For those with M50 conversions........

[m-dtech]

I have read the m50 developments thread and thought id start this......

Please post your spec..........

Engine
Gearbox
Prop
Engine Mounts
Brake Servo

[DanThe]

Engine - M50B25 Non Vanos
Gearbox - Gettrag (250?) from E36 325i
Propshaft - E30 325i
Engine Mounts - E28 M535i
Servo/master cyl - Renault Clio
Rear diff - 3.25:1 M3 LSD


NEXT!!

[Eddy]

Engine: M50B25 Vanos edition
Gearbox: E34 short ratio
Prop: E30 325
Engine Mounts: custom,very hard rubber
Brake Servo: golf 2, 1.3l...
Diff: small casing,3,91,mig spec

next....

[eko]

Engine: M50B25 Non vanos
Gearbox: E34 M50/E36 gear linkage and selector
Prop: E36 328i with E30 centre bearing
Engine Mounts: E28 M5
Brake Servo: golf 2, 1.3
Diff: 3.46 open
Radiator; E30 318is
Elec fan; Mitsubushi Galant 24v

[Brianmoooore]

Engine: M50B25 Tu, Ex E34
Gearbox: E36 320i
Prop: E30 325
Engine mounts: Probably E30 325
Brake servo: Standard E30, moved sideways
Diff: E28 525e,open
Radiator: E30 325
Elec fan: E34 aircon.

Conversion number two just starting.
Engine: M50B25Tu, Ex E36 (unless a B28 comes along)
Gearbox: E36 325i

[Kedge]

Just wondering, is it at all possible to use a vanos engine? Thinking more M52B28 at the moment though!

[Brianmoooore]

Just wondering, is it at all possible to use a vanos engine? Thinking more M52B28 at the moment though!

Wouldn't consider using anything else! The difference in grunt from low revs is considerable.
Vanos is all self contained and causes no extra work at all.
EWS complicates things a bit, but no major problems as long as you have all the matching bits.

[iKst]

Engine: M50B25 from E34
Gearbox: E36 325 gearbox
Prop: E36 325
Engine Mounts: custom, from hard rubber.
Brake Servo: stock E30 servo in original position
Diff: E28 LSD
Radiator: the large one from E34 with air-con and electric fan.

[brian325i]

planning on doin this as soon as i can locate an engine..was planning on using m50b25 from 525..putting into e30 318is..any link to step by step..i have fair idea but it be nice to see it done step by step..any link???sorry for off topic post but hopefully soon i will fill in the topic of this thread

thanks in advance brian

[m-dtech]

planning on doin this as soon as i can locate an engine..was planning on using m50b25 from 525..putting into e30 318is..any link to step by step..i have fair idea but it be nice to see it done step by step..any link???sorry for off topic post but hopefully soon i will fill in the topic of this thread

thanks in advance brian

thats what i have just done mate,

Engine: M50B25 from E34
Gearbox: E30 318IS gearbox
Prop: E30 325
Engine Mounts: M20B20
Brake Servo: Renalt Clio
Diff: Standard E30
Radiator: Standard late E30 type.

[brian325i]

whats the story with all the different engine mounting options?? e28 m5.. m20b20??whats difference??
will the e30 318is gearbox match m50b50 flywheel??

is it nippy

[DanThe]

m-dtech, do you mean rubber mounts or mounting arms?

[m-dtech]

rubber mounts mate, i used the e36 arms.

[m-dtech]

whats the story with all the different engine mounting options?? e28 m5.. m20b20??whats difference??
will the e30 318is gearbox match m50b50 flywheel??

is it nippy

best option is to use the e36 alloy engine mount arms and, e30 2.0/2.5 engine rubber mounts.

yes the 318is gearbox mates up with m50 block and you can use m50 clutch, flywheel and starter motor.

m

[Tom944]

Engine: M50B25 Non vanos
Gearbox: E34 M50/E36 gear linkage and selector
Prop: E30 325e
Engine Mounts: E28 M5
Brake Servo: E30 325IX
Diff: 3.25 LSD
Radiator: E36 325i
Elec fan: Spall

LHD btw.

[eko]

whats the story with all the different engine mounting options?? e28 m5.. m20b20??whats difference??

Difference is strength!
I only used E28 M5 ones cause at the time of my conversion thats what i read someone else had used.In hindsight id have probably just used the M50/M20 ones though!

is it nippy

As said best bet is to try and blag a passenger ride!
I can only speak for the M50.
Plenty of power when needed,sound better(IMO) than any M20 ive heard when under load and good on fuel too
Im planning on doing a vanos conversion soon,maybe a 2.8 if funds allow.
Just got to find a donor car to replace my current one with

[TheDutch]

This is a really helpful thread already, but would be even better if people could indicate what they've gone for exhaust wise, and/or any changes they'd make if they were doing the conversion again.

[Kedge]

Been discussing this today and i've decided to use the M50 rather than the M52. Going to use my iS gearbox, will i not be able to keep the same prop or will i still need to use the 325 prop? Going to try and find a single vanos engine, will this still be a simple plug in conversion using the E34 loom?

