E30 Zone

ok so it's not for a E30 but this is going to be the deciding factor over whether i do this... i will then potter off and find the appropriate E34 forum.....

i feel it is only right that i pull the M50 out of my wifes E34 525i sport and drop a V12 in!

what manual boxes will fit? afaik the E32 is the best cheap donor but was only an auto. the 850 had a 6 speed but the gearbox will cost more than the car.

will anything else like the M30 gearbox fit?

nope the v12 was on its own league i paid over a Ԛ£1000 for my one

ouch!

that makes it cheaper to drop a M5 lump in, or cheaper still to sell the sport and buy a M5!

incidentally, have you come across and decent forums or websites for V12 info on your travels?

Interesting ? I was wondering about the same question (V12 manual). Would a 6 speed manual box from a V8 fit onto a V12 block ?

i hope so....

i reckon if this could be solved, a V12 E34 would actually be a really easy conversion as the E34 and E32 are mechanically soooooo similar in the engine bay and it has the space for a V8 factory installation. it would be sooooo wrong to have to use an auto box on it.

gareth wrote:will anything else like the M30 gearbox fit?

No, only S6S 560G g'box was fited with M70/M73 engine. It was fitted only in 850i and 850CSi. Sorry!
Jan

gareth I asked on the 5 forum about v12 e34 here is the link >> http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=11876

cheers lads.

it would make a lovely conversion and would be very easy to make it have a very 'factory' look. if only i didn't hate auto boxes!

i may change tack then... there is a very sweeeet M50 in the car already and masses of room for a turbo or two and intercoolers etc. a lot easier in this cars case as unusually it has about every option bar aircon.

gareth wrote:it would make a lovely conversion and would be very easy to make it have a very 'factory' look.

It have absolutely factory look. You can't say that is homemade.

gareth wrote:if only i didn't hate auto boxes!

Many years ago I had 750iL E32 and beleve me it was quite good with auto box.
Jan

it's a personal preference thing and on a lazy car like the E32 i don't suppose it's much of a hardship but with the intention being performance i wouldn't even consider an auto! i can't really understand the need to be so lazy that performance and control are sacrificed for a bit less effort!

Is it not possible to adapt a V8 gearbox to suit the V12, it'd surely handle the torque, it's just making it fit.

I assume they have integral bell housings but it may be possible to make an adaptor ring up, is there any obvious reason (input shaft length etc?) why this wouldn't work. It'd probably still be cheaper than an 850i box.

Failing that, what about something totally different like a T5 or a 6 speed Supra box (cheap). It's not the easy option though.

jk

i thought about this, once i've got another gearbox, bits of hybrid clutch, a flywheel etc etc it'll probably be the same as finding a manual V12 box.

i'm going to leave it i think which is a real shame.

gareth, I posted the same question on the BMW Car Club forum 14th Sept, http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_topics.asp?FID=48 (Look for V12 E34)

The fact that an old E32 750i and donor E34 would cost the same as my set of split rims for the touring makes it a relatively cheap project.

300 BHP and shed loads of torque and of course the v12 soundtrack makes it a worthwhile and straightforward project, even with an autobox it would be a rapid cruiser.

If you find anything else out about this conversion let me know. I do fancy it although I may have to let the dust settle a while after the touring project!.

i read sumware so dont quote me on this, but if you get an 750i lump and auto box, then but a 840/540i box it will handle the power/torque but u will need to use the bell housing from the 750i auto unit if that makes any sence! so its building ur own out of the 2, hope it helps in some way!

that is interesting.... do you have a link or any idea where you saw it?

Even if the 2 boxes have integral belhousings (rather than removable) it may be possible to cut and shut the engine half of an auto box 'bellhousing' onto the box part of a manual one. Again, you would need a suitable flywheel and the bulk of the 540 clutch.

Probably a viable option if you have access to a cheap machine shop and alloy welder. Potentially expensive otherwise.

Keep us informed if you make any progress. I have an E24 that is begging for some V12 performance.

jk

The V12 autobox definitely has a separate bellhousing, not sure on the 4.0L manual box. Anyone know for certain? Would be good to find out the size of the 4.0L input shaft.

looks like we're selling the E34 now anyway

means i get to spend more money on mine though so it's not all bad!

What are you replacing it with ?

something cheaper on fuel!!!

the shortlist is:
- E34 525 TDS, though they seem to be worth more than our genuine sport...
- MK1 (maybe MK2) golf gti. there is a very nice MK1 cab near me for Ԛ£900... still old skool kool german!
- i think a corrado would be good. 16V ones are very cheap and are still a very pretty and fairly rapid car but don't have the cult price tag
- 306 D-Turbo (handle very well, look quite nice, do 50mpg and if needs be will run on chip fat!) a few tweaks will give 120 - 130 bhp
- a cool audi of some type? needs to be a diesel as otherwise they seem to be thirsty again.

it needs to be cooool and have an old feel to it. annoyingly my wife doesn't like E30's much! otherwise i'd suggest a 318is. she would love something like a early beetly but they cost so much!!! i reckon a 2002 would be very cool but again are costly for a good one and aren't really the car to have as a daily driver.

open to suggestions though?

something cheaper on fuel!!!

Push bike ?

A pug 306 TD would be a good DD or a 106 xsi/GTI would be nice but too small i guess ?

318 compact ?

push bikes with trailers for the kids.... nah!

the 306 is fun, we used to have a 2 litre 8 valve XSi and that was a hoot! the D-Turbo model is basically a XSi with a fat burning engine! it has the sports seats, XSi bodykit, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension etc so is fun!

318 compact is a bit boring for her but could be an option.

318 compact is a bit boring for her but could be an option.

Yeah, but if you get bored with it you could always chuck an S52 in there

ROC wrote:The V12 autobox definitely has a separate bellhousing, not sure on the 4.0L manual box. Anyone know for certain? Would be good to find out the size of the 4.0L input shaft.

The S6S 420G g'box from 4.0 engine has separate bellhousing as well. The bolts pattern on g'box side is traditional Getrag four bolt pattern. From engine side the bellhousing shape looks very similar to V12 bellhusing but it only my reckon. Somebody needs to check it for 100%.
Jan

got a new car lined up... bought this one ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1
looks pretty sweet and just needs a PAS pump and a few bits of bodywork tidying. should be pretty reliable and economical too. had to resist the urge to get a G60 or VR6 though!

we nearly got a real sleeper... citroen ZX 16V. quirky little hatchback with a 165bhp pug S16 lump but the bloke sold it 2 hours before the auction ended Shame as it would have been a cheap little rocket!

Looks nice mate, honest car

i thought so!

my brothers keep saying i should have got a G60 or VR6 but that's hardly the point! the 16v should be pretty cheap to run and the last owner is a full on dubhead and has spent a lot of money on this one so hopefully it'll behave itself. The G60 and VR6's that go for this sort of money tend to be totaly heaps of scrap and will also use loads of fuel!