E30 Track 318is Engine swap M60 4ltr V8 or M30 3.2 turbo

[Rickjw]

I have a 318 is Track car thats well prepared and great fun, but lacks in power. As I have a couple of BMW's that could be engine donors Im after suggestions and help with what to do.

First is the E34 540i manual the other is the E23 745i 3.2 turbo what will make a better conversion?

Rick.

[fowler]

well if was me i would use the E34 540 manual if they are available.
TBH i would use neither and buy a Yank Ls1 engine and twinturbo it xxxxx
regards
Ben

[suzie650]

Both are pretty difficult due to size restriction under the bonnet.
If your track car has got a pedalbox, you're rid of the biggest headache during a V8 conversion: No room for a servo of any sort in the engine bay. - And if not, you can still get around the issue.

There are engine mounts ready to buy for both if you don't want the headache of making them yourself, and maybe a tad mor mods to do for the V8, but as you've got one, it would be a shame not to use it imo.

[Jonsku]

Well, that's a tricky question

Both weight about the same (around 300kg with all the equipment & box etc) , both make "enough" power for track use, both would cost about the same (NA M30 quite a bit less, though).

V8 is much harder swap..

It all comes down to your budget, skills and target power. V8 makes 300hp / 400Nm, whereas turbo M30 makes anything between 200 and 800hp

[Gunni]

Turbo is the optimum upgrade here.
least amount of weight penalty and possiblity for easy power (350hp stock internals)

[Karan]

turbo indeed!

[GrindCulture]

There doesn't seem to be enough M30 turbo action going on here. Do it!

[DieselMeister]

There doesn't seem to be enough M30 turbo action going on here. Do it!

Plus and indeed, one.

[Rickjw]

Thanks for the replys guys. I was thinking the m30 turbo my self. now the track car has cluth / gear box probs its an ideal time to start.

[Gunni]

M42 turbo is going to be able to make plenty of power for "normal" track usage.

350hp is definitely possible on stock internals.

[GrindCulture]

350bhp on an M42 will only be achievable if you lower the compression ratio either with a thicker head gasket, or custom pistons (which I'd be more inclined to go for). Low boost turbo setups could be used with the stock compression giving maybe 220bhp? Could still be quite a tool, but no where near as brutal as a turboed big six

[Gunni]

you can run 300hp on stock compression with the right turbo.

Brutal as a turboed six ?
http://www.pure-pf.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4425

[GrindCulture]

you can run 300hp on stock compression with the right turbo.

Can't see it being particularly reliable though.

That M42 is beautiful, but of course If you're going to chuck loads of money at it it'll be a monster. Chuck that same money into an M30...

There isn't enough M42 turbo action in this country

[Gunni]

Do you have any proof of that it will not be reliable?

What would you think would fail?

Tuning is the key to long engine life, after that a proper turbo to maintain low back pressure,

[GrindCulture]

Boosting enough to get 300bhp on stock internals with the stock compression ratio is going to put a lot of stress on the internals. It's also quite likely that the powerband will be quite fine with a high-comp setup, so you'll be revving the car more. I'm not saying it's not possible, with the correct mapping detonation shouldn't be a problem and the motor should last a while, but I'd rather spend a bit more on lowering the compression ratio so I could hit the same power without fear of something going pop at 6,000 rpm.

[ric325i]

m30 turbo

but the v8 sound that might tick it over. i want a v8 with a custom exhaust. forget which is easier its more about which will float your boat.

tell me us more about the m30 turbo.....

is the e23 745i a standard turbo from bmw? i didnt think they did turbo's back then? is it home brew?

been doing a search for them an not finding what i want to know. just thinking of an 'easier' way to get a turbo on an m30.

[Andy335Touring]

The 745 is left hand drive only due to the turbo location, we didn't get any over here so getting the parts means a trip to europe.

For a track car i'd be tempted with a turbo'd M42, lighter the better for track work.

If it was a road car an M30 or V8 of some sort would be nice, it comes down to budget, a N/A M30 is going to be a lot cheaper than a turbo or V8 set up.

[ric325i]

The 745 is left hand drive only due to the turbo location, we didn't get any over here so getting the parts means a trip to europe.

that explains lots. i knew the turbo would be a night mare in the small amount of space. mani would be a night mare but possible as we know its been done

N/A M30 is going to be a lot cheaper than a turbo or V8 set up.

but will be a good 100 horses less

[GrindCulture]

Does the M30 lend itself to be supercharged?

[Andy335Touring]

A later M30b35 as found in the E32 and E34 has a C/R 9.0:1 so will take a fair bit of boost(turbo or S/C) if the ECU/mapping is good.

[ric325i]

A later M30b35 as found in the E32 and E34 has a C/R 9.0:1 so will take a fair bit of boost(turbo or S/C) if the ECU/mapping is good.

so if someone robbed all the euro turbo goodness off the earlier e23, they could attach it to a later m30 and with some messing about enjoy some turbo power???

sorry if this is stealing info from this thread (off topic) but.......i have to think of more power

i still think v8 (on topic) plenty of work with that though.

[Andy335Touring]

Use the euro engine(M106 ?) with a top mount manifold, bigger more modern turbo and a mapperble ECU and you've got the capacity to run more boost safely. 400 reliable bhp, may be more ?

The M106 C/R is 8:1 and it has oil piston squirters which reduce piston temps thus less detonation.

These engines are old now so will probobly need a light rebuild(new main bearings, rings and honed bores) before you go mad on the boost.

[ric325i]

maybe its not the best way to a turbo?

i thought it could be a relatively simple way to get it over to an e30 with the standard ecu etc but really all turbo's will lend themselves to mega squirt etc and with the haslte of moving the turbo its better to just go from scratch.

Andy you got toby unna's turbo set up didnt you? if its you how is it going? time to do a search.



very impressed by the m20 mani on the m50. keeping eyes on this

[Gunni]

What´s the required power output here?
a 745i engine is a gigantic anchor.
if less then 350hp then I´d suggest sticking to the m42 and turbo that.

[oze30]

Does the M30 lend itself to be supercharged?

Yes. I have the blower for it as well.. A toyota SC-14 from the Mr2 motor. They use it in Oz up to 4.2 straight 6 and the buick 3.8 V6 so it will cope with the M30.





Oh.. Its for sale too!








V8-nothing beats the power out round corners, or the sound. Silverstone track day had a few people wondering wtf was under the hood of the E30.

I might also have the exhaust from my V8 E30 lying round.. custom so that's one headache out of the way.

[Andy335Touring]

Andy you got toby unna's turbo set up didnt you? if its you how is it going? time to do a search.

No, Driftboy(Martin) has got it, not on the road yet though due to the wiring needs sorting i think.