Auto 525i

[SpecM]

-I know I know you've talked about this before but most thread names are "m50?" and too general.
-Anywho, I may be able to get my hands on an automatic e34 525i, exact year unknown to me. Its been sitting around my tech-school's bone yard for a while, and I beleive it can be bought for cheep.
-How much harder is it to swap an auto-m50 into my e30? I know that some work is already done, like the whole oilpan bit, but, well, chime in guys. ;)

[325Projectz]

Is your e30 a manual, if so the swap will be easy.

[SpecM]

-Why's that?

[joshh]

You want to keep the auto tranny as well?

[SpecM]

-No, no; I want to keep the Getrag 260 in my e30

[joshh]

They bolt up.

[SpecM]

-Ok, got the owner's number and planning to offer him $400, $500 tops. If the motor, DME, mounts and such are complete, does this sound resonable? TIA guys

[Dave]

if the engine is known to be running, maybe. If its been sitting that long, I'd be a little concerned.

[SpecM]

-Dont' know how long it's been sitting and I just talked the guy. Has 135k on the clock and motor is complete. Is a 1991 525i, which Im pretty sure is non-VANOS, right?

[joshh]

Yep. non-vanos. I would replace all the gaskets/timing chains at least.

[SpecM]

-How better is the m50tu VS m50 non-VANOS? IIRC, peak output is the same, just a smoother torque band (on the m50tu), right?

-Im asking to see if its worth bothering doing a plain-jane m50 swap. s50 sounds nicer :twisted:

[kylebes1]

s50 is always nicer, but I would say the m50 will please you as well.

The Auto trans shares two wires with the engine DME. the other wires are spliced in and can be easily seperated. Those two wires can just be snipped.