2.5 sport with 2.7 bottome end , what does this mean ??

[si911t]

I have just had my 325 sport in for MOT and thankfully it passed without too many advisorys .

Whilst up on ramp Inspector said it had a 2.7 bottom end and he insisted that it was something the car came with from teh factory ?

The MOT inspector has had and still does have an E30 so I would guess he knows what he is talking about.

I did contact the previous owner who is 100% adamant that NO engine upgrades where done and he was and is the only previous keeper as stated on log book.

So my question is How can a 325i which on the log book and on the original spec sheet state its a 2.5 but have a bottom end which is 2.7??

Can this be possible or has the previous owner changed the bottom end and is not owning up to it ?

If this is the case, what does this mean to me ? does it increase power/torque etc ?


Also the MOT guy said its not a Genuine Motorsport BMW but just a Sport ??

I know its a genuine sport as I have the original spec list from Cotswold BMW and Log book and any internet search with the reg number comes up with sport.

I thought there was just se or sport , what is the difference in the sport and the motorsport?

He said a motorsport has 325is on the back and not just 325i .

And finally the lsd was 3.91 he said that was good but good do with upgrading, what does that mean ?

Any help especially on the 2.7 bottom end would be appreciated as I have not informed my insurance company that it has been modified because as far as i was concerned it was a complete standard sport.

ps. passed MOT yeeeehaaaaa!!!

Thanks

[magpie]

bigger petrol bills!

[si911t]

I guessed that much! . But seriously has it been modded? as I only ever wanted a standard unmolested 325 sport and feel a bit done over if its been modified in any way .

[magpie]

dyno it

[Speedtouch]

It's probably bog standard! The engine number on the machined flat to the right of the inlet side engine mount, just above the block:sump interface should say 25 6K, indicating low compression M20B25; an eta 2.7 engine from a 525e will say 27 6K.

The 3.91:1 LSD is standard on late sports. They are OK, if a little low geared, but with a standard low compression M20B25, this is what you want.

[Simon13]

he's full of sh!t to me it seems!

[TouringTash]

Only a week or two to go then a certain member will be back (hopefully) and he'll be able to check via the engine number. Have you given the engine number to BMW as they will know what it is.
As far I as I know an 'S' on the back is only standard on 318iS and 320iS.

Have you checked the numbers against the log book?

[oldroydsr4]

he's full of sh!t to me it seems!

Fully agree, the smell of bullsh!t is awful.

As far as I'm aware there was only a 325i sport, the only motorsport was with the cabs. There was a 325is evo2 but I doubt he was refering to this as these are mega mega rare.

Also I doubt the car is a 2.7, if the former owner had carried out all the expence and time involved in the conversion then surely he would declare it when it was sold in an attempt to get some of his invested money back?.

[Steve-E30]

he's full of sh!t to me it seems!

Blunt but straight to the point

[TouringTash]

he's full of sh!t to me it seems!

Flying the flag for Barry

[si911t]

Right - I need to check the engine number against the log book - thats easy i can do that.

do you think cotswold bmw will be able to advise if I give them the engine number?

I did ask them for sepc list and they sent that within a day , but that does state on it that its 2.5. i hav etaken a print screen of the spec list :

Vehicle information

VIN long WBAAA120903580736

Type code AA12

Type 325I (EUR)

Dev. series E30 ()

Line 3

Body type LIM

Steering RL

Door count 2

Engine M20

Cubical capacity 2.50

Power 125

Transmision HECK

Gearbox MECH

Colour DIAMANTSCHWARZ METALLIC (181)

Upholstery ANTHRAZIT STOFF (0269)

Prod. date 1988-12-07


Order options
No. Description
200 KATALYSATOR - ENTFALL

206 FUENF-GANG-SPORTGETRIEBE

209 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (25%)

215 POWER STEERING,DEPENDING ON ENGINE SPEED

288 LT/ALY WHEELS

333 M TECHNIC SPORTPAKET

339 SATIN CHROME

350 WAERMESCHUTZGLAS GRUEN, RUNDUM

401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC

410 WINDOW LIFTS, ELECTRIC AT FRONT

481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER

497 CENTRE ARMREST IN REAR

500 HEADLIGHT WASHER SYS/INTENSIVE CLEANING

562 MAP READING LIGHT

704 M SPORT SUSPENSION

708 M-SPORT LEATHER STEERING WHEEL II

812 ENGLAND VERSION

850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT

925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE




Is he full of sh1t? Maybe, but I know for definate he has always as far back as i remember had e30s mainly cabs and he is quite handy with the e30.

I will try and show some bm speicalist, there is one local 'boundary garage in rossendale' but he can be quite expensive and sure he will charge a bit just to get it up on ramps, is there anyway I can tell myself if i go under it if its a 2.7 bottom end ?

Thank you

[Brianmoooore]

No UK spec. E30 from BMW was supplied with a 2.7 engine.
The only way a 2.7 could be identified from the outside is by the engine type number, which, as said above, will start 27.
The cylinder head on your car will be marked 2.5 and 2.7, which just means it fits either.
If it does has a 2.7 engine, the bottom end probably came from a 5 series 525e, which used an economy engine built by BMW, using a severely restricted head and cam design, to produce a high torque low power engine in spite of the 2.7 capacity.

[oldroydsr4]

To be honest , if had a got a 2.7 and only paid for a 2.5 I would be happy.

Does the original engine number match the one in the car? If so what are you going to achieve by converting it back to a 2.5 other spending lots of money and make your car slower. Ultimately if all the number match then who cares?

