M30 into E30 M3

[Theo]

I've been planning for the last couple of weeks an m30 transplant into an e30 325i sport, and was good to go until I saw an e30 m3 for sale locally on the cheap. I'm really tempted to put the M30 in the M3 and gradually tune it up so it's near B6 spec.

Would there be any problems as a result of putting it in a LHD E30? Would there be any problems resulting from the fact that it is an m3 other than the fact that it is LHD?

Ed325i made my engine mounts, and apparently the make the engine sit about 1-1.5cm to the nearside to give extra clearance on RHD cars for the steering linkage/exhaust manifold. Would these custon mounts present problems?

Any help appreciated,

Theo

[DRIFTBOY]

Left hand drive and the digits 'M3' could affect the insurance.
Might be wise to check that first ! ?

Would be a nice piece of kit though!

[jmc330i]

Ed325i made my engine mounts, and apparently the make the engine sit about 1-1.5cm to the nearside to give extra clearance on RHD cars for the steering linkage/exhaust manifold. Would these custon mounts present problems?

As long as the servo is cleared on the RHD E30s with those mounts (or smaller servo used) you shouldnt have any problems.

It will be easier to get the manifold/downpipes to fit and everything else should pretty much be the same as the RHD conversion.

You might get the 'but its an M3' argument, but I say get on and do it, a B6 rep would be great

[Theo]

Martin, you are totally correct about insurance - my pants will no doubt be getting pulled down by some insurance company once its done. It's only really going to be used for trackdays, where I wont even be covered anyway, so will have to give it some good research I suppose.

I can appreciate the 'but it's an m3' argument, but at least I'm not breaking it, which is what I suspect most people would do if they got hold of it.

[DRIFTBOY]

As long as you know what you're in for, I say go for it! - M3 or not!

It will be something different and rarer than most other M30 conversions.

And them wide arches are

[Andy335Touring]

Go for it

[320Touring]

another one in the DO IT camp here!

[Chris-W]

It would be rude not to!

[DRIFTBOY]

I'd even come down and lend a hand if needed!

[Theo]

That would be great if you could Martin, thanks very much! I'm still weighing up the options though, the M3 will need alot of work compared to the sport I had lined up. Will need some welding doing, but other than that, will just completely strip it, and put the engine/box in (wont even need to remove the prop!) and then use the m3 system and somehow mate it to some m30 downpipes.

Sounds so simple when you say it like that, but it will invariably end up really expensive and take much longer than expected!

[DRIFTBOY]

and then use the m3 system and somehow mate it to some m30 downpipes.

Sounds so simple when you say it like that, but it will invariably end up really expensive and take much longer than expected!

No probs!

I know Gareth, and others, have used an after market system for an M3 and I think he has measurements of an adaptor he used.

They always take longer and get more expensive than you want, but the pride of driving a car you put together and the admiration you get from people is priceless!

[jon_pure_british]

buy both if you have the money and then put the m3 lump into the sport.

[Jon_Bmw]

Theo, seen the advert for the m3, whats wrong with the original engine? Just don't like 4 bangers?

Don't get the wrong idea, i don't care what engine you may put in it, anything to keep one more m3 in a single piece is surely a good thing.

I think a 6 branch manifold would fit without the steering column in the way.

[Theo]

Jon, I have to shamelessly admit that part of the idea revolves around the money. An s14 engine and gearbox would sell for alot more than I payed for my m30 and gearbox.

Dont get me wrong, I love the M3, the induction roar of on a tuned s14 is awesome. But thats the problem -tuning, getting power out of the m3 lump requires alot of dosh, whereas extracting 250+bhp from the m30 should be a fair bit easier (cam/6 branch/remap should get me there or there abouts). Plus I like the idea of having something different, and getting stuck in on a project at last.

[jon_pure_british]

go for it then dude

[fuzzy]

id put something a bit more special than an m30 into an m3 body if it was me.thats almost like a backward step

[Theo]

Fuzzy, I know where you are coming from, but there is really good scope for tuning on the engine, Tobys turbo being a good example. A stripped e30 will be seriously rapid with an m30, more so if its a little tweaked

[fuzzy]

Fuzzy, I know where you are coming from, but there is really good scope for tuning on the engine, Tobys turbo being a good example. A stripped e30 will be seriously rapid with an m30, more so if its a little tweaked

we'll thats a good enough reason for me,fast is good but i can almost hear all those purists out there gasping and choking on their dinner

[Jon_Bmw]

Theo, Money Talks, Bullsh!t walks.

