M50 Developments - considering an M50? Read this.

[benjy]

I've not known a UK M42 with the dual-mass flywheel. Every one I've seen or heard of has been single mass.

When me an Eko did the clutch when i first bought my iS, the flywheel had this thick band of metal round the outside......I thought this was the dualmass bit?? From what i remember when buying the clutch, most people said its dualmass. But i could be wrong

[patrick85]

I searched on ebay but couldn't find them. What did you enter as a search.

I dunno what made me think that the IS had a dual mass, must have read if wrong somewhere or something.

[GingerTim]

Is the m42 318is geat box and clutch up the job??? I keep thinking about doing this conversion but just trying to work it out before i end up with my car in kit form and no idea what to do!!

[patrick85]

Is the m42 318is geat box and clutch up the job??? I keep thinking about doing this conversion but just trying to work it out before i end up with my car in kit form and no idea what to do!!

Dunno Tim, but I can't wait to find out. At the minute the engine is just in and it starts but doesn't run for long. But nothing is connected up properly yet. I'm too busy with work to keep working on it.

[irish320i]

hi were bouts are you have 528 tubular manifolds here as i started a s50 conversion instead of the m50 i was originally going to do
Alan

[spikuzi]

Is the m42 318is geat box and clutch up the job??? I keep thinking about doing this conversion but just trying to work it out before i end up with my car in kit form and no idea what to do!!

Dunno Tim, but I can't wait to find out. At the minute the engine is just in and it starts but doesn't run for long. But nothing is connected up properly yet. I'm too busy with work to keep working on it.

i ve just finished mine, i used the m40 gearbox and the clutch that came with it. it fits perfect and works good till now exept my clutch is no good, it slips when i go hard on the car and burns the clutch plate. ( i should ve got new clutch kit, but i couldnt get one localy at the time )

[Omi]

Spikuzi, you used the M40 clutch on the M52?

Did the M52 clutch/fly not mate up??

[spikuzi]

Spikuzi, you used the M40 clutch on the M52?

Did the M52 clutch/fly not mate up??

i tried the m50 flywheel and clutch with the m20 gearbox and it didnt fit, the pressure plate hits the bellhousing. the m40 flywheel is the same size as the m40 one, just where the clutch plate sits is bigger on the m50.
i didnt try to use the m50 clutch on the m40 gearbox, i dont know why , i only had a week to finish it and i was rushing everything.

i am going to try to use the m50 clutch and flywheel again when i take the gearbox out to change the clutch in the next few months

[dicko]

What are the best spark plugs and oil to use with the m50 non vanos

[Brianmoooore]

According to the handbook, oil for the UK should be a 15W-40, and plugs specified are Bosch FO 3 DA R, or NGK BC PR 7 ER.
Out of the two, I'd probably go for the NGKs, if a choice was available.

[sunnysr]

i have tryed using the search but no joy
is there a wiring diagram / how to from a e30 325 to m50 (e36) just need mine wiring then its away
Thanks Carl

[Brianmoooore]

M50 1/ blue/white (dynamic oil level) E30 2/green/yellow
M50 2/ blue/yellw (static oil level) E30 10/blue
M50 /3 red/white (ABS) E30 20/ red/yellow
M50 4/ black/blue (aircon) E30 not used
M50 5/ black/grey (aircon) E30 not used
M50 6/ purple/grey (aircon) E30 not used
M50 7/ black/purple (drive away) E30 not used
M50 8/ grey (engine check light) E30 12/ grey
M50 9/ NC
M50 10/ NC
M50 11/ brown/yellow (water temp) E30 not used
M50 12/ brown/purple (water temp) E30 4/ brown/purple
M50 13/ green/purple(fuel pump) E30 13/ green/purple
M50 14/ black/white (speed) E30 14/ black/white
M50 15/ black/green ( unloader relays) E30 15/ black/green
M50 16/ white/yellow (Rx data) E30 not used
M50 17/ white purple (Tx data) E30 not used
M50 18/ black/yellow (starter) E30 18/ black/yellow
M50 19/ white/green (service reset) E30 11/ white/green
M50 20/ black (engine speed) E30 9/ black
M50 21/ green (ignition) E30 7 green
M50 22/ green/white E30 6/ green/white
M50 23/ brown/grey (oil pressure) E30 5/ brown/green
M50 24/ white/black (fuel rate) E30 8/ white/black
M50 25/ blue (ignition warning) E30 1/ blue

[sunnysr]

Thanks brian

[MtechTone]

Stumbled across this, thought it may be of interest:

An E21 with an M50 conversion, plus ITB's using an M3 intake manifold never seen that before...

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3502

[DanThe]

Very nice but I cant see how it benefits this thread

Pub talk or other BMW chat is the place

[brian325i]

M50 1/ blue/white (dynamic oil level) E30 2/green/yellow
M50 2/ blue/yellw (static oil level) E30 10/blue
M50 /3 red/white (ABS) E30 20/ red/yellow
M50 4/ black/blue (aircon) E30 not used
M50 5/ black/grey (aircon) E30 not used
M50 6/ purple/grey (aircon) E30 not used
M50 7/ black/purple (drive away) E30 not used
M50 8/ grey (engine check light) E30 12/ grey
M50 9/ NC
M50 10/ NC
M50 11/ brown/yellow (water temp) E30 not used
M50 12/ brown/purple (water temp) E30 4/ brown/purple
M50 13/ green/purple(fuel pump) E30 13/ green/purple
M50 14/ black/white (speed) E30 14/ black/white
M50 15/ black/green ( unloader relays) E30 15/ black/green
M50 16/ white/yellow (Rx data) E30 not used
M50 17/ white purple (Tx data) E30 not used
M50 18/ black/yellow (starter) E30 18/ black/yellow
M50 19/ white/green (service reset) E30 11/ white/green
M50 20/ black (engine speed) E30 9/ black
M50 21/ green (ignition) E30 7 green
M50 22/ green/white E30 6/ green/white
M50 23/ brown/grey (oil pressure) E30 5/ brown/green
M50 24/ white/black (fuel rate) E30 8/ white/black
M50 25/ blue (ignition warning) E30 1/ blue

i presume the main wires are the same on an s50? if not most?

