m50/2 into a '90 4dr 320i

[craigd]

im looking to change my engine for either th m50 or m52 lump.
before i go out and buy the donor e36, which parts do i need from different cars to make it all fit in?
If its any help the donor car will be in perfect working order so any e36 bits should be on there.
The only part of the exhaust that i'll need is the manifold, as the rest will be custom built.

The e30 is a '90 4 door saloon 320i. I've heard that stronger struts from the cabrio would be benificial, but apart from that, im a complete novice.

Also which engine has more tuning potential? when its finished im aiming for 300bhp normally aspirated

[Brianmoooore]

The most important parts you will need, for which there are no alternatives, are the sump, oil pick up pipe and dipstick, from an E34 5 series with either a 2.0 or 2.5 M50 engine.

[craigd]

anything along the lines of engine mounts, exhaust manifold, fuel line, steering column? and would the gearbox work with my existing lsd?

[Brianmoooore]

Someone suggested the other day that the sump etc from a 728 would work too?? Comments?

I remembered that just as I posted!
That single post was the first I've heard of it. Maybe true, but until someone comes along and confirms it, I don't know.

[RichIS]

ohhh craig am i going to have to write you out a list again this is wat ive used on mine
e28 m535 engine mounts
a custom steering linkage off DanThe off here with e34 uj
the 328 tubular manifolds are goin to be fettled slightly to fit
m42 gear box with m20 fly clutch and 323 release bearing
custom wiring loom by DanThe
plastic winged clio brake servo
and proberlm more stuff i cant remember at this time in the moring

[blue30]

I've got a 1990 320i more-door with an M50 non-vanos in it, I used -
e34 sump & oil pickup pipe
e36 mount arms
e34 m50 mount rubbers
e36 M3 manifolds w. end pipe modded to clear steering column
custom connection to standard 325i 3-piece system
318 e30 gearbox
e36 fly & clutch, e30 slave cylinder
my original gear linkage
year 2000 ish clio brake servo (w. spacer in mas. cyl). to clear the manifold
did the wiring myself after googling and reading here a bit
Kept the original rad and header tank
cone filter on the intake.
Moved the pas resevoir down onto the engine mount arm, w. the shorter hoses from the e36 (m50 intake hose gets in the way of it otherwise)
320i prop needed adjusting at the spline joint.

Fuel lines standard, uprated fuel pump from the bay

If you use the 318 e30 box you can keep your existing LSD as 5th is the same ratio as the 320i box. If you use a e36/e34 box/prop combo you'll need a longer ratio diff as 5th on those is the same as 4th on an e30 box.

I heard tales that one of the newer 6-speed 330i boxes can be used but haven't got much info on that one yet TBH.

If you want 300bhp NA you might be better just getting an S50! Fair cop though be interesting if you can get an M50 up there.

HTH You can come and look at mine if you're near Stoke.

[bimanut]

Someone suggested the other day that the sump etc from a 728 would work too?? Comments?

I remembered that just as I posted!
That single post was the first I've heard of it. Maybe true, but until someone comes along and confirms it, I don't know.

I`ve been doing a bit of digging and it looks like the 728 will work on the M52 swap as the 728 E38 model uses an M52 lump and the sump sits at the front.

[Brianmoooore]

as the 728 E38 model uses an M52 lump and the sump sits at the front.

Are you sure of this? I know the ETK diagrams can't be relied on 100% to show the shape of things, but it clearly shows a rear sump for this model.

On a related subject, does anyone know what change was made to the M50 E34 sump in 02/94, and if it has any significance?

[bimanut]

I think that this is an M52 lump.
As you can see the sump is at the front.
I wait to see if i`m corrected if wrong
Because i`m crap at computers i cant get the link to work.
The item number on e bay is 230432614853

[DanThe]

That sump looks E30 friendly to me