e30 m50 swap

[1991318is]

I have read all these pages and i've been to many different web sites about e30 m50 conversion. This winter i'm going with the m50 swap. I have a 1993 325i motor waiting in my garage. I thank you all for the usefull info it's great! But i am a bit confuse on some details since everyone had their own experience. About the brake booster, the most popular solution that people talk about is to use the e21 320i with a little modification on the rod. Others say that you can also use the, 2002 more to modify, 325ix or e32 735 without any modifications to the rod. I guess these are solutions to free space when the engine installed but is there any difference between them in alpying the brakes or stoping power? I would rather use the brake booster from a 325ix or e32 735 since you dont need to modify the rod but does it need any other modifications and what is the clearence to the intake manifold. I know that the 2002 brake booster offers more clearence, besides this one are they all the same? And i also need to know about the master cylinder brake, e28 535, e34 m5, e32 735i... Wich one to use, can i still use the one from the e30 :?

[b]

[rwh11385]

Wow. A lurker who has taken the time to read all the info, and then ask a question. :up:

Hopefully someone knowledgable will reply, or I believe you could call the expert,

Pete McHenry
Precision Performance
Winston-Salem, NC
910-761-0643
(336) 761-0643.

Forget which is the new area code is. But he would definately know.

[Brew]

I'm using the 320 booster with the shortened rod. Pedal effort is slightly higher, but the braking power is definitely still there. I believe that the 2002 booster woujld give you even less boost because it is smaller. The modification to the rod is really simple- I actually had my mechanic cut the rod off of the e30 booster and weld it right onto the 320 rod. I had to file down a couple of the plastic fins on the intake manifold to get it in there, but thats no big deal either.
Stock master cylinder bolts right up, lots of people upgrade to the 25mm booster which also is a direct bolt-in.

If you have any more questions, feel free to shoot me a PM.

[kylebes1]

I am using the 320i booster (e21) and I think it works fine. Effort is ok and I have half inch clearance for the intake.

All you have to do for the e21 booster is cut the rod to the same lenght as your e30 booster. grind the shaft to the same diameter as the e30 shaft and thread it the same as the e30 clevis and you can still adjust the pedal and all.

Not a dificault task at all, buit I have heard certian MC will not work with the single chamber booster.

Call Pete, he will talk to you like a friend and is full of accurate info!

[1991318is]

The e21 320i booster sounds like the best solution i feel more confident now, and i guess that i will use the e30 master cylinder. Thanks for the reference to Pete McHenry, funny thing is that i made contact with him about a week ago, my friend here in montreal has driven his car down there for tuning so he knows him well that's how i know him. Oh the new area code is (336). He is a great guy, and i have heard that he's done it all with e30's. I asked him a few questions but i did not want to bother him to much since he has a business to run, but he refered me to a guy here in canada, near montreal. :D

[Ryan Stewart]

Dont use the E30 MC, get at 25mm out of a 535 or 735.

I have the 325ix booster, you need to fab up a remote brake fluid resevior because it crashes into the boot in its stock position. Effort is about the same but its really fast since it is the 25mm bore MC.

Certain MCs wont work with the single chamber boosters yeah but there are plenty of options for the older boosters. The ones for the dual chambers are recessed inside the booster.

[inLine6]

Can someone explain the difference between the single and dual chamber brake boosters and which cars came with the dual? I plan on upgrading to the 25mm MC and eventually do brakes, what would be might best option? I've been reading a lot lately about brake boosters and have found very conflicting stories as to what does and does not work. I have read that people used their stock one and did not have any problems at all. Really confused, hopefully someone can help me out.

Thanks,

[bmwe3]

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 12:35 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow. A lurker who has taken the time to read all the info, and then ask a question.

Hopefully someone knowledgable will reply, or I believe you could call the expert,

Pete McHenry
Precision Performance
Winston-Salem, NC
910-761-0643
(336) 761-0643

maybe it was just me or he was having a bad day i called him for wiring diagram for a s50 to e30 m3 engine swap he wanted to charge me 450.00 just to email the pin chart (2 pages).

am i cheap or does that sound over priced??

[Ryan Stewart]

The 325ix booster is dual chamber. It works but its tight and you have to use both a recessed MC and a remote resevior.

The 320i booster fits better because its a smaller single chamber booster. You have to cut and rethread the rod to E30 lenght.

The 2002 booster is even smaller and fits better BUT its MUCH more involved in modification, it takes welding.

Id recommend the 320i booster. Its the easiest way

[bmwe3]

i was looking on e30.de those guys used the stock booster by tilting the engine more towards the passenger side (washers under the driver mount??) and cutting the fins on the intake manifold. it seems to work for them

[Ryan Stewart]

That was the old way to do the swap, using two different engine mounts to tilt the engine. That changes a few more things though. You add exhaust clearance issues and when tilting the engine you tilt the transmission from its natural point.

Instead of rigging it with washers why not just pony up the dough to replace your 20 year old brake hardware anyway?

[Stu]

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 12:35 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow. A lurker who has taken the time to read all the info, and then ask a question.

Hopefully someone knowledgable will reply, or I believe you could call the expert,

Pete McHenry
Precision Performance
Winston-Salem, NC
910-761-0643
(336) 761-0643

maybe it was just me or he was having a bad day i called him for wiring diagram for a s50 to e30 m3 engine swap he wanted to charge me 450.00 just to email the pin chart (2 pages).

am i cheap or does that sound over priced??

Yes, you have to buy a swap kit.

[PanamaE30]

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 12:35 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow. A lurker who has taken the time to read all the info, and then ask a question.

Hopefully someone knowledgable will reply, or I believe you could call the expert,

Pete McHenry
Precision Performance
Winston-Salem, NC
910-761-0643
(336) 761-0643

maybe it was just me or he was having a bad day i called him for wiring diagram for a s50 to e30 m3 engine swap he wanted to charge me 450.00 just to email the pin chart (2 pages).

am i cheap or does that sound over priced??

Yes, you have to buy a swap kit.

um, $450 for an email? Can we ship parts over email now? Cuz if we can, that's badass

:P

[Jhonno]

Wherebouts does the MC sit?

Also is the brake booster the brake servo yeah?

[Ryan Stewart]

The MC sits in the booster or on the front of it. Where it is now.

Also if you are in england doesnt everything change since you are on the wrong side of the car?