Tell me about m30 swaps

[var1ant]

I really like the idea of stuffing a big six into e30's. I wondered if you m30 swapped guys could tell me the pro's and con's about swapping the engine. Was it a hard swap? is it worth it in your opinion? does the car handle differently because of that 60ish plus pounds? a little info would really be nice. thanks

[Garageaholic]

I had a few posts about that last week. I'm doing an M30 swap in march when the weather gets nicer up here. I would love to know also..

From what I have heard so far though.....

Handling is really no different, unless you really push the car and take it to the track where you notice little differences like that.

I believe George Graves gave a little synopsis about it because he has done one... He says the power is impressive and it has much improved low end torque.. Combine that with a free flow exhaust, 24# injectors, Mark D chip, Lightweight flywheel, intake, and you have one powerful, quick car.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. Some people think that an M50 is worth it, but for the money, M30 is the way to go. Also, many people think that the M30 will smoke the M50 and vice versa.... I dont know what to believe when it comes to that, but to have a healthy 240hp (modded) M30 engine sounds great to me and i can't wait. As I go through the process in a couple months, i'm going to document everything....

It's pretty easy. Go to jaredsquires.com and you will find details about the M30 swap and what he had to do to get it working. Depends on which M30 engine to get... there are a couple types of M30 engines....

[Garageaholic]

DAMN. thanx alot!. now it took me about 3 weeks to calm down about this knowing i'm not doing it until march, now i'm all hyped up, thinkin about it again...... Shit... lolol

[Jordan]

M30 and M50's are both waste of time swaps...

[Dave]

M30 and M50's are both waste of time swaps...

QFT

Ask yourself why you want to do these swaps before you pour countless hours into doing them.

Its one thing if you work in a shop and you have the tools/ability/low cost hook-ups. For most though, you are either going to pay a fat price and/or put huge hours into it. For what?

i took a 225hp car on to the track last fall - and was pointing by fucking civics and a Nissan NX. M20 is more than enough power for me for now. And if I somehow get to the point that it isn't, then I'll look for ways to upgrade it or upgrade the whole car.

[/apologies for Heeter-like rant]

[rwh11385]

whoa, Dave, nicely played


not to mention you can buy a car with a m20 already in it, not have to do shit, or spend shit
or you already have one. auto-x or track it and realize straight line is comparably boring, no matter how fast it is. . . .


var1ant, didn't you want to get into club racing? m30 would be shit for that. and m50 would put you in j-prepared reins

[Jordan]

Rick.. James.. was.. the.. original...... superfreak.

[Garageaholic]

Have you guys ever ridden in M30 swapped E30's? What do you guys notice? Anything different?

[E30 Wagen]

what BMW does the M30 originally come from anyway? Early 7 series?

[Jordan]

e3, e9, e12, e23, e24, e28, e32 for the US market.

[Garageaholic]

what BMW does the M30 originally come from anyway? Early 7 series?

I believe it came out in '78 in the six series 218hp version without the cat.
The intake had multiple parts, not one big intake manifold like is on more modern M30's.

It may have come earlier, so I may be mistaken, but for the most part, i think that year is the most prevalent for the M30

[Jordan]

No. M30 has been available to the US market since late 1968 in the 2800CS.

[Garageaholic]

No. M30 has been available to the US market since late 1968 in the 2800CS.

wow, Yeah, i thought it came out earlier. I wasn't too sure....

[Jon325i]

No. M30 has been available to the US market since late 1968 in the 2800CS.

True story. The original 'big six' engine served BMW well for a few decades. I believe its one of their longest production-run motors.

Jon

[Jordan]

Correct you are Jon.

BMW used the M30 for a LONG time, over which time it did evolve to larger displacements, and higher output.

I think the runner up for production run would have to be the M10.

That said, when it comes to the M30 swap for me.. I just don't like those motors in e30's. If for no other reason you are ripping out a much newer motor for one designed in the late 50's early 60's. That folks is old technology.