e30 M50 conversion - advice needed

[dreamdim]

I am thinking of putting e36 1993 2.5i engine in e30 1988 1.8i. I read about this conversion on http://www.theeurodepot.com/e30m50.html

They used e30 1991 2.5i for the conversion. I was wondering if e30 1988 1.8i and e30 1991 2.5i are more or less the same. I know the brakes on 2.5 are disks all round, but what about other things like driveshaft…. Do you think e30 1988 1.8i will be ok for the conversion?

I would also like to ask if I have chosen the right engine for conversion. I cannot afford s50, so I am going for m50. But I have been reading a lot and many people have gone for 525 engines. Why?

Thanks

[DanGillan]

its all been covered 1000x

search the forum.

[erik325i]

I have been reading a lot and many people have gone for 525 engines. Why?

Thanks

The motor is the same. You need the 525 oilpan though. If you get the motor from a 525, it already has the right oilpan...

-Erik

[dreamdim]

does anyone knows if m3 e36 clutch will fit e36 2.5?

[FredK]

No. The clutch disc diameter is different. The M3 has a 240mm clutch disc and the 325 has a 228mm clutch disc.

[dreamdim]

One more question – how hard is it to connect e36 wiring loom without adapters? Is it much easier and neater to buy adapters?

[FredK]

Yes, it is much easier and neater to buy adapters. If there's something wrong in the adapter, it's MUCH easier to take it off the car to troubleshoot than to splice the wires directly between E30 and E36 wiring harness.