Can e30 M3 firewall covers fit m20 cars?

[CorvallisBMW]

I've ordered all 3 pieces to the e30 M3 firewall cover, and after poking around in my engine bay for quite some time, there is no way I can see to make these fit without some decent modification. The M20 wires sit too low on the firewall to fit in the cable holder, and the battery tray piece won't fit because of the huge wire coming out of the firewall from the ECU.

I know I've seen lots of 24V guys do it, but can it even be done on an m20 or should I just return the bits and get my $45 back?

[CorvallisBMW]

really? nobody?

[transatlantic0207]

I want to know this too!

[MR 325]

I have not personally done it but I know for a fact that it's been done.

[Slyder]

Not sure what's so hard about it. I've done this on several cars. You'll need to do a little bit of trimming on the factory heat shrink tubing (that by now is hard and brittle). You can either put it into corrugated tubing or wrap the wires in electrical tape to compress the wires and fit them inside the case.

These covers were included in both e30 M3s and the facelifted 318i/is/ics. Here's some photos from my NA m20 install and my current turbo project.

NA Setup:


Turbo Setup:

[Dirtboy]

NA Setup:

Man that looks nice! I hope I can get this to work on mine. I pulled the cover off a 318 from the junk yard. It didn't come with the piece over the battery tray though...

[xwill112x]

aren't the m3 one's the same as the 318i/is ones?

[KenC]

aren't the m3 one's the same as the 318i/is ones?

Yes, but the M3 also has the one by the battery tray.

[mistacarder]

I've ordered all 3 pieces to the e30 M3 firewall cover, and after poking around in my engine bay for quite some time, there is no way I can see to make these fit without some decent modification. The M20 wires sit too low on the firewall to fit in the cable holder, and the battery tray piece won't fit because of the huge wire coming out of the firewall from the ECU.

I know I've seen lots of 24V guys do it, but can it even be done on an m20 or should I just return the bits and get my $45 back?

where did you buy the cover?

[nando]

fits on mine..



it's not an M20 harness, but I'm running the stock power wires in there.

[Cabriolet]

no issue at all.
remove the metal bracket holding the wires.
cut 2 of the studs off. drill holes through the new backing plate. mount and then wedge all of it in. it's a tight fit at the back of the intake manifold. and if you have a poorly mounted engine, i could see it not fitting at all.

IMG_7563 by Eric Berger, on Flickr

IMG_7562 by Eric Berger, on Flickr

[Luis325]

Anyone have the part #'s for these covers?

[nando]

www.realoem.com

look under the E30 M3. they aren't really that expensive either.

[E30_fiend]

Blunt has them for like $70 shipped if I recall correctly.

[MR 325]

Still need to do mine! Looks great Eric.