320i new engine

Post Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:39 pm

Hi guys,
Im new to the site and looking for some advice.
I have picked up an E30 320i coupe perfect for a project but am what you would call a complete novice when it comes to customisation etc.

The only problems with the car are a small crack in the head gasket and a dodgy bolt in the manifold, unfortuneately head gasket being my fault as where the motor had been in storage for so long the water pump seized and she overheated.

Im looking at dropping a new engine in there and thinking while Im at it maybe a 325 engine.

Im guessing this should be quite straightforward with fittings etc but could use any advice etc, or ideas for my first E30 project.

Cheers
Donut_man

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:05 am

The 320 engine is possibly the least loved of all the E30 engines, on account of its great thirst and relatively modest power output.
325 engine is a straight swap, although a 'proper' 325 uses a different (stronger) gearbox, propshaft, and differential.
Plenty of other options: 3.5 litre M30 engine, M42 engine from the 318iS, 24 valve 2.5 litre engine from the E36/E34, 24 valve 2.8 engine, the S5x series of engines from the E36 M3. Even the V12 engine has been fitted in an E30.

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:45 am

Yeah to be honest with you I went for a 2.5 M20 engine as my new engine and now regret it. I wish I'd gone for either a 2.5 twin cam from the E36 or a 3.5 M30 (the M30 being what I would lean towards due to the lower cost). The M30 wouldn't have cost me any more really and would have been much more fun.

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:25 pm

Ok, sounds good,
Thanks guys.

Unfortunately I am on a budget and gonna be looking for something not too challenging (within reason of course). lol
What with the appaling cost of petrol here to Id prob be lookin at max 2.5 for now although the M30 is tempting.
With the E36 2.5, would I be right to assume a complete change of gearbox, Differential, ECU etc?

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:36 pm

Donut_man wrote:Ok, sounds good,
Thanks guys.

Unfortunately I am on a budget and gonna be looking for something not too challenging (within reason of course). lol
What with the appaling cost of petrol here to Id prob be lookin at max 2.5 for now although the M30 is tempting.
With the E36 2.5, would I be right to assume a complete change of gearbox, Differential, ECU etc?

Go and make a cup of tea and then sit down and read the "M50 devlopments" thread at the top of this section. It'll take a good while to read it but then you will know everything you need to about doing the M50/M52/S50 swap.

All of the above are E36 engines, the M52 is the latter incarnation and the S prefix engines are from M powered cars.

Good luck and welcome to the E30zone

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:39 pm

Thanks bud,
Kettles on!

Post Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:39 pm

Pacerpete here has a pearl of a 325i engine and box. Just drop that in and be done with it.

Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:55 pm

This all looks good although this is becoming more complicated than i imagined, had no idea there were so many possibilities.

Im lookin at the m50 twin cam conversion.
Has anyone done it and can tell me realistically the total cost im lookin at and time to complete?

Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:58 pm

Also im lookin for a list of parts im gonna need, (you can tell im new to this lol)

All i can seem to find online are US pages etc, such as project orca?
Does anyone know where I can get some decent guides etc on this sort of project?

Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:15 pm

Have you read this yet?

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=66938

Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:27 pm

a basic M50 conversion is not expensive.. and will offer far more than a 12v conversion

Seriously sit down and read through the M50 Developments thread

Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:28 pm

Donut_man wrote: All i can seem to find online are US pages etc, such as project orca?
Does anyone know where I can get some decent guides etc on this sort of project?

The US guides are close to useless, because the problems encountered with a LH drive car are completely different to those you'll get with a RH drive one.
Dropping the engine in the car is the easy bit - E34 sump and E36 alloy mounts, and that's about it.
The problems come after that: The steering gear tries to occupy the same space as the exhaust manifold on RH drive cars - not applicable to LH drive ones, and the inlet side of things gets in the way of the brake servo.
On RH drive cars, the brake servo can be moved across easily, but this can't be done on LH drive cars.