E30 M20 into E34

[E30BeemerLad]

I may have the chance of a reasonably tidy J plate E34 525se from a neighbour. I have to wait until his son who owns it returns from holiday and there is an actual diagnosis, but they think the belt has snapped.

I am possibly gonna make him a cheeky bid of Ԛ£100 for the car as the old man was talking about it being scrapped.

If so instead of mincing around with heads etc would it be easier just to source another M20 2.5 lump and if so, knowing I have a better chance of sourcing an honest M20 lump from on here, do I need the later low compression lump from a post 88 car? Are there any other differences to an M20 out of an E30 to what is already in the E34?

It could turn out to be a decent cheap run around and give the E30 a bit of a break from the daily abuse

[dazleeds]

i got an early 323i eng/box cheeep D

[E30BeemerLad]

cheers Daz, I'll bear that in mind. Might be a bit underpowered for that size of car though

[Andy325i]

Earlier this year I sold my mint E30 M20B20 to a guy to go into an E34.
The guy told me that it didn't fit due to the engine mounting points being in a different place on the E30/E34 Blocks. He later told me he managed to overcome this somehow(?) Everyone I spoke to said that they should be identical in terms of mounting points. So check this out when looking at it.

Another issue is the dipstick tube. On one it goes into the block, and one it goes directly into the sump. Can't remember which is which This isn't a big problem to overcome though.

As Regards to 100 pounds for the car, thats not that cheecky.

I would call cheeky paying 50 pounds for an almost mint 1992 525i (24valve) with a blown gearbox. :D:D:D:D:D

Kind regards

Andy

[Widge]

I have just taken my early 2.5 M20 engine to pieces and the oil dip tube goes in to the block but very low down just above the sump.