E30 Zone

hey all, picked up a 320i yesterday, and after a few hours later i think it dropped a valve, just cut out with a rattle and i now locked up. What i wanted to know, is it a straight swap to convert to 325, engine box and ecu? I did a search but couldnt really find the answer

ill have all but the engine and box for sale soon mate so if u get the lump off scotty on SBR i can sort any bits u may need ancillary wise!

straight swap assuming the version of motronic is the same on both engines. not sure about earlier ones but if the ECU is a 172 or 380 then u can simply open the cover and pop in a 325i chip so really just a matter of swapping engines.

also FYI there isnt that much of a difference between the maps on a 320i and a 325i so u could even run the standard 320i ECU with the 2.5 lump tho u may lose a couple HP but probably not enough to notice if u rolled up alongside a standard 325i and had a bash at it.

last but not least u could also just stick in a decent performance chip for a 325i into the 320i ECU (providing its a 172, 173, 380 or 381 ECU) as they are basically all the same except for the standard chip that comes in each number of ECU. 172/380 should be 320i and 173/381 should be 325i but again the only difference is whats on the chip inside. all 4 of those numbered ECU's have socketed boards also so removing/installing a chip is a doddle, just mind what way the notch is facing on the side so u dont fit the new chip the wrong way round.

i think this is a plan stevo

thanks for the info guys, will post pics of the car and progress up at the weekend barton, lets do some skids boy

is the sport box worth getting?

you say there's not much difference?

Not worth getting unless you get a good one for half nothing.

Only gear that has a significant difference is 1st and I suppose the sport box may be alittle stronger.

recarofiestars wrote:barton, lets do some skids boy

what about me?? blue blub FTW

got the swap done in about 8 hours

out of interest, we fitted an engine and ecu from an auto having swapped the flywheel and clutch

there's nothng else we have to do is there? car seems fine, but would be nice to know if there's anything else due to the auto

spigot bering in the crank shaft

erm...

are the fans different? i bought a new viscous clutch for the b20, can i just swap it straight onto the b25, of do i need to swap the fan blades?

I would imagine so, it's only the internals and the manifolds that are different isn't it? My M20 knowledge is a bit thin on the ground but I recon it's safe to say it should pop straight on.