Conversion for the convertible: M30 it is! DONE!

[Andy335Touring]

Toby, i still think your old straight through to an E36 328 back box was a sweet sounding exhaust, better than my too noisy Scorpion

[Toby_Unna]

i think you need to hear your scorpion from outside mate, to fully appreciate it

i always remember when you come flying past on a dual carrigeway on the way to a stevenage meet, what a noise

i did like my 328i exhaust, it was about the right volume. and the total parts cost was ten quid which always helps lol

[Ziggy]

Not really decided what I'll be doing with exhausts yet, but yes please to the flange drawings Gareth!

My current setup sounds lovely on the m20 - how much of that is down to the mani I'm not sure, but the rest of it is just custom stainless pipes straight through to a supersprint rear box. I expect I'll probably make (/ have made) some pipes to go straight from the downpipes to the back box... but if it doesn't look like it'll work out, I'll have a look at the m3 option.

Need to find/arrange a prop next - exhaust'll come together I'm sure

[gareth]

oii, that's my scorpion exhaust you're dissing there too andy!!! i personally think mine sounds sweet. it did make me jump last night when i started it to check if the abs light was working properly (it is cheers andy!) as i'd forgotten that i took the backbox off to drop the diff. VROOOOMBAAAAA

ziggy, the drawing is on here as an image. there's a few pics of the downpipes etc too. worth a rummage...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v382/ ... onversion/
if you find a local waterjet / lazer cutter that wants it as a cad file, let me know. me, toby and turbo-brown can probably point you in the direction of a few places if you can't find one.

[Andy335Touring]

i think you need to hear your scorpion from outside mate, to fully appreciate it

i always remember when you come flying past on a dual carrigeway on the way to a stevenage meet, what a noise

i did like my 328i exhaust, it was about the right volume. and the total parts cost was ten quid which always helps lol

LOL, i rember that day, tanking past each other on the way to the meet, i'll have to let you drive it so i can hear it from out side

I think it might have started blowing a bit as it's a tad more boomy at low revs with some throttle applied, might whip it off when i change the diff which is probobly going to be the week after next as i'm off work.

[Ziggy]

Cheers for the pic Gareth - I'll give you a shout if I need the original file
I've got a 3.5 litre engine in the back of my VW caddy. Not toooo many people can say that! Shame my set of .de mounts won't help connect it up.

'box & fly may well be being ripped from the donor E28 at this very moment... aparently the rad's not great though, so I'll be wanting a new one of those. Then it's just the prop to find, & I'll see how exhausts look (& whether any of my spare bits will help me make something!) when the engine's in. Oh look - an excuse to try it without the downpipes connected to anything!

[Andy335Touring]

Oh look - an excuse to try it without the downpipes connected to anything!

You would be breaking with 335 tradition if you didn't !

[gareth]

CONTACT!!!!!!! put put bruuumbaaaaaa

has to be done!!!!

[Ziggy]

Well I tried it with my Caddy (unintentionally) - not quite the same with a 1.6 diesel

[gareth]

i drove a mk2 escort 2 miles to the scrapyard once.... with no exhaust manifold or system at all!!!

[Ziggy]

Right, I'm back from holiday, it's bl**dy freezing here & I now need to make some progress! The lump'll be getting a good clean up at the weekend - just need to order some gaskets etc from Paul in the morning.
Anyone got any comments/additions on the following?

Plugs
Oil/filter
Waterpump
Sump Gasket
Rocker cover gasket
Any more gaskets / seals etc?!
(plus lots of cleaning/painting!)


* I need a clutch to suit the E28 box / fly - any recommendations? Don't need anything particularly flash, but would rather not be swapping it in 6 months. I've got the old one... I'm thinking just swapping the friction plate is a false economy though?

* My E28M535i fly has one of the locating pins partially ground off (rounded nut when it was being removed, & the pin got damaged by accident). Anyone know if you can replace em, or whether it'll need re-balancing or anything?

* E28M535i rad = the best to go for? Or can something bigger be used without too much hassle? I've got an E28 M535i one, with hoses, but it'll almost certainly get replaced with a new one...

* STILL NEED A PROP! Anyone got contact details for a custom place? Doubt I'll find an M3 one before 2010, & no progress on the E28-m30 options. For all I know, the E28M535i one that I've got might fit. All I know is that someone managed with one from an E28525i/528i...

[ed325i]

Try http://www.reco-prop.com/ for the prop.

[Ziggy]

Ta

[Andy335Touring]

Add dizzy cap and rotor arm to your list

[gareth]

the dizzy cap price will be shocking!
the rotor and cap from a M20 are the same if you can find a good one and save a few quid

[Ziggy]

Add dizzy cap and rotor arm to your list

the dizzy cap price will be shocking!
the rotor and cap from a M20 are the same if you can find a good one and save a few quid

Don't remember m20 ones being much The ones on my m20 are virtually new anyway so if they're the same...!

