E30 Zone

OK, OK... it might sound a silly thing to do but has anyone put a modern diesel engine into an E30?
It's just a thought what with the power and mileage you get from newer diesels...
I'd really like to know cos I'm looking at buying a diesel for the economy, but I REALLY, REALLY love E30's and can't find anything of the oil burning variety.
I figure by doing an engine swap - if it don't cost TOO much - I might get the best of both worlds.

330d lump FTW

I figure by doing an engine swap - if it don't cost TOO much - I might get the best of both worlds.

Define 'too much' & you'll have your answer. Can see it comfortably costing more than a lot of E30s do in the first place though...

dunno... £3K max???

Well I'm not really sure what the going rate for an m57 lump is, to be honest... a quick eBay search only gives one result, for £2k. Whether you could get it into the car for less than 1k on top of that, is going to depend on how much of the work you can do yourself, what gearbox you can get to fit it, etc etc. Electrics are going to be 'interesting' I'm sure. & I've not seen the conversion done before - you'll quite likely be treading new ground...

FAB have got a few suitable cars in - couple of 530d's etc...

Wouldnt there be all sorts of wiring issues related to transplanting such a modern engine?

Just stick a V12 in there...

never been done and a new deisel would be very different!

a brave step, a very brave step but enjoy.

hmmm... the words "very brave step" make me think I should wait for someone else to try this first... anyone have some cheese???

What about LPG instead?

A new 535d engine in there with a remap would make one extremely quick and very driveable E30!

e34 525tds engine ??

im itching to get one !

i was seriously thinking of putting a E34 525 TDS lump in a E30 for my wife but she'd rather it was still in a E34.

the TDS lump must be tweakable for a few more ponies?

Ive heard that the 2.5 TDS lumps arent all that? I also heard that they run them in the Vauxhall Omega, maybe cheaper to source one that way? Most of the new diesels that BMW make are fairly rapid even the 118 TDS seem to shift. The best one would be definitely the 535TD lump but im sure a 2.0TD would be ok? Are they a 4 pot? Would it make the handling better aswell? Performance, MPG and handling! Would be cool I have also thought a performance diesel E30 would be a great idea. Thay must have done it somewhere else in europe?

All the best with it.

also used in land rover discoveries and range rovers afaik. can't be too gutless in that case!

ric325i wrote:never been done

Incorect!
In Poland is E30 with E60 M57TU2 engine.
Jan

maxfield wrote:A new 535d engine in there with a remap would make one extremely quick and very driveable E30!

I agree 360 bhp and 700 nm would kill your dads m3