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HELP! 1985 325i M20 replacing an 1990 325i M20. Is it possible?

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    HELP! 1985 325i M20 replacing an 1990 325i M20. Is it possible?

    Hello Everyone!

    I need some help!

    First and foremost; this is my car.

    1990 BMW E30 325i 2.5l




    A little bit of back ground history. Bought it back in September 2011 for $500, in terrible condition.

    New Paint (Schwarz 668 off my E90), New Wheels, Rims, Windows, Full mtech 2, M3 vader seats, trany, head lights, tail lights, rear leather seats off an import e30 at a junkard, led interior lighting, etc etc.

    So as you can see, ive put alot of time and money into my car, and now finally, my engine is on the verge of being replaced.

    Car has 181,000 original miles, but the previous owner didnt take care of it at all, looked like a crack head. Turns out he was a crack head, found a pipe hidden in my car.

    So let me get to the point!

    I took my car to a mechanic shop today, because i have extreme oil consumption everywhere, (air intake, in my mass air floor sensor, losing some on the ground, etc).

    Supposedly, i have no compression on piston 5. (I will verify this myself tomorrow with my own compression test because i did one myself a few months back, and all my pistons were roughly at 150.)

    So now i have to SWAP my engine. But ill probably just wait till this engine blows to do it.

    I have an engine available from a 1985 325i, but from what ive read or heard, isnt the 1985 m20 engine a 2.3?

    The guy im buying it from swears its a 2.7, but that doesnt make sense to me.

    EITHER way, if it was a 2.3 or a 2.7, is it possible just to swap the engine entirely, and run the same motor mounts, wiring harness, ecu?

    The engine virtually looks the same, except the intake manifold looks smaller or not as thick on the donor engine?

    Anyway, if anyone can give me some back ground on this, or have experience doing this swap, that would be great. Where im at its very hard to find ANY m20 engines.

    I found ONE m20b25 2.5l today, at a junkyard, but the asshole on the front counter didnt want to let me attempt to start the car, or check compression, etc. But the guys in the yard said it was running when it came in. He said hed sell it to me as a core for $350, but no returns if the engine is bad.

    OR.....

    I can purchase a 1985 m20 2.3 (or 2.7) from another guy, for $200, that is supposedly also running, but sitting at a crate in his shop..

    Im just so lost, i dont know what to do.

    Help a fellow E30 driver out!!:-(

    #2
    Pretty sure in the 2.3 was never brought over state side. Sounds like he has a 2.7 eta engine that he's selling.
    Swanny!
    SUCKERS.

    Comment


      #3
      Yeah, i just wanted to hear it from someone else rather than him! How difficult is that swap to do...? I mean, is it plug and play, or do i have to change other things?

      Comment


        #4
        You'd actually be retrofitting your car to accept that engine. You'd need the harness and ecu from the e models (except 88). Your best bet is to wait for i motor to come up for sale if you want plug and play convenience.
        Swanny!
        SUCKERS.

        Comment


          #5
          Good point, i guess i will keep looking!

          Damn, i really want to go and pick up that engine from the junkard, and take my chances on it.....but then if the head is cracked or something, it would just be a waste of time and money.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by AdrenalineRx View Post
            Yeah, i just wanted to hear it from someone else rather than him! How difficult is that swap to do...? I mean, is it plug and play, or do i have to change other things?
            not sure on the swap specifics, but i do know you can confirm the motor by the head casting number.

            2.3 has: 1-705-731
            2.5 and 2.7 have: 1-705-200 and 1-705-885

            Comment


              #7
              These are numbers i got off the block;

              02955756

              Then another set of numbers;

              1 278 921 21h74

              I dont know what they mean, those are off the engine thats supposedly a 2.7l

              Comment


                #8
                You don't want to use the engine from the 85. It is an ETA (M20B27). A search will turn up information about how that engine differs.
                The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                Comment


                  #9
                  Like jlevie said, don't use that engine, its the eta motor, its a turd and slow.

                  Just find another 87-91 I engine
                  M30 is God's motor.....but Jesus drives an M60'd car -slammin.e28

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Thanks gents, i will keep looking! They are so hard to find though...at least a good one.

                    Comment

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