e28 535i

[adit]

i have located an engine with 89k otc in the above car. what model engine is this chaps and is it a viable proposition for an e30 (my convertible) ? apologies if this subject is already on here half-a-dozen times i'm sure it is!

[gooner1]

Project 335i - Donor Car

The donor car is to provide the driveline for the conversion. The 3.5 liter M30 was available in the 5-, 6-, and 7-Series, therefore all these models are conceivable donor cars. The newer e32 and e34 cars are more desirable for the conversion.

Generally it is best to buy a fully operation car. This way the engine can be tested while it is still in the original vehicle and a determination can be made as to whether or not it is suitable for the project. Also buying the car as a whole unit can eliminate the need to buy small parts that may otherwise be missing. However, the principle reason for the use of a donor car is economic. It is, in most cases, far cheaper to buy an entire car containing all the desired parts than to buy all the parts separately.

Older Models: e28 535i, e23 735i, e24 635CSi
In buying the versions that have a catalytic converter horse power losses of 33 total Hp must be accepted. This is primarily due to a lower compression ratio of 8:1, this "defect" is not easily remedied. Over-bored pistons would be necessary to increase compression. In any case, it is better to buy the 218 Hp version without the Cat. These cars are available quite cheap, often they can be purchased for under $1000. The car need not be in good shape, as only the driveline is desired, so the price is often quite low. Best case scenario: a donor vehicle with a low-milage rebuilt engine is found.

The old 7-Series are the easiest to find and the cheapest to buy. The engines are, aside from very early version, the same as in the e28. Sometimes the older 3453ccm engines with the larger bore and smaller stroke can be found.

New Models: e34 535i, e32 735i
An e34 535i or e32 735i with 211Hp is the ideal donor car because the oil pan of these versions works very well for the 335i conversion. With this donor car the other costs that arise with other M30 versions are not a concern. The engine, despite putting out 211 Hp, is quite economical. Prices for donor cars in this category start at around $2000. The parts not used in the conversion can often be sold, to offset the cost of the project. For the skilled salesman this is where the greatest savings can be found.



Questions, Comments?

Not sure if this helps adit.

[BreadBin]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=98093

[adit]

excellent info thanx gooner, much appreciated. however, i would probably only do the conversion with the engine i mentioned and wondered about engine mounts, manifold, gearbox, etc. jon_bmw pmed me with some useful info. sorry to sound so unknowledgeable(ive only swapped 318 and 320 engines before) but it was just an idea when i saw the 535 with very low mileage, as i need an engine for my 325 conv. thanks again gooner

[Jhonno]

e28 one isn't as sutable iirc.

[adit]

e38 jose??

[adit]

cheers bb ( i'm frightened now!)

[Rav335uk]

Reason e28 engines are a pain is because of the water hose at the rear of the engine iirc, whereas the e34 is the later m30 engine.I'm just doing mine, and where it sits in pos 3, the e28 will not, shifting weight over tot the front of the car and unbalancing it.
Have a look at mine
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=115269

It's fun mate, but a bit time consuming and def worth it.
Make sure you get the whole car too as nicking little bits of it will save you a bit of money.

[johnl320]

Hose at the back can be blanked and no mods required to the gear selector to make it fit to the e30 if using the e28 box, however if its a dogleg box you need a tall diff 3.07 from an e28 525e is the one i'm using.
the biggest drama will be the sump and pickup will need to be swapped.
You're welcome to look at my conversion, you delivered a carpet to me by hand some time ago now.

cheers
john

[adit]

i remember john. excellent, thanks for that. any chance you could pm/text me your no. and maybe i'll come up and look if i get chance one day?

[blingsta]

Hose at the back can be blanked and no mods required to the gear selector to make it fit to the e30 if using the e28 box, however if its a dogleg box you need a tall diff 3.07 from an e28 525e is the one i'm using.
the biggest drama will be the sump and pickup will need to be swapped.
You're welcome to look at my conversion, you delivered a carpet to me by hand some time ago now.

cheers
john

does the e28 525 diff bolt straight onto the e30?

