M30 conversion guide - WIP; input required!

Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:05 am

Supposed to release a few extra horse and also the engine revs abit quicker, but having said that, i've used the origional m30 dualmass flywheel and it does drive alot smoother and no juddering when in 5th at 25 30mph, but up to you really on what the cars for, a daily drive or just a weekend toy

Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:02 pm

e30_singh wrote:May be a cheaper option than an aftermarket one.
What it does it feel like?

Sing Gee....
Lightweight flywheel increases effective horsepower by reducing rotating inertia, A big improvement right out there !! For what you are considering, look what this guy did:

http://38csi.com
Also you can do this Oil Spray bar mod DIY :
http://www.cscoupe.org/tech/spray_bar_fix/70590.html

Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:48 pm

I just wanted to see if anyone else with m30 swap had done this, to see what they think about it. Before i decide to get one.

I got to rebuild my one up so i might as well change the flywheel whilst i am at it.

Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:58 am

A standard E32/E34 M30 flywheel weighs about 15kg, an E28 M30 single mass one weighs about 10.5kg (my scales aren't accurate enough to be more specific) so it's quite a good saving.
Plus a single mass is usually more reliable, less to go wrong!

I never drove mine with a dual mass so I can't give an opinion on how different it is, but from experience I very much doubt it's like a night and day difference to be honest.

Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:52 am

Before I do the elecrtic's. I have looked at the c101 plug and,pin 15 green/black wire mod to make the heater fan work, It is already live. Do I still run this the the starter as the heater ect has no power ?.

And the economey pin's are diffrent coulors, pin 3 is brown purple and pin 8 is correct black purple. Do I still swap these ?

Thank's in advance.

Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:58 pm

Started stripping the M30 down today, but the manifold bolts were all in akward postitions and i was hungry and tired so i gave up and came inside.

Will remove the exhaust manifold tommorow and go from there. I hate them bolts under the manifold, they felt all rusty and tucked away so tight

Still made some progress....

Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:24 pm

e30_singh wrote:Started stripping the M30 down today, but the manifold bolts were all in akward postitions and i was hungry and tired so i gave up and came inside.

Will remove the exhaust manifold tommorow and go from there. I hate them bolts under the manifold, they felt all rusty and tucked away so tight

Still made some progress....

I also hate exhaust manifold nuts.. guarenteed to slow you down.

Have you started a build thread?? if not why not, come on man we want pictures

Always good to see other projects progressing

Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:49 am

I don't like build threads and i don't like taking photos; usually because im too greasy to handle a phone!

Im going to check my mail etc then go outside and undo the downpipe then attack the head bolts and remove the head today, if I don't it will feel like a waste of a day, especially when I booked a day off from work.

Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:22 am

Glad to hear there's another one in progress! You really would be better off with a proper thread about your progress though - this one's supposed to be a guide and is long overdue a tidy up!

Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:06 pm

My manifold has been welded to the downpipe, there are no bolts i can open and loosen! Im going to have to cut the exhaust system off

Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:26 pm

Go on, singh, lets see some pics. I did mine late last year and put pics up and a little write up.
This helps others you go down this road and you may have simpler solutions where others have strugled.
This Zone is for information and help, so the more people posting on builds, the better for everyone.Check out my post.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=115269

Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:26 pm

Hey Guys,
I posted this in another thread here then I saw this thread, so I am reposting it here...

I am doing an M30 Swap too, here is mine

I am going the M30 B38, or 12v S38 route....
I am building it as we speak.
I am using an Early M90 Block to get the 94/95mm bore,
using an s38b38 90mm crank and rods, Custom LTW Pistons,
a later B35 Big Valve Head with a 290 Cam,
using the latter model Motronics with custom chip...

this set up should give me, a very solid, very reliable 300 HP/ 300 TQ motor and If I miss a shift, (money shift) I am not out another $4k USD to rebuild the S50/52 Head...

It will have more grunt than the S50 and will outrun it stop light to stoplight,
the S50 will have more topend but here in the states there are very few places to see top end speeds...

I have only posted here once or twice but I will keep you guys informed to my progress,
it is being transplanted into a '89 LachSilber Cabriolet with an E30 M3 5 lug suspension underneathe it.

Also, you can also use your stock Flywheel and have it machined to lighten it, saving even more money...

There is also guys here in the states who are now making plug and play wiring harness' to do the b35 conversion swaps easier ....

anyway,

I Just thought I would say Hello from the Sunshine State of Florida,
love your site guys!!

Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:34 pm

Keep it comin

Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:36 pm

Sounds like you should start your own thread about that, very interesting!

Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:54 pm

Thanks,

I will start a thread once I have some good pics,

the donor euro M90 block just arrived last month (very hard to find here) and I sent it, along with the S38 bits, to a friend's shop for tear down and machine work,
he is doing the bottom end rebuild for me,
he will probably do the entire rebuild as I work alot (Exec. Chef) and I want it done before the October Fest BMW Gathering here.

Once I have good pics, I will post them.
I am so excited about this damn motor,
I have had the S38B38 parts for a few years now,
I was going to put them in my E28 M5 but since it was a low mileage car (73K) I didn't want to ruin the originality of it.

I sold the M5 last year to a good friend and located the LachSilber Cab, then the e30M3 suspension, I am just starting this project so stay tuned....

I am right now refurbishing the e30 M3 suspension bits, new bearings, rebuilding the calipers, paint, powdercoat ect , new rotors, pads ect ...

My cabby has a hardtop and black sport interior, I am going to run 17" E36 M3 DS II wheels amoungst some other things,

I have been in BMW's for quite a while and have had 3 M535i's, a M635i and a M5.

Now, I just have to learn how to post pics here...

Thanks for the encouragement and stay tuned for pics...

Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:06 pm

Sounds amazing dude, pics please

Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:46 pm

As some of you know im in the process of the M30 swap and for my swap im keeping the M20 prop by swaping the gearbox flanges over,
ill be the guinea pig and let you all know if it holds out with the M30 torque (unless someone has already done it)

Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:22 pm

Lee, i wouldn't do that as the flanges are smaller.Have a custom prop made for about £80, thats what i paid for mine, m30 front welded to rear m20 one.

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:05 pm

Its a bit of an experiment rav,
i opened up a thread to see how much stick the m20 prop can take

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=129857

Ive done some research too and it seems the m20 prop is quite strong and can handle some decent power.i also knew a guy with a 2.7 with a 50 shot of nitrous,I got in touch with him this week and he said he never had any issues with the prop donut etc,the 2.7 pushed out 204 bhp without the nitrous on reliable rollers

The swap will cost nothing to do and if it does go bang then ill go down the custom prop route with the knowledge that the M20 prop dont agree with the M30

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:06 pm

Good luck with that mate and let us know how it works out

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:13 pm

Watch this space!

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:18 pm

leeparkes wrote:Watch this space!

With eager eye's mate

Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:39 pm

Im going to clean and paint the engine before it goes in but cant decide what colour combo to go with

im thinking block done in silver,inlet mani done black with polished stamps but the rocker im not sure,gunmetal???
i feel a poll coming on

Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:12 am

How much does a 335 engine conversion usually cost? Ball park figure?

Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:22 am

Assuming you do all the spanner work yourself, if you allow £500 for a half decent 535i manual donor car (which could get some of that back from selling leather seats etc.) then another £500 on top will usually cover the rest of the parts.

If you are doing it a bit posh with new clutch, water pump, sump gasket etc. then maybe a few hundred more.

Then you'll want a l.s.d., bigger brakes, beefier suspension, E36 / Z3 steering rack, Z3 gear lever............ (but then again, you want those anyway)!

Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:19 am

So your looking around 2k if i get it fitted?

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:27 am

A budget of around 2k is about right. I had it all saved up as well

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:11 pm

ImysE30 wrote:A budget of around 2k is about right. I had it all saved up as well

I paid about that including the cost of the donar car

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:13 pm

Rav335uk wrote:
ImysE30 wrote:A budget of around 2k is about right. I had it all saved up as well
I paid about that including the cost of the donar car

There's a 335 project for sale on here

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:19 pm

Who??

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:32 pm

This one:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=130560

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:42 pm

seen it, not for me

Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:50 pm

The_Diddler

Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:31 pm

read the entire thread, but can't find out who to quote, but never mind.
someone asked about an e36 rack in an m30 e30? I've done it, could really do with an ally coupling in the collumn though- its tight to say the least. probably going to melt to mush when it hits the road but it does clear the header. using e34 manifolds, cut off and slip jointed front, slightly modded front down pipe, front section from an e34 535i, rear system is e36 328i (it was laying around...)

I have a stack of pics to upload, then I'll do a build thread on the car. using a set of beefys mounts which fit real nice.
also someone asked about the 528i e28 gear box- not worth it if you get a later style one. early ones (upto '82 I think) use the getrag 260 split bellhousing box, later ones an all in one style box that doesn't really do longevity.
hope thats of some help to someone, might try and find a better pic of that column and manifold though.

Tue May 12, 2009 6:44 pm

Right, ive just read through this an made myself a list, but im abit confused about the prop/gearbox combo, mine is a 91 316i, which i always thought was m40, i had a look in the back of performanceBMW, an it says all E30 316's are m10, is this the case or an error or something??
Thanks, Mark