So a bit of background - I’ve wanted an E30 probably since I was about 18. Finally joined the zone about 10 years ago but didn’t have enough money for a 325i Sport (I thought £5k was too much at the time… how times change!) and ended up with an E36 328i Sport. Bought for £1k and sold for £2k a year later (again how times change…) Work and mortgages got in way and I spent 10 years in mk4 golf’s falling to bits.
I kept an eye on E30s and viewed several over the years but they were always rusty or sheds regardless of what the seller told me before I set off to view it and the prices were always rising so I’d always think “I’m not paying that”
Finally bit the bullet 18 months ago paying fairly strong money for a very standard 316i facelift. Immaculate interior and well looked after. Although not perfect it was the best condition I’d seen yet so decided to purchase.
I enjoyed it for a couple of months and started buying parts for the swap…took the car to my friends unit to take the engine out and get started with the swap, however, he pissed off to race in the US without telling anyone so I had no car for around 7 months.
Then last summer I decided to take it on myself working on it after work or on weekends when I had the time.
Wished I’d taken more photos of before and after when I’d completed certain jobs as there’s loads I’ve done that hasnt been covered, but feel free to ask any questions, big thanks to this website, Dan and spannerrash videos for the guidance too.
July 2023 - at home with my missus MX-5
August 2023 - Enjoying it during the summer
November 2023 - At my friends unit taking the engine out
June 2024 - Turning up at work after 7 months of not seeing it, looking an absolute state
June 2024 - Sold the old engine to a nice chap from Cheshire way forgot his name but he was restoring his lads E30 after he passed away. If anyone knows him give me a shout.
June 2024 - Initial state of the M52 engine
June 2024 - Stripped the ancillaries and completed the E34 oil pickup mod and sump, new gaskets and red loctite on the sprocket nut.
Lesson here was the sprocket nut is a left handed threaded… it does say it in all fairness! Could have got me in trouble.
June 2024 - spent the day by the canal cleaning the block and organising bits
June 2024 - Gearbox time… replaced the clutch slave cylinder with an E36 328i one, deleted the CDV, fitted a solid pivot pin, removed the clutch fork and played around with the various linkages I had.
July 2024 - Clutch fork welded up with a spacer to help with the biting point and use the 325i bearing. In hindsight I might have welded too much on as the biting point now feels like a couple of mm off the floor…
July 2024 - Replaced power steering pulley after a little incident
August 2024 - Got in a pickle with a snapped exhaust stud, tried lots of things… 490 didn’t work…ended up tacking a nut on and putting a load of heat into it.
August 2024 - Old booster off, new (but old) clio booster on. Prepped and painted, drilled out the clevis to fit the E30 pin. Lots of vertical play - is that normal? Might at some nylon spacers at a later date if it causes issues
Measured from the booster plunger to the outer surface to find a bolt to use as the booster spacer 16mm button head seemed to be perfect (I know you measure from under the head before someone says anything ;) )
September 2024 - E46 067 3.0 Rack fitted along with Dans linkage and the condor engine mounts
Lesson: make sure you centralise your steering rack to the middle before you fit it / put your UJ on!
September 2024 - Engine ancillaries built back up, a/c removed (put two washers under the crank pulley bolts to take into account the lack of a/c pulley), new water pump, new thermostat, new power steering pump, new pulleys, new thermostat housing, e36 328i engine harness, new braided vanos line
All harness connectors labelled ready for connecting, spliced in brown temp sensor
Dans modified exhaust manifolds painted with black VHT (see how long that lasts…)
Engine went in easy as I decided against fitting the gearbox off car and sending it in a oner, biggest issue was I actually put the OS engine mount on upside down… felt a bit stupid but the “right way” looks the wrong way if that makes sense.
But tight at the back, is it normal for it to touch this drainage pipe? I haven’t checked it since I’ve fitted the gearbox which has probs my pushed it forward a bit.
