Swapping an M52TU in an E30?

[328ijunkie]

Your arrogance is astounding. It won't run for long without a cluster who sends RPM signal to EWS module via K line, this is needed for rolling codes. . All you did is made it run at idle. Drive the car for few days then you will see all of a sudden engine won't start.

To bump this old statement. Have 1k miles on the car with no issues.... Stock E30 Cluster...

[mpowerful]

Haknett why you so bitter.

[greyis89]

I have personally ridden in the car 328ijunkie is mentioning. Looks like a stock e30 in every way other than the engine itself. Runs quite well from what I experienced.

[mcdougal]

Do you have to deal with ews and other electrical gremlins with all m52 engines, or just the TU motors?


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[Andrew325is]

To bump this old statement. Have 1k miles on the car with no issues.... Stock E30 Cluster...

Hmm, that's very interesting. No doubt it's throwing some codes though? Has the ECU not entered limp home mode like the MSS54 without stability control wired? If not, maybe because the MS42 ECU is linked to ASC and not DSC?

[Andrew325is]

Do you have to deal with ews and other electrical gremlins with all m52 engines, or just the TU motors?


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All M52 engines have EWS, but the M52TU and newer engines have a more sophisticated EWS with rolling codes and a much more sophisticated ECU with extra requirements.

M52TU discussion should probably go in the M54 & S54 forum.

[Andrew325is]

328ijunkie: Is your ECU out of a Z3? If so that is probably why it's working for you. I've been reading though BMW's EWS document. "The purpose of the EWS III D system is to provide the highest level of drive away protection available to vehicles without a K-Bus." So I think there would be no problem using the stock E30 cluster and wiring EWS III D. Sounds like it'll definetly work for stonea since his is out of a Z3. I think we're on to something here. :)

[328ijunkie]

All depends on how you flash the ecu ;)
Mind you I haven't touched any ews parameters in the ecu directly

The ecu is out of a 2002 330i

[Andrew325is]

Ah, okay. So it's not a completely vanilla ECU then. ;)

[mcdougal]

All M52 engines have EWS, but the M52TU and newer engines have a more sophisticated EWS with rolling codes and a much more sophisticated ECU with extra requirements.

M52TU discussion should probably go in the M54 & S54 forum.

So then swapping a non-TU is similar to an m50? There aren't any atypical electrical issues with the non-TU motors?


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[Andrew325is]

So then swapping a non-TU is similar to an m50? There aren't any atypical electrical issues with the non-TU motors?


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Shouldn't be any issues as long as you wire everything up correctly. This thread is for discussion about the M52TU though.

[mcdougal]

Shouldn't be any issues as long as you wire everything up correctly. This thread is for discussion about the M52TU though.

I know, just figured it'd be better to ask here instead of making a new thread.


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[nicQCrenaud]

Hi guys,

I too am planning on a m52tub28 swap out of an automatic 1999 e39. I'm very happy I found this thread, this is not a popular swap, really hard to find info. Moving from an M42 I want to keep a lighter engine so the m50/m52 aren't for me, I'd rather put in an M20, but I found this aluminum double vanos engine for dirt cheap. If I get through the wiring this would be the ideal e30 swap for me.

So far, I've got;
m52tub28 with all the wiring under hood (I'm missing what's going to the dash)
e34 m50 oil pan with a custom pick up tube.
Another ECU with matching EWS+key+ignition & steering column(from manual 1999 528i e39)
I wish to keep Getrag240 match it with a m20 flywheel/starter
e36 325i driveshaft
3.73LSD

still missing a few bits, but i'm mostly worried, about the wiring. Do I absolutely need a flash of the ECU because I won't run any DSC,ASC, ABS or other shit that's plugged in an e39 and who can actually do such flash? Do I have to run most wiring through the c101 connector like e36 swap, and that way I keep stock cluster?

I'm both really scared and really motivated to do this swap so any help is appreciated.

thanks a lot

[DesertBMW]

Do I absolutely need a flash of the ECU because I won't run any DSC,ASC, ABS or other shit that's plugged in an e39 and who can actually do such flash?

Yes you will need to get it flashed and I can do that service. You won't need steering column and EWS system if you go trough me.

[nicQCrenaud]

thanks but, I actually wish to keep the EWS as it's intended since I have a matching ECU+EWS and key. All I need really is to get all the rev, and if, i mean IF at all possible run on "closed" loop.