m30 tuning
Moderator: martauto
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
ok looking at sticking an m52 in a car oif mine but also looking at the m30 as a back up and possibly easier swap, only not keen on the power outputs was wanting more toward the 200bhp mark. is there any engine thats best to go for? 2.5? 3l? what relitively easy moids can you do to get more performance out the engines?
any advice much welcomed guys!
any advice much welcomed guys!
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Rav335uk
- E30 Zone Meets/Events Team

- Posts: 27985
- Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Mad mad mad
M30 is 211bhp in normal guise, or 220+ in sport mode. 

If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

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- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
hmmm what shit have i been reading then........unless it was at the wheels?
sorry i know my m50/m52 but not much about the other engines, what about the m20 aswell? any good?
is that the 325 or 330 your reffering to aswell?
ta
Jon
sorry i know my m50/m52 but not much about the other engines, what about the m20 aswell? any good?
is that the 325 or 330 your reffering to aswell?
ta
Jon
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Rav335uk
- E30 Zone Meets/Events Team

- Posts: 27985
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- Location: Mad mad mad
I'm referring to a M30b35, which is a e34 535i engine.
I have one in my cab btw and it is a lot of fun, easy to do, 3 days from start to finish if all the parts are there.
It's called the old faithfull as it goes on and on and on if looked after
I have one in my cab btw and it is a lot of fun, easy to do, 3 days from start to finish if all the parts are there.
It's called the old faithfull as it goes on and on and on if looked after

If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 14099
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
With a chip such as the ones I supply, you can easily get the venerable old M30B35 senior six to a reliable 220+ bhp with masses of torque all the way, and they'll rev to 7000+ rpm as well owing to the strong forged crank and timing chain as opposed to the cambelt of an M20.
I had my own 1988 535iSE up to 7500rpm on a few occasions, and a few other Zoners with 335i conversions will testify to the fact that the chips work as claimed.
There's no doubt about it, the M30B35 is a very tough engine, it was produced for over 25 years as a mainstay of BMW's prestige models, used in the 535i, 635i, 735i, Alpina B3 3.5 etc. Certainly not to be underestimated - it's as hard as nails!
I had my own 1988 535iSE up to 7500rpm on a few occasions, and a few other Zoners with 335i conversions will testify to the fact that the chips work as claimed.
There's no doubt about it, the M30B35 is a very tough engine, it was produced for over 25 years as a mainstay of BMW's prestige models, used in the 535i, 635i, 735i, Alpina B3 3.5 etc. Certainly not to be underestimated - it's as hard as nails!
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
ta guys! apart from ebay are there any places recomend to get the engine+box+loom, basicly it will be going in my spitfire if i cant get the m52 to fit
thanks again for the advice! i shant believe google again!:P
thanks again for the advice! i shant believe google again!:P
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Rav335uk
- E30 Zone Meets/Events Team

- Posts: 27985
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- Location: Mad mad mad
Buy a donar car as this way you can see the engine running and have all the neccessary parts to hand

If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
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Jhonno
- Homo Hair
- Posts: 20362
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: FLAT, FLAT, FLAT!!
It if is going into a spitfire then you want the M52!! Much lighter engine.. 230bhp is an inlet manifold and remap away
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winx
- E30 Zone Camper

- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: almost certainly not working on my E30...
donor cars can be had from ebay with tax and ticket for under £300. I just bought one and it ran pretty sweet before I robbed the engine!
These engines can break if abused, hence me buying my second engine! (not my abuse that this one died from!) But they are lovely when running amd make the e30 go fairly well:)
These engines can break if abused, hence me buying my second engine! (not my abuse that this one died from!) But they are lovely when running amd make the e30 go fairly well:)
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
yes i know thats why im trying to fit it first but its a VERY tight fit, i need to move it back about 9" and it could be a problem with the clutch and steering rack, aslong as i can get it back far enough to clear the steering rack it should be faily easy conversion.Jhonno wrote:It if is going into a spitfire then you want the M52!! Much lighter engine.. 230bhp is an inlet manifold and remap away

