1991 325i M50NV (first ever) Build Thread! (now CA BAR'D)

[drummerchubbs]

I'm too far along and got all the parts I just need the exhaust section; down pipe, cats (which I think I will get them aftermarket ones) and muffler which I will reuse.

Since you are in Norcal, get an appointment at the South Sac location (not American River College) and you will have a much greater chance at passing. The referee's are the biggest variable in the BAR equation.

[amcink]

I can definitely help. If your goal is to pass BAR before you even start buying any parts, just buy an entire parts car and take everything you need. I did this and I took everything I needed and sold everything that was valuable and ended up getting a free engine and profiting $800 ;D

I'm too far along and got all the parts I just need the exhaust section; down pipe, cats (which I think I will get them aftermarket ones) and muffler which I will reuse.

[drummerchubbs]

Kudos for passing the BAR!
I might need your help later to do this

I can definitely help. If your goal is to pass BAR before you even start buying any parts, just buy an entire parts car and take everything you need. I did this and I took everything I needed and sold everything that was valuable and ended up getting a free engine and profiting $800 ;D

[amcink]

2014 UPDATE

Ok so I've been driving the car for a few months now and I LOVE IT! Here are a couple things that have happened:

1)My wife surprised me by ordering this Christmas card and sending it to all our family and friends!


2) Participated in my 1st drift event. Word-Up in Stockton organized by FatLace. I have 20 go-pro clips but I don't know how to make a film out of it :( can send files if someone wants to do it for me.

3) Went to the South Sacramento referee station and PASSED THE FIRST TRY!!!!
Now car is 100% legal!

Kudos for passing the BAR!
I might need your help later to do this

[Nick_S]

Im on another computer and it says theyve been moved or deleted? If they work everyone else disregard me! ha

[drummerchubbs]

Pictures aren't working!

They are working for me

[Nick_S]

Pictures aren't working!

[drummerchubbs]

2014 UPDATE

Ok so I've been driving the car for a few months now and I LOVE IT! Here are a couple things that have happened:

1)My wife surprised me by ordering this Christmas card and sending it to all our family and friends!


2) Participated in my 1st drift event. Word-Up in Stockton organized by FatLace. I have 20 go-pro clips but I don't know how to make a film out of it :( can send files if someone wants to do it for me.

3) Went to the South Sacramento referee station and PASSED THE FIRST TRY!!!!
Now car is 100% legal!

[vandy]

Thanks for the excellent thread. I'm doing a similar swap and am watching your progress!

[E30Runt]

Awesome thread and I love the updates. Thanks for the inspiration. My '84 318 just died on me and it's time for a swap. Only thing is I don't have the space or time so I'm going to have to go the non-grassroots route and have a trusted shop handle it for me.

Keep the updates coming. I really enjoy hearing about them.

[drummerchubbs]

That makes me think your donor was an auto, wasn't it?
I know auto ecu when connected to a manual trans will exhibit this behavior under very low load and throttle, my supposition being in those circumstances they were only driving the tc and bmw took advantage of that to improve mpg.

Onizukachan, thanks for the response. I've never heard of that before. Is there a way to eliminate that, besides getting a manual ECU? Chip?

Now that I know that it's supposed to do that I'm not freaking out as much

Thanks again for the response.

[Onizukachan]

UPDATE 10-16-13

I've been daily driving the car for almost a week now and I LOVE IT!!! .
4) On light to medium load in all gears its feels like the vehicle is getting pulled back, like brakes are being applied for a seconds and then released.

That makes me think your donor was an auto, wasn't it?
I know auto ecu when connected to a manual trans will exhibit this behavior under very low load and throttle, my supposition being in those circumstances they were only driving the tc and bmw took advantage of that to improve mpg.

[drummerchubbs]

UPDATE 10-16-13

I've been daily driving the car for almost a week now and I LOVE IT!!! I've been breaking in the clutch so I haven't done any hard acceleration but the mid-range torque is very nice.

So far I have a few small problems:

1) idle is a little low (650rpms)
2) when idle is that low it seems to miss a little and then it'll rev itself up intermittently. Does it 2 out of 10 times that I stop at a red light. (maybe vacuum leak)
3) The manifold is touching the booster so I have a vibration at 2-2.5k rpms.
4) On light to medium load in all gears its feels like the vehicle is getting pulled back, like brakes are being applied for a seconds and then released.
5) Need to get a kamotors CAI system before I suck up some crap into the MAF.


Besides these things I've loved every minute. Here are a few pics of how she looks after a good interior and exterior wash.




Took off the flaking lip for repaint.


This was the result of 20years of filth.



NEED TO DO (cosmetically):
1) Eliminate the reverse rack
2) buff and polish
3) re-paint the front clip and re-paint all black rocker panels
4) get tires and install new wheels

OVERALL: :):):)

[drummerchubbs]

Great stuff Chubbs... I just picked up my '92 525i doner car. I also wanted the M50NV. Now time to do my research and commence swap. Keep updating this thread. :)

525i motor and harness will definitely save you a lot of time in this swap. Do a lot of research, when you think you have done enough, do some more ;)

Update coming shortly...:p

[gome123]

Great stuff Chubbs... I just picked up my '92 525i doner car. I also wanted the M50NV. Now time to do my research and commence swap. Keep updating this thread. :)