[johnl320]

You have PM Adi

john

[johnl320]

Hose at the back can be blanked and no mods required to the gear selector to make it fit to the e30 if using the e28 box, however if its a dogleg box you need a tall diff 3.07 from an e28 525e is the one i'm using.
the biggest drama will be the sump and pickup will need to be swapped.
You're welcome to look at my conversion, you delivered a carpet to me by hand some time ago now.

cheers
john

does the e28 525 diff bolt straight onto the e30?

The 525e one does, 525i I'm not sure if they use the large case diff.You need to swap the backplate for an E30 one and output flanges need swapping but just pop out on the 525e one.

[Rav335uk]

How come the loooong diff john, what are the gear ratios on the g/box, are you making it a motorway cruiser then????

[johnl320]

I've got a dogleg box which is 1:1 ratio fifth gear same as your 4th gear so a taller diff is required. I wanted a 2.93:1 but had to settle for this one. Gives 146 mph at the redline. not that it'll ever get there

john

[Rav335uk]

Probably will as these things have alot of torque

[whipsey]

how did you blank the hose off at the back i need to do mine

[ric325i]

if the e28 is in good nick dont break it! you will regret it!

breaking an e34 is better for many reasons

1 - e34 engine is much better suited for the e30
2 - e34's are pretty ugly. you can get nice ones but they will always be big old barges
3 - e28's are one of the coolest bmw's made!!!! well for reasonable cash anyway.

i would love an e28

[whipsey]

if the e28 is in good nick dont break it! you will regret it!

breaking an e34 is better for many reasons


2 - e34's are pretty ugly. you can get nice ones but they will always be big old barges
3 - e28's are one of the coolest bmw's made!!!! well for reasonable cash anyway.

i would love an e28

i have both

[adit]

if the e28 is in good nick dont break it! you will regret it!

breaking an e34 is better for many reasons

1 - e34 engine is much better suited for the e30
2 - e34's are pretty ugly. you can get nice ones but they will always be big old barges
3 - e28's are one of the coolest bmw's made!!!! well for reasonable cash anyway.

i would love an e28

for sale: bmw e28, good condition, needs engine!

[papercutout]

Get an E34 - you can pick them up dirt cheap atm, one guy I know managed to get an E34 535 WITH Tax and MOT for an astonishing £200ish! I was amazed. So aim for less than £400 and be realistic. Better an E34 than wrecking a more interesting, rarer E28 or something.

As Rich says, E28's rock, and I'm still very tempted by an M535i at some point!

As a side note, the dogleg box was optional, and obviously not everyone ticked that box, so you do get E28 M535's with a normal box I think.

[ric325i]

if the e28 is in good nick dont break it! you will regret it!

breaking an e34 is better for many reasons

1 - e34 engine is much better suited for the e30
2 - e34's are pretty ugly. you can get nice ones but they will always be big old barges
3 - e28's are one of the coolest bmw's made!!!! well for reasonable cash anyway.

i would love an e28

for sale: bmw e28, good condition, needs engine!

whats the details then? any mot bla bla bla??? someone should find an e34 535 and do you a swap! id hate to see an e28 being stripped just to stick the lump in an e30.

thats my personal opinion.

whipsey you luck get

[Rav335uk]

I agree, the e28 m535i I had ages ago, 1991 , was a beast and should be left alone, buy a e34 535i and strip that ugly thing

[johnl320]

how did you blank the hose off at the back i need to do mine

find an e34/e32 m30 in the breakers and take the rear plate off the head and swap it for the one on yours with the pipe sticking out. Or take your plate off cut the pipe off it weld it up.

john

[Andy335Touring]

I have a spare E34/M30 sump and oil pump that you need for the swap, PM if you want them.