E30 M50 Help. Updated pics

[Danny-C]

HI all I have a 325 that the engine has given up and i was offered a e36 328 so i had it not knowing what was involved, i have read the thread about the M50 but there was so much info in it and differences in what people were doing i was wonderein if anyone could help me out in what i am needin to do to make it the easiest swap, I know its hard to do an idiot's guide but any help would be great.

I bought one of these



For this



To go in to this




Any help would be great, would like to use as many e36 and e30 parts as poss.
Will keep updated with my progress.
what am i letting myself infor [/url]

[baptie0]

hi danny

your e30 looks . what model is it? manual or auto?

first thing you need is a sump from an e34 m50.

[Danny-C]

its a 325ise manual the body work was done last winter and was planning to do an engine change at some time so now is a good a time as any.
Yeah thanks about the sump i got that from the other threads was more wondering about the engine mounts weather they fit off the 36/30 or i needed e34 mounts, also the gearbox and clutch/flywheel and prop, to be fair everything.
I think i have located a wiring loom guy that will sort that out but any help would be great.

[eko]

I would use your M20 gearbox/prop/flywheel/clutch/starter with modified M20 gearbox mounting and linkage.
Engine wise you will need to use the E36 engine mount arms and the M50 engine mount rubbers/E34 sump,dipstick and oil pick up.
M50 spigot bearing will need swapping to an M20 one(smaller).

Many different ways of doing this conversion so best to read the `M50 developments` thread in engine swap section.

[Danny-C]

That sounds good lhanks eko, i have read the engine swap thread but it was so long my head hurt at the end and so much in there i wanted a easy option for some where to start.
Couple of extra questions
What is the best diff for me to go for with this conversion
Am i right thinking the prop is a match between the 30/36
What manifold i know it will need to be fabricated but which one to start with.

Does any one have a E34 sump,dipstick and oil pick up for sale Thanks

[DanThe]

If you use the M20 box you can keep the diff and prop, you have a perfect pair of manifolds to hack up, good luck with the E34 sump hunt

Its an M52 BTW

[Danny-C]

OH and the brake master cylinder is golf the best way i have access to plenty of golfs.

[Danny-C]

Thanks pal the manifolds just need to be cut colser to the block i think, does this do any thing with the running/heat produced or any problems with plugs.

[DanThe]

Plugs? The 24v engines are tilted over more and have a wider head so the room left for manifolds is quite small, this also means it will get hotter in the area, next time I make a manifold/frontpipes I will be exhaust wrapping them as the engine mount that came off my M50 after 60k miles had deteriorated quite badly due to the heat, they were new mounts when I fitted them.

[Danny-C]

Thanks for the tip will defo do that. so much info want to try and get as much together so i can attack it all at once.

[daimlerman]

I have used an M40 gearbox,as the angle the engine sits at matches the 'box,with an ex 320 gearlever mounting bracket and shift rod. Your E36 alloy engine mount brackets will be fine with new E34 rubber mounts.Sump change as stated.The E36 engine loom is the one to use,it puts the ECU in the correct place.Danthe(zoner)will modify the loom to suit,if you lack the confidence to DiY.Exhaust was my biggest problem,I tried and failed to make an exhaust manifold/downpipe out of a pair of E36 steel manifolds and a 325 front pipe,it blew from every joint that I had 'made',so I laid out a huge chunk of my tax refund on a Fritzbits manifold.Have a look in the photo gallery for 'Daimlerman's folly' for some photos of this masterpiece in stainless steel.With the M40 'box,the standard propshaft fits fine,I have fitted a small case 3.25 diff. from a 324d,if it will cope with a diesel engine's torque it will manage an M50...try to keep your donor as long as possible,I have had to buy new at great expense a number of bits that went to the crusher with my donor E34 as my wife refused pointblank to let my keep the shell,that was part of the deal as far as she was concerned.Must confess that I never checked the spigot bearing size,the 'box slid home as if it was meant to be there,then I spotted the new clutch release bearing waving to me from my workbench...

