M50 transplant - which E30 to start with???

Post Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:16 am

I fancy doing an M50 or M52 swap into an E30 touring.

Is there a specific donor I should be buying??
Ie is there an advantage in starting off with 325 as opposed to a 316

I'm planing on converting to 5stud as well, so probably a compact or Z3 rear end and M3 evo TCAs etc up front.

So is there anything I should be looking out for??

Cheers

Monkey

Post Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:51 pm

The only advantage of a six pot shell over a four pot, is you get suitable front springs, and the 'check' system in the loom.

Post Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:17 am

Just get an E30 with no rust!

As for a donor, go for an E34 as you get the correct sump and wiring with the ecu on the 'correct' side.

If you want to go to 5 stud, why not do it properly and buy my complete E30 M3 suspension setup and 15" BBS wheels?

Post Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:13 am

No check system.........check!

The plans I have would mean swapping the loom over to get check wouldn't be too difficult as the car will be stripped anyway.

jaistanley wrote:
If you want to go to 5 stud, why not do it properly and buy my complete E30 M3 suspension setup and 15" BBS wheels?

Well you've done yourself out of a sale in a way........

I read with great interest the thread you responded to about using E36 M3evo parts and E30 M3 bushes to give the correct geometry.
So I thought due to availability and age of parts it's probably an easier way to go.
Not to mention I'm skint till I flog a few cars anyway

Plus if std 328 king pins can be used I've got some from an old donor that gave up it's non nikasil M52 so that my Sport could live on

Thanks for the replies fellas

Monkey

Post Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:08 am

A non rusty one

Post Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:32 pm

Damnit! I knew that'd bite me on the ass.... Don't forget the adjustable/offset E30 topmounts. I'm still yet to measure the STD E36 hubs for comparison against the evo ones but I have a hunch they'll be fine (or close). You can get very cheap 325mm brakes for them from an E46 330ci/dci.

King pin?? You're going back a bit man, showing your age eh?? The word only lives on as legacy in modern suspension design (king pin inclination) as the description or the 'virtual' king pin. If an E30 had a king pin you had to grease once a fortnight I'd have ditched the turd long ago! lol (and that goes for anyone out there who also has a morgan...).

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:32 pm

jaistanley wrote: King pin?? You're going back a bit man, showing your age eh??

I know I'll be 30 next year

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:37 pm

dubmonkey wrote:No check system.........check!

The plans I have would mean swapping the loom over to get check wouldn't be too difficult as the car will be stripped anyway.

jaistanley wrote:
If you want to go to 5 stud, why not do it properly and buy my complete E30 M3 suspension setup and 15" BBS wheels?
Well you've done yourself out of a sale in a way........

I read with great interest the thread you responded to about using E36 M3evo parts and E30 M3 bushes to give the correct geometry.
So I thought due to availability and age of parts it's probably an easier way to go.
Not to mention I'm skint till I flog a few cars anyway

Plus if std 328 king pins can be used I've got some from an old donor that gave up it's non nikasil M52 so that my Sport could live on

Thanks for the replies fellas

Monkey

Link to thread please?

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:17 pm

bss325i wrote:
Link to thread please?

One to bookmark fella

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=106428

Monkey

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:26 pm

dubmonkey wrote:
bss325i wrote:
Link to thread please?

One to bookmark fella

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=106428

Monkey

Thank you.

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:32 pm

jaistanley wrote:Damnit! I knew that'd bite me on the ass.... Don't forget the adjustable/offset E30 topmounts. I'm still yet to measure the STD E36 hubs for comparison against the evo ones but I have a hunch they'll be fine (or close). You can get very cheap 325mm brakes for them from an E46 330ci/dci.

King pin?? You're going back a bit man, showing your age eh?? The word only lives on as legacy in modern suspension design (king pin inclination) as the description or the 'virtual' king pin. If an E30 had a king pin you had to grease once a fortnight I'd have ditched the turd long ago! lol (and that goes for anyone out there who also has a morgan...).

An excellent write up in that thread and no doubt the result of plenty of research.
It was of interest to me as i intend to change to 5x100 soon and wanted to investigate all methods available. I dont think the use of what you have listed in that thread will work for me as the wheels i intend to use are 17x7.5 front and 17x8.5 rear but with an offset of ET15, this i think is where the problem lies for me as im sure tyre to arch contact will be unavoidable.

I think E30 M3 stuff is the only way to go for me.

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:20 pm

5x120...

Got any cash? I have M3 stuff to sell ASAP.

Post Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:07 pm

jaistanley wrote:5x120...

Got any cash? I have M3 stuff to sell ASAP.

Yes 5x120!

I dont need half the stuff that comes with it.

I have seen the original ad.

Thanks anyway.

Post Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:57 pm

jaistanley wrote:Damnit! I knew that'd bite me on the ass.... Don't forget the adjustable/offset E30 topmounts. I'm still yet to measure the STD E36 hubs for comparison against the evo ones but I have a hunch they'll be fine (or close). You can get very cheap 325mm brakes for them from an E46 330ci/dci.

King pin?? (and that goes for anyone out there who also has a morgan...).

......this came with a floor mounted push button to inject engine oil into the kingpins!!