M30 project in Australia

[suzukinutter]

think i got the best deal then my 325i auto coupe t+ until sept 2007 Ԛ£50 off my neighbour

[mybmw6]

This is my running thread for my m30 conversion. Please no more talk about how cheap a car you got or about other engines. Suzukinutter - that is a great deal and i wish i could get something like that.
If its M30 I'd love to hear about it....

Yeah, like I said in the email I would prefer to have the bigger box in - especially if you are thinking of turboing it. Let me know if and when you are serious about that as I know an M30 specialist in Sydney who knows what he is doing with M30 turbos. He has a couple of street registered Turbo E34 535i's putting out 1000hp. He told me with a low blow turbo he can get around the 500hp mark . Its a shame you are so far away as you could have my good shell for $350.

Duane is that the guy from Bavarian motorsport - if so they have done some really nice cars!!! I spoke to him before deciding on this project when I was going to Turbo my 325i. Any chance of you moving anytime soon (with the car of course ) give it a month and I'll probably have a truck outside your house hehe

On another note I fired up my engine last night and its only running on 5 cylinders... Have to check the spark plugs and the distributor today to see if I can find the problem. I am so glad I decided to be patient and not start dismantling it straight away. I think I'll get the engine running how I want it and then swap it over.

I'm going down the to wreckers today to see if I can find anything decent - I'll want to get the e30 ready anyway before I remove the other engine. I've found an all in one engine stand - good old ebay, it has the crane, tilter and engine stand all in one.

[mybmw6]

Swapped my plugs and now the engine wont start and makes a metal ping noise.... swapped my other plugs back in and it still makes a ping noise and wont run for more than 10 seconds. Some of the plugs on the distributor were off and I put them back how I thought they were but I'm not 100%.

[mybmw6]

Removed the plugs I wasn't sure about and then I had a running engine! Changed them to the correct position and now she is running beautifully! Shame I have already put the old ones back in... so now out with the old again and in with the new

[Andy335Touring]

Oh well, shit happens dude, at least you know what caused it and it's running good now

[mybmw6]

The great thing about making a mistake is I wont make it again (at least I hope not). I've got some of the main tools I'll be using to do the job. Engine crane, tilter bar, engine stand, a parts washer, two sets of axle stands and a nice quick lift trolley jack.

Only a roof and gutters to go on the shed, now I think I'll repair the strut on the donnor car so I can drive it into the shed then remove the engine. Rather than removing the engine under the carport and having to find a way to get it up to the shed 200 meters away! So off to find a strut!

[mybmw6]

Bit of an update - I've put the complete roof w/ insulation on the shed and I've started moving all my car stuff out there. Finally got the strut tower off of the e34. I've found someone who has an 88 535i so hopefully I can use the strut from this car as a replacement. Next to check on when I can collect my donor car. The owner is using it as a reference in an e30 m3 left to right hand conversion.

[StreetSpec]

awesome mate!!!! i have dreams about a 335i daily driver.

Im in Ads too, would love to check out some of the progression.

Have you applied to Regency at all for the engine swap? Just wondering what their thoughts are on the 3.5 install.

Jake

[m10man]

awesome mate!!!! i have dreams about a 335i daily driver.

My 335i is a dream to live with as a daily driver and still get reasonable fuel economy. I can thoroughly recommend it. By the way I like your colour scheme (if that is you car in your avatar).

Good to hear you are getting close to having the workshop finished Matt.

[StreetSpec]

By the way I like your colour scheme (if that is you car in your avatar).

yeah that's mine. i don't want to m30 that though. I want a 4 door m30 daily for some reason.

[oze30]

Hey, are you guys using the aircon? or going without? If so, then how did you work around it?

Ive the option of 335ing my touring,. or 2.7 or m50 2.5/2.8 but it all depends on the final working outs of aircon etc. When I ship it back, its going to be a bitch anyway due to engineering needed, but at least i know that there's a few ppl in OZ that have done it

[mybmw6]

awesome mate!!!! i have dreams about a 335i daily driver.

Im in Ads too, would love to check out some of the progression.

Have you applied to Regency at all for the engine swap? Just wondering what their thoughts are on the 3.5 install.

Jake

Hi Jake,
nah I haven't applied to regency yet. Not sure what they'll say. If it doesn't pass it'll be a track car. I'm still sourcing the donnor car. I've got a 325i but I don't wont to use that one for the project. I'd rather have two seperate cars. Once I'm set up a bit better your more than welcome to come up and have a look. I live in the Adelaide Hills.
Cheers Matt

[mybmw6]

The e30 has arrived and the it has an engine that still runs. Its a lot easier having a car that is mobile comparied to the e34 which is crippled due to the strut.

The e30 is a 1984 323i with front end damage (really just the bonnet and radiator support that I can see. Its a champaigne silver four door with manual windows and sunroof (I really wanted a sunroof and four doors - so I'm happy about that).

