I think ive just found my donor,but have a few questions!!!

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:32 am

right the donor is an E34 3.5 auto 1991 j-reg
obviously i want it manual,so let me get this right
is it just the
gearbox,
flywheel,
clutch,
spigot bearing,
is there anything else i need? ie,ecu tps ect...

thanks (in advance)

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:41 am

Manual TPS has less height than the auto one and wont foul the bonnet, auto ECU can be used as too can the auto loom. On mine I removed all the auto connectors to tidy it up, you'll also need a 325i gear shift linkage assembly and obviously a suitable prop.

Good luck with it all

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:45 am

Assuming it's a cable throttle and nothing odd than you're bang on. the TPS is different but only as it has extra switching to control the auto gearbox kickdown. I changed my TPS to a manual one simply for a little bit more bonnet clearance as the manual one is physically smaller. the auto ECU has a slightly lower rev limit i believe but otherwise it's fine.

being an auto, chances are it's had a easy life too

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:48 am

the car its going in is an 88 325i so linkage is sorted,
how much would i expect to pay for the box and flywheel (ill be buying a 'new' clutch)

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:13 am

You're using a kebab to mod your car?

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:18 am

M30 manual boxes are hard to find. i ended up paying £250 for a E34 manual box and E28 flywheel from a specialist BMW breaker. another £100ish for a recon clutch (which is still fine several years along and after a lot of stick)

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:19 am

ivqii wrote:You're using a kebab to mod your car?

my bad,edited now

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:22 am

gareth wrote:M30 manual boxes are hard to find. i ended up paying £250 for a E34 manual box and E28 flywheel from a specialist BMW breaker. another £100ish for a recon clutch (which is still fine several years along and after a lot of stick)

£250 for a gearbox

ive heard the M10 box fits (is it strong enough)
how much was the flywheel?

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:23 am

730 e32 manual box is good too. And a few people have used the e30 dog leg which i belive was off a 323 (not 100% on that) Just to give you more option's.

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:38 am

my box was from a E34 530. the £250 included the E28 flywheel. as i said, it was a 'specialist' supplier i had to go to so i had to pay 'BMW tax' on it but at the time it was the last part i needed. i had got a E32 735i with 98k and FSH and a sweet engine for £100 so it wasn't too bad all-told

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:48 am

can my M20 slave cylinder be used?

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:04 pm

i think i used a E34 one on mine as i bashed the E30 one while pulling it all apart

the realoem site reckons a 1989 E30 325i has a different p/n to a 1989 E34 535i but it might be worth checking your exact age cars. the difference looks to be down to piston size (20.64mm against 22.2mm) which with the larger M30 clutch seems to make sense. GSF list the same part for both E30 and E34

www.realoem.com/bmw is your friend and can be very useful

Post Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:18 pm

leeparkes wrote:can my M20 slave cylinder be used?

Yes

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:11 am

gareth wrote: the realoem site reckons a 1989 E30 325i has a different p/n to a 1989 E34 535i but it might be worth checking your exact age cars. the difference looks to be down to piston size (20.64mm against 22.2mm) which with the larger M30 clutch seems to make sense. GSF list the same part for both E30 and E34

I wonder if that's why my clutch has always felt rather heavy!

I never drove the E30 as a 325i so I didn't know how it was before, I did suspect this might be the case though.

It's ok most of the time but my leg does start to ache a bit sometimes in stop-start trafic.

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:13 am

could well be, also the perfect excuse for leaving long number 11's every time you pull away

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:29 pm

I don't need an excuse!

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:17 pm

DRIFTBOY wrote:
gareth wrote: the realoem site reckons a 1989 E30 325i has a different p/n to a 1989 E34 535i but it might be worth checking your exact age cars. the difference looks to be down to piston size (20.64mm against 22.2mm) which with the larger M30 clutch seems to make sense. GSF list the same part for both E30 and E34
I wonder if that's why my clutch has always felt rather heavy!

I never drove the E30 as a 325i so I didn't know how it was before, I did suspect this might be the case though.

It's ok most of the time but my leg does start to ache a bit sometimes in stop-start trafic.

I'm in the same boat, heavy clutch, but luckily still have the e34 one to hand, so will be swapping that one over soon and see what difference that makes

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:52 pm

Mine feel's lighter than it did on the m20. I put it down to a new clutch and bearing tbh. I can't see the slave making any difference at all regardless of size.

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:44 pm

Heavy clutch will be down to the cover plate

Post Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:02 pm

Bore diameter will make a difference, on both force required to operate the clutch and distance the pedal has to move to fully disengage it.
I'm also stuck with a smaller bore slave cylinder which gives you a shorter movement on the pedal to fully operate the clutch but more effort required to push it.

john