My m50 swap

[ahriley91]

The 3.73 lsd is actually the next thing on my list. Just gotta get more money. That always seems to be the problem with these things. I actually changed the clutch a month ago and have driven a total of 23 miles on it. haha. Its been sitting in the garage because I didn't get it licensed because I found the engine so quickly. LUCKY ME!!

E30 Devil, I sourced a refurbished e32 one. Make sure to get the master cylinder too because I didn't get one. And the reservoir or find a different one. You have to do a remote reservoir, but that isn't a big deal. The e32 and ix boosters are the same. And they are the ZF tranny's or getrag 250's. I'm not positive on which ones came in which years. Either way, you will need a new differential with lower gearing and I think that any e36 driveshaft will work. Check the lengths of the driveshafts on realoem.com. I hope that that helps you out somewhat.

Thanks for the support!

[Jparkr]

Nice job so far man. Im starting mine very soon too.

[E30 Devil]

Okay, so I too am in the process of doing an M50 swap. It'a a NV out of a '92 325i. I'm swaping in the motor AND tranny from that E36 car. Not sure what the stock tranny is from those cars but just from what I've been reading, I am told I need to run a drive shaft from a E36 328i or an E30 M3. Is that still the case? If so, why won't a drive shaft from an E36 325i work? TIA.

Also, anyone have any suggestions as far a as where I can snag a cheap brake booster from a 320i or one from a E30 ix? TIA.

[Wh33lhop]

You can keep the G240 (it's actually a bit closer-ratio than the G260, relative gearing is similar to an E36 box). However you may want to upgrade to a medium-case differential--go for a 3.73 or numerically lower unless you like lots of rpm on the highway (3.73 with the G240's .83 fifth gear will leave you at about 3450rpm at 80). You're probably used to the short fifth gear of the 4.10 with the M42, but with the torque of the M50, that will be a bit excessive.

Don't forget about clutch and flywheel--now's the perfect time to put in a new clutch, and a shaved down M20 "i" flywheel, if you can find it, makes for a nice upgrade from the M50 dual-mass.

[ahriley91]

So this has been eating away at me for awhile now. I'm going from an m42 to an m50 and I don't really want to buy a new transmission. It has the getrag 240 right now, but do I need to get the getrag 260? I have been using http://www.e30dohc.com/wiki/index.ph...HC_Swap_Basics to get my info and it says that all I need to do is swap in an e36 325i driveshaft. Is this right, or should I get a new transmission? All the help is greatly appreciated.

[ahriley91]

I got the m50 from a 95 525. So it even has the updated spring plate for when I put in m3 cams...eventually. So to answer your question simply, it's a vanos.

[5KWattson]

awesome another e36 is slowly dying hahaha....btw what m50 are you swapping in a NV or vanos

[ahriley91]

And more pics...





SUCCESS!!!

[ahriley91]

Update time!!

So Ryan and I got the engine out tonight!!! We drained the oil, disconnected the rest of the lines, put the chains on the block and up it went!! There isn't really much to say while pulling the engine out, so I will let the pictures do the talkin for me. I was wearin my twins hat, but took it off cuz I didn't want it to get dirty.

[triggrhaapi]

If the motor is going to be stored, don't forget to drain the block!

[JJe30]

Congrats on beginning the swap and good luck.

[ahriley91]

Hello! I just started my swap today, well, yesterday now, and I decided that I am going to do somewhat of a write up on it and keep all of you guys updated. I have done massive amounts of research on this and I have gathered almost every single part. So it is out with the m42 and in with the m50. Today involved the removal of airbox, all of my lines, draining fluids, all of that sort of stuff. I will be adding pictures tomorrow night after we pull the engine out. I will definitely keep you all updated on the project with pictures and a final video of it runnin!!