Another E30 M30 Swap Thread, this time with an 84 318i

[the imitator]

Great swap thread, thought about picking up a 318 and M30 swapping it but seems like it might be out of my mechanical abilities for now haha

I did a lot of extra stuff to this swap, you don't NEED disc brakes in the rear, I just had the parts available, and trust me, the Z3 rear subframe with the condor bushings was so hard to get into the car we had to just plain out stop a couple times, everything was squared up, we were level with each other, it was a pain.

To be honest though, thats the worst it's gotten so far..

Wow. Just read through this whole thing. You have inspired me to go with a m30 over turbo m20! Can't wait to get started.

So happy for you decision too, when you do decide to boost the m30, you'll make a lot of power on very little boost comparing to an m20, Plus timing chain over time belt!

[the imitator]

Me - http://youtu.be/NGFToiLtXro

You - http://youtu.be/7YvAYIJSSZY

Keep staring.

[dburgoon]

Wow. Just read through this whole thing. You have inspired me to go with a m30 over turbo m20! Can't wait to get started.

[JM35]

Great swap thread, thought about picking up a 318 and M30 swapping it but seems like it might be out of my mechanical abilities for now haha

[marshallnoise]

Hahahaha, wow!

[G-Man the Visionary]

Me - http://youtu.be/NGFToiLtXro

You - http://youtu.be/7YvAYIJSSZY

[the imitator]

Well? Do we have liftoff?

Quit staring at me!! :(

No, my buddy has his really good looking 325is on his lift right now, we are putting his m20 back in, he went to formula D in Seattle so it have me some time to catch up on small items.

Here's how she sits

[G-Man the Visionary]

Well? Do we have liftoff?

[the imitator]

Gonna run PS?

You know it! Being a daily driver, I don't want to muscle around in parking lots.

[G-Man the Visionary]

Gonna run PS?

[the imitator]

MOAR!

I got my steering rack today, it is indeed the 2.7 LTL and came out of a 2001 z3 convertible with a 2.3 liter engine.

A little dirty



Simple green, and Bar keepers friend


Shiny, and cleaner

[the imitator]

ah, i completely understand now. i was overthinking it from the plate side.

13mm nut + 2-3mm clearance for socket. I agree, there's room there for another 1/2"

Your points were valid though! lol

Coming along nicely bro! I'm impressed!

Thanks mang! just had the brown santa clause in short shorts visit.

[G-Man the Visionary]

Coming along nicely bro! I'm impressed!

[glnr13]

ah, i completely understand now. i was overthinking it from the plate side.

13mm nut + 2-3mm clearance for socket. I agree, there's room there for another 1/2"

[the imitator]

That was used for an example, and I'm not drilling on that side of the engine mount, only the motor mount/bushing side of the mounts and I only need 0.57" so I'm fine.

The only mount I'm questioning is the passenger side, look at the pics again, see how its installed at an angle off the subframe... That's the angle I need in order to drill the new whole. If you look at my first picture where my fingers are that's where the angle is shown. If I'm correct all I do is take the angle found in that first picture, and use that to locate my new hole.

Secondly, I'm not trying to bring my motor forward, or else I would have bought different mounts, my pushing it into the firewall even more.

For an example, I need to move it 45 degrees left by 0.57"