My Completed m52 conversion - Update

Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:15 pm

New servo fitted and have now taken it out for a spin as the brakes were working fine... taken it down across town and out to the bypass where it started to feel underpowered then smelt funny.. pulled over and saw my brakes were smoking.. they'd locked up!
So I'm waiting at the side of a bypass for my tools

Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:19 pm

The spacer is too long. You need to wind that adjuster in a turn or two.
Just slacken the master cylinder off slightly to get yourself home

Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:25 am

The adjuster had been adjusted already several turns, must have taken it down at least 5mm.. ! although had its final adjustments and the brakes are spot on

Although as luck has it the heavens opened as soon as I went out for a spin again.. too sacred to put my foot down as I don't know how it would react!
Slight misfire still usually on lower revs but continued to miss through to range.. it has now after 10 miles got a bit better, think plugs may need a clean for that.

Definitely need a lower diff on it, 2k revs doing 40 in 5th

Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:52 am

Lol awesome
What diff you got onnit

Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:50 pm

It's currently running the 320i diff still.. This is currently first on my todo list now when the dollar is available.. next month after I get paid and have scrapped the e36 shell should do it hopefully! I've put down 3.91 slipper on my first post although considering possibly a 3.64 or 3.73 may be better as a daily driver.
Then again I've never been one to care too much about good MPG

While I was stuck waiting for my brakes to cool down and my mate grab my tools from mine (as i had bought none out at all, derp) at least we had a lovely sight to cheer me up

That as well as a Volvo 340 out drift a e46 M3 cab on the roundabout there

Few other niggly bits to sort out today.. weather's holding out despite the forecast!

Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:23 pm

mate, get a 3.64 slipper on there!! 73mph to 3000rpm

and its not shy off the mark either, very lively indeed

1 thing about the spacer, i would wind it in and make a spacer up!!! in my opinion winding it out will weaken it and i wouldnt be keen on doing it on mine..... i made up a 20mm spacer for mine which has been fine for months and months

just something for you toi think about pal

Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:44 pm

That does sound rather sensible!

I have a spacer in there, it just needed a hell of a lot of adjustment, and it was exactly 20mm! It needed yet another turn down as they was still getting caught after a high speed spin down the A5 (deleting a 330d

) caused my brakes to go soft. Although since then they have been a lot better.

Apart from that, the exhaust shield tapping something, and the fan being a bit noisy there doesn't appear to be any drama's! Done around 80 miles in it now, cost about £20's worth of fuel but most of it was resolving the misfire from the coil packs being a little dirty.

My God though it gets up to speed fast, and feels so smooth I love it

Can't really say how happy I am doing this myself (with the exception of Dan's bits!), updates still to come when I tidy it up a bit under the hood but nothing serious really.

Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:00 pm

so green how much will you charge to fit one into mine if i get the lump with an e34 sump on, , , ,

Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:31 am

I don't know if I'd want to take responsibility in fitting someone else's engine just incase! I'm far from a qualified mechanic

Willing to lend a hand if needed

In other news seems that everything is currently ok and no problems as of yet, with the exception of a speed bump taking my exhaust off about an hour ago

Something though that is making me think, is the trip meter seems to rack up the miles really fast, definitely a lot faster then it should, I was wondering could be down to the sender on the gearbox? So would be fixed by switching it out with the 6 pot one from the m20's box, or getting a set of 4 pot clocks?

Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:25 am

[quote="Green"]I don't know if I'd want to take responsibility in fitting someone else's engine just incase! I'm far from a qualified mechanic

Willing to lend a hand if needed

but without a doubt green hats off to you man, when me and my mate came to pick up the heck spoiler it was really dark and you was working on the car in the front garden, maaaaan thats fookin dedication!!
well done for making it work!!

Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:55 am

Green wrote: So would be fixed by switching it out with the 6 pot one from the m20's box, or getting a set of 4 pot clocks?

Only thing that affects the accuracy of the odometer is the rolling radius of the rear wheels. 4 pot and 6 pot stuff is all the same.

Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:01 pm

ali mate..... sometimes its gotta be done son!!

did my first one (m50) when we had all that snow, freezin my nuts off haha.

well in green

Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:34 pm

ali50ferrari wrote:but without a doubt green hats off to you man, when me and my mate came to pick up the heck spoiler it was really dark and you was working on the car in the front garden, maaaaan thats fookin dedication!!
well done for making it work!!

