M52 from 528i (e39)

[Panici]

Looking at buying a cheap e39 today ($600), to use the motor and tranny to swap into the e30.

Can I use any of the mounts on the car? Rear end? Driveshaft? Oilpan?

Thanks!

[jink0619]

no no no

[Panici]

Ok, so i'd literally just be buying it for the motor and transmission.

[mpowerful]

I hate to say it but you have some reading to do my friend.

[Panici]

I hate to say it but you have some reading to do my friend.

I absolutely agree.
I was just trying to get a quick summary to see if the e39 is worth buying.

[jink0619]

The e39 motor is def worth buying, it has slightly more torque then the one from an e36, had it in my car and would cook m50's all day!

[Panici]

Is there anything else different between the e36 M52 and the e39 M52 (besides the mount arms)?

[m735is]

What year e39?
I know you wrote m52, so I'll assume the single vanos. Correct?

m52tub28 would be the dual vanos, aluminum block motor.

If single vanos, I don't think there's any difference in the motors.

[Panici]

What year e39?
I know you wrote m52, so I'll assume the single vanos. Correct?

m52tub28 would be the dual vanos, aluminum block motor.

If single vanos, I don't think there's any difference in the motors.

It's a 1998. 145k miles.
Based on the front of the valve cover (two bumps), it is a single vanos M52.

[justin_l_]

I don't know where you come from, but in my world single does not = 2....

[Panici]

I don't know where you come from, but in my world single does not = 2....

The plastic valve cover at the front of the motor is an easy way to visually tell if the motor is single or double vanos.

Single vanos has a cover with two bumps on the front. Double vanos has a flat front.

[Thujalvi]

The intake manifold is another dead giveaway, as the dual vanos engines have the two stage one with DISA.

You'll also want to hold onto a fair bit of the wiring, especially the EWS along with the steering column and it's electrics. The general module and it's wiring might also be worth holding on to depending on what you're going for, but I'd just keep the lot until the car is finished before throwing anything away.

[Panici]

You'll also want to hold onto a fair bit of the wiring, especially the EWS along with the steering column and it's electrics. The general module and it's wiring might also be worth holding on to depending on what you're going for, but I'd just keep the lot until the car is finished before throwing anything away.

Yep, that's the plan.
Hopefully I can swap the full OBD2+EWS system to the E30 for now.

A 3 or 4 years down the road I'd like to do a turbo build, at which point I'll be running megasquirt, and then I'll ditch the factory electronics. :)

[hilux30]

where in ON are you bro?

[Panici]

where in ON are you bro?

Hamilton/Niagara area.