An M30 swap/general playing with E30 scrap thread

[E30Gheko]

I'm sure either would be a substantial improvment on the M40 lump I've just extracted!

[leeparkes]

What power do M52's put out with just the manifold swap and is it a direct fit?

[Jhonno]

Direct fit..

205-210bhp ish..

[fowler]

if you decat an m50 with some good manifolds and exhaust you can get 210 m52 de catted with M50 manifold is a real weapon
ther are some sticky threads about it the M30 is dog excrement engine and you will use a rad too small and it will get cooked not a worth while conversion INMHO M50 OR M52 ALL DAY LONG

[leeparkes]

if you decat an m50 with some good manifolds and exhaust you can get 210

What manifolds and exhaust?

[fowler]

fritzs bits manifold and exhaust for the e30 with an m50 fitted in it

[leeparkes]

What would an m52 put out with these on?

Oh and how much?


Sorry Gheko for the highjack,i want to do another swap soon.

[fowler]

they are made for the M50 only i think. not entirely sure
i would get an early 1994-1996 M50 2.5 put the manifolds on it. then save up some pennies and then supercharge it for a daily driver with 300bhp
sounds good to me lol

[E30Gheko]

A new fritzbitz manifold will cost in the region of £900 I'm lead to believe.

[leeparkes]

and how much?

EDIT: £900 is that just for the manifold?

[ImysE30]

Yep, daimlerman bought one for his M50

[Rav335uk]

Still thinking Lee???

[Jhonno]

Nothing wrong, whatsoever, with the tubular m52, bollocks to this paying 900 for a manifold for a non M engine

[leeparkes]

Gheko,if i was in your shoes i would still go for an M30,there not all tired old dogs! and they do make an E30 good fun despite what folk say.

it is also the easiest swap out of the two and if its your first swap it makes it ideal,it will fit in the e30 with minimal effort and no headaches.

Some say the m30 is an old engine,well yes it is but how old is a non vanos m50? 17/18 years old?

Im not saying the M50 is sh!t but id say the M30 would suit you better.

You wont be dissapointed!

[Jhonno]

Just 99.9% of them these days..

How do you know it is the easiest?!

The 24v lumps are so easy to drop in, the only fab work is the manifold and even then a competent welder can do it fine..

Most of the lumps still make the power also, unlike the old boat anchor lumps

[Rav335uk]

I would agree with lee, as there is NO fab work to do.
It drops in with ease, wiring is p155 easy, and can be done over 4 days if everything is to hand.
I can't comment on the M50 conversion as i haven't done one yet.
My next one is a E21 M30b35 project

[Jhonno]

I'd hardly call the manifold major fab work, esp when you will need to feck about with exhausts for BOTH conversions

The wiring is piss easy on an M50/52 also

24v lump can be done in the same time scale

[Rav335uk]

But the m30 exhaust work is what??? Turning the joint 90 degrees, heat up, no cutting and turn.
That's it.
M50 is cutting and welding??
Is the M50/2 wiring a couple of wires??

[Jhonno]

It is a tiny bit of cutting and welding.. Hardly anything over the top of the M30..

It is about 8 wires off the top of my head.. Takes about 30 mins

I am not saying the M30 swap doesn't work/achieve anything, but cost wise these days it isn't really any cheaper to do, much harder to find in a manual setup and you have a heavier old 2v/cyl engine that has done stellar mileage at the end of it

[ImysE30]

Has anyone got a picture of a modified M50 manifold and an un-modified one?

Would like to see what the difference is

[E30Gheko]

Has anyone got a picture of a modified M50 manifold and an un-modified one?

Would like to see what the difference is

Me 2! If I get a picture to my local welder he says he can pretty much do anything..

[leeparkes]

Has anyone got a picture of a modified M50 manifold and an un-modified one?

Would like to see what the difference is

Me 2! If I get a picture to my local welder he says he can pretty much do anything..

Whats the plan now then?

[E30Gheko]

God alone knows! I'm makin it up as I go along! It'll be something good though!

[daimlerman]

Has anyone got a picture of a modified M50 manifold and an un-modified one?

Would like to see what the difference is

Me 2! If I get a picture to my local welder he says he can pretty much do anything..

Whats the plan now then?

Seem to remember seeing one in the M50 thread,main issue is the need to 'slim down' the rear manifold to keep it close to the block,then sweep the downpipes back to clear the ARB,sounds easy,I tried but failed!

[leeparkes]

There's someone breaking an E34 535i manual on here,(northhampton)

You might need to register

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39866

[gareth]

for a first conversion, i reckon the M30 will be easier and more straightforward. however, if i was doing another, i'd drop a 2.8 M52 in.

fabrication on the M30 in my case was limited to cutting the downpipes short and welding on a flange to mate to a stock M3 system.

prop can be M3 so no fabrication needed there either.

engine mounts, just buy some.

the M30 is a good engine but find one that's been looked after as E34's and E32's are at an age where a lot of them have run for 5 years on the same oil/coolant etc. not good. I picked up a FSH 98k 735i donor for £100.

another thing if you're thinking of using it as a daily driver, a M30 is easy to convert to LPG using readily available parts. If you're lucky, you can find a manual LPG'd donor car as a lot have been coverted. on a run (with a 3.91 diff too) i can get 100 miles to a tenner

that said, 123456789kevin got nearly the same economy as me on the zone roam with his M52B28

the only oher thing, depending on your feelings on the subject... a M30 looks very much like a M20, it's from the same era and looks like it should be there. the amount of plastic tat on a M50/2 somehow just looks wrong in a E30. a M30 just feels and drives like a bigger M20 but without cracking heads or changing cambelts.

