started m50 swap(pics too)

[brian325i]

This will be a slow project as i have my final exams for university in 3 weeks and they go on for four after that but here is the start anyway

I have:
E34 525i m50b 25
E36 325 gearbox
E28m5 mounts
E21 gearbox mounts
Z3 shortshifter
mkII golf brake servo
M52 exhaust manifold

I need:
E36 alloy engine mount
Loom is on way but dont have it yet
e30 engine plug
propshaft..which one people??e30 320 right??

small question..how di ye extend the brke bar the extra 10mm..i was gonna put a tak of weld on it!yes/no?
im planning on cutting the 3 manifolds back as far as the bolt in it and just cutting a little angle to bring the manifolds closer to the engine!yes/no?

heres some pics..absolutely no rust..except for the little mount that holds the gearlinkage..just a little bit on it..

[brian325i]

[brian325i]

plan for outside it se sideskirts mtec I rear spoiler..318is front lip mtecII rear bumper..and fogs

[DanThe]

The propshaft will depend on the gearbox output flange, why dont you fit an E36 rack at the same time? You will need to take the rad cowling out aswell
Looks like a good victim

[Brianmoooore]

Now would be the time to put an E36 rack in, so that you can modify the M52 manifolds to suit.
Looks a nice clean shell!

[brian325i]

my plan was to do the rack while the engine is out but i havent got the money now..i have to wait until summer when im working again ..stupid college

I will take out the couling..well spotted..the gearbox is an e36 325 ..prop??is it just a case of trial an error?

What bout extending the pipe for the brakes? it is tapered already so i can slide a pipe over it and just tack weld on to it..should do ya?

shell is spot on..bm really done proper job makin e30 shells..no rust ..i have looked everywhere..under battery inner arches boot under battery shock mounts etc etc..clean evrywhere

[DanThe]

Depends on the output flange, there are two sizes, the smaller can be used with the E30 prop and the larger needs either a custom or M3



Weld a brake pipe?

Good luck

[eko]

You need the front half of an E36 325 prop and rear half E30 with a modified E30 centre bearing!
I used a cut down bolt as a spacer between the M/C and Golf servo.

[brian325i]

@eko ..thats what i like to hear..325 sound like ill get it in scrappy

m3 and custom just sound expensive

weld brake pipe..god no ..just a bad expalnation..the master cylinder from golf..it has a bar coming out..but its 10mm short..or so ive read!!!! so i was wondering the best way to extend it..its like a poker coming out from the big black place where the vacuum hose goes onto..is it called a servo or cylinder..my bad for being thick

[brian325i]

oh ya i knew something else..what do i do with linkages..do i have to bend them?

@eko..bolt sounds like itd do the job but did ya just rest it on it or attach it with something..i know itll be under pressure anyway but just to be sure

[eko]

oh ya i knew something else..what do i do with linkages..do i have to bend them?

@eko..bolt sounds like itd do the job but did ya just rest it on it or attach it with something..i know itll be under pressure anyway but just to be sure

What linkage?

Just slide the spacer(cut bolt) into the rear of the master cylinder then bolt onto the servo.

[DanThe]

m3 and custom just sound expensive

I got an E30 prop modified for use with a 6 speed box for £55 including re-ballance

[Brianmoooore]

Depends on the output flange, there are two sizes, the smaller can be used with the E30 prop and the larger needs either a custom or M3

Even more varieties than that! - the smaller flange can either have M10 or M12 bolts.
I have M5x compatible gearboxes here with all three.

[DanThe]

I never knew they were 10mm bolt varieties out there! Its only a matter of combining a 12mm drill with your E30 prop

[brian325i]

lads ye are scaring me with all this varied prop talk..looks like i better start measuring at the weekend..

i meant gearlinkages..do i have to bend then or what?will z3 be straight fit too?

anyone bring there m50 to santa pod?just curious...how much would an e36 rack be in england?is their a noticable difference between the z3 2.8 rack and e36 standard one

ps thanks for ye're help..

ps can ya get zone stickers without paypal..laser??

[Brianmoooore]

?? The 10mm bolts are the standard E30!

[DanThe]

I meant on the E34/E36 gearbox flanges Brian, ive only ever known 12mm.

I was at Santa Pod at the weekend, my first 2 runs were 15.0 then 14.9 and 14.8, only had time to get 4 runs in, queue's were horrible

[Brianmoooore]

i meant gearlinkages..do i have to bend then or what?will z3 be straight fit too?
..how much would an e36 rack be in england

No linkage bending required, although you might need to loose the harmonic damper fitted around the guibo if you have one.
Last time I bought an E36 rack from a scrapyard, rather than a breaker, it cost me £10.

