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E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help pleas

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:43 pm
by jonnybroadside
Hi everyone, im new here so sorry if i wrote in the wrong place or anything.. Ive bought an E30 320i.. Owned it 2 weeks then the cam belt went :(... I have a twin cam engine from a BMW 525i and have started the conversion...

Engine is in the engine bay hanging on the crane still. Im not sure what to do about the engine mounts ? Can i buy the conversion mounts from anywhere ? Or will any perticular BMW mounts bolt up ???

I wanna use the gearbox from the 5 series also, I've swapped the gear lever lincage's over to shorten it enough. Problem i've got with the gearbox is the rubber doughnut is bigger and wont bolt up to my prop shaft ??? Could get my prop cut and shut. Is this the only way to gt around this ???

Maybe i could of found the information i need on the forum somewhere, ive had a quick look but had no luck.
Thank you for any help people ! :)

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:22 pm
by ross2009
ive got a link of a website some where where he goes through everything like this hold on ill try and find it

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:24 pm
by ross2009
here you go its exactly what your doing :)
http://www.e30owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4827

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:26 pm
by ross2009
these are the engine mounts you need aswell
e36 alloy mounts BRACKET LEFT 11811141137 BRACKET RIGHT 11811138249
and mounts
E28 M5 rubber mounts RIGHT 11811128932 LEFT 11812225201

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:55 pm
by jonnybroadside
Thats great mate !!! Thank you so much, if i didnt find that out id have a bloke fabricating new mounts at great expence tomorrow... Gonna have a look throught that link now...
I'll keep the thread updated with how i get on,, and of course anything else im stuck with, lol..
Cheers ross :D

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:56 pm
by ross2009
no worrys mate i only had it coz i was gonna do it but im nearly through my m20 turbo project now :)

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:21 pm
by Ant
the engine in question is an M50 , there is a full guide covering all aspects and variations proven to work, check out the top of the forums.

you will need to replace the diff too, ZF gearboxes are 1:1 in top, the getrag you had is 0.81:1 or thereabouts , in short you'll need the diff from the E34 in a medium case E30 housing, the std 320 diff will have a lifespan of hours once you're up and running, and 110 flat out on the limiter is a, noisy, b, juicy and c, just plain stupid :lol:

Re: E30 320i >> E36 2500cc engine swap.. bit of help p

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:20 pm
by ross_jsy
Have a read through the options in the thread.

I am using a 325i box so I don't have to change the diff.

In terms of mounts you can use e34 m5 items or AKG motorsport ones if you are feeling flush.