best doner car for e30 swap ?

[barge]

hi there im looking to buy an e36 to convert the engine into my e30 im just wondering whats the best e36 to go for ? i know a 328 would be quicker but in the future i will be looking to go turbo so would a 325 be better, any help would be appreciated i have heard alot of diffrent oppinions on later cars being harder to fit and 325 engines not being worth the hassle of swapping, i just want to make sure i buy the best car possible as i have wasted alot of time and money on engine conversions before by listening to the wrong people ! cheers guys[/list]

[Jamie8GTi]

I'm no expert but the m50 seems to be the favourable engine for turbo's, very strong and the ability to swap in the 2.8 crank rods and pistons, in which case you'd virtually have a cast m52, was reading an article about them in performance bmw the other month and they claim you can push 400bhp on standard internals with just a thicker head gasket and some arp's.

I've personally gone m50 myself (not turbo'd though)

[ben-yatess]

I am doing the exact same, i went for a e34 525i as they come with a zf310 which is alot stronger gearbox than the getrag im lead to believe. they already have the correct sump on, correct throttle cable, only thing i have had to buy is a prop and engine arms.

With regards to power 500bhp can be achieved on standard internals, you can also put the crank and rods out a m54b30 to make it a 3.0 aswell.

[Motorhole]

iirc E36 325i post 1995 (ish) were M52 as well - therefore ally block. If you want the iron block for a turbo, has to be early E36 or an E34.

I'd have thought a 328i would be the best donor either way - because then you get your innards and gearbox & prop that can take lots of power. Then you'd only need to source an M50 block?

[alpina123]

If you use an e34 you won't have to by a sump and oil pump

[barge]

thanks for the replys

[shortblock]

I am doing the exact same, i went for a e34 525i as they come with a zf310 which is alot stronger gearbox than the getrag im lead to believe. they already have the correct sump on, correct throttle cable, only thing i have had to buy is a prop and engine arms.

With regards to power 500bhp can be achieved on standard internals, you can also put the crank and rods out a m54b30 to make it a 3.0 aswell.

:O i'm doing a similar swap! i bought a e34 525i 1995 5 speed with vanos and ews for 700$
isn't the transmission from the e34 525i 5 speed a getrag 260??
is there a prop shaft that would bolt-on??
i was thinking of using the prop shaft from my donor e34 shorten/balance and weld the end that bolts to the diff from my e30 prop shaft
any other options??
(sorry for high jacking your thread)

[ben-yatess]

I am doing the exact same, i went for a e34 525i as they come with a zf310 which is alot stronger gearbox than the getrag im lead to believe. they already have the correct sump on, correct throttle cable, only thing i have had to buy is a prop and engine arms.

With regards to power 500bhp can be achieved on standard internals, you can also put the crank and rods out a m54b30 to make it a 3.0 aswell.

:O i'm doing a similar swap! i bought a e34 525i 1995 5 speed with vanos and ews for 700$
isn't the transmission from the e34 525i 5 speed a getrag 260??
is there a prop shaft that would bolt-on??
i was thinking of using the prop shaft from my donor e34 shorten/balance and weld the end that bolts to the diff from my e30 prop shaft
any other options??
(sorry for high jacking your thread)

Well mine is a 92 and had a ZF310 not sure about yours, if it is a ZF310 id source a e36 328i prop its a direct fit no messing.

[shortblock]

oh...that's some precious information ;D any difference between manual and auto prop shafts??

[ben-yatess]

im not 100% sure on that one to be safe i just went with a manual, if the the auto has the big guibo then i assume it will be however thats just an educated guess.

[Quaser]

its a manual you need - the auto gearboxes are longer therefore shorter prop

ive already got a 2.8 in my convertible, ans was looking to do the 2.5 turbo in the e30, but i decided to leave it in the e36 as its much easier to do it there, then possibly transfer it across to an e30 shell when i get bored!

[shortblock]

so e36 328i 5 speed propshaft would fit in my e30 with m50b25tu engine and e34 getrag 260 transmission??