M50 Developments - considering an M50? Read this.

[iwantspeed]

thanks for the quick replys

yes apparently some idiot put my steering wheel on the wrong side of my car


so will

an
m50
m52
s50
s52
fit in my 1987 325e ?



also what mounts for the transmission and engine will fit

what manifold will fit?

[DanThe]

AFAIK E36 exhaust manifolds will fit in the engine bay if your car is LHD. Im sure you could also fit a turbocharger in the space you are left with
You should get rid of that restrictive inlet manifold, it looks just the same as an M52B28, M50B25 manifold is the way to go
Servo = brake booster, you need a smaller one, I dont think you will be able to move yours over like us RHD's can

[brian325i]

@buster

from what i remember you cut your pleneum for your s50 around the golf servo in the standard position.wat mastercylinder?and any pics,please thanks
as repayment here is some m50 pics lol

[old_skool]

^^ Buster moved his servo over around half an inch and used the 25mm Audi master cylinder. All the information is in his thread here

[brian325i]

thank you kind sir

[buster]

Hi Dameon
Good to see you on here
Brian,
Had to move it half an inch as Dameon said because i wanted to minumise the amount taken from the plenum chamber.
Im thinking of taking it off actually and re doing it.Maybe the same as Dameons,or servoless.

[sam325is]

has anyone had problems from a m52 on here eg.nikasil lining.

Also i have read that the post sept'1998 m52 engines have steel liners instead is this right. im trying to see which is more feesable m50 or m52

[guy1]

i've just fitted an m50 out of a 525i e34, i left the gearbox on the engine, has anybody tried changing the gearbox output flange with an E30 one?

[Brianmoooore]

i've just fitted an m50 out of a 525i e34, i left the gearbox on the engine, has anybody tried changing the gearbox output flange with an E30 one?

IIRC, I considered it and decided it wouldn't fit.

[DanThe]

Quick search on realoem says the Getrag collar nut that retains the flange is used throughout the BMW range from the E28, through E30 (defo small flange) up to the E91
But only on the Getrag, if you have a ZF box the collar nut for that is only listed for models which use the large output flange, hence the E30 is not listed.

So unless you have a Getrag box youd better find a propshaft/driveshaft reconditioners

[guy1]

hey dan, thanks for the wiring info, i got it started sunday.

i'm going to have a look at the box tonight, i'll let you know how it goes.

cheers

[guy1]

Am i right in saying that the early e36 320i gearbox has an e30 output flange?

[DanThe]

Possibly, I remember Brian writing about using an E36 320 box with an E30 prop on one of his conversions

[Brianmoooore]

Possibly, I remember Brian writing about using an E36 320 box with an E30 prop on one of his conversions

E30 diameter, but with 12mm bolt holes instead of 10mm.
Box came from a K reg 320i.

[DanThe]

Ahh yes, dont forget to drill the prop!

Same setup as I have but my Getrag box came from an early 325i

[les3002]

would a 1990 318i box fit an m50 and allow the 318 prop to be retained?

[randomdave325]

would a 1990 318i box fit an m50 and allow the 318 prop to be retained?

no it won't m8. the clutch/flywheel setup is too big for the housing.
318iS (m42) box will fit on tho. you'll need the iS prop too as is a little longer.
the m40 prop does fit at a stretch but doesn't look too clever

[les3002]

what if you fitted an m20 flywheel would that help?

if not ill just use the m50 box

[guy1]

hey guys, just thought i'd say, i bought a 320i 1994 gearbox, got the prop drilled out and it's all fitted perfect, so it's all running apart from the exhaust,

thanks for the info.

guy

[Andyboy]

The E34 518i box will fit, same casing as the iS. The best box is the early (H plate only) overdrive unit from the very early 24v 520i/525i but they are rare. When I find them in breakers they don't leave here for less than £150. It sits on the same mounts as the original E30 325i unit, E30 gearlinkage and prop fits on (swap the output flange on some) and overdrive means no farting about with diffs.
You'll know the early 24v box as it looks identical to an E30 unit. 2.0 and 2.5 boxes are the same.

March 1998 is when the M52 went to steel liners. All this 2.8 stuff is a bit gay anyway. I have a US 3.2 M3 crank and slugs on the way. Should be okay for 250 bhp

[DanThe]

Since you mentioned 2.8 engines Andy, did the US M52B28's have iron blocks?

