Another M60/62 question-4.0 or 4.4?

Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:13 pm

Hi All,

Newbie here with my first e30. a 1988 320i touring. I bought this car with the sole intention of doing a V8 conversion. I have been reading on here for a while now and there is some fantastic information so thank you.

However I am a bit confused as to what route to take now. Unless I'm just not looking hard enough, e34's are few and far between now. Especially with a V8 and manual 'box! It looks to me my most likely candidate for a donor car will be a e39 540i or a 740i. Nearly all of which are auto's. These will more than likely be the M62 b44. I like the idea of the extra bit of grunt. But I'm put off by the single timing chain. I have also read of the extra headaches with the wiring on later engines due to EWS. But if my budget will allow, I am thinking of stand alone managment (Omex etc). Surely if I used this I could reomve all the factory engine wiring and have no issues with EWS? I think the hall effect sensors etc. fitted to later m62's can be wired into stand alone management?

That just leaves the gearbox choice then but I'll keep looking. If you have any thoughts on which route to take I would appreciate some input. Thanks,

Luke

Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:44 am

I am in the midst of doing a m62tub44/six speed into an 89 318 as a track day car. I'll try and help with a few of your questions.

As far as gearboxes go, the six speeds are like hens teeth and cost a ton on places like ebay. So to get one, you really have to stumble on a deal.

I believe that the e39 535i had a 5 speed option that wasn't that uncommon and those should bolt up as the block and bellhouse are the same as on the bigger v8 I think. Get a second opinion as I am not completely sure.

While the newer v8s are a bit more hightec ie.. vanos and drive by wire they also put out a good bit more power and don't have the older engine issues like nikasil blocks.

I am going with syvecs for engine management as it is capable of mapping vanos, drive by wire, and forced induction if the need should arrive down the road. VEMS is a cheaper option but I am not sure about the VANOS/DBW capability.

VANOS scares a lot of people away but you can get rebuild kits for not a ton of money (Beisan systems in the US) and you get a lot more torque and much better power band with it.

Expect this to cost more than you are planning on. The extra power will show all the weaknesses that exist in the e30 (susp/chassis strength, brakes, diff, etc)

I hope this helps, wasn't trying to be negative but I was planning to have mine done this summer but it is looking like next year now due to the unforeseen costs. Wanted to give you a bit of warning.

Justin

Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:37 pm

all right info there, personally i would probably stick to the 5 speed box because they are abit more plentiful.
i have a 6 speed and i wouldnt bother for a track car, you will kill it eventually and trying to find another will be a bitch.
unless you will drive it on the track with intention of saving fuel

always up rate your brakes with uprating to your V8 otherwise your conversion will be short lived along with yourself probably.

will is right with the headaches of the CAN BUS, steer clear its not worth the hassle.
EWS on the other hand can be overcome.

everyones conversion is different so make your own path and you may surprise yourself

be prepared to bandage cut knuckles and your wallet ha

Mon May 13, 2013 5:16 pm

Thanks very much for the information guys it's much appreciated. I'm not planning on rushing this conversion and I know it's going to test my patience and bank account!

Wed May 15, 2013 1:18 pm

The V8 conversions are becoming very appealing. Sound, power and reliability.
I too was wondering the same question, M60 or M62?

Is the single chain in the M62 much to worry about?
Is the added work of EWS in the M62 really worth it?
Am i correct in thinking that there's only a ~10bhp difference between the M60 and M62?

Also, down the line, if supercharging is something to consider, then which engine would be best?

Thanks, hope you don't mind me asking the questions on your thread

Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:26 am

Hi guys sorry to take this thread a little further but I have a few questions about the can bus system. Is there an easy way to spot which cars have it and which don't? I'm going to look at a car on Saturday. If it does have it, can it be over come by swapping the ecu etc over? This will also remove the ewe problem too I gather?

Cheers Chris.

Fri Jul 26, 2013 5:30 pm

Hi again all-No i don't mind you using my thread. I have made the decision now anyway and i have bought an E34 540I with a 6 speed manual! very pleased. drives great, engine seems sweet. gearbox is a little clunky but I'm of the opinion if it ain't broke don't fix it!

One thing I will say to anyone on here that has an M60 in their e30-take the sump off and check your oil pump bolts! I know this is well documented on the www. but I thought I would say it again. I took my sump off the V8 and 3 bolts were rolling round in there

turns out all the bolts in the oil pump housing were finger tight-how it built up oil pressure is a mystery but it drove home fine when I bought it. Glad i caught this when i did. i was told this only happens on the M60 but I have also heard of this happening on a 2001 E39 540i with M62 B44. Didn't take long and well worth doing, could save you an engine!

Fri Jul 26, 2013 5:40 pm

Will check mine when I pull the engine out.

I'm also doing a e34 540 6 speed into an e30 318is. To use as a drift car.

Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:11 am

hi fellas, could you please tell me can i change m62 ews ecu with non EWS m60 ecu in V8 m62 for manual gearbox...... to prevent the additional nightmare wiring....

P.S thanks and sorry for my interrupting questions ..

Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:29 am

Stationwagon - Glad to see you found a car, if i was doing the conversion again, id go for a 6 speed box. The headache i had with the clutch/flywheel setup (granted i was let down by the company).

Wiring is simple on a m60 too! Keep us updated with it

Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:46 pm

cant use an m60 ecu with an m62 engine

Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:09 pm

sparkyE30 wrote:cant use an m60 ecu with an m62 engine

Yes you can
http://garagistic.com/index.php?page=e30-m60-wiring

M62 using m60 dme and wiring

It is possible to get the .4 extra liter displacment. This requires a bit more work, but does offer a nice advantage. Basically, you get to use the m60 4.0 dme and harness to fire the 4.4 m62. It will run on the 4.0 dme, but you will not be getting everything out of your m62 and will require a tune.

More here - http://garagistic.com/index.php?page=m6 ... ng-m60-dme