Conversion M3/M5

[Dee]

Hi all

I am looking at doing the conversion so which engine would be the
easyst to us the E36 evo M3 or the 5 series M5 engine

thanks in advance

[glenn]

go for the m5 3.6
virtually the same power, more torque and no EWS

[Sjoerd320i]

go for the m5 3.8!! even more power and torque

[glenn]

have heard the power outputs of the 3.8 are a touch optimistic

[Sjoerd320i]

dunno mate but you can have something as nice as this then www.kilander-racing.se

[Dee]

So its best with the M5 then as there is no ews and would be easier to wire up then.

Also how would i get around the EWS if i have no igniton key??

[glenn]

if the car has ews and you dont have a key,
you can get one from the stealers,
but you'll need the chassis number

[Dee]

I have no chassis number Doh so there for i may have to go for the M5 engine which dont have the EWS

[Jhonno]

shame to chop up and m5 - unless the engine is already out...

handling will 'suffer' with the m5 lump as its the big 6 (heavier) and you need to mod the bulkhead (im pretty sure a sledgehammer does the trick) to get it in the proper position

[Karan]

M5 all the way... im doing this at the moment!

the m5 engine sounds better than the m3 engine too. great engine it is!

if u mount it far back enough like hartge did-its possible to retain 325 weight distribution!

Karan

[Quaser]

there is a 3.6 m5 for sale in the parts section

complete car for Ԛ£3k!

You could take out what you need (engine, gearbox, wiring etc) and sell off other parts (kit, leather, panels etc) to make some of your money back!

The 3.8's do have more power but also have more problems. I have heard of stories where the bearing has broke and shot the piston through the bonnet!!!

Q

[Jhonno]

yeah but its too good to break

[Quaser]

For an e30...nothing is too good to break!

Karan's M5 could have saved if it had Ԛ£1000 thrown at it in parts and labour done himself.

[Jhonno]

but this one doesnt even need that!!

[Karan]

For an e30...nothing is too good to break!

Karan's M5 could have saved if it had Ԛ£1000 thrown at it in parts and labour done himself.

no it needed more like 2k spending on it just in parts--maybe even more-u should see the prices of parts for these things! eg. the ac compressor is gone on mine and thats Ԛ£600, and thats before we get to sorting the knackered suspension-just not worth it in my books-id rather put the engine in a sleeper e30- a lot more fun!

Karan

[Toby_Unna]

yeah they made plenty m5s, let's not get too teary eyed about karan chopping one up.

that engine's going to a better place, there'll be much less strain on it hoofing that little e30 coupe around!

[Karan]

but this one doesnt even need that!!

Sal's is a ncie example especially with that gorgeous interior!

but personally any m5--whatever condition--if it was 3k'ish' id personally break it and use the engine and box!

if the car was in good nick and more than 3.5k i'd keep it-(if i could afford to run an m5 that is!)

jhonno i dont think u r getting how different the m5 is to a normal e34--literally everything is different! its not easy or cheap to get one of thse back to good condition-once they get tired they are simply not financially viable to run... like mine was

however Sal's is a good price for a good car and u could make a lot of money breaking that car and the most of the car would be paid for if u want the engine alone!

just my personal opinion

Karan

[glenn]

e30's and m5 engines were made for each other
it just has to be done.
think what its like to be changing up the box at about 140
and still being pinned into the seat

[Karan]

e30's and m5 engines were made for each other
it just has to be done.
think what its like to be changing up the box at about 140
and still being pinned into the seat

Glenn mate!, u r a 1st class loony..-RESPECT!

the e30 chassis will surprisingly handle a lot of power as our swedish brethrens have shown with their turdbo rockets

Karan

[Toby_Unna]

yeah it's not a car you try to run on the cheap isit. i wouldn't buy an m5 for 3k and intend to run it long termm it would cost a fortune.

if i had 3k i'd buy that m5 right now and have the engine and box as karan says.

the engines go for a lot on their own, even the ones you can't hear running! i reckon that car would make a good donor because ou can rag it around a bit to satisfy yourself the drivetrain's good.

[Karan]

the thing with most of these older fast BM's is that they are cheapish to buy but running them properly will kill u, therefore ppl cut corners with them and maintenance.. which is a shame-but hey wtf, its only a car-lol

[Jhonno]

what sort of monies do the bits not needed for the e30 conversion go for then?!

[Karan]

what sort of monies do the bits not needed for the e30 conversion go for then?!

dunno but i will find out soo enough i guess

things like diff are worth Ԛ£400ish, interior Ԛ£500-600ish

these are just very vague estimates

suspension and roll bars etc are all unique...
sill strips, steering wheel, cluster, random trim, wheels, brakes etc....

Karan

[Jhonno]

*ponders*

insurance'l be cheaper than the actual m5 as well i reckon if you got to a specialist..

[Toby_Unna]

hmm now i'm wondering if i might have the front brakes off ya to put on my m535i karan, i'm pretty sure they bolt straight on.

not in a rush, have much more pressing stuff to sort out first!

[Jhonno]

what length does the prop have to be for the m30/s36 conversion?

[Jhonno]

~ 193cm

[M5pilot]

Who ever buys this car for Ԛ£3k for an e30 conversion will be able to sell the follwing:

Diff = Ԛ£400 atleast
Suspension being very new = Ԛ£300
Interior = Ԛ£450 all day long for a quick sale
Wheels = Ԛ£400 easy
Macau Blue body parts = Ԛ£200
Mtec 2 steering wheel = Ԛ£100
Calipers, AC compressor, instrument panels (all M5 specific) = Ԛ£Ã”šÃ‚£Ãƒ”šÃ‚£Ãƒ”šÃ‚£
+ loads of other M5 specific parts
Exhaust =Ԛ£200

The prices above are realistic (some very low) and that adds upto Ԛ£2050 alone!!

So you get full running gear kicking out 300++ BHP for Ԛ£950 + you'll have other stuff still to sell.

It cant get any better than that can it.

So, in reality your buying an engine, box, full electrics for bloody under Ԛ£1000!!

This is one way to get your E30 into ferrari bashing flame spitting league for very little money.

Someone wake up and do a deal.

[Kedge]

If only i had 3k sitting around

[Jos]

Loads of people doing these conversions atm, perhaps a joint techical article could be written for M30 and S38 conversions by all the people that have done them?

I will chip in my 2c ofc

[Dee]

I am mainly doing this conversion as i need the power for drifting