Until I get it into the shed I wont know too much more about the underside. The best part is the interior etc is completely stock and from the reciepts it was owned by one person since 1984. Even the radio and speakers are standard. I pulled the back seat off and it still had a piece of paper with the location on manufacture etc lightly glued on it. My 325i had wiring all over the place (not this time.. )

My shed is finally usable! Of course its not quite there, I can't get the e30 up yet. Need more fill on the driveway so that a car can drive in but so close... so so close.... I got the replacement e34 strut and had my spring and other parts swapped over. The only thing left suspension wise is a new insert (found out this one is bent). I'll try get some pics of the e30 up soon.

Here are some photos of the shed in various stages,
The drainage trench doesn't look like much but it took me over a week to dig (on and off)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... trench.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... teclay.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... ground.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... dframe.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... ladded.jpg

[mybmw6]

Good to hear you are getting close to having the workshop finished Matt.

Cheers Duane, it felt like it was taking forever to get everything organised but now it feels like its flying through! I thought it would all slow down because I'm heaps busy at work - damn you RETAIL!!!!

Oh, I got the gearbox thanks for that! The e30 I got was an auto so it was a good thing I bought your manual pedals!

At least now because my project car is an 84 my mtech rear bar will fit! It doesn't fit my 89 325i because the 87-89 have a deeper rear section.

[StreetSpec]

oooh, sheds lookn good mate! keep it up.

[mybmw6]

oooh, sheds lookn good mate! keep it up.

Cheers StreetSpec, the only thing holding me up now is my neighbour. He's giving me some fill. The angle is far too steep to get anything up there yet.... Its killing me, I've got plenty of work to keep me busy I just can't start any of it.

I might have to get out the shovel and wheel barrow soon... Soooo lets see...

10 tonne of fill in wheel barrow loads.......

Maybe I'll give it a few more days

[mybmw6]

Picked up the front bonnet, front rail and front windscreen from the wreckers to repair the e30 I'm putting the engine in (they were the things that needed fixing).

I've picked up the battery cable from a 325e to move the battery into the boot (mines up front). I've got a new washer bottle so I can move it to were the battery would have been, got some race seats to put in (the current seats were crap and the race seats cost less than standard bmw ones).

Things left to collect as it stands are
The manual pedal assemblies and clutch lines which m10man is shipping off to me
The driveshaft which I started removing today from an 87 325e, I checked the flange and its the larger one so that was good.
The flywheel and clutch (still deciding on a single mass e28 or a new chrome moly steel flywheel).
And the Diff (3.64 ratio) mine is a 323i so I might have the right diff but its in the scrub on a slope and I can't jack it up without killing myself so that is a wait and see.

I think that about covers it.
I tried using a shovel to move some dirt so my driveway is a bit flatter but I'm still waiting on my neighbour for dirt from his house

[BristolBulldog]

i hadnt been on this forum before, and it was originally an aussie forum that got me started on the 335i. that was nearly three years ago. there was some company doing a conversion, and it was clear it didnt happen often voer there. It seemed to be seen as a little innovative!

now everyone beat me to it over here lol.

hope it goes well. this lot have sorted me out well so far hehe.

[mybmw6]

i hadnt been on this forum before, and it was originally an aussie forum that got me started on the 335i. that was nearly three years ago. there was some company doing a conversion, and it was clear it didnt happen often voer there. It seemed to be seen as a little innovative!

now everyone beat me to it over here lol.

hope it goes well. this lot have sorted me out well so far hehe.

Yeah not a lot is done with the e30 in South Australia. I drive a 325i with a performance cam and that's about as modified as I've seen. Hopefully that'll be changing shortly though.

[StreetSpec]

awesome. let us know when you need a hand.

[mybmw6]

awesome. let us know when you need a hand.

Hi Jake will do, I've made up some shelving in the shed to allow me to organise everything a bit better. I pulled the driveshaft from an 87 325e only to find it had a smaller flange.

I got underneath with the calipers and I measured 89mm so I thought I had the right one - some how after the whole thing was removed I found it wasn't I must have bumped the caliper (it was a tight space under this car). So I'm back on the hunt for a suitable driveshaft.

Were abouts in Adelaide are you Jake?

[StreetSpec]

close to the city, in North Adelaide.

[mybmw6]

Well boys FINALLY!!! I've got the e30 into my shed! The neighbour said it would be another two weeks before the soil would be moved so I ended up driving it up as far as I could and then we attached ropes to the front and with the engine helping, managed to literally drag the car in!

It was about 8.30 by the time the car was in but by 9.30 I had the damaged bonnet and front bumper off. Head lights removed and was able to make a good assessment of the damage. Easy repair with the parts I've got here so thats no problem.

