S52 Mounting ?

[PuebloPete]

Not sure if I'm missing something here or not. I was putting the S52 into the E30 yesterday and am having a hell of a time trying to get things to line up. I'm using the AKG solid mounts on the engine and the AKG poly on the trans. They say that the motor mounts are machined at the correct angle, I think they are full of crap. Mine aren't even close. I've attached some pics but I dont see any way that this will line up.

I had the motor mount brackets on the engine when I was dropping it down and with the angle of the mounts and studs, there is no way I can do that, so I removed the drivers side bracket and dropped it on the pass side mount, the tried lining up the dr side and I cant get it close.

Also, I cant jack up the pass side trans bracket any higher???? I haven't read anywhere that people have these issues.. Maybe I'm just an idiot!

Pass side mount. Still has an angle gap there.


Drivers side mount.



I've got a huge gap here and I dont feel like there's anyway that I can twist the engine like that.



I took these bolts off to try and mount that way.



I have a huge gap here on the pass trans mount and I cant jack it up any more.



I feel like the center distance between the motor mount studs is too close compared to the bracket mount holes. Obviously you guys have the engine in, so am I missing something here??

[Gnarles]

When I installed my s52, I had the mount arms bolted to the block and kept the mounts loosely installed on the arms. This allowed me to line up the holes on the subframe with the mount studs. For the transmission, it looks like you are using the g260, if so, you need a custom transmission crossmember to account for the new transmission angle.

[PuebloPete]

When I installed my s52, I had the mount arms bolted to the block and kept the mounts loosely installed on the arms. This allowed me to line up the holes on the subframe with the mount studs. For the transmission, it looks like you are using the g260, if so, you need a custom transmission crossmember to account for the new transmission angle.

So the motor mounts should be fine then? Just doesn't seem like its going to go. I'll try again. The trans brace is custom, you can see the dr side of it is bent up and welded and the pass side is ground down.

[Gnarles]

Sorry I am on my iPhone. I see your transmission brace problem now. Why can't you jack up the passenger side anymore, is the tranny hitting the tunnel? Whatever it is something looks misaligned if you are having that much trouble.

[rpob5t]

I just installed my M52 last weekend and used the AKG poly mounts and had some difficulty getting the car to sit on the studs, ended up rounding out one of the holes on the arm on one side to get it to go and just stuck a larger washer over the stud for more bearing surface...

[87e30]

I had some problems lining my m52 up with the e34 m5 OEM mounts but I used jacks at different places to get it rotated properly and aligned. I thought it was just because of my poor lift chain system.