Things to b!tch about after you swapped

[Mr.SWISS]

Let's hear some gripes and complaints you have or things you just haven't gotten around to. Your intended purpose for the car as well.
I still need to:
hook up reverse lights
" " cruise control
" " A/C
O2 sensor may be wired wrong
Clean up wiring and mount fuel return can and ps res.

Intended purpose:
M20 started knocking and wnated a more reliable and powerful motor that got a little better MPG= daily driver

[EtaSport]

My starter squeals, my idle oscilates all over the place. knock sensor 4-6 is bad, things need replaces (hoses and vacuum lines) I probably need to get the updated ICV. o2 sensor throws codes all the time. Exhaust leaks like crazy. Vibration is prevelant, but tolerable. My coolant gauge has a mind of its own, usually reads 3/4 or above and jumps around going over bumps (never did this with m20). Its not too clean under the hood right now. Sometimes the car wont start. ECU shuts me off at ~135mph.

It is quick, and it is pretty solid. I've ran away from m20 e30s like nothing, and its even quicker than my roomates m50 swapped e30. I get 27-28 mpg.

[MrK]

I have yet to get my engine heat under control, and there's less than zero space for my a/c compressor, so a/c is not hooked up. Heater core isn't hooked up either, and there's an annoyying slight shimmy at around 40mph. No space for windsheild washer tank, but I don't really care.

Otherwise, its a rocket on wheels. Just yesterday I smoked an e30 320i that seemed modded. Dude gave me a thumbs-up afterwards :D

[Bimmer335is]

A day and a half after having the car, with no problems other than the ones I had before swapping, The motor throws a rod, so i would say I got everyone beat on the aspect of things to bitch about after you've swapped.

So if you understand, I had the car for a day and a half, after a year of waiting and working on it, I threw a rod. Time for a full build, high C/R N/A motor. But that's going to wait again, probably going to be another year before I get the car to where I want it.

[bdi_fc]

I still need to:

• hook up reverse lights (fix, rather, they worked at one point)
• hook up A/C
• swap out the diff from 3.73 to something like a 3.25
• hook up cruise control
• hook up or disable the engine oil level light

Things that bug me:

• excessive vibration (m5 mounts maybe?)
• gas mileage is about 20 mpg even with freeway cruising
• can't fit a SPAL fan, have to use clutch fan (if it fits)

Intended purpose:
I like both the e30 and the S52, and wanted to experience the combo.

[Mr.SWISS]

Yea I forgot the oil level sensor on mine still needs some attention, the treehouse adapter had wires for it and I hooked them up and they said I have a bad sensor so we'll see. My grind and vibration was solved by removing the vibration damper and getting the muffler extended back a bit(it was rubbing the shock).

[e30_kid89]

well ive found my solution to my idle problem the maf was shot so i still have to:

-get new maf
-hook up reverse lights
-econometer and SI reset not working

other than that, its great

[BingM3]

Hook up A/C

Reverse lights done

I still get a little idle imbalance sometimes, but rarely now since I put a stock chip back in.


Cruise control, not putting it back.

On my E30M3 speedo, does anyone know how to put back the oil temp gauge to work?

[Garageaholic]

***Good idea for a thread BTW***


I got my exhaust setup custom welded 2 separate times....

I drained and re-filled my coolant about 6 times.

I took my whole engine apart to fix a bad idle and found out that it was just a bad crank sensor.

Electrical was a nightmare until I figured out to use the M20 harness.

Painting the car took 2 months nonstop work/sand/painting

I don't know what is worse to change: Rear bearings or Rear subframe bushings.

[dougsic]

well ive found my solution to my idle problem the maf was shot so i still have to:

-get new maf
-hook up reverse lights
-econometer and SI reset not working

other than that, its great

I don't think it's possible to have the econometer working.

My SI isn't resetting either. Just turned from yellow to red and it's making me red looking at it all the time.

My exhaust is poop.

But the s50 is more fun than any NA m20 could ever be.

[EtaSport]

that looks better than my exhaust.

My econo gauge works but its not accurate. You missed wires in your c101, especially if your SI reset doesnt work. Everything in my car works with the exception of the oil level. I have the sensor, but haven't wired it in yet.

So a lot of my problems disapeared yesterday because of a poor ground connection I had for the engine. I dont have too many complaints as of now with the exception of the squealing starter.

[Garageaholic]

Doug, the SI should easily reset with a jumper wire.

http://bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=articles&report=view&ID=00042&Section=02

[dougsic]

Hey, thanks you guys!

I tried my Peake tool, then just grounding pin 7 so apparently I have a wiring issue.

EtaSport - you're wlecomed to use my lift in Aberdeen, just let me know.

[euroshark]

"Why the hell did it take 6 months to finish??!"

"I seriously took the euro motor out of a euro 6 series... with Alpina suspension?? I hope it's worth it..."

Just general depression really... I never loved the E30s like I love the E24s and E28s, so basically I kind of despise my swap car. It's a beast for sure, but it's kind of a red-headed step child.

[equate975]

TPS is bad, or atleast I hope it is. I can't fucking figure out where all these codes are coming from....

o2 code, but this is my second new o2, still can't find anything wrong...

vehicle speed sensor code, I have checked the wiring about 12 times, its all there.

Alternator died, needs to get rebuilt.

Never hooked up my reverse lights, oh well I don't care lol.

Need to un-ghetto-rig my VDO temp sensor, its just on the hot side of the water pump now.

All I want to know is WHY THE HELL my car "loses power" randomly, AFR goes down the shitter and I lose power, then it kicks back to life....

Also I might have a fuel pump issue... BLAH!!!!