Easiest Swap

[uturn]

I would say M30 but manual transmissions are getting harder to come by. M5x is the smarter choice now.

[Bullhead]

Now is the m50 the newer engine that's in the E36 M cars? I think I'm right, I do not want a vanos engine, well I don't think I do cause that stuff can get expensive if it breaks I would think.

[uturn]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M50

You might want to go here

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=129

[Ether-D]

Don't let em talk you into that new-fangled garbage! (whispers) m30………

Getrag 240's from early 318i's are a dime a dozen and bolt right on to the m30 and are reported to hold 300 torques. And if you use the 240 with your m30, you can just use your stock driveshaft.

[Bullhead]

Don't let em talk you into that new-fangled garbage! (whispers) m30………

Getrag 240's from early 318i's are a dime a dozen and bolt right on to the m30 and are reported to hold 300 torques. And if you use the 240 with your m30, you can just use your stock driveshaft.

I agree my "old school" brutha! lol I have a secret to tell though, I rode in a M50 (Kadunza) swap car today and I am still cleaning the giz out of my pants. But if the info I have found is correct the m30 has about 30hp more than a stock m50, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Well I was looking at a b20 M50 not a b25 so the hp numbers are about the same, nvm.

[shadowracer]

why not build a stroker m20, and not the 2.7l do a 3.0l-3.1l or even 3.2l??

I have a couple friends that wanted me to do a swap, and I didn't for a few reasons...

My main reason was why go thru the headache of trying to figure things out (wiring, etc.), for a whole 10-15HP more, and also end up possibly having a hacked up looking engine bay like "most", (not all) I've seen?

Another reason is everyone seems to be so quick to swap, does anyone know how to build their own power anymore?

Sure maybe I spent a little more on my 3.1L stroker than most are wanting or willing to spend on an m20 but I did so for a reason, you take an m20 out, and essentially put it back in...just much better than before.

[Bullhead]

why not build a stroker m20, and not the 2.7l do a 3.0l-3.1l or even 3.2l??

I have a couple friends that wanted me to do a swap, and I didn't for a few reasons...

My main reason was why go thru the headache of trying to figure things out (wiring, etc.), for a whole 10-15HP more, and also end up possibly having a hacked up looking engine bay like "most", (not all) I've seen?

Another reason is everyone seems to be so quick to swap, does anyone know how to build their own power anymore?

Sure maybe I spent a little more on my 3.1L stroker than most are wanting or willing to spend on an m20 but I did so for a reason, you take an m20 out, and essentially put it back in...just much better than before.

Well honestly I like the idea, but everyone has said to junk the 200 head and I am listening because this seems like people have tried to make power with it and it's just not a good power maker, it reminds me of those nasty 350 sbc smog heads now lol. I would also like to stress that I am not out for 250+hp. I would like to get around 175hp and 250ftlbs and I think I would be happy as a lark. Me and forcedfirebird have been chatting and I think he has tuned me into a good option to keep me happy for a long time. I will pm him again to ask if I can relay the information he shared with me out of respect or maybe ask him to stop in here and tell you guys what he told me.

[The Dark Side of Will]

I agree my "old school" brutha! lol I have a secret to tell though, I rode in a M50 (Kadunza) swap car today and I am still cleaning the giz out of my pants. But if the info I have found is correct the m30 has about 30hp more than a stock m50, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Well I was looking at a b20 M50 not a b25 so the hp numbers are about the same, nvm.

Yeah, the M30B35 is 210 HP stock and 220ish torque. The M50B25 is 192 HP stock and IDK torque (170ish?). The 24V is easier to mod as it has more unused port flow than the M30.

Also, the S50US and S52 are both 240 HP.

[Bullhead]

Yeah, the M30B35 is 210 HP stock and 220ish torque. The M50B25 is 192 HP stock and IDK torque (170ish?). The 24V is easier to mod as it has more unused port flow than the M30.

Also, the S50US and S52 are both 240 HP.

MMMMMM I like those S's.

[Bullhead]

Well I have been reading my butt off on swaps. It seems that the m30 swap would be the way I want to go but both swaps (m30 single or newer m5x variants dohc engines) take a lot of work to get them done right. I like to go fast but I don't want to cobble something together either. I could do either one no problem if I could afford to have my beater down for a little bit. I do not have that option AT ALL so I am going the 2.7i route I believe. What hp numbers are you guys with 2.7i engines putting down with a turbo and modest boost? And I am assuming I could do this swap if I had everything ready to go in a weekend easy if I had a decent hand with me?

[uturn]

Beware of scope creep and Murphy's law!

[Eddie Lives On]

M30's are the cheapest in my area.

[Bullhead]

M30's are the cheapest in my area.

Mine as well, I can pull one from a pull a part myself for $150 for the engine and the harness is just $25. I also like the idea of all that low end nasty torque.

[Regnar75]

OP, i opened this thread expecting you to get flamed for the thread title/topic and was going to offer my two cents anyway, but i have been completely surprised by r3v here. everyone has only put useful and thoughtful information here for you so good job r3v, on not being our typical asshole selves.
i personally did the 885 head swap and motronic 1.3 upgrade on my 86es and am loving every minute of it. i swapped the entire I top end onto the E block and its fantastic, only cost me about 100 bucks for parts and i spent 100 on a 2.7i chip. now i dont know if you would consider it a swap? but its definitely a fun engine to be had on the cheap. i think the swap took me, maybe 4 hours of actual work aside from undocumented problems i ran into (alternator belt size differences, o2 sensor wirings etc) but i made sure to document those in the 2.7i thread. so all in all i did it in about 3 days. plus its a great base if you ever plan on turboing someday. ok. thats my bit.


ps. since its basically a head swap you can do it with all the tools most of us have in our trunks, the only special tool to have is the head bolt sockets and a torque wrench...but if you're like me you have those in your trunk too.

[dirtie30]

I love my 2.7i, especially coupled to a 4.10 rear. Go-Kart status