I had to make the most of any free time I had! I'm not the sort of person that likes leaving stuff laying around for ages untouched.. that and I really wanted to get it back on the road

Brianmoooore wrote:
Green wrote: So would be fixed by switching it out with the 6 pot one from the m20's box, or getting a set of 4 pot clocks?
Only thing that affects the accuracy of the odometer is the rolling radius of the rear wheels. 4 pot and 6 pot stuff is all the same.

Strange that as my rear tyres are 205/55/15 so that should be fine. I shall have to take it out with a satnav to compare the distances recorded.

Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:41 pm

Are you sure you're not just travelling a lot quicker than you used to?

Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:36 pm

I think it might be that as well, coming back home last night I had to ease off the throttle numerous times for not noticing I was just sitting under 100pmh

I think I'm going to need to watch myself or I'll be in some trouble soon!

The m52 engine is so smooth and the way it revs up all the way through is monsterous, I really can't comprehend how fast yet smooth the acceleration is.. simply loving it

Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:43 am

Fooking brakes! I bled them last night drove down to the petrol station and topped the fluid back up, then as I drove back home they started binding together

I'm getting just a little frustrated now with them.. also a vibration from the rear appeared on the way back, which might have been caused by the brakes binding but I won't be able to find out until the brakes are working 100% ok

I also replaced the rear shocks with some gmax ones for the time being as mine had completely worn through... I got the top mounts as tight as I could, they're in good nick but I'm wondering if they might have a part to play in this.

Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:40 pm

It's been on and off the road recently due to a few issues but the main one was the diff falling off and a garage being unable to diagnose the problem leaving me to drive it across town back to my house.

Two bolts were missing, two days laters and genuine BMW bolts and washers the diff was back on.

Today I've just gone over all mounts, nuts and bolts to make sure everything is still ok. Coolant has been changed and topped up for the winter. I've also tightened the lamba sensors up up they had came loose making a very ugly popping noise on the over run.

Only a few issues but will be addressed in time;

1. Exhaust down pipe sits on edge of gearbox and makes an awful rattling noise, and possible vibration. Still just a tad low and scuffs on most speed bumps.

2. There is a vibration about 40mph which disappears at about 55, doesn't feel like an unbalanced wheel though.

3. I never got around to removing the viscous and now there is a nice circular shape in my rad

Still can't get it off though!

4. Gears feel a bit notchy, especially from cold.

5. Water level sensor and Oil sensor on the check panel are always lit, not sure where to plug in the sensor for the water as there doesn't appear to be anywhere for the original plug!

And finally... I've a very heavy foot and the fun this provides giving it a good blast isn't helping that fact at all! On £15 I seem to be getting about 50 miles or so. My fuel gauge does seems to be all over the place but wasn't like that before the conversion. Does get rather frustrating.
Possibly need a new fuel tank as well, oh the joys

Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:09 pm

dude i dont know how the hell you managed to get the engine in with the viscous still on! it was a right squeeze on mine and with the rad in i still cant see how there is enough space for it! its a hell of a lot easier to get the viscous off while the engine out. get an electric in there!

Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:44 am

deanocool wrote:dude i dont know how the hell you managed to get the engine in with the viscous still on! it was a right squeeze on mine and with the rad in i still cant see how there is enough space for it! its a hell of a lot easier to get the viscous off while the engine out. get an electric in there!

I do have an electric on there, I just couldn't get the thing off so it's made do and stuck on there for the time being!

After I wrote that post saturday I took the car out for a drive and it had resolved the vibration at 40 and the constant popping when engine braking from the exhaust. Car felt amazing to drive, was surprising how much it transformed

Went to bleed the rad and the fookin bleed screw head sheared off making water squirt out of it, so for a temp fix I have siliconed it back up. I'll be replacing the radiator next year as the bottom of my one was bowed at the bottom.

Likes to keep me on my toes doesn't it

Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:55 pm

cant wait to see what problems i have with mine when its up and going! so much fun!

Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:04 pm

Hi green, are you aware that the viscous fan is an anti clockwise thread to get it off?

You may have been hitting it with a hammer and chisel all this time and been making it tighter!!!!

I've done it and i'm a fully qualifieds tech

By the way, you are a legend in your own lifetime for undertaking a project of this magnitude with no real idea of what ya doing!

Epic win for you mate. Many congrats so far and keep us posted, this thread has been more than helpful

Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:31 am

With your coolant check light mate just cut the plug off for the sensor and join the 2 wires, this turns the light out. Did this on mine with no drama's.
I have the same issue with the oil level check light.! Strange as on the e34 sump there is a 3 pin sensor for oil level, the plug is present on the m50 loom and I had this plugged in with no light but is not present on the m52 loom....?..... I've just got used to it being on although I may just take the bloody bulb out 1 day