[gareth]

GSF prices:
motronic M20/30 cap £33.50 + vat
motronic M20/30 rotor arm £11.50 + vat
motronic M30 HT leads £75 + vat

nasty enough for me to reuse old bits if they're ok!
M20 leads will reach if you ever get stuck but they won't be long enough to run in the conduit / holder jobbie

[Ziggy]

Blimey - that is a bit excessive! Probably used halfrauds bits so I could get trade discount

[Ziggy]

* My E28M535i fly has one of the locating pins partially ground off (rounded nut when it was being removed, & the pin got damaged by accident). Anyone know if you can replace em, or whether it'll need re-balancing or anything?

Anyone got any thoughts on the above?



Looks like I'm driving it this weekend, but that'll quite likely be the last time under m20 power! Hoping to get the engine prepared during next week, & hopefully start the swap next weekend. Still can't find a prop though, so looks like custom's the only way to go... What exactly do I need to ask for though?! As in what length does it need to be? I've obviously got the 325i & m535i ones as a starting point... assume the problem is that the m535i one is too long?

[ste]

GSF prices:
motronic M20/30 cap £33.50 + vat
motronic M20/30 rotor arm £11.50 + vat
motronic M30 HT leads £75 + vat

That isn't too bad - M20 bits are at least that price - in fact I'm sure the last M20 leads I bought were >£100.

I went to buy leads for an E34 M5 and they were >£250.

You should have done an M52 swap Ziggy... the prices for rotor arm, dizzy cap and leads are much cheaper...

[Ziggy]

Meh, they're a fair bit cheaper than that with a Halfords trade card anyway!

[ed325i]

As in what length does it need to be?

1450mm long in p3.

[Ziggy]

Cheers for that Ed - that's the length that my E28-M535i-front-half-&-E30-rear-half hybrid goes down to, so I'm hopeful on that front! We'll see when I get the engine in though...

'Progress' (Seems like I've barely started!) so far:

M30 belts changed, plugs out (to discover the new ones were wrong!), sump off (to discover the new gasket was wrong!), fly on (how tight do the bolts need to be?) & spigot bearing in.
Can't fit the clutch because I don't have the relevant bolts, & I don't have the ones to bolt the gearbox on either! ****.

Exhaust, mani, prop etc off of the m20 - Saturday was the last day of m20 power.

Well it's a start... I'd hoped to have the m30 ready to go in by now, but at least it shouldn't take too much doing once I've got the bolts / sump gasket.

[johnl320]

M30 belts changed, plugs out (to discover the new ones were wrong!), sump off (to discover the new gasket was wrong!), fly on (how tight do the bolts need to be?) & spigot bearing in.
Can't fit the clutch because I don't have the relevant bolts, & I don't have the ones to bolt the gearbox on either! ****.


Flywheel is 110 Nm according to my autodata CD. Thats what I've done mine up to. I put a dab of threadlock on as well.

john

[jaffro]

im about 2 do this swap. just need sum info. i have 535 engine a box will the box b suitable and what props can be used
i keep hearing m3 prop. also is the 535 rad suitable. thanks

[gooner1]

Jaffro, box should be fine. M3 prop is considered to be the best i think as it does,nt need shortening . 235I prob can be mated with anothe, not sure which one, but needs wlding and balancing. E28 RAD is needed but know of at least one car using a 235i one without probs.Dont take my word for any or all of this as i aint no expert. Best do a search mate.

[jaffro]

thanks for info mate

[Ziggy]

Jaffro, box should be fine. M3 prop is considered to be the best i think as it does,nt need shortening . 235I prob can be mated with anothe, not sure which one, but needs wlding and balancing.

325i prop (rear half) mates up perfectly with E28 M535i (front half), & it looks so far like no welding will be needed (think it goes short enough)... It's not on the car yet though so no guarantees, & it will still need balancing!

[Ziggy]

Flywheel is 110 Nm according to my autodata CD. Thats what I've done mine up to. I put a dab of threadlock on as well.

john

Cheers dude! Where do you get such specs from?

[johnl320]

A dodgy copy of autodata 2005. fu ck knows how much they cost new but I ain't paying it.

Have you tried that prop out yet?

john

[Ziggy]

A dodgy copy of autodata 2005. fu ck knows how much they cost new but I ain't paying it.

Have you tried that prop out yet?

john

Ooh I could use a copy of that Failing that, I know who to ask at least! Care to list everything on an m30 / gearbox / prop etc?!

Not tried the prop yet - no progress at all; the joys of having to go to work!
Waiting on the clutch / gbox bolts to arrive from Germany now, so I'm not gonna get it in this weekend either... I'll let you know as soon as I do!

[jaffro]

what fan are you useing 2?

[Ziggy]

Got a couple of random 'leccy ones in the garage... doesn't really make much difference as far as I know! Might try to find a 7er aircon fan though, just so it's all BMW

[johnl320]

Flywheel is 110 Nm according to my autodata CD. Thats what I've done mine up to. I put a dab of threadlock on as well.

john

Cheers dude! Where do you get such specs from?

Further to that, clutch to flywheel

M8 8.8 24Nm

M8 10.9 34Nm

8.8 and 10.9 being the tensile strength so you need to find out what you've got.

Crank damper/pulley 430-450Nm

I'll look up bell housing torque settings

regards

john

[Ziggy]

Bell housing ones would be awesome ASAP - m20's out & m30's hopefully going in tomorrow! cheers!