E30 Zone

I'm planning my next E30-M30 build and I have got my hands on an E28 m535i engine with all the components to upgrade it to motronic 1.3. I hope to take advantage of the higher compression . This will be a chrome 4 door shell with an E36 rack.

I know this will be trickier than using a later engine in terms of I will probably have to make the engine mounts rather than buying Lee's. I will also have to blank off the rear waterway as I want the engine as far back as possible. I will probably have to get E34 water pipes too. I bought the engine off a mate who was doing the same engine swap into an E12 m535i so some parts are also E12...

Can I use E12/E28 exhaust manifold and down pipe?

When I did the swap using an E34 M30/E36 rack I still had to seriously re-route one of the downpipes so I will be cutting and welding anyway.

I will also try using the E12 oil cooler and radiator, if anyone has any comments.

I sold a set of mounts recently to a guy with an E28 engine and they fit, there are more mounting holes in the block on the exhaust side to take them compared to a later engine.

Blank the coolant elbow at the back of the head and use E34 hose set up.

Ive seen the earlier manifold in an E30 but not sure how much of a chew it was to get it to fit.

Interesting, I will have to check my engine block when I'm next down my unit.

Block should have loads of holes like this.

My mounts bolt where ive marked.

love that manifold

Block will fit no probs I have used one. Will have to change exhaust mani I think and sump maybe? With oil pick up? It's a while since I did it.

I have all the parts you need

I've got a sump and pickup ready to go, I think my block will work with Lee's mounts too... Will have a think!

I think I changed the oil filter housing as well, Ill try and find some pics of the conversion.

Your block will work with lees mounts. I have the blanking plate and associated if needed.

OK guys, I'm going full steam ahead. The car I'm planning this for is a 320i manual so I've been weighing up just fitting a 2.5 instead, I have both engines, flywheels, boxes etc. The main deciding factor was the clutch. I already have a near new M20 paddle clutch but I have no M30 clutches suitable for a single mass flywheel, this is going to be done on a shoe string and shelling out for a clutch was a swaying factor.

I did some research and found that I could use the M20 paddle clutch with an M30 on either a very early/rare M10 or an M3 S14 228mm flywheel, I found the latter cheap enough to have a gamble . This also means I can get away with using an M10 box again like I did on my M30 touring I did last year, which I think also means my current M20B20 prop and gearlinkage will fit.

I need the following bits if I can get them cheap enough...
- E34/E32 exhaust manifolds
- E34/E32 downpipes
- E34/E32 blanking plate, back of the head water way

Question - Does anyone know if I can use an E12 M535i radiator? I wondering if it is the same fitment as the E28 rad people use in these swaps.

I have started to think I might try and grab an E34 cheap enough to get the spares I need and make some profit.

i have these and an e34 rad

- E34/E32 exhaust manifolds
- E34/E32 downpipes

i dont want much but they will need posting as i'm in hampshire

PM me how much you want and the rad separately (as I'm not sure i need this yet!), I'm happy to arrange a courier or pay for postage if you can throw them in a box.

Thanks

Here is a picture of the chariot which will be receiving the anchor

Hi, £20 for the manifolds and downpipes?
£20 for the rad ? - it's not the best condition but looks servicable, i'll get a pic up tomorrow

sorry but i dont have any of the fittings

say £30 for them both plus Postage, am happy to wrap them up

Well that was easy! That's £30 for exhaust manifolds, downpipes and the rad or just the manifold/pipes? If so I'm happy to send you £45 to cover postage too

Do you have a spare top hose or any other hoses by any chance?

yer £30 for manifolds, downpipes, radiator plus £15 for postage, ok happy with that, i'll get that sorted tomorrow, PM me your details.

i have a spare small u bend hose, it is very good, if you want it, i'll pop it in the package for free.

do you recommend a courier ?

just had a look at the rad, it looks really good actually, it justs needs a clean.

Nice, I'll have that hose too good man! I'll PM you now.

hehe another m30'd moredoor.! Well in rob0r the haters will hate that.!

Cheers!

Big thanks to Jimbo, my package of awesome cheap M30 exhaust manifolds, downpipes, water pipe and radiator turned up today. Great service!