This is the last update I'm going to make to this thread. I just picked up another e30, an 88 325i 4 door, black/tan. It took a while to pick up a decent, non rusty black 4 door. The problem, if it could be called a problem, is that the PO just did a shit ton of regular maintenance, and it runs amazing.
Since my parents moved to Reno I don't have a place to dump/work on cars for long periods of time anymore. The way it's looking, I don't think it would be worth it to swap this engine to the new e30. So I'll probably end up parting out my swap.
It was a fun project, and a learning experience. It's a pity I only got to drive it for a month or so, but I guess that's the way things go. I obviously have tons of parts so if you need anything just stay tuned.
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hey man i just read this whole story an to be honest it is very sad :( But ya i am new on this forum. i am on my sec bmw. my first car was a 325es and now i traded my friend a yota for a 325e 85. (He is on here too he has 2 more e30s no worries) well to make a long story short i wanted to do this swap. The 35 or something but at like page 9 i was excited and then boom gone thanks lol well really sorry man i feel you painLeave a comment:
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Sorry to see your car got trashed.
Looks like a write off to me... It's never going to be the same :(Leave a comment:
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I can't quite remember what hoses I used. I seem to remember I used some oem hoses, but the lower radiator hose I know I just used one of those universal accordion hose things and it seems to work pretty well. I'll have to take a picture when I get back and get my car back from the shop.Leave a comment:
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You have to extend the lower hose and shorten the upper one from what I've read.Leave a comment:
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What hoses are you using? I have a e28 535i radiatior with the solid upper hose which fits. The lower hose is from a 86' e28 535i but is about two inches short. I also have a 92' e32 735i lower hose and its short too. I can mount the radiator a little higher but then it wont be hooked on the bottom. Right now its all the way down so it can be held in by the old radiator mount.... if this makes any sence.... are there any longer hoses? or one from another car that I can substitute.Leave a comment:
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In case anyone didn't see the other thread this is where my car is at now.
/threadLeave a comment:
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It's been a month or so, and I have to say I love it! It has a weird issue when it starts, it bounces around unless I rev it a bit, but I'm not all that concerned with it right now since it runs fine otherwise and I'm a bit busy atm.
Anyway I figured I'd post some info people could actually use in this thread ;) so I figure I'll post a price list of about what I paid for this shit. Prices included w/ shipping if applicable.
Engine+starter and (useless) wiring harness: b33 out of '84 733i: $200
(Non Functional) Alternator + (Useless) Ecu: $50
Radiator: $82
AFM #1: $50
Vacuum Boot: $10
Tranny (260/6): $130
Flywheel: $110
(Useless) Wiring harness #2 + throttle body #2: $20
(Useless) ECU #2: $110 (ouch)
ETA Big Guibo DS: $130
Oil Pan: $175
Oil Pump + Lvl Sender (From Germany :)): $100
Clutch: $300
Belts, Hoses, Water Pump: $160
Mounts: $280
(Useless) ICM and (Useless) ICV: $20
(More) Hoses, Fluids, etc: $150
Then came the 1.3 Conversion:
Crank pulley
AFM 027 + Dinan Chip
Bracket
ECU
ICV
...All for $225 shipped (thanks Joe)
Mustang Injectors: $80 (I bought 8 for some reason)
ANOTHER ECU: $45
Temp Sensors: $25
And that's it, I think. Obviously some money could have been saved on some of the useless things (the motronic 1.3 conversion rendered some things useless for those that don't follow) but I did save a bit using parts from the old m20 hehe. And eventually I'm going to get it altogether and sell what I have spare to see if I can make some of it back.
So anyway, the grand total for my swap =
About $2452
+ countless hours of my time (which adds about $3 to the whole thing)
Seems a bit high, but you can't put a price on learning, right? RIGHT?
Either way I don't regret it, and I figure I can make back some of that. Besides I no doubt would have pissed most of the money away on useless things anyway.
Also for future reference you save a lot of money by planning, which may or may not be obvious to some people :oops:Leave a comment:
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I drove it for the first real time today, a couple miles down to the gas station, after replacing the alternator and bleeding the cooling system a bit.
I was grinning like a moron the whole time. It feels sooo much different than the m20 (granted I hadn't driven my car in 6 months or so) but there definitely feels like there is a LOT more torque. Like more than it should feel like there is.
It's hard to say because it feels so different, but I'd say it has a bit less actual power than the m20, like I feel like I couldn't probably go as fast, or at least it would be way louder if I did. I dunno, I know the specs speak for themselves but Im just saying how it feels.
Needless to say I'm excited :DLeave a comment:
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lol, about time dude! Sure is rewarding though to finally drive a m30 powered e30!Leave a comment:
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I installed my new ignition coil and fpr and tried to start is and...
holy Shit
IT RUNS!!! :D
FINALLY! After 7 gd months it runs! and I drove it around a bit too!
The idle is a bit rough, there's a tiny bit of hesitation when revving and the e-brake is basically fused on but I couldn't be happier that it finally runs!!!
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