definative m50 swap part's/guide

[si-]

a few week's ago i picked up a clean 325 touring to replace my rusty 325 3 dr but 5 mile's later the hg went 200 mile's on a recovery truck and it''s been sat waiting ever since

my first plan was to use the 2.5 out the 3dr swap that in and job jobbed, but obviously as the engine is coming out id be daft not to look into other option's

ive looked into the 3.5 swap as there's loads of definative guide's etc

but i cant find a from the start write up on the m50 2.5 24v swap would someone be willing to write one up??

i know there is a thread but it's 30page's long and although there is good info it isnt what id call a how to so to speak, as there'slot's of non applicable stuff to sift through along the way, basically im after what part's are needed and a quick writeup on bit's that need fabricating etc along the way

is someone willing??

cheers
Si.

[dicko]

Here is my write up on a Irish forum , its a bit shorter than the 30 page job ,
Hope it helps http://www.e30owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4827

[DanThe]

Its not meant to be a 'how to' its just a discussion about how different problems were solved along the way, there are obviously lots of different ways of doing things but you need to get in there and decide for yourself on how you want to do things

[si-]

im not shy to get my hand's dirty and deciding whats best but i do like to have some knowledge and direction to begin with

the 3.5 swap guide in this forum is great guess i was wondering if someone had the inclination to do the same for the 24v engine

dicko - cheer's mate that's a good base for me to start figuring it out

[daimlerman]

Two areas of M50 swap that you need to consider carefully.
1) engine wiring loom-all the relevant information is buried somewhere in that M50 thread.
2) exhaust,as the M50 sits at a different angle to M20,exhaust manifold/downpipe need to be fabricated from the BMW parts bin,or bought,(expensively)from Fritzbits,although I heard a rumour last week that Auto mac can make one cheaper.Once again,a how to is in the thread.
Most other bits are bolt together and a matter of searching out the correct part from a different BMW.

[si-]

thats kind of what im after what part's are needed and from which car's for example the masatercylinder/servo setup ive seen a few different one's used but why?? what's better about one that's not so good about another.

ill have another proper mooch through that thread it was just that there was lot's of non relevant info which get's a bit irritating when you after hard fact's

[E30BeemerLad]

Although not a definitive "how to" guide, there should be some useful info in my conversion thread here

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=93838

[daimlerman]

thats kind of what im after what part's are needed and from which car's for example the masatercylinder/servo setup ive seen a few different one's used but why?? what's better about one that's not so good about another.

ill have another proper mooch through that thread it was just that there was lot's of non relevant info which get's a bit irritating when you after hard fact's

I used the standard master with a plastic winged clio servo.
IF you get a selection of servos to choose from,look for the longest pedal end clevis connection!
Agreed that the M50 thread is difficult to follow,but the guys who posted it were finding a way to do the conversion,so we can all learn from their mistakes.
Making notes whilst reading helped me sort the mistakes from the facts,then asking to have some issues in words that I could understand helped me!

[DanThe]

ill have another proper mooch through that thread it was just that there was lot's of non relevant info which get's a bit irritating when you after hard fact's

What you have to consider is how irritating those who have done the conversion find it when people turn up asking for a walk through guide or to list the problems and how they solved them when this has been gone through god knows how many times before.
There is a search function at the top of the page which works very well

[Brianmoooore]

There's no definitive guide, because there's no definitive method - for instance, some use VW Golf servos, some use Clio servos, or you can use the standard E30 servo, as I have, and move it sideways.

[si-]

ok so maybe not a definitive guide but as i said, in the stickies there is a 'guide' for the m30 swap, its the same thing there's many way's of doing certain thing's option's for mount's exhaust's etc etc so some have been listed and other's have added to it, i was only wondering if someone was willing to do the same for this swap

tbh for the benefit of anyone wanting to do the swap not just myself

i am fully paid up member of the 'use the search button' fellowship, but this is the reason for my original request lot's of stuff to sift through and no 'how to guide'

[leeparkes]

As said there is so many ways to do it,the best way to get what you want is as daimlerman sugested,spend a night with a note pad next to you and read the M50 sticky jotting notes as you go.

ie,brake servo: which would be easiest for you,clio golf or move it over?

manifold: cut and weld,use a solid steering linkage,move the linkage over,even which manifolds to use?

Then its your choice of gearbox,m42,m20,m50?

Then choosing the radiator???

The list goes on,exhaust,engine mounts,donor car etc....

Honestly you really need to read the sticky and do it YOUR way!

Good luck

[monkey]

i used an e34 m50 . m42 gearbox . modded 328 exhaust manifolds into a home made single pipe exhaust system . lightened m20 flywheel ,m20 starter and clutch . e36 325 rad . shortened prop and gearlinkage . clio 2 servo with a spacer between it and the master cylinder . All worked for me . get reading chap it will take you as long as fitting the m50

[DanThe]

To add to Lee's point, I could tell you to go to BTB with £1400 odd to solve the exhaust problems, its definitive, but probably not the way you want to do things

[Brianmoooore]

i used an e34 m50 . m42 gearbox . modded 328 exhaust manifolds into a home made single pipe exhaust system . lightened m20 flywheel ,m20 starter and clutch . e36 325 rad . shortened prop and gearlinkage . clio 2 servo with a spacer between it and the master cylinder . All worked for me . get reading chap it will take you as long as fitting the m50

Apart from an E34M50 engine, there's not one part in that list that I used in my first M50 conversion. There's no right or wrong way.