[leeparkes]

for a first conversion, i reckon the M30 will be easier and more straightforward. however, if i was doing another, i'd drop a 2.8 M52 in.

fabrication on the M30 in my case was limited to cutting the downpipes short and welding on a flange to mate to a stock M3 system.

prop can be M3 so no fabrication needed there either.

engine mounts, just buy some.

the M30 is a good engine but find one that's been looked after as E34's and E32's are at an age where a lot of them have run for 5 years on the same oil/coolant etc. not good. I picked up a FSH 98k 735i donor for £100.

another thing if you're thinking of using it as a daily driver, a M30 is easy to convert to LPG using readily available parts. If you're lucky, you can find a manual LPG'd donor car as a lot have been coverted. on a run (with a 3.91 diff too) i can get 100 miles to a tenner

that said, 123456789kevin got nearly the same economy as me on the zone roam with his M52B28

the only oher thing, depending on your feelings on the subject... a M30 looks very much like a M20, it's from the same era and looks like it should be there. the amount of plastic tat on a M50/2 somehow just looks wrong in a E30. a M30 just feels and drives like a bigger M20 but without cracking heads or changing cambelts.

Gareth,i agree with your entire post apart from the prop,im using the M20/b25 manual prop by swaping the flanges over on the gearboxes,3 months on and a lot of wild card starts and abuse its holding out fine!

Exhaust, the standard 325i exhaust slides snugly into the m30 downpipes and clamped up with no welding needed i am looking for a 50mm m3 exhaust just to finish it off but again no issues with the 325i system apart from its a bit too quiet for my liking

Oh and yes the M30 does look like it belongs in the bay,m50/52 looks very neat in the bay but an M30 looks like a mans engine and the look on peoples faces when you pop the bonnet is a picture (especially at the dealers)

[gareth]

the only problem with sliding the 325i exhaust up inside the M30 downpipes is that you're running a massively reduced bore area. somewhere near 25% smaller than it should be. fine to get you on the road though. the M3 system is the exact same size

oh, i have broken two M20 guibos with a M20, hate to think what i could do with a M30! i've seen what it can do to a small case diff

[leeparkes]

I know what your saying with the exhaust m30 should be 50mm OD and the 325i is 46mm OD (see sig)

[Daf318is]

Nooo! Just seen this thread - dont spend all the time and effort cleaning up that shell only to put the wrong engine in!

The M50 fannymould is not difficult at all - mine is coming off next weekend as I'm putting a new cylinder head on mine so if you want to call round and see it you are welcome. If I have time I was going to take it off and make up a template so I can have a stainless one made - could always get a price on 2 !

If you're worried about M50 wiring just speak to DanThe, he makes looms up which will plug straight in and are a factory fit

[Bob_S]

you can m50 an e30 for 500 quid. Been there prooved that.

m50/m52 engine, wiring is easy, swop the sump, stick an m42 gearbox on 325i prop.. and on a standard rack you dont even need to cut the manifold it's just a case of popping some downpipes on and meeting you your system of choice.
With all the parts needed and a bit of prep before hand you can have it in and on the road in a weekend with a couple of helpers.
You get a more modern engine with in the case of the m50's a little less power than a 3.5.. an M52 will certainly push an m30 for all it's got too

[Daf318is]

you can m50 an e30 for 500 quid. Been there prooved that.

m50/m52 engine, wiring is easy, swop the sump, stick an m42 gearbox on 325i prop.. and on a standard rack you dont even need to cut the manifold it's just a case of popping some downpipes on and meeting you your system of choice.
With all the parts needed and a bit of prep before hand you can have it in and on the road in a weekend with a couple of helpers.
You get a more modern engine with in the case of the m50's a little less power than a 3.5.. an M52 will certainly push an m30 for all it's got too

Think this is the first time I actually agree with Bob! I'm only 6 miles away and I'm more than happy to give you a hand drop a proper lump in there! I'm sure Bob would come down to help too.

I could tack the manifold up for you then you could take it to your welder to finish off if you wanted

[E30Gheko]

OK OK. M52 rock bottom budget what do you reckon?

[Bob_S]

m50 m52 not an aweful lot in it tbh.

I can help yes not a prob. Got a fair few parts too, sumps, wiring etc.
As for m52 prices.. whatever you find one at, I've heard of 500 quid cars and 100 quid engines..

[E30Gheko]

It looks as though engine choice will depend on suitable donor availability for next to nothing. Watch this space!