E30 Zone

Ok so have done some shopping around the local scrap yards and there is more then enough M60s and M62s available (all come with complete loom, Ecu and Autoboxes) But which one to go for?

Is the M62 harder to fit than an M60?? (double vanos and all that)

Want to avoid the M60 because of its Nakisil linings but if its much easier to fit over the M62 than i'll go for it.

Also, how do i solve the ECU and Key chip issue?
-Can i use my exsiting E30 Ignition barrel and key, or do i have to use the key and barrel from the car the ECU came from??

I am only in the homework stage of this project as i want to have everything correct before i start. I have looked at Will and Kerrie's project but they have installed an M60, and i'm thinking about an M62.

Thanks guys.

The installation of the engine into the car is all the same M60, M62 and S62 (needs to be a little lower due to intake).

As for which engine to use this is all a matter choice, budget and electrical skill. I would recommend that you stay away from the M60B30 as it is the same amount of work but not as much fun.

The easiest engine to install is a M60B40 out of a 93-94 540 manual (assuming you are going with a manual trans). The wiring is well documented.

If EWS is what you are worried about then any vehicle built in 95 and on will have one form or another of this. My recommendation is to replace the engine harness and ECU with one from a pre 95 car. If this is not an option you need the EWS module, key, key chip and ECU (same process as OBD2 24V swap) or have the ECU reflashed to remove the EWS but this requires some extra wiring magic.

There are two fundamentally different kinds of M62 engines, pre 99 (I think) do NOT have VANOS and 99 and on have VANOS. I haven't found a lot of info on installing a motor with VANOS, I think the best source of info is Glenn's S62 swap (on this forum). There is a very good write up on M5board.com on how to convert a non-VANOS M62 from OBD2 to OBD1. It seems like a relatively straight forward however it assumes you have access to a pre 95 OBD1 car for parts.

My 2 cents is get a non VANOS M62 (make a deal for engine w/out harness and ECU you won't need them) and a get M60B30 (with harness and ECU) and convert the M62 to OBD1.

Good luck

Thanks, Johnny.

I have some options there then.

My local scrap yards only seem to have 740i's and 840i/ci's. (95 upto 2000 models) Any 5 series models all have straight 6's.

Is there any difference between the 7/8 series models compared to a 5 series?? (In terms of wiring and sensors)

I don't know very much about the 8 series as there are very few around here (certainly none in a junk yard). I think the 840 changed from M60 to M62 in 95 while the 740 didn't change until 97.

I am using a M60 from a 95 740 no major differences between that a 540 motor. I rewired it with a harness from a 93 530.

Some of the 740s had a remote oil filter housing not attached to the block and some had liquid cooled alternators. All this can easily be replace.

Ok, so have read some of the threads here, and to be honest, my head is fried.
Its seems like a very, very complicated conversion.

I'm living in Dubai, U.A.E (United Arab Emirates), so big litre beemers are not a rare species here. But i'm planning on buying what i need here and shiping it back home to Ireland. And i just want to get down on a list everything i'm gona need.
(All cars here are Middle Eastern or Jap spec models)

I want to go with an M62B44 and just fit and run it, preferably without having to
reflash the Ecu.

Will more than likely be coming out of a 740i Auto, and will be using the loom and Ecu too, but will swap out the autobox for a manual one from a 540.

Don't want to use ABS/TC.
So what will happen to all them wires for ABS, TC and the Autobox??

Also is it possible to wire a 740i loom into the existing E30 fusebox, so i don't havta go changing all the wiring for the Exterior/interior lighting??

Sorry for the 20 annoying questions.
But just want be sure on everything b4 i start.

Thanks.

If you want to go with M62, buy a complete E39 540 6-speed manual. By selling the bits you don't need you'll most probably end up getting the engine free (just don't count money to work hours)

That way you'd have all the parts you need + engine / transmission / electrics - package ready to put in to E30.

I'd stay away from VANOS engines and buy old E39 540 (equipped with EWS2, not EWS3 which is much harder to swap electric-wise). There's one M62 E30 at e30.de running original ECU, maybe he would give you some more ideas .. ?

Uwe on the form has a contact who can reflash the ecu to remove the security and any additional inputs ie road speed, abs etc

Jason

Hmm, Was there M62s made without Vanos??
This country is much like america. (80-90% of cars here are sold Automatic)

Have visted 7 scrap yards here so far and none of them had 540i's.
They all had 740i's and 840ci's. I can buy the complete car, half car or stripped.(ECU, engine/gearbox and loom)

But i'm gona be here for another 9 months, so may aswell take my time.
A 540 manual is bound to pop up!

@Jonsku, What year 540i would you recomend?

E30-830 wrote:Hmm, Was there M62s made without Vanos??

Yes, the VANOS came in around '99-'00

@Jonsku, What year 540i would you recomend?

Well, if you want to go for M62 then i suggest you buy as old E39 540 manual as you can find in order to avoid the EWS 3 (not sure when it came on market but it is much harder to pass).