M30 into my E30 thread

[bmwmike]

Well Im starting this thread and Ill keep it updated as I move along. At this point Ive aquired a complete 86 e28 535i 5 speed.

What Ive done so far:
Drained the fluids
Checked the seriel tag on the diff to confirm it as S 325 917. This means its a LSD and has 3.25 gears. I think that will be prime for a boosted M30 in the E30, so that will be removed eventually.
I removed the radiator
And just for shits I removed the 535 badge (so my E30 can say 335) as well a the grill and roundel for my garage.

I know its not much so far but I just got the car last night. Ill keep updating as things go, and get some pictures as I remove the larger parts.

The plan is to Dissasemble the block, take the head and bare block to a machine shop for some cleaning up, then rebuild it myself with the necessary bearings, gaskets and seals.

***Question: Should I get a special headgasket since I will be turbo'ing the motor or will a stock replacement work fine?
***Question 2: Where would you recommend I get a rebuild kit, just my local auto parts store?

Ill replace any seals or gaskets on the Diff and tranny that dont require too much work.

At the same time Ill be gathering turbo parts, probably get a custom manifold made (I dont like the TCD) and build it all back up.

[bmwmike]

here are a few pictures, that motor looks nasty, but after a rebuild itll be good. Ive disconnected about 99% of everything, so later this week Ill be pulling the motor. Anyone ever seen these wheels before?

[bmwmike]

slowly but surely making progress. Everything is now disconnected and I should pull the engine and gearbox out tomorrow. From there it'll just be the differential..

[bmwmike]

The engine and gearbox being pulled




The 5 with its guts torn out..

rip...

For most of the engine pulling procedure, we had the gearbox and engine held to the engine hoist by one bolt...

glad it made it through

The 5 speed getrag


The 3.25 lsd from the 5 (axle shafts still attached).



Its not very pretty yet, but its a good start. Ill inspect the diff and gearbox and replace any gaskets or seals, and hopefully not need to have them rebuilt. The engine Ill fully dissemble and rebuild. From there gather all the turbo setup parts, new clutch, and other parts here and there like motor mounts. Will update as the project develops. Wouldnt doubt it'll take me several months...

Heres my little e30 that the setup will go into..

:biggthump :beer:

[X2theZ3]

Heres my little e30 that the setup will go into..

:biggthump :beer:

damn, that e30 is exactly like my old e30 and i was doing a m30 swap also. oh man, the memories.

p.s. you should take off that stupid plate holder in the front: the car looks a lot better without it.

[JRowe]

This is a great thread!!!! Keep updating it. What position are you going to put the engine in? Are you modifying the firewall to set it farther back for better handling balance and to leave room for turbo components up front? Keep up the good work

[bmwmike]

This is a great thread!!!! Keep updating it. What position are you going to put the engine in? Are you modifying the firewall to set it farther back for better handling balance and to leave room for turbo components up front? Keep up the good work

I will keep updating thanks. Im thinking of buying the mounts from e30.de actually. Im not going to modify the firewall to get it further back. Im not intimidated by the firewall, but I dont think the extra 60 lb difference or whatever it is, is a big deal. Though Im not certain on that yet, guess I need to look into it more..

x2thez3: Actually i need to keep it. That pic was after I bought it in IL. In MN we have to have front plates...

[X2theZ3]

I will keep updating thanks. Im thinking of buying the mounts from e30.de actually. Im not going to modify the firewall to get it further back. Im not intimidated by the firewall, but I dont think the extra 60 lb difference or whatever it is, is a big deal. Though Im not certain on that yet, guess I need to look into it more..

x2thez3: Actually i need to keep it. That pic was after I bought it in IL. In MN we have to have front plates...

Trying contacting the guy from e30.de about the mounts. Last i heard, he wasn't shipping to the US anymore. I bought mine from him two summers ago.

Yeah, we're supposed to have a front plate in cali too, but i just never run one. Never had any problems yet, and it looks 100x better to me.

[bmwmike]

Trying contacting the guy from e30.de about the mounts. Last i heard, he wasn't shipping to the US anymore. I bought mine from him two summers ago.

Yeah, we're supposed to have a front plate in cali too, but i just never run one. Never had any problems yet, and it looks 100x better to me.

really? I havent emailed tino in sometime but Ill have to find out. If I cant get them, Ill just have a shop fab them up, not a huge deal..

or make them myself if i cant trust myself to measure everything etc

[Garageaholic]

really? I havent emailed tino in sometime but Ill have to find out. If I cant get them, Ill just have a shop fab them up, not a huge deal..

or make them myself if i cant trust myself to measure everything etc

Just so everybody knows, I got my type II mounts from tino at e30.de in october for like $300 (incl shipping, which is expensive) There was no problem whatsoever with the transaction... he shipped them over and i'm going to do my conversion in march. Keep the pictures coming, i'd love to see how you're doing on it.

[Garageaholic]

Yeah, i'd like to know how accurate it is to not only e30.de writeup, but also to jared squires writeup, which i'm personally finding more helpful. But then again, Jared Squires did his conversion from an e34 engine and into a 4 door e30, which is slightly different than what you're doing.

[bmwmike]

Just so everybody knows, I got my type II mounts from tino at e30.de in october for like $300 (incl shipping, which is expensive) There was no problem whatsoever with the transaction... he shipped them over and i'm going to do my conversion in march. Keep the pictures coming, i'd love to see how you're doing on it.

i noticed you can buy a few different types, like type I and type II. What does each type mean.

[X2theZ3]

i noticed you can buy a few different types, like type I and type II. What does each type mean.

There are two main different m30s: an early one and later one. One is the early model the other is for the later model m30.

[bmwmike]

^do you happen to know which designates which, I didnt see it say anything about it

[X2theZ3]

^do you happen to know which designates which, I didnt see it say anything about it

You must not have paid attention when you read e30.de. If you look at the shop at that site, it just says it.

Type 1 for older M30/M88 Engines (e23,
e24, e28 also B7 and 745i)

* Engine Position II and III in e30 335i
* Pictures from e30 with 735i e23
* Pictures from e30 with M88

Price for a pair: 178,95 EUR

Type 2 for newer M30 Engines (e34, e32)

* Engine Position II and III in e30 335i
* Pictures from E30 with E34 535i
* Pictures from Engine with "Fächer"
* Pictures from S38 Engine

Price for a pair: 204,01 EUR