m535i engine and dogleg gearbox conversion

[BMW_E30vert]

has anyone fitted this to an e30 before just wondering what prop shaft could be used ?
i have the option of buying a car with this setup but it has no prop so just needed info before i committed myself to buying

[Rav335uk]

Prop is easy, I had a custom one made for £100

[BMW_E30vert]

would i need a certain prop to get customised?

[Rav335uk]

I used the origional front half front the E34, had it cut, welded and balanced to the rear half of an E30 prop from here, for £100 all in, painted too.

http://www.davemacprops.com/dmphome.html

[BMW_E30vert]

cool this car has a dogleg gearbox and the engine is from a e28 m535i what would be the best prop to use the actual owner of the car says i need a e36 328i prop

[Rav335uk]

Not sure on the size of the dogleg box, but on an E34 swap with manual box you can use the E36 prop by swapping the centre bearing back to front.

[Bristol_Jer]

Rav, I'm not really sure where the 'swapping the centre bearing from back to front' came about when using a e36 prop? The centre bearing (at least on the e36 328i prop I used) is already in the right place, you just need to swap the bearing housing for an e30 one.

OP, can you measure the length of the dogleg box, and also what engine mount arms are you using, and which position on the engine mounts?

[Rav335uk]

If you read "Ziggys" M30 build with input, it states it in there.
I didn't go down that route, so only quoted what I read there to the OP's question.

[Bristol_Jer]

Sorry mate, that sounded like I was having a dig, I didn't mean it like that

I just meant that in my experience a 328 prop fits fine when using an e34 engine and box. Also using Lee's engine mount arms in P3

[Rav335uk]

No worries dude, but the way I went worked out better for me, rather than hunting down an E36 prop.

[BMW_E30vert]

im going to see the car tomorrow so would try and get all the info needed, also is there anything i need to look out for on a m30 engine?

[Rav335uk]

Make sure it starts with no smoke, should idle properly, and ther should be no oil around the front cover.
Other than that tbh, they are bullet proof engines.

Let it idle and keep an eye on the temp guage.

[Bristol_Jer]

Am I right in saying to check for noise from the top end of the engine due to oil starvation to the cam?

[BMW_E30vert]

thanks for the advice guys il post back tomorrow with a good result hopefully

[leeparkes]

M30's are tappy up top anyway but there a difference between a tick and a knock.

Prop wont be a problem, just need to measure from the gearbox flage to the diff flange and go from there.

[johnl320]

E28 has a different sump that wont fit above your subframe you will need an e32/34 sump and oil pick up you will also need the blanking plate for the rear coolant pipe coming out of the head. Listen for gearbox rumbling when you are stationary in neutral, I used one of these boxes for a while but swapped it out because it sounded like it was going to self destruct.


Good luck

[leeparkes]

E28 has a different sump that wont fit above your subframe you will need an e32/34 sump and oil pick up you will also need the blanking plate for the rear coolant pipe coming out of the head.

I can get all these items, albeit from a 3.0 engine but should be the same.

Did you go to see it then?

[BMW_E30vert]

right sorry for the delay guys finaly got round to see the car today and ended up bringing it back on the trailer the car needs quite a bit of work the gear linkage needs some sort of shortening the rack is touching the manifold radiator needs fitting also couldnt start the car so dont know if engine or gearbox are any good on the plus the owner claims the car is a motorsport its got the full motorsport interior its an f plate and its metallic nogaro silver is there a way i can verify its a motorsport online?

[leeparkes]

plus the owner claims the car is a motorsport its got the full motorsport interior its an f plate and its metallic nogaro silver is there a way i can verify its a motorsport online?

You need to post this question in 'E30 chat' as you will get more folk to help. If it is a genuine Motorsport id be inclined to pull the M30 out and revert it back to standard.

Any pics?

[BMW_E30vert]

il post some pics up tomorrow as i was quite excited so totally forgot about taking pics on the inlet manifold it said 3.0 but owner claims the 3.5 one was to big to fit under the bonnet so he changed it with a 3.0 is 3.5 one to big to fit under the bonnet?

[leeparkes]

Under the inlet manifold it will have 3.5 on the block, you cant miss it its just behind the oil filter housing.

[BMW_E30vert]

cool il post some pics tomorrow so i can get input from you guys and id probaly be picking you lots brains over the next couple of months as i start working on it

[BMW_E30vert]

just been at the car and tried starting it, it cranks but doesnt fire up seems it aint getting no fuel i cant hear the fuel pump priming and theres no fuel coming out regulator pipes tried to look for the fuel pump relay in the engine but couldnt find it there

[BMW_E30vert]

does anyone have a diagram for the wiring loom?

[Rav335uk]

Are you sure it's an E28 on an "F" reg??

[BMW_E30vert]

the car is a e30 on a e plate the engine in this car is from a e28 m535i. the engine is in the car but its a unfinished project

[Rav335uk]

Fuel pump relay is next to the White DME relay, look round the battery area if it's in the E30

[BMW_E30vert]

thanks rav would do, i have someone coming over tomorrow to just have a look over my wiring and i was asked to get a wiring diagram would you possibly have this?

[Rav335uk]

What do you need????
I think the E34 and E28 wiring is the same.
It's only 3 wires to reconnect.

[BMW_E30vert]

thats great i thought they would have been different also i have the m535 radiator how is this fitted theres some tabs on the body of the car which prevent the radiator from sitting lower?

[Rav335uk]

Tabs have to come off, Leeparkes is running the same rad, you'll have to ask him, as i'm running an E34 535i rad.

[BMW_E30vert]

just read thru lee's thread very helpfull

[johnl320]

So if its already in an e30 ignore all the shite I spouted about the sump, you already know that anyway, i'll go now

[BMW_E30vert]

i dont know nothing about the conversion i bought the e30 with the m30 already in there so need as much help and info as i can get to be honest

[Rav335uk]

Where did you buy the car from???