[Danny-C]

Thanks for that prob go with the orgiinal gearbox as i dont have to buy another as it works, exhaust looks mint does it fit round the linkages or do you have to modify. If you dont mind me asking how much did it cost (pm)
I got plenty of room have the e36 and spare e30 so hopefully wont need to go buying too much, but i know wot you mean the missis not happy so they are all down my mates garage thank god for him.

[E30BeemerLad]

Danny, another excellent source of info for you is www.e3024v.com

worth bookmarking that site as the zone is going to be off air for a week as from tomorrow

[Danny-C]

Yeah been using it for comparison thanks mate.

[eko]

I know of an E34 sump/pick up/dipstick but it wont be available for a few weeks at least?

Regarding diff ratio just keep your original diff as it will be matched to your gearbox so will be fine.Just use your original prop,no need for E36 one when using the M20 box.

[Danny-C]

I could be interested in the sump and stuff i only picked the car up yesterday and the engines are still in both so will be a while before i get them together, want to get as much together as poss before i start, let me know when they will be available and how much you want for them(pm me)
As for the diff i will prob keep it as it is at the mo as you say but i dont have lsd so might invest in that after its up an running
thanks eko

[eko]

Sump/pick up/dipstick £50 plus about a tenner to post.
Ive paid 50 quid for a sump alone in the past

Also another small point....to get the M20 flywheel to fit the M50 you will either need to get the flywheel shaved on the inner side to clear the back of the sump or alternatively grind a bit of the new sump back and the flywheel will fit straight on(thats what I always do).

[Danny-C]

All sounds good let me know when i can have it how long do you think, Thanks for the tip.

[eko]

All sounds good let me know when i can have it how long do you think, Thanks for the tip.

The engine the parts are fitted too is still in the E30 but will probably be removed in the next 2-3 weeks.

[Jhonno]

With the M40 'box,the standard propshaft fits fine,I have fitted a small case 3.25 diff. from a 324d,if it will cope with a diesel engine's torque it will manage an M50..

Why have you fitted a 3.25 diff?

A normal 325i will see off a small case diff in the end, M50 has more power and torque..

I realise that perhaps you drive more sedately than most though, so on might hang on in there for a while

[eko]

Wouldnt the M40 box require a 3.91 diff or similar in ideal world?
Maybe a 3.73 to give it slitghly longer legs?

[Jhonno]

Wouldnt the M40 box require a 3.91 diff or similar in ideal world?
Maybe a 3.73 to give it slitghly longer legs?

Yup! This is why I have posed the question to Malcolm..

[Danny-C]

I think ill keep the e30 for the time being, as you say my driving doesnt keep the locals happy as its only a weekend car so nice to drive something with a bit of poke, But will go for lsd at some point.

[daimlerman]

With the M40 'box,the standard propshaft fits fine,I have fitted a small case 3.25 diff. from a 324d,if it will cope with a diesel engine's torque it will manage an M50..

Why have you fitted a 3.25 diff?

A normal 325i will see off a small case diff in the end, M50 has more power and torque..

I realise that perhaps you drive more sedately than most though, so on might hang on in there for a while

M40 'box is a Getrang 240,same insides as the 240 box fitted to 320i,in the six cylinder application the 'box alignment is different,to suit the different angle the engine sits at.A 4.1 diff gives 65mph at 3000rpm,a 3.64 75mph,I am looking for 85mph from the 3.25 diff.I have concerns about it being a small case one as well,but it managed the torque of the 324d so I am reasonably confident.

[daimlerman]

Thanks for that prob go with the orgiinal gearbox as i dont have to buy another as it works, exhaust looks mint does it fit round the linkages or do you have to modify. If you dont mind me asking how much did it cost (pm)
I got plenty of room have the e36 and spare e30 so hopefully wont need to go buying too much, but i know wot you mean the missis not happy so they are all down my mates garage thank god for him.

