Started my m30 swap.

[Doughnut]

Didn't have much progress today, spent almost all day figuring out the shifter rods, every time i went to weld with the tig it blew and the material wouldn't stick to the aluminum, even tried oxy welding with flux core normal core material... And wouldn't work, ended up having to bolt the two rods together and cam up looking shit...

On the plus side, I sent the drive shaft's up to be shortened today, hope to get it back soon!

That motor mount sketches me out...
Super nice looking valve cover though!

What do you mean? The left or right side? both brackets are properly welded and the right side has been reinforced with flat bar on the bottom to stop from twisting, the left side is just rigid.

Joseph.

[Doughnut]

More pictures!

because the m30's exhaust manifold sits so close to the steering knuckle, replacing the rubber donut with steel so it does not melt seems like a good idea, also gives me a heap more clearance :







Also put the clutch in today :



Tomorrow I'm going to pick up a starter motor (going to use 635Csi starter) and take two days off the tools as my body is completely raped from work...

[Doughnut]

Picked up the e24 635Csi starter yesterday :



Noticed on the solenoid that it has an extra pin that does not seem to be connected (externally) to any of the other posts? any ideas from anyone?

[uberkarldrei]

your chassis electrical has no use for the connection (#15) also since you have the mill, just make your linkage instead of trying to modify the original. I ran into it not wanting to bond to anything, seemed like a cheap cast material as much as it popped out when tig welding it.

[Doughnut]

I ran into it not wanting to bond to anything, seemed like a cheap cast material as much as it popped out when tig welding it.

I think it is a die cast piece, and like you said is made out of rubbish material. what annoys me most is that when I put a crack in my m20's alluminium oil pan, it removed it, cleaned it up and it tig welded fine! Why bmw made both pieces out of completely different material is beyond me...

Today was slow, ended up putting the e24 635Csi stater on, but the solenoid on it was electronicaly different, so, I removed the solenoid from the e34 535i (starter that came with my motor) and bolted it up to the e24 starter... And it works!! The e24 stater is physically bigger though which does not hasstle me.

start the wiring tomorrow... I'm still confused about it

[Funkmasta]

Nice! looks good, glad you figured out the starter. I may not be much help on the wiring since the 323i is more or less a fabled creature here in the states. Is it a square plug or does it have a c101?

[Doughnut]

Nice! looks good, glad you figured out the starter. I may not be much help on the wiring since the 323i is more or less a fabled creature here in the states. Is it a square plug or does it have a c101?

It has the L-jet square plug, similar to something you might find on the earlier e21's

I'm up to wiring now, so far I think I'm ok, hope to start it tonight;)

Yep, I fluked the starter solenoid.

[Funkmasta]

It has the L-jet square plug, similar to something you might find on the earlier e21's

I'm up to wiring now, so far I think I'm ok, hope to start it tonight;)

Yep, I fluked the starter solenoid.

When we put an M42 into A: 84 318i, and B: 82 320i (both with square plugs), we were able to match colors from the M42 harness, to the wires in the factory harness. (Cut off the connector to make an adapter). The M42 has a C101, and I have noticed that in that generation, BMW had similar colored wires for similar features in the engines. I don't have ETMs for Euro/World cars, so unfortunately I am not of much help there, but your best solution will be to make a pigtail adapter from your old M20 harness. I am willing to bet that the colors will be a pretty close match, but try to get your hands on a 323i ETM. If you can get one, and send it to me electronically, I can decipher it for you.

-Joe

[Doughnut]

I have the engine kicking over, have fuel have power to coil am I spose to have power on both sides of the coil?

cluster of wires near coil go like this:
black - tacho? I dont have this hooked up atm.
green - positive side of coil
brown/orange - negitive side of coil
brown - i have earthed on the chassis of the car.

This sound right? the car cranks and cranks but will not start.

[Doughnut]

Got the m30 started today!! Fit the tail shaft up, plumbed the cooling system put the radiator in and started to fill the header tank when... The sides of the radiator (where core meets plastic side tanks) started to leak!!! and that was under no pressure! when I squeezed the top hose you can hear the water escaping, and a small pin hole down the bottom squirts! GRrrrrRRRRrr :crazy::crazy:

That aside, three great things when the m30 kicked over.

1. Oil pressure,
2. Alternator charge,
3. Idles steady.

Cheers for all your help guys, I did this whole swap with all information from the internet (that means you guys!) and have gotten my swap near complete!

Joseph.
(might go post in the "m30 official roll call thread" now!;))

[Doughnut]

few scratchy pics from camera phone (sorry guys!)

[Doughnut]

So I went and bought a new oem radiator (got good price on this guys) :



Arrived at my door a couple of days ago (day after I found that the one I had was unserviceable).

I install it tomorrow then the e30's off to the exhaust shop.

[CLI4D]

I wish I was so fortunate! :-( .Can't find the flippin' E28 radiator here in South Africa. Alpina is so Expensive!!!$$$$$$ shit!
Which Exhaust Manifold did u use? since is a right hand drive
Ooh Nice post Doughnut Big up!!!

[Doughnut]

I wish I was so fortunate! :-( .Can't find the flippin' E28 radiator here in South Africa. Alpina is so Expensive!!!$$$$$$ shit!
Which Exhaust Manifold did u use? since is a right hand drive
Ooh Nice post Doughnut Big up!!!

I used what I believe to be a "Euro" two piece exhaust manifold from the e34 535i.

Few issues with clearance past the steering knuckle, First I made my own "metal guibo" (to avoid heat killing the rubber one and for more clearance - have a look at POST #17) and the front piece of the exhaust manifold has to have the tube cut repositioned and angled alittle more down.

Other than that you should be fine!