Another M30 Conversion

[Andy335Touring]

looking good Andy

how's it feel, still running in i guess?

It's a bit more nippy but like i said earlier it needs a tune/re-map, it also needs to coke back up as thats supposed to help a bit ?

Have you got your internet provider sorted now ?

Is your beast ready for the Pod meet ?

May be you could talk the PPC chaps to an "On any Sunday" type feature for the Pod meet ?

Sorry for the mini hijack, it was a local engineering firm that did the welding for me, it's a shame but it's going to be covered in VHT wrinkle paint to match my rocker cover.

Oh, and the other mod i've got to get arround to doing is the 6 coil pack(not individual) and have it running as a wasted spark set up.

[m10man]

My battery problem turned out to be the earth bolt on the block had worked its way loose! Tightened it and everything is fine. Had me stumped because the voltmeter was showing the battery being charged. So if all else fails - check your earths!

Overheating issue solved also by filling and bleeding with the expansion/overflow tank held up higher than the thermostat housing then bolting it back into place. It runs super cool now - too cool actually - I will have to adjust the thermostat on the electric fan.

H&R Cup kit installed and the exhaust is on. Have experimented with a terminator/expansion box just back from the collector - this is supposed to provide a no loss exhaust system and unleash a bit of power - works for V8's but will see if it works for a BMW straight six.

Took it to the engineer today and he passed it - so now I can get it registered! Once I feel confident that everything is working properly then I will see what she can do!

[Jon_Bmw]

Excellent i'm glad that you sorted your overheating problems. I remember reading that someone else had the same problem and that method cured it, so i was mearly a messenger. Sounds like you'll be having fun now. Enjoy it and keep it out of the hedges

[Andy335Touring]

Cool !

It will be on the road soon then ?

[m10man]

After another overheating episode/scare I think the engine is still ok - idles nicely and still pulls smoothly through the revs. Re-bled the system again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again - and it all seems ok now - still will bleed it another 100 times tomorrow though .

It will be on the road soon then ?

Got it booked in for the Blue Slip (MOT) on Saturday morning - so will be back on the road proper on Monday .

Got it weighed at a weight station and it weighs 1140kg. For those who believe in the myth that the M30 is too heavy an option to consider you should compare the weights of the engines/parts of both the M30 and M20 in the BMW ETK and you will be surprised that there is not much in it - I worked out with mine that without the air-con my car would only weigh about 5kg more in the front over a 323i and the actual weight confirms this - in fact I am still 10kg lighter than an Australian version 323i (to compare chrome bumper model to chrome bumper model). Hope this helps anyone considering this option.

First impressions is how easy and effortless it is to drive - and I love the sound - I have a 2 1/2 inch single system with a single straight thru muffler at the rear (copied Metric Mechanics system 300) and it sounds almost like a V8 with that familiar BMW six metallic edge.

[DRIFTBOY]

Nice one, well done mate!

I had to spend hours bleeding my coolant too.

And I'm loving the noise as well, for 5 years I've had Jap tubo stuff (not 6-cylinder though) and they sounded horrible. Mine really growls above 4000rpm!

Interesting about the weight, might try and get mine weighed too.
Have you lightened it at all by removing stuff?

[m10man]

Yeah, I was nicely surprised when I looked at the weights of everything in the ETK too, the engine and head itself weights about 20kg more but the M20 inlet and exhuast manifolds actually weight more than the E34 M30 ones.

I havent really done much lightening except for taking the aircon off - I think there is over 20kg in the aircon. To help with weight balance I moved the battery to the boot. Mine is one of the early E30's and I havent got all that sound deadening under the back seat and boot.

You should get yours weighed, then if you G-tech it you will get a more accurate HP figure. I suppose putting it on a dyno would be better.

Will be interesting to see how all you M30 guys go at Santa Pod - I assume it is a drag meet.

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah there will be 1/4 mile runs. I intend to run mine down the strip, I'll have done 200 miles by then, so well run in! Might not try too hard then.

I do also intend to get it on a rolling road when I'm confident everything is as it should be.

[ant2]

mine made 225 hp with a dodgey chip from ebay, scorpian exhaust and no air filter

[DRIFTBOY]

After driving mine yesturday, I reckon I'm well short of my BHP. I'm sure something is holding it back and the spark plug colour suggests it's running lean Doesn't feel like a 220+ bhp car should. Will be investigating tomorrow. 225 is nice with just those mods! Bet it goes well!?

[ant2]

specially with a 3.9 diff and m3 dogleg box

[Andy335Touring]

Yours must be nippy as my fat arsed touring weighs 1300kg which is only 30kg's above it's book weight

[ant2]

yeh its pretty stripped out aswell, upto 60 was silly quick and i was well into 3rd gear

[TW166Y]

very nice buddy, im also going to be converting my 318 pretty soon, originally i was thinking to do the m50 swap but after a couple of convosations with other zoners and seeing your progress i think im well in tune for an m30 conversion now i know where there is an m30 engine with manual box for Ԛ£150... i think ill get it at the weekend, and it will leave me with a few hundred to spend on making it perkier shrick cam, port and polish etc... anybody else recommend things to change before it actually gets stuck inside the car?

[DRIFTBOY]

I've heard that water pumps are a weakness so for the sake of Ԛ£30 or less... If you are thinking of a camshaft and head work be prepared for a hefty wallet emptying session!
What else depends on how far you want to go stripping the engine.
I stripped my m30 and at 186,000 miles the bottom end was still fine and I just fitted new crank bearings, main bearing cap bolts (it says to in the manual), oil seals, gaskets, honed the bores and new piston rings, timing chain and guides, water pump and starter motor (I was lucky with that - got an unused recon one on Ebay for Ԛ£11 inc. p&p)! Top ends can get rattly - I fitted new Schrick camshaft, new rocker arm assemblies and rocker shafts. If you take the head off, best to replace the head bolts too.