[DanThe]

Similar yes, oil level wires are different though, couple more aswell IIRC

[Brianmoooore]

These colours are the ones actually present on the respective ENGINE looms of the M20 engine removed and the E34 M50 vanos engine I fitted when I did my first M50 conversion about 4/5 years ago.
Some of the colours are different on the car side of the C101 on any E30, and BMW don't always use exactly the same colours even in allegedly identical looms, but generally the colours will apply to any M/S5X loom.

[amdr]

hi

i want to mount a m50b25 engine in my e30 320i '88.
I already read a lot about it but how much modification has to happen? And what do u need?
I was going for a non vanos obviously.

I've made a small list wich I guess should be the basic needs.
But I don't quite get what has to be used as driveshaft? Or wich gearbox best to be used.

Getrag 260 gearbox 1986 325i (M20)
clutchset E30 325i (M20)
driveshaft E30 325i (M20)
mainbearing (op de M50) E30 325i (M20)
Starter E30 M20
Motorsupports E36 325i (M50)
Silent blocks motor E28 M5 (M88)
Radiator E34 525i

Is there anything I am forgetting?

Also I don't have servo on my e30 now, can I add this?

[Brianmoooore]

I was going for a non vanos obviously.

Why?
Makes no difference at all to the complexity of the conversion, and vanos transforms the engine.
As to your other questions, you need to put aside a day or two, and read through the whole M50 conversion thread. As you will see, there's no one correct list of parts, or one correct way of doing the conversion.
It makes a considerable difference whether your car is LH drive or RH drive.

[amdr]

I tried to read but when i came at page 10 I already had seen so much information that I could tie the ends toghether.
ALso i'm from belgium so to read and understand everything isnt that easy.
I have lh drive btw

[Brianmoooore]

I have lh drive btw

I had a feeling that you weren't UK based, and may be LH drive.
Fitting the engine and box in the E30 shell, and the wiring is easy. Just drops in using various standard BMW parts, and the wiring just needs an E30 engine loom plug grafted on to the M50 loom in place of the one that's on it.
The more challenging problems are caused by the manifolds on the engine occupying the same space as the steering gear and brake servo and master cylinder. These problems, and their solutions are different between LH and RH drive cars, and you will find information more relevant to your car on the e30.de website.

[amdr]

Oke, with lh drive there should be minor problems to fit the engine into an e30 if i read correctly at e30.de.
after a lot of reading here, i kinda updated my list.
So an m50b25 with e36 325i propshaft with an e30 bearing. This should al fit.
Offcourse I should buy e34 525i...carter and oilpump.

c101 plug i'm gonna internally rewire the plug of the engine to e30 plug so I dont have to change anything at the car itself.

Now what I was thinking, in my fusebox, should I buy some extra fuses?
Also i'm not sure about the silent blocks. Wich one do I have to use when I use e36 engineholders?

As for the gearbox I've read that the best choice are the silent blocks from an e21.

Then the radiator. I thought an e34 525i radiator but I've read here that it is to big? Or is this with s50 engine?

kind regards!

[E30BeemerLad]

use e28 M5 engine mounts

[les3002]

think the prop you need is an e36 328i rather than e36 325i

[sedge]

you got a phone number for that engine mate??

[DanThe]

you got a phone number for that engine mate??

What engine?

[ha22]

which clutch plate should i use e36 or e30, i'm using the m20 box and fly wheel, the e36 clutch plate is lighter than
the e30 one, they are exactly the same diameter, any suggestions as i am going to buy a new clutch plate..

[Jhonno]

e30 clutch plate

[hoshy]

Dudes - this thread is monstrous (in a good way).

Would anybody be up for the challenge of distilling all of this in to a wiki article so it can be used easier as a point of reference??

[rob0r]

Quick question, I'm getting a 525i manual on Sunday for the transplant. I also have a spare M42 gearbox, with clutch and flywheel. Is there any benefit in using the M42 box over the M50 box?

Thanks

[dicko]

I have my m50 up and runnning all ok but the manifolds are very hot
I have use cut down m52 manifolds and the cross over pipe from the e34 donor the rest of the system is the old e30 320i ( both boxs ) .
I no the 320 system is a couple of mill smaller would this be causing a restriction and causing heat to build up
I am very impressed with the conversion and would highly recommend it
Thanks to everyone hear for the help I wouldnt have attempted this with out this Thread

[Brianmoooore]

This is a technical thread concerned with the fitting of M50 engines into E30 bodies. Kindly keep the boy racer stuff in 'pub talk' where it belongs!!

[dicko]

Was that aimed at me Brian ?

[Brianmoooore]

Was that aimed at me Brian ?

Not at all, dicko - there's half a dozen posts from a couple of our less mature members that have been removed.