M30 swap Driveshaft usefull info

[pegase747]

Gents,

I am collecting as much infos as possible concerning the M30 swap for my touring, and there is no way I will not do it !

that is the engine which should have been installed in the E30 for the top range.

Anyway, when looking for some writeups, I found one guy in UK, who installed his M30B35 with manual tranny in his E30 325i, and used the original 325i Transmission shaft WITHOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS !

Basically the only mod he did was to take the mounting flange ( 3 holes star-shapped thingy ) from the M20 tranny and installed it on its M30 tranny, reconnect the shaft, and that was it !
he still had about 1/4" play when adjusting its splines thingy...

there was questions about this bit if it will handle the torque from the M30, being smaller than the M30 tranny flange, but seeing that most of the M20 tubo guys still use their original tranny with probably more torque than the M30, looks like it is a great idea...

basically he just slid the part # 17 on the next view, back on its M30 tranny, and Voila !

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/Touring/Europe/325i-M20/LHD/M/1991/february/browse/manual_transmission/getrag_260_5_50_gear_wheel_set_sing_part-2/

just wanted to share, and if anybody of more infos on that, that would be just great...

Gotta love BMW for the plug and play philosophy !


Cheers / pierre

[mattdk318i]

awesome! one step closer to a M30 swap for me.

[Erick]

It's nothing new, but yeah. Glad to see it worked for you! I considered going this step as well, but most guys frowned upon it.

Another easy solution is to use the front half of the 535i driveshaft with the back of the e30 driveshaft. :)

[pegase747]

Hi guys,

I saw this E34/E30 mix solution as well but I like the original 325i shaft better, much easier IMHO. that is the way I will go, unless the E34 shaft bit use is very easy...

Anyway I am a smooth driver, no grid start at all trafic lights so the 325i shaft will be just fine.

As I said, lots of turboM20 guys use that as well and haven't got any problems...

Pierre

[Jean]

It's nothing new, but yeah. Glad to see it worked for you! I considered going this step as well, but most guys frowned upon it.

Another easy solution is to use the front half of the 535i driveshaft with the back of the e30 driveshaft. :)

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=1620949&postcount=26

[pegase747]

I will stick to the 325i original shaft using the M20 tranny flange intstalled on the M30 tranny then, sooo easy !

Pierre

[Erick]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...9&postcount=26

Why did it work for me then?

That's my exact setup on the drift car.

[Jean]

No idea? Different engine postion, tranny?

[msinger]

i just finished my swap and ended up using the m20 driveshaft. i used funk's mounts and it fit perfectly. I already had a shortened driveshaft used in position 2 supplied by a friend, but it was nearly 6 inches too short.

when you switch the flange btw the trannys the output shaft on the 535 tranny, 265/6, is too long to properly connect the DS. It is easily shortened though with a cutting tool, I have not had any DS issues whatsoever and think it was a great solution!

[msinger]

sorry i meant 260/5/6

[pegase747]

Excellent, and the M20 tranny and shaft are very strong anyway, so I am not too worry.

Equally that will be a good idea to put a new M5 clutch and flywheel at the same time, then it might last forever.

Cheers / Pierre

[Jean]

sorry i meant 260/5/6

260/5 or 260/6 ?

[Doughnut]

Gotta love BMW for the plug and play philosophy !

BMW have "plug and play philosophy?" lol.

Good useful thread, cheers!

[LowR3V'in]

Studs are pretty small/weak though.

[pegase747]

Anyone got picture of the M30 Tranny flange to compare ??

Cheers / Pierre