M52 conversion... Advice/Info/Tips

[ImysE30]

Swaying toward's one of these conversions for my cabby instead of the M30B35 conversion.

Bascially just looking for some helpful advice/tips on what to look out for and what part's to get, is the M52 conversion the same as the M50?

How much should i be looking to pay for a 328? I've seen a couple around the £800 mark.

Just looking at the moment, want to be prepared for end of summer when i will be doing the conversion

TIA
Imy

[leeparkes]

Read the mahooosive M50 sticky if you dare!

ive seen 328i 'donors' go recently on e-bay for around £500-£600,ive nikasil engines are bad news also someone on here said if you have head gasket issues the engine is virtually scrap,(apart from the crank)
you will need the sump,dipstick etc from an E34 but on the plus side you will already have the engine mounts and the ecu will sit under the dash where E30 intended.
put an M50 manifold on and a remap and you will see some nice figures,the downside is its not a cheap conversion but it is a very nice one!

Oh and 'manifold modding'

[SM AUTOS]

If it helps I may have a complete M50 conversion available at the end of the summer. It's in my car at the moment, runs well and is in daily use. The only reason I will be getting rid is I have a doner E36 with a S50 which I will be pulling out to go in the E30.

As above, you need a e34 sump and dipstick, modify the 328i manifolds (or buy some bloomin expensive custom ones) and a smaller brake servo, (mk1 golf or clio).
As for the running gear mine has the original m50 gearbox and a 328i prop, but there are other options.
Numerous other things to think about as swapping the temp guage sensor for a e30 one, modifying the wiring, cooling etc etc....

It is a very worthwhile conversion, totally changes the driveability of E30's, and the 2.8 does go very well with the m50 manifold

[fowler]

ring Ant @ A-tech he has everything ready for a M52 swap sitting in the workshop
not a bad swap to get rid of the tired old M30 donk
Number is below (01959534718)
Ben

[daimlerman]

M50/M52 is basicly the same swap with the same issues/problems to overcome. M52 is the 'stroked' version of the M50,,in much the same way as an 'eta' engine is a 'stroked' M20. Other difference between M50 and M52 is the block material,the earlier M50 is cast iron in the conventional way and the later M52 is cast in aluminium,making it a little lighter.The bores on the M52 therefore needed a coating of a hard matieial to withstand wear,this is the 'nickosil' issue we hear so much about.As far as I can discover,M52 is identical to M50 except for stroke length,so an M50 block with M52 crank/rods will get over the block issues on the later engine.It is still early days with my M50,but it seems to lack the low down grunt of my 2.7,but is much quicker at higher revs.I would expect the extra capacity and longer stroke of the M52 to overcome this complaint!Fitting snags? Electrical issues with the engine loom/EWS to resolve and the exhaust manifold to solve,for the exhaust you need to be a first class welder/fabricator or have access to such skills.This was the main issue that I had,also the main thing now that is keeping Beemerlad's project on the drive.But the howl from the M50 when you wind it up is worth all the blood,sweat ant tears..

[ImysE30]

What sort of budget to do the whole swap, including all parts?

[dips346]

imy you have pm ,bell me otherwise

[blingsta]

nothing wrong with the m30 donk !!! just whack a turbo or charger on it and it will kill an e46 m3

[ImysE30]

nothing wrong with the m30 donk !!! just whack a turbo or charger on it and it will kill an e46 m3

My original choice but we talking big bucks £££££. Sadly can't afford that at the moment.

M52 seem's a better engine, more modern and possibly better on fuel???

What diff is used with the M52? I originally purchased a 3.46 for the M30, can i use this?

[daimlerman]

What sort of budget to do the whole swap, including all parts?

I paid £350 for my donor E34.Depends really on what else you need/want to do at the same time.Also depends on your solutions to the exhaust and engine wiring issues.IF you can sort these yourself I see no reason why an M50 swap need cost more than,say,£700.You may even get lucky and sell off unwanted E34 bits and end up with a 'free' engine..but be warned,if you need to buy a custom made exhaust manifold as I have done,costs rise accordingly. I would expect that an M52 engined donor would cost more,but all you need is the crank and rods in addition to an E34 525.. 'nickosil' is your friend here... but re-build costs for the engine may well spiral out of control with all the bits that it will be a 'good idea' to re-new whilst you have the thing in bits.

[Daf318is]

If budget is a big restriction you could go M50, they are dirt cheap and make for a damn good fun car !

[ImysE30]

I will have a budget of around 2k, that should be enough shouldn't it?

[Daf318is]

I will have a budget of around 2k, that should be enough shouldn't it?

2K should get you a lot of engine should be able to do a very tidy M52 for that!

[ImysE30]

I will have a budget of around 2k, that should be enough shouldn't it?

2K should get you a lot of engine should be able to do a very tidy M52 for that!

Roll on end of summer, will be the 1st M52 Cabby IIRC

[dips346]

I will have a budget of around 2k, that should be enough shouldn't it?

2K should get you a lot of engine should be able to do a very tidy M52 for that!

Roll on end of summer, will be the 1st M52 Cabby IIRC

fraid not

[ImysE30]

2K should get you a lot of engine should be able to do a very tidy M52 for that!

Roll on end of summer, will be the 1st M52 Cabby IIRC

fraid not

Someone got one on the Zone?

[dips346]

Someone got one on the Zone?

not on zone as far as i know

[ImysE30]

Someone got one on the Zone?

not on zone as far as i know

I've only seen/read about M50 & M30 cabby's. Even had a look on Youtube and there isn't one.

More the merrier

[Rav335uk]

You'll need more money kid

[ImysE30]

Another 1k or so?

[Rav335uk]

Put it this way, nick your dads credit card

[ImysE30]

Surely can't be that expensive?

[Rav335uk]

I'm sure someone will tell you soon

[DanThe]

Depends where your shopping Imy

[ImysE30]

True say. Basically just trying to get a rough idea so when i decide to do it later on in the year or most likely get someone else to do it i know i have enough funds available

Don't want to start something and then end of being short on money/parts

[ImysE30]

Can you use a 3.46 diff?

[dips346]

Can you use a 3.46 diff?

should be good but a 3.07 might be better

[ImysE30]

Can you use a 3.46 diff?

should be good but a 3.07 might be better

Asking because i got one sitting in the shed, still in the box unopened

3.07, which E30 did that come in?

[UweM3]

Can you use a 3.46 diff?

should be good but a 3.07 might be better

Asking because i got one sitting in the shed, still in the box unopened

3.07, which E30 did that come in?

a 3.46? LSD? I am going to fit 3.25 to my S50 but 3.46 doesn't sound bad to me either (mostly track used car). You don't want to sell it?

[ImysE30]

should be good but a 3.07 might be better

Asking because i got one sitting in the shed, still in the box unopened

3.07, which E30 did that come in?

a 3.46? LSD? I am going to fit 3.25 to my S50 but 3.46 doesn't sound bad to me either (mostly track used car). You don't want to sell it?

Not a LSD sadly, just a standard open diff