best 535i engine

[zimm_zimmer]

I am thinking of buying a 535i engine one maybe in worse shape to strip down, uprate and rebuild, i love engine work and this would be really good for me, so i will eventually fit it to my e30 and was wondering which one is the best, i know alot of people use the m30 engine but is this because it is easily obtained, also where can i pick up a cheap engine from i.e £100 or less, thanks for any help

[gareth]

don't look for a bad one, just get a good one in a MOT failed E32 735i (most likely auto and unthrashed) or E34 535i (more likely to get a manula box though). then you can tow the rest of the barge to the breakers and get £80ish for the scrap metal!

my 98k fsh mot-less 735i cost me £100!

unless you're going for biiiig power, it's probably not worth rebuilding as they're very strong and if it does go pop, another lump will set you back about £100! afaik, toby-unna's turbo 3.5 beastie has had no internal work or rebuild done and is still going strong!

[AndyTouring]

The E32 7-series had the same M30 as the Highline 635's ('87 on) which gave 220bhp. Earlier 3.5's had 218bhp with crap exhaust manifolds.

The E34 5-series had a slightly detuned Highline engine with 211bhp.

[ric325i]

spadge has a engine for sale now,its about £275 for it which is alot but it is for sale.

[SPADGE]

spadge has a engine for sale now,its about £275 for it which is alot but it is for sale.

Thats sold mate
It was actually quite cheap when you consider what actually came with it like the clutch, flywheel, modified loom etc.....

[gareth]

the later engines make 211bhp with cats don't they?
afaik, the earlier engines (e28) had a crap manifold and smaller valves but a higher CR.
in all honesty, there's hardly a lot in it i reckon!

[DRIFTBOY]

I picked an M30 3.5 engine up off Ebay a while back complete with manual gearbox, loom and ecu for £150 a while back.
I bunged it in my car and it and it runs very nicely, no knocks, leaks or smoke!

E28 engines have some water pipe around the back of the head which can cause clearance issues with the bulkhead and you'll still need an E34 sump and oil pick up pipe to clear the E30 cross member.

[ric325i]

spadge has a engine for sale now,its about £275 for it which is alot but it is for sale.

Thats sold mate
It was actually quite cheap when you consider what actually came with it like the clutch, flywheel, modified loom etc.....

hey dont get me wrong its all there i just mean its much more than he wanted to spend.

£100 not £275 had to be a good price if its gone already

im still thinking of getting the mounts of you old boy?



zimm_zimmer

the e34 engine is way better than the e28 lump for all the reasons above (driftboy). power wise i think its roughly the same?

e34 is 211 with cats but we all know how restrictive a cat is. meeoow

[zimm_zimmer]

well i thank you all for the information you have given me and if you see any for sale at a resonable price then let me know, this is going to be a long term thing which i want to fit a turbo if i can to it as i do miss my turbo's, it seems a simalar set up to the m20 already in mine and i got a mate a work with a 540i v8 and he says the 535i engine is one of the best around, i want to collect bits over a period of time and then do it all at once at my work. thanks for help again

[Toby_Unna]

The E32 7-series had the same M30 as the Highline 635's ('87 on) which gave 220bhp. Earlier 3.5's had 218bhp with crap exhaust manifolds.

The E34 5-series had a slightly detuned Highline engine with 211bhp.

is the 5 series engine actually detuned or is the power figure just specified 'with cat' despite most e34s not having one?

i wasn't aware of any difference at all between e34 and e32 engines

zimm zimmer, you definately want a late (e32/e34) M30, they're all pretty tough and brilliant engines but this is the most suitable version for installation into an E30

[AndyTouring]

The E32 7-series had the same M30 as the Highline 635's ('87 on) which gave 220bhp. Earlier 3.5's had 218bhp with crap exhaust manifolds.

The E34 5-series had a slightly detuned Highline engine with 211bhp.

is the 5 series engine actually detuned or is the power figure just specified 'with cat' despite most e34s not having one?

i wasn't aware of any difference at all between e34 and e32 engines

zimm zimmer, you definately want a late (e32/e34) M30, they're all pretty tough and brilliant engines but this is the most suitable version for installation into an E30

1989 5-series brochure states 211bhp, 220bhp for the 6 & 7.

I believe (but stand to be corrected) that it was the exhaust manifold that was the main restriction due to the need to keep the new E34's performance below that of the 6 & 7.

[Toby_Unna]

the exhaust mani's are identical between e32 and e34 Andy.

I'm just curious as to whether there is actually a difference.

[AndyTouring]

I do stand corrected then.

As you say, there may not be a difference although BMW did quote one. Could have just been to keep the punters happy.

[zimm_zimmer]

so with regard to these cats, seeing as my car is a c reg (86) am i required by law to keep them on this engine as obviously the engine is newer?? thanks

[gooner1]

Think it goes by age of car not by engine, so iirc you don,t need the cat.

[zimm_zimmer]

hmmm but if it was to be tested as a 3.5 the emmissions would be far too high and would have carbon monoxide as the cats stop that dont they, o and by the way what does iirc mean??

[Toby_Unna]

if i remember correctly. i think.

you don't need cats end of. as long as the 3.5 is running right it'll go straight through an MOT, they just emissions-test it as a 535i. most late 5-series didn't have cats either

[zimm_zimmer]

thats alright then, well then next is to find and engine isnt it i dont really want to take a whole car as i dont have the room here and work wont let me do that ever, i work for a volvo truck and bus so no chance, anyone wanna let me rent a garage in the ipswich area hahahaha