first time engine swap, and wanting some info and guidance.

[kickinindian]

so my m20b27 is being a bitch and does not want to start and ive changed, CPS, ECU, Harness, All relays, coil, and everything else i can think of to get it running. so instead of throwing any more effort at getting a slow brick to work i might as well just do what i have wanted to do and just do a basic engine swap to an M50, since it seems pretty simple and less hassle than an m30 swap that i would also like to do, but i digress.

anyways i have a 5spd, 9/1986 325es, so has a c101 connector, motronic 1.0
and i would like to run a m50nv (have to look up what that came in) but it seems the most basic m50 based engine, no vanos and just a DOHC m20 really. if its just as easy to do other engines list them so i can see why etc.

so for a list of stuff i will need im guessing?

e36 motor mount arms
e36 alternator
e36 PS pump?
e34 oil pan and pickup
throttle cable does it matter?
ecu
harness
long block(duh)
e28 motor mounts?
custom tranny bracket for g260
what tranny mounts?
flywheel and clutch what will i need?
and a tach from an i car
electric rad fan

i think that is all right?

i just want to get this all ready and done cheap as possible and not buy the wrong parts. im gonna try to junkyard/PnP as much stuff as possible to keep it cheap and i dont wanna boost or do anything crazy just a reliable more modernish daily.

TIA and hope i can work this out!

[NickL]

If you've done all that to the m20 and it's still not starting you probably have an issue somewhere that's going to cause the m50 not to start. I would get the m20 running before you do the swap so there isn't a million more possibilities of what could be wrong.

But, you'll want to use an e34 throttle cable. E21 trans mounts. Your early model radiator won't work so you'll want an m42 or late model rad and expansion tank. You'll also want an electric fan and 80* C thermo and temp switch.

Clutch and flywheel can be the stock m20 stuff, but the flywheels needs machined down to clear the 24v oil pan.

[kickinindian]

including the dual mass POS?
im going to pull the motor and trans anyway since im in the mood to clean the bay and just make it not be all greasy and 280k worth of grimey

so i think it might be the flywheel pin came off in the bell housing so regardless i guess its good i am going to pull it out, so i can check easily.

i think i might go with the m42 Rad so it has the integrated expansion tank on the side right?

and i think i am just going to notch the Booster over the 1/2in or so.

[e30rapidic]

Clutch and flywheel can be the stock m20 stuff, but the flywheels needs machined down to clear the 24v oil pan.

or grind off the tab on the oil pan...

[kickinindian]

will i need to grab a single mass which i probably will do anyways but will the dual mass work or no?

[kickinindian]

Bump?

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[Nick Hayden]

Honestly dont do just an m50 nv swap. You are going to be disappointed in the power increase. If you want the more power build the m50 up with s50 cams, injectors, maf, and tuner chip. But with the money you send on all of that it might be better to go s5x. But I agree with NickL. Find out what is going on with the m20 before you swap in a much more complex engine. but that is just my 2sens