1988 bmw 320i m50 swap!.. new to forum help.

[dannye30m50]

Hi there just bought my 1st e30 2 days ago! its a 88 bmw 320i manual, I have already got a bmw e34 525i m50 engine alternator loom and ancillarys. I have just bought e28 rubber mounts and e36 engine brackets and being a e34 engine i dont have to worry about the sump. does the getrag 5 speed box from my e30 320i m20 marry up to the m50 engine? if so can i still use the m20 flywheel and clutch and bolt it straight on to the m50?..

thanks for reading look forward to the responses of the e30 gurus!

[harvey_inc]

Hi
Also new to bmw's in general.......have you had any joy with this, Im fitting a m52 to my e30 after my origional engine gave up the ghost

[age]

yes you can use your 320 box, it will sit at a different angle to the way it sat when attached to the m20, cira 15 degrees, so you will need to bend the gear linkages.
you can keep your m20 clutch and flywheel, its actually advisable, but it will need to be lightened.

[jonnyboy]

Will it need to be lightened as I've got a 2.0 and a 2.5 one and the 2.0 one bolts on with no probs

[age]

it will bolt on, but it will catch when you try and start the car.

[Brianmoooore]

M20B20 and M20B25 flywheels are identical. The flywheel doesn't need to be 'lightened' as such, but it does need machining at the rear to clear a couple of sump bolts and boss.
The necessary clearance can just about be obtained by taking a grinder to the sump, but not ideal.

[jonnyboy]

Maybe I've got it wrong. I've got a m20 flywheel 2.5 one and it needs lightening to fit but when I as at a BMW breakers in Derby I notice a 320i flywheel on the side and its not as thick as my 2.5 one. He had about 5 2.0l ones all the same . I will go and check in 5 mins

[Brianmoooore]

Very early M20B20 and M20B23 ones were a couple of kilograms lighter.

[dannye30m50]

thanks for your responses, im right in the middle of taking the m20 out of the car right now i will update you all when i return