August 2024 - Back outside by the canal it went front end looking a bit lower
September 2024 - had great fun one evening trying to remove the old pilot bearing… I was determined to get it out before leaving and didn’t have a bearing puller, tried loads of Castrol molub and a close fitting cylinder with no luck… ended up squashing about 2 rolls of wet toilet paper in and bashing it with a socket… it worked!
New pilot bearing, new E30 325i clutch and lightened flywheel fitted + new bolts
Gearbox fitted and brackets lined up nicely. One problem with not fitting the gearbox off car is it is almost impossible to tighten one of the gearbox bolts, a load of extensions, a taped up UJ and jamming an inspection camera up there worked after a good couple of hours of trying!
November 2024 - Coolant hoses fitted, I bought a “E30 M52” kit… honestly probably was a bit pointless as they all needed cutting and modifying would probably off been just as good with the ones off my donor!
Radiator fitted with electric SPAL fan fitted at the front - reused E30 top holder, new lower plastic clips. The rubber mounts at the top needed a pizza slice cutting out as they clashed against the fan bracket bolt. Wiring nicely routed back through the front end (I’m still to wire up the fan wiring fusebox side)
M50 inlet fitted - I’ll go into this in more detail later. I found it a massive PITA and almost wish I’d just stuck with the original for the time being to get it running. I haven’t used a a kit or anything so maybe that also doesn’t help.
Throttle cable fitted - spent a good while trying to fit the cable grommet. Recommend sticking it in boiling water if anyone has to do the same! Interested in how other people have routed this around the engine?
December 2025 - New power steering bracket (using E36 location on engine mount) as with the M50 manifold I can no longer use the oil filter mount. I also replaced the E39 alternator with an E36 M3 one as this also clashed with the lower power steering location
Cheap temporary carbon air filter fitted, E32 740i has been bought but will be fitted later - any other recommendations?
Gear linkages fitted - Z3 shifter, E36 325i lever, modified to length selector rod and a hammer to bash it into place. Turns out I’ve got the dreaded 5th gear lean which probably meant a lot of that bashing wasn’t necessary.
Jan 2025 - 328i prop shaft fitted with E30 centre bearing - I absolutely mullered the old centre bearing off the prop shaft as I had to cut it off with a grinder. Hopefully the prop shaft is okay but lesson learnt for next time.
Old exhaust off and new fritz bitz exhaust fitted albeit temporarily
Jan 2025 - After bleeding the clutch the car still wouldn’t select gear when running. Some new gearbox oil fixed that although I’ve got 5th gear lean so not totally confident on the gearbox. However, the car moves!
Current snagging / to do list:
1. Resolve idle issues / vacuum leaks. The car doesn’t idle well and the revs hang / stick. Car will also cut out after around 5 minutes of running (cam/crank sensor?). Also runs better with the MAF disconnected. I haven’t torqued the inlet manifold and have a split in the cam cover breather but I’d like to review all of the m50 manifold as I’ve probably got several leaks.
2. Gearbox has 5th gear lean and biting point is super low, the car wants to move forward if you go to push it into a car without engaging the clutch
3. Bleed coolant
4. Fit fuel injector wiring clips
5. Tidy engine bay wiring
6. Fan wired up but doesn’t turn on at temp or override switch.
7. Resolve exhaust blowing and fit new slip joint clamps
8. Add dipstick bracket
9. Fit exhaust properly and complete twin exit cut out
10. Re-bleed brakes
11. Adjust front toe
12. Re-fit interior glovebox and column shroud
13. Re-align bonnet
14. Remove dent from bonnet
15. Paint / Shadowline exterior trim
16. Full polish / detail
New parts to be fitted
B4 Dampers
Eibach springs
51mm struts + new hubs
15mm rear spring pads
Eibach ARBs
Battery relocation kit
15” BBS wheels
New parts required:
Bigger brakes + 5mm spacers
Rear trailing arms (discs)
New tyres
15” BBS Centre Caps
LSD