And paint up the cam cover all nice and that, of course! Adds 20bhp!

[Andy335Touring]

And paint up the cam cover all nice and that, of course! Adds 20bhp!

Ah, thats where i got my extra power from

I've now painted that manky 'stat housing and upper chain cover, got to be anothe 10bhp

[TW166Y]

nice andy

[gareth]

mine isn't painted as i believe that the addition of heavy paint will drop the power/weight ratio by 0.0000000001 bhp/tonne!

well actually it's because i couldn't be arsed to remove the inlet manifold to paint it!

[m10man]

im also going to be converting my 318 pretty soon, originally i was thinking to do the m50 swap but after a couple of convosations with other zoners and seeing your progress i think im well in tune for an m30 conversion now

Good on ya mate - you wont regret it (though be prepared for some stressful moments) bang for bucks the M30 is the way to go.

i believe that the addition of heavy paint will drop the power/weight ratio by 0.0000000001 bhp/tonne

Absolutely Gareth - you gotta keep the weight down!

I remember Andy saying something on another thread about being aware of using plastic type inlet hosing - well he is right!! Even though I used good quality stuff it has been mangled into an unrecogniseable shape by the heat coming off the exhaust! will have to get an alloy or stainless one made up.

[SPADGE]

And paint up the cam cover all nice and that, of course! Adds 20bhp!

Ah, thats where i got my extra power from

I've now painted that manky 'stat housing and upper chain cover, got to be anothe 10bhp

Just in the process of painting all the engine bits on mine now and its a real ball-ache and i wish i hadn't started it now especialy the stat housing I've just stripped the inlet manifold and have that little cleaning/painting job to look forward to over the weekend
Just waiting for some new gaskets for the thermo housing etc....and then i can put it all together and get the shoe horn out

[Andyboy]

This is the coding chip for an E30 cluster;



Just remove the outer cowl and you should be able to remove it with long nosed pliers although pulling the complete cluster out is nicer.

The coding plug shown is 1377670 which is for a 325i - the other 325i coding plug number is 1381683. To find it on ETK/EPC prefix these numbers with 6211. If your 318i was built from 1/86 it should have a coding plug, most probably 1372265. If it doesn't have a coding plug it's too early and you'll need a 325i (or 320i) cluster. The later ones are a direct swap and so are Motormeter and VDO clusters.

Nice conversion BTW.

[DRIFTBOY]

Looking goooood! It's worth the work when you lift the bonnet and people go "oooh!"

[gareth]

when i took mine to the local bmw specialists, they looked under the bonnet and it took a short while before anyone could see what had changed. the first thing was: where's the fan... then: there's no space for one... followed by: f@$k me, it's a M30!!!!

[TW166Y]

so you dont need a fan? now im confused!

right, who's gonna draw me up a list of the things im gonna need to buy? im going to be buying a complete 535 or 735 rather than buying just the engine and box, this way i know ill have everything to match etc...

who's gonna start me off

1. ?

[maxfield]

1. engine
2. box
3. engine mounts
4.....

[TW166Y]

well done maxi

1. engine
2. box
3. engine mounts
4. make exhaust manifold
5. lsd "ratio unknown"
6. rear brake conversion (for me anyway)
7. prop, but which one?
8. brake servo, again which one?
9.

[m10man]

This is the coding chip for an E30 cluster;

Cheers mate, thankyou.

[m10man]

so you dont need a fan? now im confused!

You need an electric thermo fan like this - this is a 16 inch Davies Craig - and it fits perfectly in the space.

[m10man]

when i took mine to the local bmw specialists, they looked under the bonnet and it took a short while before anyone could see what had changed. the first thing was: where's the fan... then: there's no space for one... followed by: f@$k me, it's a M30!!!!

Its worth the effort and stress just for reactions like that!

[DRIFTBOY]

Hi TW166Y!
I'm interested in watching another M30 conversion as I have just done one too. I am willing to help and advise when I can, but maybe you should start a new topic with it and keep us updated with pics etc. as you go.
M10MAN's topic is being hi-jacked! I'm sure you don't intend though, no offense meant!

I'll gladly share my recent experiance and go through anything you need help with,
good luck!

[m10man]

This is what I ended up doing with my downpipe - bought a 2x2inch into 21/2 collector, flared 2 bits of 2 inch pipe and found a couple of flanges to suit.


Had to put 20mm spacers between the top strut mount and strut tower to get the legal 100mm clearance under the car - so my H&R Cup kit is no longer 60/40 but 40/40 - doent look as good but at least I can put my Alpina spoiler back on now.

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah, I've seen about laws on lowering cars in Oz on tv cop programmes.
Bummer!

[m10man]

Yes and I had to get a special Road Transport Authority Engineer to inspect/test and certify my car as the engine was not available in the E30 as an Australian option. Real bummer because it cost an $450! on top of normal registration etc.

At least it is not as bad as Germany! Those poor bastards cant even change a bumper bar without approval.

[DRIFTBOY]

That's a bit harsh!

But yeah, them poor Germans have got it bad for modded cars!

But they do have some unrestricted Autobhans! Lucky devils!

[timg83]

Hi there with the manifold issue we turned the steering column around or top to toe i suppose and that cleared the manifold better