Difference between M30 and M60/M70

[chu346]

What is the difference between these motors?

So I know
M30 3.5liter 12 valve, 210-220bhp
M60 4.0liter 32 valve, 286bhp
M70 5.0liter 24 valve, 300bhp

But what do these engines drive like? I currently have an M30 but don't like the power delivery. I want something that's not only more powerful, but higher reving and that has more power higher up in the rev range.

Has anyone driven with both of these engines in an E30?

[SHAZ325iSPORT]

driven my e30 with a m60,sold it,regret it,building another one now.

cant wait till its finished,serious fun and power!

[chu346]

How does it compare to an M30 or M70?

I find the M30 slow

[SHAZ325iSPORT]

ive got a m30 at the moment as a daily driver

u can NEVER compare a m30 to a M60,waaaaaay too much power!

[chu346]

Is more high reving, like I assume due to it being 4valves per cylinder?

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

I have the M30 in my E30, and the M60 in my E32.

Night and day comparisons. M60 is a far, far better engine. More modern, significantly quieter valvetrain, more charachter, as much low/mid range torque as the M30 but with the higher rev kick you want. Does use a little more fuel though, but I am comparing E30-M30 manual with E32-M60 auto so not really a fair comparison.

Put it this way, even though the M30 is a lot of fun and already in and working in my car, I am very tempted to replace it with an M60.

Manual box availability (and thus price) is an issue on the M60s though.

Martin.

[chu346]

Sounds good,

Can anyone compare the M60+M70

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

Personally, I would discount the M70 *unless* you simply must have a V12. Much bigger engine to squeeze into the E30 bay, and manual gearboxes are absolute fortunes if they ever come up.

Martin.

[chu346]

If I went M70 I would probably want to go auto anyway. You say the M70 is bigger, but surely it just longer as it's a 60' V compared to the M60's 90' V so it's slimmer and will be easier to make manifolds for if I decide to go turbo

[Kos]

i have driven e30's with all of them 3 engines you mention

they are all lazy but the one that feels the liveliest is the M60 V8. with a lighter flywheel they do rev much harder and i'd say is the pick of the bunch

an m30 3.5 can be made to rev, just needs an e28 M5 flywheel, spiky cam and ditch the airflow meter for a maf. leep parks was dropping an alpina m30 into his e30, it may be worth getting his POV on the tuned m30 ?

power wise, the m70 v12 will pretty much demolish all of them. the torque is insane. i have driven and e30 with one and a 6sp box. it was fast and it made me laugh, the V8 i drive a few times was colins oze30's whos set up ended up i shaz's car. its was pretty lively, but not a patch on a v12 equipped e30.

[E30BeemerLad]

I've got a M70 tucked away and will be keeping the auto box on it. She's going to run my E30 drag car with a naughty shot of gas

[chu346]

I'll give you £200 for it

[E30BeemerLad]

I'd more than double my money on that deal

[chu346]

What do you want then? Cash or cheque?

[E30BeemerLad]

I ain't gonna sell it mate, not until I have started the swap and then given up

[Jonsku]

I had M30 in my cabrio before i swapped the M60 in. Both engines are relatively similar under 2000-3000rpm but after that the V8 has much more grunt all the way to the redline.

When i had the M30 i always felt that there was lack of power in the higher rev-range, but the V8 fixed that "problem" very well indeed

M70 is too much hassle and delivers similar power to M60. Also, it's more like M30 in that sense that it's very flat and "most powerful" in the lower rev-range..

[chu346]

When i had the M30 i always felt that there was lack of power in the higher rev-range

That's exactly what I'm experiencing.

[chu346]

I ain't gonna sell it mate, not until I have started the swap and then given up

Hurry up and give up