got an idea. is it a good one?

[themills]

i have a rather nice 3161 lux touring, its an L reg in green and is a very good example of a non abused E30. it has been owned by a father, then his daughter (as a kid school run second vehicle) for around 8 years.
heres a quick pic.

[/img]

[leeparkes]

looks clean, so whats the plan?

[themills]

as much as i like it (and often use the fact its an "estate" for loading, collecting ect) it is very under powered and a little boring to drive because of the lack of power.

i have a couple of options. sell it and buy a 325i touring (but i do like my touring) or do an engine swap.

thats where the "good idea" comes up.

i got offered a 325i manual K reg E36 coupe today and bought it.....oooops.

will it be a viable option for an engine swap?

is it worth it?

here it is. i know the pics arent great but ive just got in and ill clean it up and take better pics in the daytime.

Cheers Millsy

[themills]

looks clean, so whats the
plan?

blimey, that was quick.lol

should make more sense now ive added a second half to my post.

[leeparkes]

Yes its a good idea, the swap has been done many times

The donor car looks like a good breaker too.

[themills]

good thats what i was hoping, and the point about the breaking is also what i was hoping. it has "angel eye" headlights, clear and red rear lights instead of the standard orange, good doors etc, and the best bit, brand new 235/35/19 tyres on TSW polished lip alloys. plus all the rest of the interior, switches, panels, shell etc. (which is mot, taxd and has logbook)

theres also my original E30 316i engine, box ancilleries etc which is in exellent condition. so hopefully i have enough in spares to cover the cost of conversion.

any one recomend anyone willing to take on the job around the cornwall area? especially if they are in need of parts for either car?

Millsy

[E30BeemerLad]

That is a splendid idea

Contact a member called Eko, Tony has done plenty of these swaps now and I think he's in Torquay.

My 2.8 lump is a nice 99 steel linered block example with only 79k on the clock and it ended up standing me at around £100 after i'd sold a few morsels off the E36 it came in

[toby]

Bizarre that the E30 is newer than the E36. If Tony hasn't got time there's always Fritz Bitz.

[UweM3]

very nice estate!
But what's with the brakes?

[themills]

That is a splendid idea

Contact a member called Eko, Tony has done plenty of these swaps now and I think he's in Torquay.

My 2.8 lump is a nice 99 steel linered block example with only 79k on the clock and it ended up standing me at around £100 after i'd sold a few morsels off the E36 it came in

cool, ill search him out and pm him to see whats what. mine has a fair few more miles than that but my thinking is that once the conversion is done, if anything else needs doing it should be a standard job as such.

[themills]

Bizarre that the E30 is newer than the E36. If Tony hasn't got time there's always Fritz Bitz.

lol, i thought that at the time, the E30 being newer than the donor car.

[themills]

very nice estate!
But what's with the brakes?

what is with the brakes?

[themills]

ok, been in contact with EKO. spot on,we now have a plan

the E36 went through the mot with only a couple of bushes and bulbs needed.

im on the lookout for some of the conversion parts now and as soon as i have them, im in business.

i have put a post in for sale for the rest of the E36 (everything except the engine and rack) and the engine and bits that are coming out the E30 to provisionally sell some of it as i cant have a shell in bits around too long.

M50 power here i come

Millsy

[themills]

oh, and heres a better pic of the E36

[Brianmoooore]

Lovely touring you have there! My favorite E30 colour.
These late tourings were built to a higher standard than the saloons, and with new dampers and the odd suspension bush should be absolutely as new.
The M50 conversion will be well worthwhile and ideal for this shell, and Eko is the man to do it.
One small spanner in your plans - you can sell the excess touring parts on here, but not the E36 scrap - strictly E30 parts or parts usable on an E30 only.

[themills]

Lovely touring you have there! My favorite E30 colour.
These late tourings were built to a higher standard than the saloons, and with new dampers and the odd suspension bush should be absolutely as new.
The M50 conversion will be well worthwhile and ideal for this shell, and Eko is the man to do it.
One small spanner in your plans - you can sell the excess touring parts on here, but not the E36 scrap - strictly E30 parts or parts usable on an E30 only.

cheers, yes my touring is really nice, just a little underpowered, if only there was a way of getting it to have the power and smoothness of my E36........oh wait, there is....

i here what your saying on the selling of the E36 tat thats left, but i am only having the engine and rack, im using my original gearbox etc. So the E36 gearbox, prop etc will still be available for an E30 conversion if someone is going that way.

just thought id offer it on the forums before the likes of gaybay and the like.

Cheers Millsy

[Dave_M3]

I'm sure the front lights and lots of other crappy E36 bits would be uselful to the chav brigade putting E36 fronts on E30s

Touring looks like a right good base. M50 or better is the only way to go these days if your taking an engine out of an E30 unless its a rare E30 or holds some value with the original engine like an M3, Sport, Hartge/Ac Schitzer/Alpina or even the mighty 318iS

[themills]

ok, been on the lookout for some of the conversion parts since last week and was offered the chance to strip a lhd 325i moredoor for some bits. So todays job was to do exactly that.