just looking at alternatives aswell ;) but the alloy engine and 24v is deffo 1st choice ;)
thanks again guys!
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Jhonno
- Homo Hair
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Well if you can't fit an M52, you wont fit an M30!!!
Which sump have you got on? E36 or e34?
What are the possible rack and clutch issues?
Which sump have you got on? E36 or e34?
What are the possible rack and clutch issues?
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leeparkes
- Married to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 9538
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Black country
Cool projectJonysideways wrote:yes i know thats why im trying to fit it first but its a VERY tight fit, i need to move it back about 9" and it could be a problem with the clutch and steering rack, aslong as i can get it back far enough to clear the steering rack it should be faily easy conversion.Jhonno wrote:It if is going into a spitfire then you want the M52!! Much lighter engine.. 230bhp is an inlet manifold and remap away
just looking at alternatives aswell ;) but the alloy engine and 24v is deffo 1st choice ;)
thanks again guys!
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place..
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leeparkes
- Married to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 9538
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- Location: Black country
+1Jhonno wrote:Well if you can't fit an M52, you wont fit an M30!!!
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place..
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
well i will have to get a custom sump made as the original one totaly fowls the chassis, and just redposition the oil pick up.

the rack issue is that i really need to get the engine back far enough so i clear the rack and can drop the engine down so i can clear the bonnet (want it to be totaly standard looking, no horrid buldge in the bonnet (apart from the gt6 one already there
) you can see where the steering rack sits roughly compared to the engine in this pic

and if you look in the original pic the clutch master is located right next to the brakes master (to the right of the hole in the bulkhead) which is right where the engine will be sitting.
alot of this however could be made easier if the m52 can be ran upright but im still trying to get a definitive answer to that Q at the mo! unless anyone here knows?

the rack issue is that i really need to get the engine back far enough so i clear the rack and can drop the engine down so i can clear the bonnet (want it to be totaly standard looking, no horrid buldge in the bonnet (apart from the gt6 one already there

and if you look in the original pic the clutch master is located right next to the brakes master (to the right of the hole in the bulkhead) which is right where the engine will be sitting.
alot of this however could be made easier if the m52 can be ran upright but im still trying to get a definitive answer to that Q at the mo! unless anyone here knows?
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
the m30/m20 engine does look to fit a tad better by this pic, just trying to find out more about that conversionleeparkes wrote:+1Jhonno wrote:Well if you can't fit an M52, you wont fit an M30!!!

he has however moved the steering rack to underneath the chassis which id be very interested to see how that handles as quite often with its messed with it just totaly fucks it up, which is why i dont want to mess with mine if i can help it!
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Jhonno
- Homo Hair
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Would having the sump bulge at the front help?
I can almost guarantee the M52 will fit just as well as the M30!
I can almost guarantee the M52 will fit just as well as the M30!
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gareth
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 11009
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: hastings, east sussex
that's an awesome project!
might be worth talking to turbo-brown on here. he has a long term project involving a E36 M3 (S50B30?) engine in a GT6
might be worth talking to turbo-brown on here. he has a long term project involving a E36 M3 (S50B30?) engine in a GT6
Sole founder of Fe2O3-12V it's a lifestyle

LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details

LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

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- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
thast brave! i had thought about it but thought cost and TOO much power for the car, with the m52 with m50 mani and bbtb will give a better power to weight than a normal e36 m3! will find him out and have a chat with him! there goes my hopes of being the only bmw 24v triumph lolgareth wrote:that's an awesome project!![]()
might be worth talking to turbo-brown on here. he has a long term project involving a E36 M3 (S50B30?) engine in a GT6
and ye should be a good project! i want it not only for the power though, i also want to video the old purists faces when they see whats been done to it

that was when i first bought it, running around 140bhp, since has had new wheels, customs mx5 seats fitted, just bought some caterham light weight seats too!
along with the engine conversion it will have a scooby lsd diff with coilover rear end
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
ah yes just looked at turbo browns page and yes i have seen that before, totaly new chassis etc so proabably wouldnt be that much the same will deffo get in touch with him though as he hasnt updated his website for years!
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gareth
- E30 Zone Team Member

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he's been too busy building throttle bodies and twin turbo 325i's. have a look at his carbon fibre projects in this forum 
Sole founder of Fe2O3-12V it's a lifestyle

LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details

LSD rebuilding / modification services provided, PM for details
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appletree
- E30 Zone Addict

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Theres a TR6 with an S50 engine and running gear in aswell....
So you might be the 3rd person with a bmw 24v triumph
So you might be the 3rd person with a bmw 24v triumph

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
M42 Supercharged 285bhp + M3 6speed box
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Jonysideways
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:00 pm
oh yeh i know about that, i was thinking in england though ;)
ok il rephrase it, i want to be the only Spit628i in the village

ok il rephrase it, i want to be the only Spit628i in the village


