questino for Ziggy on m30 conversion

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:17 pm

Ziggy, how much did you "massage " the rear firewall panel in order to get the gearbox in.A reply asap would

really help mate.

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:03 pm

Not at all! Some have needed to though... I don't know if the cab shell is slightly different there?

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:08 pm

I think iom in the Siht then as it looks like the bloody things comming out again tomorrow so we can take the firewall in and up so the gear box had clearenceor could we grind the top of the gearbox of as the top 2 bolts are not used anyway

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:29 pm

There's lots of soundproofing that you can remove for a bit more clearance... I think Martin removed those two bolts too - would also make changing a box under the car rather easier (/possible!).

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:30 pm

i know this is for ziggy but i hope you dont mind some input?

i found the best place is like you said, on the tunnel, top near the drivers side to push the pannel back and too raise the tunnel slightly.

across the top of the tunnel.

and if you want some more space by down pipes. as the mani to down pipes are umm....a bit difficult to do up unless you mess about slightly.

just dont stick your hammer through the bulk head.

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:34 pm

We've already ascertained that I wasn't much use! :lol:

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:45 pm

Ziggy wrote:There's lots of soundproofing that you can remove for a bit more clearance... I think Martin removed those two bolts too - would also make changing a box under the car rather easier (/possible!).

i ripped the sound proofing out but i wish i kept it.

i bet you can keep it but bash the 3 pins that hold it on teh underside of the tunnel?

be good to know if you can keep it (unless you want weight saving cause that stuff is HEAVY!) cause the tunnel is noisy and is get mega hot.

Ziggy wrote:We've already ascertained that I wasn't much use!

well you might be more use than me as i have now ripped the m30 out and given up.
had a frag fest with jaffro and bodger on a scrapper 325i.

its m20b25 power for me now

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:21 pm

i'm more worried about the brake bar at the rear of the front firewall as this is a thin piece of metal, as i don't want to damage this in the process

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:29 pm

ric325i wrote:
well you might be more use than me as i have now ripped the m30 out and given up.
had a frag fest with jaffro and bodger on a scrapper 325i.

its m20b25 power for me now

Laaaaame! There must be something in the water up there...

Post Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:17 pm

Why did you give up???

Post Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:26 pm

I do feel lammmmeeee now.

It was a moment of madness. 2 years messing about I couldn’t bring myself to take it out and put it back in again.

I thought the gearbox and LSD were shot so my rage took over and I grabbed the nearest 2.5 I could get my hands on.
Im just sick of messing about for not much gain. I have raced a m30 a few times now and just don’t think its worth it for that much hassle. Ok the torque is great and you really feel it! Great for lighting the back end up, drifters heaven but when you get it singing the b25 is pretty much on the ball until 4th and 5th. It’s a cruiser/motorway lump Imo.

The m30 touring was fully done with just the final things to sort out on the exhaust but I was not happy. Drove it to Jaffro’s to do the work and it sounded like the thing was going to blow up. Clunking and whining its nuts off. Engine is perfect! Held its temp, so smooth, not rattles or tappet noise but I thought the gearbox was dead. Jaffro had a good blat around the place as did Bodger, the noise was fantastic, I stud on his drive and listened as the noise echoed around the place, but the noise from the gearbox/diff. then I followed bodger in his 325i and kept up really well. The noise from the diff and gearbox was unreal! Well actually it worked out the slipper was the problem.

With the help of the lads and a guys farm we used the weekend to rip the 2 door 2.5 rot box to bits and drop the 2.5 in my touring. Had to bodge a few things but it was an easy swap. The noise had not gone. So the box was fine but the diff. that needs to be scrapped.

£250 for a useless dif. Bought it from a zoner 9months ago and have never had it on a car. Cant do anything now.
So the reason I though my m30 conversion was shot was this diff. and I guess its my stupidity and rage.

Either way I need this touring on the road as my daily so im happy with a nice little 2.5. I think. Thing is I still have things to do before the mot but different things now. What a pain.

Post Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:01 pm

Gutted

FWIW, my 2.5 was a pretty good one - all the right goodies & certainly quicker than your average 325 tin top (despite the weight), but the m30 is easily the same difference again... & doesn't cost any more than a decent manifold, BBTB etc etc on the 2.5.

Post Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:52 pm

i thought that about the m30. it should be much quicker.

its almost the same difference from a 320 to a 325. but i just didnt see it. it feels like a monster the way it pulls.

ah i dont know. i only gave up because i thought the box was nailed and the work i needed was too much. it really wasnt i was just very very miffed off with the fact it had to come out again and the diff was kaput.

i just want an e30 on the road that i can do some road trips in. it might be better to lose some performance for a car i can take on some mega road trip like lemans and the ring. sleep in the back of the touring etc. the m30 should have done that but i trust a standard fit engine more.

i think rage and frustration took over tbh

Post Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:47 pm

Right engine and box in place, removed some of the soundproofing to get it in there, but amazed how much space there is in there and behind the engine, but to get it in there you do have to remove it.Gear lever is where it should be, so ontp the wiring loom from the m30 tomorrow.So will be reading up on the wiring for the stuff to work.