I managed to take the engine and box out in one hit, split the box, and remove the exhaust. my back aches.

So i now have

Starter Motor (looks new)
Flywheel
clutch and release bearing
Gear Linkage/lever
Front half of prop
Rear Exhaust (Twin exit and looks new)
Centre exhaust (but rattly box so will probably get another)
Gearbox Mounting Plate (not sure if needed so took it any way)
Clutch cylinder as mine is creeping to the floor
and a few other bits and bobs.

Also while i was at it i removed the front foglights as mine has none, a 6 button obc, a momo gearknob,steering wheel and boss, and possibly another few bits before saturday when its off to the scrappies.

Millsy

[themills]

The car i swore at today


and the engine

[themills]

my Touring loaded for the journey home


and some of the bits laid out at my house

[themills]

and the rest of the bits.




May go back and grab the dash clocks, headlights and anything for spares i may need, or am i just filling the garage up with stuff ill never need?

Still, nearly there on my quest for bits.

Millsy

[Cook318IS]

Nice to see your not hanging around your patio looks alot like my dining room did oh wait... it still sort of does

[Brianmoooore]

Got the loom for that OBC? It's useless without it.

[themills]

Nice to see your not hanging around your patio looks alot like my dining room did oh wait... it still sort of does

lol. Trouble with me is, once i have something in my head, i dont hang around. Everyone i know thinks im mad. At the moment i have 2 perfectly good bmws with mot tax and insurance and im going to merge them into 1 and its going to cost me money to do it. Even my wife thinks im mad but i know what im doing.......dont i?

[themills]

Got the loom for that OBC? It's useless without it.

No, actually i havent. I was told about the loom earlier but i ran out of time, if i can id like to get back to get it and have it fitted to my car when i get it converted but if not ill just sell it on as a replacement for someone who has one thats not working.

Millsy

[eko]

Millsy if its still intact then grab the LHD HVAC panel(bit where the radio and OBC goes in) as these sell for around 25 quid to those with TV headunits.
More funds towards your project

[themills]

Millsy if its still intact then grab the LHD HVAC panel(bit where the radio and OBC goes in) as these sell for around 25 quid to those with TV headunits.
More funds towards your project

Cool. if i get a chance ill go back and grab the obc loom and dash clocks as well. How does the bits i already got look? nearly there now

[eko]

Millsy if its still intact then grab the LHD HVAC panel(bit where the radio and OBC goes in) as these sell for around 25 quid to those with TV headunits.
More funds towards your project

Cool. if i get a chance ill go back and grab the obc loom and dash clocks as well. How does the bits i already got look? nearly there now

You certainly made a start thats for sure
Just seen these listed on another forum.Should be the ones you need and good price too......

2 x Exhaust manifolds + Lambda sensors - £30 + postage

Let me know if your interested and ill send him a PM

[themills]

yes, if they are the correct ones, then definately. if im not mistaken, that would mean im only missing sump,oil pick up and dipstick for the whole lot. that correct?


Millsy

[Cook318IS]

I'd be tempted to buy the 88*C thermostat too to help with the cooling. I always remember ben telling me that it makes a huge difference. Mines got one and it sits perfectly on the mid mark on the gauge with no fan on - even on idle

I'd also be tempted to buy new engine mounts. the e28 m5 ones are stiffer than the e36 m50 ones. I did start out replacing the odd bit here and there.... and then i got a bit carried away really! It really depends how far you want to go.

[eko]

yes, if they are the correct ones, then definately. if im not mistaken, that would mean im only missing sump,oil pick up and dipstick for the whole lot. that correct?


Millsy

Electric fan,Clio servo,1 x E34 steering knuckle.....

Ive sent the seller a PM,will let you know

[Cook318IS]

What gearbox are you using millsy? The m40 box?

[themills]

I'd be tempted to buy the 88*C thermostat too to help with the cooling. I always remember ben telling me that it makes a huge difference. Mines got one and it sits perfectly on the mid mark on the gauge with no fan on - even on idle

I'd also be tempted to buy new engine mounts. the e28 m5 ones are stiffer than the e36 m50 ones. I did start out replacing the odd bit here and there.... and then i got a bit carried away really! It really depends how far you want to go.

This is the reason im trying to do it as cheaply as possiblenow as i know ill be like, ill just change this, ill just change that etc etc. for now, i just want to collect the minimum needed to get it done and ill see how much i change/upgrade from there.

[themills]

What gearbox are you using millsy? The m40 box?

yes, going to use my original box to save me changing diff etc to get correct ratios. checked the 325 i broke today and it wasnt an lsd so decided to leave the box as is.

[Dave_M3]

May go back and grab the dash clocks, headlights and anything for spares i may need, or am i just filling the garage up with stuff ill never need?

Still, nearly there on my quest for bits.

Millsy

Nah, you can never have enough spares once you have space to store them with some sort of organisation.

Definitely go back for more bits anyway if its all coming free