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M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:12 am
by cosmin_meme
hi there guys.my name is Cosmin and i`m from Romania.
i have an 325IX 1988 and now i`m running an M50B25 VANOS 2.8 stroke...i have a BIG PROBLEM:BRAKES>i can`t make the brake booster to fit in..it`s practicaly impossibile..
did anyone did this too?can you help me?
i`ll appreciate
PS:excuse my bad english.[/img]
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:23 am
by Brianmoooore
Strange! I thought the iS had a small diameter double chamber booster, and was the ideal solution for M50 conversions!
Very few people on here will have had much experience of the iX, much less of how you fit an M50 into it, but I would think that the iX part is irrelevant to this problem.
Can you post any pictures of the problem?
I'll move this to the engine swaps forum, where it's more likely to be seen by the one's on here who may be able to help.
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:26 am
by cosmin_meme
ok thanks ..i don`t know how to upload pictures..but i`ll put a link to another E30 forum where you can see my car.
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55708
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:43 am
by ed325i
What inlet are you using ?
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:56 am
by tomson
I would think moving the servo over like old_skool did with his S50 conversion is the answer to your problems.
I have roughly measured this on my iX and think the iX double servo would clear the S50 plenum if moved over.........
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:52 am
by Brianmoooore
tomson wrote:I would think moving the servo over like old_skool did with his S50 conversion is the answer to your problems.
I have roughly measured this on my iX and think the iX double servo would clear the S50 plenum if moved over.........
Not so easy on a LH drive car!
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:59 am
by oze30
e23 hydro setup???
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:09 pm
by tomson
Brianmoooore wrote:tomson wrote:I would think moving the servo over like old_skool did with his S50 conversion is the answer to your problems.
I have roughly measured this on my iX and think the iX double servo would clear the S50 plenum if moved over.........
Not so easy on a LH drive car!
Good point!
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:02 pm
by ed325i
You could make a bracket up like this to move the servo forward.

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:27 pm
by jaistanley
Surely there's no need though?
Plenty of american cars have M50 engine's surely??
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:37 pm
by old_skool
jaistanley wrote:Surely there's no need though?
Plenty of american cars have M50 engine's surely??
This is an iX whcih would have originally been wearing a M20. This guy has now put in an M50 right? Wow. I would have thought the brakes would have been the least problems after the hassle of making the iX sump fit an M50. Not to mention the rotation problem of the M20 gearbox impacting on the location of the transfer case. (can you tell I have been thinking about it)
The brackets shown above wouldn't work, there's not enough room for the rest of the motor with that in the way. The iX servo is only 50mm smaller in diameter than a standard E30 item too. I would say you would need to junk the iX servo and use the version from a early VW Golf like I did. I think that will give you enough clearance.
I was only looking at this on my iX a few hours ago!
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:41 pm
by jaistanley
Would the sump from an M50 powered 525iX fit? How about the gearbox to help the rotation problem? Just out of interest like. Perhaps he's mounted the engine at a different angle to compensate hence the problems with the servo?
I think what we need is some photo's and details...

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:43 pm
by old_skool
iX servo is 250mm, Golf servo is 200mm.
Hope that helps.
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:47 pm
by old_skool
Jai, I think the gearbox would have to be the iX specific Getrag because of the mountings for the transfer case. That means that you would have the 'box rotated on the M50.
I am not sure whether or not an E34 525iX sump would work or not. I have a feeling that the front diffs are wildly different and that the driveshafts wouldn't go through the sump in the right places. I am only guessing here!
If it does work then I want to know how, especially as I have a nice shiny S50B32 on a stand looking real purdy

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:42 pm
by cosmin_meme
the gearbox is from an E34 525IX..i bought the car like this.i will tell you next week exactly cause i`m gonna change the diff+transfer box+gearbox oils...i don`t know about the brakes cause the engine is not sitting like in a regular E30...it`s straight on the IX,you all know that..can i use better brake disks/pads??
i heard about the MK1 GTI brake booster .does anyone knows 100% if that works?
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:48 pm
by old_skool
I know the iX engine sits more upright than a normal E30. I didn't know about compatibility in the 325/525iX drivetrains.
Post some pics of our engine bay so I can see what sort of room you have. Then we may be able to help you better.
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:55 pm
by ed325i
jaistanley wrote:Surely there's no need though?
Plenty of american cars have M50 engine's surely??
Yes and they use the ix servo.
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:23 pm
by Brianmoooore
old_skool wrote:[ I would say you would need to junk the iX servo and use the version from a early VW Golf !
I thought Daemon would soon be attracted to this thread!
Isn't the latest thinking that the servo from a plastic winged Clio is a better proposition than the Golf one?
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:40 pm
by cosmin_meme
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:59 pm
by jaistanley
Dameon,
A man of your means and determinatin CAN engineer an S50B32 powered iX. A RHD one with a nice new car smell too I have no doubt... Have no idea whats entailed but surely that's half the fun?

Remote servos, 525iX parts, tig welded tubes through sumps, custom driveshafts. All are entirely possible eh?
From your hoto Cosmin, I can't see if your servo is hitting your manifold. The resevoir certainly is and can be fixed easily with a remote reservoir kit. Also go for a Rabbit (american MK2 glf) GTi servo or get someone to send you a Clio one, provided the engine is on E36 alloy engine mount arms and 5 series rubber engine mounts as is commonly the case over here (are you in america?). [edit: just re-read and you're in Romania - you should be able to get a golf or Clio servo easily]
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:08 pm
by cosmin_meme
no,i`m from romania.i can get an MK2 GTI golf brake booster pretty easy here(import from Germany).what clio model 2000 years model?or earlier?
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:14 pm
by jaistanley
Sorry.. I must've typed MK2 golf by mistake. It's the golf GTi MK1 servo, or the MK2 1.3 servo that can be used. I beleive it's the first of the clio's with plastic wings that the servo can be used from. Not sure about on the iX though if the engine is in a different location.
Take a look at my Golf 1.3 servo with an Audi master cylinder. I have moved it over 53mm. Unfortunately you can't because of the LHD aspect of your conversion but it gives you an idea of size...
HTH
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:17 pm
by cosmin_meme
well..i`ll get back to you guys with some pics tommorow...tell me what do you wanna see exactly and i`ll take pictures tommorow morning and post them here..and maybe we`ll figure it out.thanks for your responses
and once again excuse my english;)).BTW,can anyone tell me how can i upload images here??
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:07 pm
by DanThe
Brianmoooore wrote:
Isn't the latest thinking that the servo from a plastic winged Clio is a better proposition than the Golf one?
Nope, ive been saying it for two years
Get some better pics up cosmin

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:19 pm
by old_skool
Cosmin,
manifestare nouă mai mult tablou asemănător aceştia a face pe plac la -
a face this cu al tău automobil şi apoi atunci manifestare nouă. Bun luck!

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:00 pm
by jaistanley
Wot u sayin about my car eh?
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:20 pm
by old_skool
Lol!
I said get your finger out and get it finished

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:53 pm
by cosmin_meme
romanian:D..i will upload the pics tommorow Old_skool.
if you use yahoo messenger my ID is
cosmin_meme@yahoo.com
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:08 am
by jaistanley
Dameon. How do you knw romanian??? If you tell me you've got a hot romanian wife as well as loads of cool toys and a proper job, I might have to sh!t in a bag and post it to you......
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:09 am
by old_skool
I'd better give you my address then

Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:52 pm
by jaistanley
Oh for god's sake....
Re: M50 into 325IX-brake problems
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:00 pm
by Gabi_323i