i Motor Swap

[chocolame]

I'm swapping an i motor into my e car this next week. I think I have everything I need except for a couple questions.

I will be doing a clutch change while everything is out. What flywheel should I buy and what clutch kit should I buy?

Is there any difference in the e and i flywheels? From what I'm seeing one is dual mass and the other is single... I'm on a bit of a budget, so would it be worth it to invest in a single mass?

Thanks

[Cabriolet]

as you have an 87e pin 20 is ground on the c101 at the firewall. you MUST remove this pin or you will fry the I harness.

read all 9 pages of this:

http://strictlyeta.net/technical/328i_1.html

[packratbimmer]

The e flywheel is heavier and thicker on the eta. Make sure to use the correct throwout bearing when you set it up. Do you have the 260 Getrag with the reference sensors on the side of the bell housing? If you use an i flywheel with that tranny, I think you need to use an E30/e21 323i throwout bearing.

[Reichart12]

I just removed my m20b27 with 5 speed and put back a m20b25 with the same 5 speed. I went with a light weight flywheel (same dimensions as single mass I, just lighter) from my E double mass. The I uses ~25/28mm length bolts where the E used ~52mm. I matched the clutch disc and pressure plate to my flywheel, so I version. I did in fact use the 323I throwout bearing (P/N 21511204525) because it is longer than 325I and needed to overcome the change in flywheel thickness.

[chocolame]

I just removed my m20b27 with 5 speed and put back a m20b25 with the same 5 speed. I went with a light weight flywheel (same dimensions as single mass I, just lighter) from my E double mass. The I uses ~25/28mm length bolts where the E used ~52mm. I matched the clutch disc and pressure plate to my flywheel, so I version. I did in fact use the 323I throwout bearing (P/N 21511204525) because it is longer than 325I and needed to overcome the change in flywheel thickness.

So you were using the original "e" trans the whole time? The original trans is still in the car with the m20b25 now?

[Reichart12]

Yup its the original trans 260.0.1270.90 with the two sensors front left of the trans. I left them plugged in and the bit of wires dangling just in the bay.

[chocolame]

So as long as you get the thicker throw out those two sensors in the trans just dont matter? Is there a specific flywheel you got?

I think where I'm getting confused is:
Does there need to be a sensor plugged in elsewhere since those two sensors are left unplugged?

[Reichart12]

I left those sensors in as a plug for the holes. I don't remember what they are but the I harness has no connections for them.

I bought the 7lb lightweight flywheel from RHD. The reason for the longer TO bearing is because the E transmission is slightly deeper than I. When you replace the dual mass E flywheel with the single I flywheel, you have shortened the width of the flywheel. So since flywheel is bolted to the back of the engine and the TO bearing in connected to the transmission, the longer 323I version must be used to overcome the distance.

[chocolame]

Alright, thanks!

Would this kit work for what I'm trying to do? Plus getting a flywheel?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/exedy-oem-replacement-clutch-kit/p3040084.jcwx?filterid=d17266y1987g2j1

[Reichart12]

I don't see why that clutch wouldn't work. Youll still need the 323i TO bearing. Heres the kit I bought...

http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/KF29603

Came with clutch, PP, 325i TO, little bearing thing (I don't know the name), and alignment tool. They also have the 323i TO bearing for the cheapest amount I saw. Free shipping time was about a week.

Also one thing I wish I knew before trying to swap, the trans is bolted on with special external torx bolts. I had to buy some sockets to fit that because normal sockets won't. Ebay had a cheap set of craftsman sockets that did the job.

[AndrewBird]

The sensors in the bell housing are for timing positioning. i motors use an induction pickup on one of the spark plug wires, so they don't have the bell housing sensors. The i harness will have a plug for the induction sensor.

[chocolame]

Thanks for all the help guys. Just to make sure I'm clear, you bought a TO bearing from a 323i? What year is that because as far as I know, there are no 323i e30's?

[AndrewBird]

323s were e21s.

[Madhatter]

There are plenty of 323i E30's, they are just from the european market.

[Reichart12]

I linked the part number of the one I had above.... its 21511204525. Should show up on any BMW parts dealer. I bought mine from Bavauto with a few other items to get their free shipping offer.