m50 out of a 91 525ia ?

[Jean]

There is a totaled 91 525ia, would it be a good choice to pull the engine from or would I run into problems with wiring if it's an auto ?

[Court M3]

no prob at all wiring harness for auto and manual or pretty much the same IIRC

[Jean]

Nice!

[Stu]

Yea you'll need to gut the automatic ECU section of the harness out but other than that it's pretty much the same

[matt]

Yea you'll need to gut the automatic ECU section of the harness out but other than that it's pretty much the same

Well, you can either do that or leave it.

[Jean]

I am not sure on the condition, or mileage. I am going to run the vin through dmv and/or dealer to look for latest service record... I am going to pull atleast the head as I don't have easy access to a truck ... i'll drop the head off to a machine shop and go from there... i'll pull the oil pan probably too, as it's an e34 ..

[asubimmer]

its no good, just give me the pan ;)

[PiercedE30]

the m50 from a 525iA is my starting base.

[Jean]

Great, I just wanted to make sure it's not any different than later versions. Would it make more sense to get correct wiring harness from a manual car with an ecu also, or is the difference only in the wiring or ecu ?

Hopefully head is straight and not cracked or damaged, we'll see.

[matt]

Auto/manual makes no difference in the ECU and the wiring harness works the same either way.

Just remember to install a pilot bearing if it was an auto.

[Jean]

What size sockets are used on the m50 head, just usual metric stuff or anything special like torx or hex ?

[matt]

Yes and yes.

[PiercedE30]

Use inverted torx sockets for the head bolts and timing chain tensioner.

[Jean]

My inverted torx sockets didn't fit, they weren't thin enough :(

[matt]

You need the special one for the head bolts. The one on ebay.