M60b40 VS s50b30 E30 Swap

[Mr. Burns]

Before you guys get all teenage girl PMS'y on me, i've done my homework.

I'm gauging, a feeler what what my next step is over the winter time.

I HAVE access to both engines at a reasonable price.

M60 with 109miles
S50 with 117 miles.
Both from US spec 1995 cars.

What do you figure would be the least amount of work.

I know that...M60 will require custom mounts, or fab'd from E30.de
M60b30 5speed tranny (minimum)
and obviously the brakebooster relocate

The S50 is more of a M50 swap...can re-use my existing tranny(flywheel, driveshaft etc etc) (fab up crossmember)
Treehouse racing makes a plug n' play harness for about $400 so no wirring nightmares (my biggest fear)
brake booster relocate
e28 motor mounts
e34 oilpan dipstic

Is it accurate to state that, the M60 would be more labour intensive in comparison to a S50 swap?

for years I've dreamed of having to stuff a M60 in my e30.
however, the time has come to make that decision.

would you go M60 OR S50?

[Gruelius]

if you can tackle the m60 shennanigans and want the V8 noise then go for it.

dont the m60's have a shitfit with US fuel?

[slammin.e28]

if you can tackle the m60 shennanigans and want the V8 noise then go for it.

dont the m60's have a shitfit with US fuel?

Only the Nikisils. You can tell by the serial # on the side of the block. Don't think it was that big of an issue on the 1995 engines though. Wikipedia has the #s to look out for.

M60 requires work. M5x has been done for ages. M60 is def more labor intensive. Shit, mines been sitting on the stand with the front/top torn off for 2 months now.

I'm going 6 speed. It's just one more level of badass to stack on having a V8 e30.

[Mr. Burns]

mightaswell do it right ffs.

I could dicker all day justifying that the S50 will be a heluva lot less work.

but a V8 convertible is what it will be.

come hell of highwater.

Allusil VS Nikasil debates still ongoing, however if the weaker block has withstood the wears up untill now, i'm sure as shit it's not going to suddenly "start" decomposing suddenly because of gas issues.

[VinniE30]

S65. It both weighs less and is physically smaller than m60/m62. Not to mention it's a high revving beast!

[scottinAZ]

after having done the M50 swap, my next project WILL be 32 valves of fury in an E30....












Now to find a shell, and hide it from the wife.... :D

[E30SPDFRK]

S50 is SO MUCH easier to do

[Wh33lhop]

The S50 swap is not "like" an M50 swap, it IS an M50 swap. Procedures are identical. Beating a dead horse at this point but the M60 swap is much more involved and the path is not nearly as beaten, although it is far from impossible.

S65. It both weighs less and is physically smaller than m60/m62. Not to mention it's a high revving beast!

Ha. :p

[Acehye559]

Quick question, whats the difference between the e34 530i and 540i besides the motor? I know the 530 is the m60b30 and the 540 is the m60b40, however is the tranny, and everything else under the hood the same?

[scottinAZ]

Quick question, whats the difference between the e34 530i and 540i besides the motor? I know the 530 is the m60b30 and the 540 is the m60b40, however is the tranny, and everything else under the hood the same?

IIRC the externals are identical between the B30 and B40 motors.

[Acehye559]

IIRC the externals are identical between the B30 and B40 motors.

Thank you, Im also interested in the m60 swap myself. I found a 530i swap car, however I want the bigger m60b40. I was thinking of getting everything needed off the 530 and then find just the motor from somewhere else.

[Wanganstyle]

Thank you, Im also interested in the m60 swap myself. I found a 530i swap car, however I want the bigger m60b40. I was thinking of getting everything needed off the 530 and then find just the motor from somewhere else.

regarding e30+v8 swap from e34-

530 v8's have:

5 speed ZF manual trans that uses a normal 240mm clutch with standard imput shaft size (same imput splines at friction disc as m20/m50)

longer driveshaft than auto or 6mt; has a CV joint rear end - 6 bolts to diff
188mm medium case diff in rare 3.07 final drive (diff wont fit e30, guts will)

540 v8's have

6 speed getrag manual with large imput shaft (ala e39m, e46m)
shorter driveshaft for 6 speed with a CV joint rear end - 6 bolts to diff

210mm diff (will not plug and play into an e30 at all, even the naked guts are useless to an e30)

[E30SPDFRK]

No offence to anyone that wants to do it, but an m60 swap is too involved for most people on here to handle. There are a lot of things that need to be made, lots of things that need to be moved, and a lot of it isn't documented on the web. Don't think of it as "oh, it'll probably take me 2 weekends instead of 1".

[Mr. Burns]

No offense taken E30spdfrk, and in all reality you're probably right. I'm not shy around cars, and I've done my fair share of engine swaps before. (Mostly VW/Honda).
I would likely hire a reputable shop *who has performed the swap before* and let them do it AFTER I've collected all the pieces.

The S50 I know I could likely do over a couple of weekends. But after all is said and done, its still not the V8 I trully want.

[glucklich21]

If you're going to do a M60 swap, join a euro E30 forum. It's quite documented over there.