Eko: when you say good on fuel how good are we talking?

Is the M50 2.5 much faster than an M20 2.5?

[eko]

Eko: when you say good on fuel how good are we talking?

Mine averages anywhere between 40 od - 60 odd miles per £10!
Which i dont think is bad considering its constantly used for school run/shopping etc so mainly local driving.

Does get a good thrashing now and again though

[DanThe]

On £20 of petrol -

100 miles town
150 on a good motorway run (not above 70mph )

For exhaust info search the threads, its pretty standard.
M52 manifold chopped and welded.

[Eddiejt2]

Eko: when you say good on fuel how good are we talking?

Mine averages anywhere between 40 od - 60 odd miles per £10!

If we say petrol is 90p per litre then that's only 16-24mpg. Not good. I thought the M50 was better on fuel than the M20?

[DanThe]

I can get 30mpg all day on m-way

Also depends on what rear diff you use

[jmc330i]

Going to use my iS gearbox, will i not be able to keep the same prop or will i still need to use the 325 prop?

Thats the only bit Im not sure about and is whats stopping me converting my touring - I would be using my 318i box, but Im not sure on the prop needed.

As I understand it, you will need the 325i prop as its shorter than the iS prop - the gearbox will be moved backwards when fitted to the M50, compared to the M40/M42.

[eko]

Eko: when you say good on fuel how good are we talking?

Mine averages anywhere between 40 od - 60 odd miles per £10!

If we say petrol is 90p per litre then that's only 16-24mpg. Not good. I thought the M50 was better on fuel than the M20?

Should have said,thats around town.
Car is mainly used by my misses for twice daily school run and shopping so barely even gets warmed up before being parked again!
On motorway it is spot on,as Dans,i get about 150ish miles to £20!

[jmc330i]

On £20 of petrol -

100 miles town

Thats about what I get from my M20 around town, and I dont really have a light right foot. So with the extra go from the M50, the conversion would be worth it.

I thought the M50 was better on fuel than the M20

IIRC from figures I read ages ago, the E36 325i (M50) is a little bit worse on fuel than the E30 325i, its the 328i (M52) thats better on fuel than both M20 and M50.

[Brianmoooore]

, the E36 325i (M50) is a little bit worse on fuel than the E30 325i,

Don't believe this! The M50 is a more efficient engine than the M20, and for equal performance from the car, should return better fuel consumption.
Diff ratios could be a factor.

[jmc330i]

Cant remember where it was quoted now, but I do remember reading the E36 325i was worse - it was only 1-2mpg either way mind you.
The 328i was quoted to be quite a bit better, probably down to its restricted bits and bobs.

[DanThe]

The 328i was quoted to be quite a bit better, probably down to its restricted bits and bobs.

Buckets of torque and vanos more like

[m-dtech]

Going to use my iS gearbox, will i not be able to keep the same prop or will i still need to use the 325 prop?

Thats the only bit Im not sure about and is whats stopping me converting my touring - I would be using my 318i box, but Im not sure on the prop needed.

As I understand it, you will need the 325i prop as its shorter than the iS prop - the gearbox will be moved backwards when fitted to the M50, compared to the M40/M42.

IS box fits sweet as a nut.

M50 pushes the box back further, so you need the shorter prop from a 2.0/2.5

Shorter gear linkages also.

[jmc330i]

The 328i was quoted to be quite a bit better, probably down to its restricted bits and bobs.

Buckets of torque and vanos more like

I was just wondering if it would still be better on fuel if the 2.5 inlet etc was fitted??

[jmc330i]

M50 pushes the box back further, so you need the shorter prop from a 2.0/2.5

Shorter gear linkages also.

ETK lists the 325i prop as 1489mm and the 320i prop as 1526mm. Which did you use?

When you say shorter gear linkages, do you mean 325i or modded ones?

[eko]

IS box fits sweet as a nut.

M50 pushes the box back further, so you need the shorter prop from a 2.0/2.5

Shorter gear linkages also.

So the iS clutch and flywheel is used?

Take it the flywheel needs redrilling to fit the M50 crank?

[m-dtech]

M50 pushes the box back further, so you need the shorter prop from a 2.0/2.5

Shorter gear linkages also.

ETK lists the 325i prop as 1489mm and the 320i prop as 1526mm. Which did you use?

When you say shorter gear linkages, do you mean 325i or modded ones?

320i prop is the daddy to use.

[eko]

If using the iS gearbox what ratio diff can be used?
3.64/3.73?

[m-dtech]

IS box fits sweet as a nut.

M50 pushes the box back further, so you need the shorter prop from a 2.0/2.5

Shorter gear linkages also.

So the iS clutch and flywheel is used?

Take it the flywheel needs redrilling to fit the M50 crank?

i used the m50 clutch and flywheel, it fits in the gearbox no problem. i might go for an m20 arrangement at a later date.

m42 flywheel is same fitment i believe.