Bear in mind that the E36 'box is direct drive in 5th,E30 'boxes are direct in 4th,overdrive in 5th,far more choice of diffs available for E30 to vary the overall gearing. No secret about the Fritzbits manifold,are you sitting down? £750 plus VaT plus carriage.A wisker under £900 at my door... If you have,or have access to good fabrication skills you can save this,I tried and failed so was prepared to shell out.Other point is that a home brewed manifold will have indifferent flow rate,my posh one is as good as it gets,well,it aught to be for the bloody money

[DanThe]

Diesel diff ratio is 3.45:1 Malcolm

[ShakeyC]

Its pretty much straight forward swap I think that M50 thread is way over complicated and pretty useless reference too many cooks and all that, no offence but it needs serious editing to make it concise to be of any real use, i can't follow it at all myself

From what i can remember you need

Pull the M52 out straight out the E36 complete with mounts
oil pick and sump
cut the rear manifold down and reweld it back to give a narrower profile
drop it back in E30 using your existing gearbox, prop, diff
plump it up and refill with fluids
wiring is just half a dozen wires
turn the key

If i can do it with one handed in a day or two; you all have hope!

[E30BeemerLad]

Shakey, that puts me to shame, one handed in a day or 2 lol

[ShakeyC]

Iv done 4 or 5 now so had bit of practice at it in all fairness dude

[daimlerman]

Its pretty much straight forward swap I think that M50 thread is way over complicated and pretty useless reference too many cooks and all that, no offence but it needs serious editing to make it concise to be of any real use, i can't follow it at all myself

From what i can remember you need

Pull the M52 out straight out the E36 complete with mounts
oil pick and sump
cut the rear manifold down and reweld it back to give a narrower profile
drop it back in E30 using your existing gearbox, prop, diff
plump it up and refill with fluids
wiring is just half a dozen wires
turn the key

If i can do it with one handed in a day or two; you all have hope!

It was posts like this that convinced me I could do an M50 swap...still working on it 5 months later

[DanThe]

I can do them in 2 hours flat blindfolded

[daimlerman]

I can do them in 2 hours flat blindfolded

Does that include starting?

[DanThe]

Your picking out technicalities now, I never said it would start

[Jhonno]

Its pretty much straight forward swap I think that M50 thread is way over complicated and pretty useless reference too many cooks and all that, no offence but it needs serious editing to make it concise to be of any real use, i can't follow it at all myself

From what i can remember you need

Pull the M52 out straight out the E36 complete with mounts
oil pick and sump
cut the rear manifold down and reweld it back to give a narrower profile
drop it back in E30 using your existing gearbox, prop, diff
plump it up and refill with fluids
wiring is just half a dozen wires
turn the key

If i can do it with one handed in a day or two; you all have hope!

It was posts like this that convinced me I could do an M50 swap...still working on it 5 months later

Mine took a week, including having to source ecu's/looms etc, so in reality a couple of days..

[Danny-C]

Its pretty much straight forward swap I think that M50 thread is way over complicated and pretty useless reference too many cooks and all that, no offence but it needs serious editing to make it concise to be of any real use, i can't follow it at all myself

From what i can remember you need

Pull the M52 out straight out the E36 complete with mounts
oil pick and sump
cut the rear manifold down and reweld it back to give a narrower profile
drop it back in E30 using your existing gearbox, prop, diff
plump it up and refill with fluids
wiring is just half a dozen wires
turn the key

If i can do it with one handed in a day or two; you all have hope!

It was posts like this that convinced me I could do an M50 swap...still working on it 5 months later

Mine took a week, including having to source ecu's/looms etc, so in reality a couple of days..

Dont think ill be able to do it as quick as you boys but had my fair share of engine swaps in Bmw's and other things, now i got a clue of what im doing hopefully will have it done in a good weekend once i got the engines out and cleaned everything up.
Love the banter, just like being down the garage with my two mates one got a mk1 golf 20vt and the other S2 rs escort with 30k under the bonnet so you can imagine the disagrements with me and the bmw aswell.
Will keep updated with pics once i start hopefully next weekend