Engine changes.. what to go for!

Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:48 pm

Jhonno wrote:
Dezzy wrote:
Ajsingh wrote:
Ohhh im soo jealous right now... Is that Similar to a 324td crank?

Very Very similar iirc
I'd say very very very similar..

24v or go home.

That similar that it makes no difference i'd say

Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:10 am

Near as makes no odds..

Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:08 am

So the m52b28 sounds pretty ideal, and easy to get hold of too for reasonable money.. The nice thing is that my m20 is still running fine so I've time to put together all the bits I need before getting it in there! So, if I was looking for an M52, what year / car / model should I be looking for? And were they also subject to any recalls or problems?

Cheers for the 'advice' so far! It does make for an interesting read.. Hopefully, once it's done I can drag it up to the pod for a bit of strip action...

Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:44 am

Latest 328i as possible, or a replacement engine. Auto's are probs the best as they've had the easiest lives although you'll need to convert it over to manual, not sure how easy that is but I think it's relatively simple.
It's been over 10 years, hopefully any nikasil engines have long gone and been replaced!

Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:09 am

good thread, will be watching with interest as im in the exact same position

Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:09 pm

I've just finished swapping my touring from M20B25 and M30B35. The M20 died a death through overheating and I had just broken a E34 535i. I had mixed thoughts before putting the M30 in as a lot of people told me not to bother saying it's an old anchor and it's not that much better than the M20B25, plus I was leaning towards a 24v for better economy. But I had the M30 already and buying another engine wasn't really on the cards financially, so I went ahead and fitted the M30 and I'm really glad I did.

The swap is incredibly easy after buying Lee's mounts and the whole conversion felt like an OEM swap, everything just fell into place. I'm using an E36 rack and these are much worse for the M30 swap, the hardest part was modifying the exhaust around the rack. If you keep the E30 rack then I hear it's very easy in this regard. I'm also using an M10 flywheel and box which saves a lot of weight on the flywheel, it really revs. Performance wise I'm very impressed with the M30 and I have no regrets swapping it from an M20 or not fitting a 24v, the car is effortlessly quick and is able to break traction without trying, it's a bit of an animal!

I'm not a 24v hater, I have an M50B25 in my E21 track car. I have to say, my much heavier E30 touring with the M30 "boat anchor" feels quicker. I also haven't really noticed the extra weight after fitting an M30 that most people talk about.

Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:35 pm

rob0r wrote: I also haven't really noticed the extra weight after fitting an M30 that most people talk about.

That's only quoted by the ones who don't have or haven't driven one.
Called Hearsay.

Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:50 pm

Hardly hearsay, Rav.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/engine_faq.php
They are statistically heavier than an M20. That's not to say they aren't a good swap though,
and the positioning of the engine, Pos 1, 2, or 3 probably negates the difference anyway.

Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:54 pm

117kg's for the M20 and 143kgs for the M30, so only really 26kg difference

Fri Oct 28, 2011 2:46 pm

I wish I weighed mine before and after! I even have a weighbridge on my farm... Mine is running a gutted bonnet with no bracing and bonnet pins, no front hinge system. Also I have no PAS. That might help but really it's not that bad weight wise.