Want to do an M30 swap

[george graves]

Oh, and I seem to remember that the m5 flex disk is a upgrade as well - I believe it's a tad thicker - so that that into account when dealing with Drive shafts.

[Funkmasta]

nevermind... I just ETK'd it... they are exactly the same lol

[Funkmasta]

George, I am about to do this swap, you know I will be calling on you... :)

of the 533 and M5 (Euro M635 actually), which flywheel is better to use? Do you know? I should be getting the 533 in next week, the M635 flywheel I have already.

[Funkmasta]

Not necessarily ely. my 88 325 supereta had a larger flange.

when was your build date? probably 9/87 ;)

[george graves]

Are all M30 flywheels the same?

No - I used a e28 flywheel (it was free - I was running out of $$$ at that point)

The TRICK flywheel - that i REALLY wish I had goen with is the 533 or the M5 flywheel. There are rare little buggers, but they are the lightest.

My e28 flywheel, I got it down to 17lbs, but I think the m5/533 FW is even less stock(not sure if there is much metal to lighten)...That is a good question to search for on mye28.com - they know whats up. (also ask what is the right clutch kit to sue with it)

Point is - that the m30 motor has SO much TQ, and the e30 is so light (not to mention the m30 crank is SO huge it IS a flywheel) that you really don't need much if any at all extra weight.

HTH

[Axxe]

Are all M30 flywheels the same?

[oldskool3]

Would an 87 auto DS work or only 5spd? Also doesn't it depend on the tranny that is to be used? For my swap I am using the 265 which is apparently a hell of a lot longer than the e34 tranny due to the removable bell housing.

The DS and the shift linkage are the only thing I am anticipating I will have trouble with for my swap but im hoping they willl work out ok cause I definetly don't have $600 to spend on a DS and in Ottawa I would have a hard enough time finding a DS shop never mind a place to actually do the work.

[george graves]

hmm, wierd, maybe I just got really lucky and a few slipped out of the factory with bigger flanges.

Yea, that makes sense - My car was earmarked to be an auto at the factory, I guess they ran out of auto trannys that day and made it a 5 speed.

For those that don't know (I researched this a lot during my swap) - all bmw drive shafts (except some for the 2002/1600) are "friction welded" The segments are joined together by spinning one part on a lathe type of machine at high speeds, and holding the other part stationary. The parts are then forced together, and friction heats the joint. The parts quickly fuse together and become one.

Apparently, this is not a easy joint to rebuild...all three local shop I went to started shaking their heads the second I walked in the door with my DS. "Nope, we won't even try" - and they would not even custom build a DS from scratch...

It's my understanding that BMW, merc, and lexus all use this process (or so I was told)

Be sure the shop knows you are bringing/shipping a BMW "friction weld" shaft to them, or you'll just be wasting a trip/shipping.



...

HTH

[Garageaholic]

hmm, wierd, maybe I just got really lucky and a few slipped out of the factory with bigger flanges.

[rs4pro3]

according to the ETK the drive shaft was on 325e's from 5/86 to 9/87

[Garageaholic]

When my engine was placed further front, i needed to slightly lenghten my driveshaft. I got it quoted here to lengthen/rebalance for $450. They had to ship it out to california and have them do it. Since then, i wised up and moved my engine back.

Anyway, you're right George, most places won't do it and it's also because of the pressed permanent u-joints.


Driveshaft aspect of the swap shouldn't be this difficult/expensive/complicated.

[george graves]

Just a word of advice - the price to shorten and rebalance verys ALOT. I've hear of guys getting it done for $50-$70. Every local shop within 50 miles would not even TOUCH my DS. The BMW shafts are "friction" welded - and some DS shops refuse to work on them.

I ended up using a place in hollywood I believe.

It seems some guys have the best luck with shops that usually work on semi's and large work trucks (think high wear, and work on custon bodied work trucks that extend the bed)

HTH

[Garageaholic]

Not necessarily ely. my 88 325 supereta had a larger flange.

[JoeMadoo]

So do you mean only on the 87 325e or on all 87 e30s

[rs4pro3]

well you either need the 87 eta drive shaft front half and the whole drive shaft rebalanced, Or swap the tranny flange to the smaller m20 one and eat guibo's for breakfast, or cut down your m30 drive shaft and have it balanced.

FYI the larger flanged m20 drive shaft only came on the 87 model years and only from a certain production date on. No other m20 equipped e30's have the larger flange