[brian325i]

@brian seemin as you have a few m5x e30's what is best for the gearlinkages...??whats best option for heater pipes..cut em back and use flexi pipe?

if i open up the loom and turn it back would i be able to mount the ecu in an insulated box where my battery should be?

[Brianmoooore]

I meant on the E34/E36 gearbox flanges Brian, ive only ever known 12mm.

Sorry, my mistake!
I've used an early 320 E36 box in my M50 conversion, that had 10mm bolt holes.

[brian325i]

i meant gearlinkages..do i have to bend then or what?will z3 be straight fit too?
..how much would an e36 rack be in england

No linkage bending required, although you might need to loose the harmonic damper fitted around the guibo if you have one.
Last time I bought an E36 rack from a scrapyard, rather than a breaker, it cost me £10.

that harmonic thing..i presume thats the circular metal thing like a "casing" around the guibo..i took that off..wasnt sure whether or not to put it back on..10 pounds..lucky fella..i could manage that haha..must take a trip up at weekend

[brian325i]

I meant on the E34/E36 gearbox flanges Brian, ive only ever known 12mm.

I was at Santa Pod at the weekend, my first 2 runs were 15.0 then 14.9 and 14.8, only had time to get 4 runs in, queue's were horrible

whats yours?im guessing m52..with m50 inlet or somethin ..isnt e36 m3 14.something..i must be wrong

[Brianmoooore]

that harmonic thing..i presume thats the circular metal thing like a "casing" around the guibo..i took that off..wasnt sure whether or not to put it back on..

Bin it! It had a minor function with early guibos, but the guibo material changed and they are no longer required (or fitted by BMW).

[DanThe]

whats yours?im guessing m52..with m50 inlet or somethin ..isnt e36 m3 14.something..i must be wrong

Nope, 2.5 M50 Non Vanos

Had it dyno'd at 215Hp and 194Lbs/ft with a couple of minor mods

[Brianmoooore]

@brian seemin as you have a few m5x e30's what is best for the gearlinkages...??whats best option for heater pipes..cut em back and use flexi pipe?

if i open up the loom and turn it back would i be able to mount the ecu in an insulated box where my battery should be?

I only have one M50 E30 up and running, but a couple more in the pipeline.
Gear linkage, as far as I remember was standard E30 325.
Some people have shortened the heater stubs back into the cabin, but I think that having flexible hoses in the cabin contravenes regulations and technically makes your car unroadworthy.
I found enough clearance by rotating the stub that comes from the electric heater valve so that it's angled the other direction.

[DanThe]

I had no problem with the heater pipes and used E36 325 linkages with a Z3 1.9 shift lever

[eko]

I had no problem with the heater pipes and used E36 325 linkages with a Z3 1.9 shift lever

Same here with no problems

[brian325i]

So my shopping list for the weekend is e36 325 gearlinkage....i like the sound of no bending envolved

and e36 325 prop if measurements are right..i might see if i can get a e36 rack too..

i wont cut my heater pipes..i will drop engine in and if in way ill move em as much as i can...

@dan i have the z3 one so if i get the 325 linkages i dont have to bend anything...excellent

[brian325i]

i collected my engine today

and i sanded down the mkII servo and primed it and sprayed it satin black and fitted it..still unsure how i will extend the ram? few ideas but not sure..

i was lookin at the m50 and thinkin of cleaning it up..degreasing g/box and sandblastin block and painting it ..m50 is heavy

[eko]

still unsure how i will extend the ram? few ideas but not sure..

You didnt use the spacer then?

[DanThe]

Have you read this yet?

[brian325i]

@dan...i will now..heard bout m50 developments thread but it keeps sayin restricted area

@eko the servo is just sitting in place but i dint put in spacer yet..

i will get pics up later on tonight of the engine and engine bay..its just sitting on floor next to car

would it make life easier to disconnect steering knuckle when putting it in

[brian325i]

i found it..28 pages i know what ill be doing for the next 2 hours

respect to the zone

[brian325i]

got to page ten..thats enough info for today!

i'm using the 325 manifold (bigger than the 328) andi used a mk2 golf servo which fitted spot on. i had to use a spacer (10mm of 8mm bar ) in the master cylinder as the rod in the servo wasn't long enough but fitted perfectly and feels spot on.

^^^^ sorted^^^^^

harsh on the lad who had an m50b20..id say he was going mad

lot of info in one thread..

[eko]

would it make life easier to disconnect steering knuckle when putting it in

Not to sit the engine in place.
When modding the manifolds youll probably find it easier to remove it!