats what i thought and they are dead easy to fit

[DRIFTBOY]

I took my old tensioner apart (which had bad wear marks on it's friction surface) when I fitted the new one.

The ball bearing was inside the tensioner which unscrews apart, but I still can't see what exactly that ball does or why that on it's own would need to be replaced even though it's available as a spare part!

Martin.

[nickso]

I took my old tensioner apart (which had bad wear marks on it's friction surface) when I fitted the new one.

The ball bearing was inside the tensioner which unscrews apart, but I still can't see what exactly that ball does or why that on it's own would need to be replaced even though it's available as a spare part!

Martin.

my dads mate who is a 7 series nutter once explained the tensioner ball thingy to me......i felt like falling asleep....it didnt sound important

[DRIFTBOY]

Another update!

Had to fit my spare alternator this week as my original one stopped charging the battery, a right pain in the mornings and after work getting people to jump / bump start me!

I found the cause of my dramatic oil leak today - a cracked lower timing cover! I must have been a bit brutal with it getting on with the sump in place the other week!

But I have got some good work done this weekend too, well my mate who's a bit handy with a mig welder did most of this!
(First two pics from my phone so not best quality).







Bodywork is being sorted now over the next few weeks or so I hope. Going for a total re-paint too.

Hopefully it will look a lot smarter soon!

[Andy335Touring]

I think the ball acts like a one way valve for the oil ?

The spring and the piston are sort of like a suspension strut, the spring pushes and the piston with the trapped oil behind it acts like shock absorber ?

[candyman]

Hope your gonna be giving me a call mate lol

bought my six branch for the m30 today

should be here in a week ant has ordered my cam and springs too!!!!!!

soooooooooooo excited feel like a kid again

Stuart

[Andy335Touring]

Oops, i missed your new post Martin, shame about the timing cover, is it weldable ?

Stuart, which six branch and cam are you getting ?

[DRIFTBOY]

That sounds feasable Andy, I'm sure it's a very simple yet effective device.

My timing cover could probably be welded but I can't be without the car unless I've got time off work, and it's a nasty job getting it off and on again. I'm considering looking for another engine to play with, I feel like giving up on this one, some of the new parts will be transferable to another engine though so not as bad as it sounds.

Don't worry Stuart, I'll be there on the 25th!

I might nick that manifold when your'e not looking though!

[candyman]

hi andy cam is a 284 cat cams with schrick springs head is now fully gas flowed ported polished with three angle valve job six branch is 1 5/8 primary race manifold for e28 m535i from the states will have to modify slightly but would have to modify any manifold even the btb one to fit the 2" race system had fitted to my m20 previously having the pistons pocketed and full lighten and balance on bottom end inc flywheel clutch front pulleys etc etc


Got well carried away

Heard yours is making good power

Stuart

[Andy335Touring]

Just thought i've got one on this spare bottom that no one wanted to buy, trouble is getting the time to get it off at the mo

How much of a rush are you in ?

Just looked on the ETK and it's suggesting it's about £80 from the dealers, just an idea if you are desparate to get one quickley ?

Stuart, you are probobly going to need to mod that six brach lots unless your car is LHD ?

Sounds a nice spec' engine, should go well

[candyman]

I know needs loads of modding mate but was not gonna pay £750 plus when i can get one cheaper and mod it myself

Plus think that talking to ant has convinced me to dump the a f m and sort the management out too ( digging myself a very big hole with the bank manager lol)

Martin really appreciate you makin the time mate:D

Im gonna hide the manifold

Stuart

[Andy335Touring]

I know needs loads of modding mate but was not gonna pay £750 plus when i can get one cheaper and mod it myself

Can't fault you, the BTB one is very nice but £Â£Ã‚£ V's BHP gains isn't so hot.

Plus think that talking to ant has convinced me to dump the a f m and sort the management out too ( digging myself a very big hole with the bank manager lol)

Nice move with the amount of mods you are doing as you will be able to tune(and re-tune) to suit your mods.

Im gonna hide the manifold (from the mrs)

[candyman]

PMSL :::D:D:D:D

will give you update when i have it all bolted together mate will definatly be in by 25 th march will post some pics up mate

Like i said to ant not interested in the figures on paper as long as it does what i want it to !!!

Which is put a huge grin on my face every time i get in it

And make me paint a picture in my pants with the big brown crayon every time i floor it

Stuart

[DRIFTBOY]

Andy - It's a shame you're not closer or I'd buy the whole bottom end from you!
Thanks for the offer of the cover, I wouldn't want you to break an otherwise complete bottom end though, might be harder for you to sell it.
I checked on www.realoem.com but I suspected it would be expensive.

I'm currently trawling Ebay!

Stuart - no worries, it shouldn't take too long to get your M30 wiring sorted.
Unless you go for a mappable ecu - then you're on your own!

It's something I plan doing to mine sometime too.

Martin.