Still sourcing some parts but at least I can work on the car. Always plenty to do. I'll probably remove the front and rear suspension first and replace all the bits while I wait to have enough money to repair the e30 and e34 and buy the clutch and the flywheel for the m30

[mybmw6]

Here are a few picks
The car finally in my shed after dragging it up the slope
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... 500109.jpg
the shelving I was talking about
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... 500111.jpg
the front of the car as it looked when I got it
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... 500112.jpg
and the real damage once the other parts are removed
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... 500136.jpg

I went to start removing the exhaust etc leading to removing the engine but I've decided to get trade plates (allow you to drive an unregistered car on the road) so I can drive to the crash repairers to get the kink pulled out.
You can see what I'm talking about circled in red, the arrow shows the direction of impact.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n264 ... titled.jpg

Jake send me a PM with your mobile and I'll organise a time with you when you can come up and have a look mate. If your still interested.
Cheers
Matt

[Andy335Touring]

Nice "shed" !

I wish i had some where like that to work on mine

[DanThe]

If I were to put up a shed like that in my back garden I would need planning permission! Not to mention the increase in council tax
How much did that 'shed' cost you out of interest?


Nice project

[oze30]

Reckon you shouldve put a pit in there!

Looks good! Atleast you dont have to get the space heater out!

[mybmw6]

Nice "shed" !

I wish i had some where like that to work on mine

Let me know Andy if your ever in Adelaide and I'll see what I can do..

If I were to put up a shed like that in my back garden I would need planning permission! Not to mention the increase in council tax
How much did that 'shed' cost you out of interest?

Nice project

Thats exactly the same here (took 3 months to get council approval). Not sure how much it cost overall with Levelling, concreting, insulation etc but it'd be around the A$4000 maybe more... it was a lot more affordable because of the time it took to do everything.

First I got council approval (over the period of 3months), then got the gound levelled (two weeks), then bought the shed (two weeks), then built it (four-five months), then got the insulation (three weeks), then on went the roof (three weeks) and then I got the concreting (two weeks). Because I work full time I had to do most things over the weekends so that spaced it out even more.

All over a period of probably 9-12 months so I was able to pay for things in little bits. It would also depend if you include the tools inside

The irony is now I've not got enough money in reserve to get the last bits and pieces for the project (I get paid monthly so I have to do budgeting a month in advance). I guess I play the waiting game again until next month. Donations welcome...

Reckon you shouldve put a pit in there!
Looks good! Atleast you dont have to get the space heater out!

I thought about it, but decided not to because I'd already had the site levelled and he'd taken the catapillar away. Yeah I got the insulation so I could avoid the space heater, I've had enough of crawling in the dirt with no light and having to pack everything up when you want to stop for the night. Now I just leave it "as is" and go inside (its great).

[mybmw6]

I'll post picks when I have a bit more time. But here is a quick update:

e30 engine with transmission, radiator, a/c compressor etc removed, engine bay cleaned up, Front seats, console, dash and A/C box that sits under the dash is removed, wiring tidied up, auto pedal removed and hole punched for clutch and battery cable. e34 engine removed along with transmission but I can't get the 8mm hex bolts off the trans! It looks like maybe an 8mm male hex bolt? Does that sound right? I snapped one socket adaptor and nearly rounded one of the bolts trying to get the @astards off!

[StreetSpec]

i wish i had me a place like that to work in. makes life a whole lot easier.

Good luck with more progress, keep us updated as usual.

[gareth]

my bellhousing had those odd male torx bolt thingies. they can sometimes be removed with a normal socket but i just bought the right one for a few pounds from the local motor factors

[oze30]

I think they're size 11 male torx. they will come off,, lots of lube and a love tap.. and they should move. Failing that, abit of warmth never hurt! Just leave it in the sun for a bit, That'll warm it up enough!

I dont spose you have the bracket for the AC on the m30 do you? If so, could you compare the e30 to the e34 one? I'm trying to sort my ac out, and don't want to fork out more dosh than I need to.

Cheers and good hunting!

[gareth]

iirc there are 2 sizes of the 'silly' bolts heads.

[mybmw6]

i wish i had me a place like that to work in. makes life a whole lot easier.

It definately does! I've been saving for about two years to build it and its worth every penny, dollar, dime and nickel!

my bellhousing had those odd male torx bolt thingies. they can sometimes be removed with a normal socket but i just bought the right one for a few pounds from the local motor factors

I'm chasing it up today. Five tool/car accessories places haven't got anything but I think this last place does... wish me luck.

I think they're size 11 male torx. they will come off,, lots of lube and a love tap.. and they should move. Failing that, abit of warmth never hurt! Just leave it in the sun for a bit, That'll warm it up enough!

I dont spose you have the bracket for the AC on the m30 do you? If so, could you compare the e30 to the e34 one? I'm trying to sort my ac out, and don't want to fork out more dosh than I need to.

Cheers and good hunting!

Just had a quick look. My e34 compressor is still on but I took the e30 one over and made a visual inspection. They look like they are interchangeable (same brackets, same spacing even the unit itself is quite similar). Hope this helps. Cheers

[FBF]

worth mentioning that most uk councils will allow a 5mtrx5mtrx5mtr shed/garage without permission. you could also use permitted development if you stuck it on to the house and hadnt already had any extensions. which depending on the siz of your house culd allow a garage big enough for a car at least