[les3002]

should be getting an engine out of a friends e34 525i in a couple of weeks, most of the gearboxes mentioned on here seem to be e36 are the e34 ones the same?

also earlier in the thread there was a prop with e36 front shaft and e30 rear shaft and centre bearing will this fit the e34 box?

cheers guys.

[DanThe]

Most E34 ZF boxes are the same, but either will fit. E36 has a better chance of using a Getrag box with the smaller flange though.
If you use the ZF box with the large flange you are better off having your E30 prop shortened and flange changed then balanced, mine cost £55 at a local reconditioning place.

[brian325i]

my e34 box had larger flange so i had to get my e30 prop shortened and a large flange put on the end of it,got it welded in a local shop ,he used a laithe to makes sure it was straight but didnt balance it,50euro and it nevr gave me any bother

[les3002]

sounds good guys, is it worth keeping any other bits of the e34 before it gets scrapped? brakes, rad etc

[randomdave325]

Hey all. With all the propshaft talk earlier just use an e36 prop with an e30 centre bearing.
The last one i did i bought the proper dust seal and replaced it on the shaft.
Part number is 26 11 1 225 089
Everything fit's spot on with no problems with no need to cut, drill n mod anything or indeed buy an overpriced m3 prop.
Small flange is e36 320 or 323
Large flange is e36 325 or 328
Mark it when you seperate it and just slide it back in the same place as with any prop.
Even works with s50 5 speed (large flange)
The only one you have to mod is when you use the 6 speed. front half 512mm and i use reco prop (01582 412110)
They cost about £130 but back in 3 days and is mint! (i'm well fussy)

I've just got mine back nicely painted and fits spot on with the evo box i've just bought after driving a B32 cab i built for a customer!

All this info is already in this post but thought i'd make it easier to read as is quite a beast now.
i've done quite a few S&M50's conversions now and it's definatly the way forward

Unfortunatly after driving the m engined cars it just makes you want more power.
Thats why i'm going s54 on standalone in mine now.
It should be fully finished by the end of march.
Watch this space as they say
It should be some fun

[les3002]

is that any e36 prop and do you use all of it or only the part from box to centre bearing?

[randomdave325]

is that any e36 prop and do you use all of it or only the part from box to centre bearing?

The whole prop m8. You can't mix and match e30/36 props.
They work opposite each other if that makes sense.
I know there are variations on the length of the rear half depending on the diff fitted in the e36.
I found out the hard way whilst doing a 2.5 conversion on a 316coupe at about 3am one night
But i'm fairly sure if you stick with the 6 pot stuff you should have no worries

[les3002]

excellent cheers mate so a 6 pot e36 prop with e30 centre bearing

thanks

[dicko]

Can any of you fine gentlemen tell me the max dia servo i can get away with on a m50 conversion as I am going to the breakers tomorrow to have a look for one , and if I have a measurement at least i can look around myself
thanks

[curryp]

i'm using the 325 manifold (bigger than the 328) andi used a mk2 golf servo which fitted spot on. i had to use a spacer (10mm of 8mm bar ) in the master cylinder as the rod in the servo wasn't long enough but fitted perfectly and feels spot on. and looks like its factory obviously with no manifold you can't tell how it's like on the road but should be fine.i'm of the opinion, i built it . i'll press the pedal harder if needed. i've since learnt that a renault 19 16v servo fits without the spacer but won't know for sure till thursday when i get to go play with it again.
_____________

think thats what dave has used on page 1 of this thread if its any help____

[dicko]

Is that a e36 325 manifold?

[Brianmoooore]

Can any of you fine gentlemen tell me the max dia servo i can get away with on a m50 conversion as I am going to the breakers tomorrow to have a look for one , and if I have a measurement at least i can look around myself
thanks

You can get away with the original servo if you move it across a little. Just requires a longer pull rod, a couple of plates each side of the bulkhead, a couple of holes drilled, and an extension piece made up for the bracket off the transmission tunnel.

[dicko]

Thanks Brian but that sounds like heart ache as I can only work on the car at the weekend
How much does it have to move by

[Brianmoooore]

Moved mine 25mm. The big advantage is that it keeps the full servo assistance.