[si911t]

If this helps, he said there are 2 bolts where the top end and bottome end join.

Top bolt says 2.5 and bottom bolt says 2.7??

Its all confusing, if you see the sepc list above , its what Cotswold sent me it says power 125?? and even i know its got more than 125????!!!

[si911t]

To be honest , if had a got a 2.7 and only paid for a 2.5 I would be happy.

Does the original engine number match the one in the car? If so what are you going to achieve by converting it back to a 2.5 other spending lots of money and make your car slower. Ultimately if all the number match then who cares?

original number does match the one on the engine.

I just wanted a standard unmodified sport and by looks of things the previous keeper has f@@ked the engine and modified it or teh guy from MOT shop has got it wrong.

Trust me, I will NOT be spending any money converting the car back to a standard 2.5 if it has indeed been upped to 2.7.

I think I need to get 2nd opinion and get a proper bm specialist to have a look under it.

[TouringTash]

But thats not a BHP reading I'll bet.

[si911t]

The cylinder head on your car will be marked 2.5 and 2.7, which just means it fits either.

This could possibly explain the markings of 2.5 and 2.7 on the bolts ?

[si911t]

But thats not a BHP reading I'll bet.

what you mean ? if i get it on dyno will that show if its a 2.7?

[Brianmoooore]

125 about right for the eta engine in standard form?

[si911t]

125 about right for the eta engine in standard form?

125bhp or mph ?

I have an e46 320d 2005 and that has been remapped up from standard 150bhp to 193bhp and this 325i sport can pretty much keep up but I get him in the diesel just about, no way is it only 125bhp impossible!

[jonny323i]

i cant see bmw printing the engine capacity on bolts as that would lead to allsorts of confusion thats more like a manufacture stamp to identify what type of bolt it is

[paulie1969]

If this helps, he said there are 2 bolts where the top end and bottome end join.

Top bolt says 2.5 and bottom bolt says 2.7??

Its all confusing, if you see the sepc list above , its what Cotswold sent me it says power 125?? and even i know its got more than 125????!!!

The 125 is Kw, converts to 167.63 BHP

[si911t]

Is there anyone of you guys who is in or near manchester who can have a look and confirm ? I will obviously pay for your time ( within reason), as I feel i will get an honest proper answer off someone here?

[magpie]

125 about right for the eta engine in standard form?

125bhp or mph ?

I have an e46 320d 2005 and that has been remapped up from standard 150bhp to 193bhp and this 325i sport can pretty much keep up but I get him in the diesel just about, no way is it only 125bhp impossible!

my m40 318i would do 125mph bless it.

[CHR1S1990]

Is there anyone of you guys who is in or near manchester who can have a look and confirm ? I will obviously pay for your time ( within reason), as I feel i will get an honest proper answer off someone here?

i'm sure many would be more than happy to help, but they'd only do what you could do yourself

It's probably bog standard! The engine number on the machined flat to the right of the inlet side engine mount, just above the block:sump interface should say 25 6K, indicating low compression M20B25; an eta 2.7 engine from a 525e will say 27 6K.

do this. Post up the numbers which you have, also do this for the head

[Simon13]

well its not a performance 2.7 thats for sure as good 2.7's with 200bhp plus walk away from 320D's remapped or not.

[e30topless]

Is there anyone of you guys who is in or near manchester who can have a look and confirm ? I will obviously pay for your time ( within reason), as I feel i will get an honest proper answer off someone here?

I live in Huddersfield, just over the hill from you ,

bring it on a dry day and I will test it for free

[si911t]

Is there anyone of you guys who is in or near manchester who can have a look and confirm ? I will obviously pay for your time ( within reason), as I feel i will get an honest proper answer off someone here?

I live in Huddersfield, just over the hill from you ,

bring it on a dry day and I will test it for free

Ok thats brilliant. I will do , lets pray for a dry weekend !

[CHR1S1990]

indeed lets pray, if he's planning on testing it with his big right boot

[si911t]

Is there anyone of you guys who is in or near manchester who can have a look and confirm ? I will obviously pay for your time ( within reason), as I feel i will get an honest proper answer off someone here?

I live in Huddersfield, just over the hill from you ,

bring it on a dry day and I will test it for free

Ok thats brilliant. I will do , lets pray for a dry weekend !

f off i just realised what you meant ! I can test it like that myself but I dont need a dry day

[magpie]

traction in dry conditions is a better test.

[Dezzy]

^ fooking quick off the mark there weren't you? Hope your "2.7" is quicker than that.

[Andyboy]

Whilst up on ramp Inspector said it had a 2.7 bottom end and he insisted that it was something the car came with from teh factory ?

Also the MOT guy said its not a Genuine Motorsport BMW but just a Sport ??

He said a motorsport has 325is on the back and not just 325i .

And finally the lsd was 3.91 he said that was good but good do with upgrading, what does that mean ?

Sounds like a real expert!

Factory cars only came as 2494cc, have '325i Sport' on the V5 and the 3.91 LSD is just fine.
Also, the 2.7 and 2.5 blocks are the same so unless he read the engine number, he ain't going to know.....

Later heads were cast 2.5/2.7 due to late 325e's using the 885 (2.5) cylinder head.

[Morat]

He's right that the Sport wasn't built by the same people who made the M3... but is still the same as any other UK Sport.

[si911t]

^ fooking quick off the mark there weren't you? Hope your "2.7" is quicker than that.

Been a long day mate.

I be quicker tomorrow