Fair play to you, being a student and all. Its a hard life being a student and getting 18mpg, trust me on that one

I think the m3 is a great looking car, shame i can't convince my uni friends, so much nice than a 325 tech1 or 2 imo. Will have one "some" day. I think i'm in tigger land

[maxfield]

agree with you jon most people in my school like max power shite i cringe

[Theo]

Thanks Jon, 18mpg is harsh, student or not! Student loans are great for this kind of thing, and if i'm clever I will remain unemployed for a long time after graduation, so I don't have to pay it off!! Joking aside, it is a big expense, although I rekon when its all done, relevant bits bought/sold it won't owe me a huge amount, probably about the same as it's worth.

As for your friends who don't like the m3....well thats shocking, if you went to Brunel uni were 50% of people are homeboys you would get 'nuff respect!

Tigger land - quality!!

[oldroydsr4]

LHD = Turbo conversion

M3 with M30 turbo, sounds like a step forwrd to me.

[Jon_Bmw]

Thanks Jon, 18mpg is harsh, student or not!

Tigger land - quality!!

1700kgs of car + 5 cylinder turbocharged engine + heavy right foot + bristol traffic = 18mpg

Student loans are great for this kind of thing, and if i'm clever I will remain unemployed for a long time after graduation, so I don't have to pay it off!!

This thought goes through my mind everyday, in fact was just joking to a mate about staying on at uni till i'm 60. 24/7 perving at the freshers.

Would be a good project, best of luck if it does go ahead

[Demlotcrew]

agree with you jon most people in my school like max power shite i cringe

Does your dad still go to school with you?

Andrew

[buster]

agree with you jon most people in my school like max power shite i cringe

Does your dad still go to school with you?

Andrew

have you got nothing better to do than pick on the lad ?
I have seen quite a few times now snide comments to him,you being a moderator here should know better.

[maxfield]

Does your dad still go to school with you?

No i've got friends of my own unlike some..

[Theo]

Now now, less of that!

Have any of you 335i guys had you car on track yet? How did it perform?

[Andy335Touring]

Now now, less of that!

Have any of you 335i guys had you car on track yet? How did it perform?

nope

[Theo]

Someone has suggested that the 335 may not be a particularly good track car on account of the slow reving nature of the engine, so I was hoping that someone would be able to dispell this theory...??

Andy, I know that your car really rips in a straightline, It was the e30 which impressed me most at the pod, did you get in the 14's?

[Andy335Touring]

14.4 @ 96mph was the best time that day, could have been a bit better but it needs a remap, more mods to come along with a remap but i'm being made redundant so i'm being tight with my money.

[Theo]

That is really impressive, a stripped saloon could expect to get in the 13's then I suppose, although you have a few tasty mods, did I read a dyno saying 248bhp?? What did you do to acheive this? Sorry to bombard you with questions.

[DRIFTBOY]

14.4 @ 96mph was the best time that day, could have been a bit better but it needs a remap, more mods to come along with a remap but i'm being made redundant so i'm being tight with my money.

Sorry to hear that Andy!
Hope you find something better real soon!

14.4 is pretty quick, I can't wait to try mine as soon as Santa Pod opens again in the spring!

I can't see that the slow revving engine is a disadvantage, and the M30 isn't that bad anyway. With the zone chip mine will rev to about 6800 if you let it, no advantage in doing so though.
You don't have to change gear all the time with that grunt and still go quick.
As for the weight argument, I don't really think it's that noticeable.
And it more than makes up for it on the straights!
I can't wait to get mine on a track too!

[Theo]

6800 rpm, wow, didn't think they would safely rev to that, standard limiter is just over 6k isn't it?

[DRIFTBOY]

6800 rpm, wow, didn't think they would safely rev to that, standard limiter is just over 6k isn't it?

I don't know if it's safe or not!

I wouldn't hold it above 6000 for long myself. Mainly because I spent too much on my engine already!

I think my standard limiter was around 6500 ish.

[Demlotcrew]

Guys i dont think its fair to compare a strip car to a track car they will be totally different cars built for different purposes.

Theo just wait soon after fitting the engine you'll wish for 2k rpm more!

Andrew