e30 + '88 535is = ??

[JuanPabloBongto]

Howdy, all.

I have been researching for a couple weeks, and I just want to find out if there's anyone here who has done this same swap.

I have a 1987 325is, and the opportunity to buy an e28 (1988 535is, manual) with donor parts.
This seems a convenient car to pull from, based on the information I have found, but there are several unknowns that I need to nail down.

Motor position will be 3 (bashed in firewall)
I would run a chipped ecu, but NOT a turbocharger
I would prefer to keep the A/C, if it works on the e28 donor

Please correct my bill-of-materials if I'm mistaken here:

- 1 x m30b34 motor from the 535is
- 1 x 260/6 transmission from the 535is
- 1 x ecu from the 535is
- 1 x radiator from the 535is
- 1 x set of motor mounts (from e30.de, funkmasta, beefy, et al)
UNKNOWN:
* 1 x oil pan replacement (???) sourced from an e32 or e34
* 1 x drive shaft from ____ ? (would prefer to avoid shortened/reworked parts, if possible)
* 1 x engine harness from ____ ? (I've heard the m20 eta harness works? keep the m20 i harness?)
* other ?

[chadthestampede]

UNKNOWN:
* 1 x oil pan replacement (???) sourced from an e32 or e34
* 1 x drive shaft from ____ ? (would prefer to avoid shortened/reworked parts, if possible)
* 1 x engine harness from ____ ? (I've heard the m20 eta harness works? keep the m20 i harness?)
* other ?

Oil pan you will need, get one from a b35. The b34 one won't fit. So yeah, an e32 or e34. You'll need the pump too.

As long as you're using funk's mounts, you can use a 86-87 eta driveshaft, but it has to be the one with the BIG guibo. Make sure. It's production date 9/86 to 6/87 or something like that.

Engine harness i think the harness you have would be best, although I'm not sure on that one.

[Doughnut]

First of all nice work finding a manual e28! They are pritty rare here!

Everything chadthestampede said looks right. Just a question why not have your tailshaft shortened and get the e28's large input flange welded on to it? Thats what I did and it wasn't all that expensive at all.

[JuanPabloBongto]

As it turns out, I have a supereta (1988 m20b27) motor in my 325is, but I don't know what driveshaft I have. I was going to do the 2.7i stroker, but the m20b25 head I was going to use is junk.

How much does a man pay for a tailshaft shortening?

The wild card here is that the 535is PO had a auto-to-manual swap done, so I don't know the transmission type. (260/x vs. 265)

Another question: what exhaust setup must be run as a consequence of this swap? I have a custom header job for the m20, was hoping to use that.

[euroshark]

The 262 and 265 have a detachable bellhousing. The 260/5 and 260/6 are both integrated.

[JuanPabloBongto]

Another question: what exhaust setup must be run as a consequence of this swap? I have a custom header job for the m20, was hoping to use that.

Also, what engine mgmt issues could I anticipate? I'd be using the 535is/e28 ecu, but with the 325i harness..... what are the consequences? splicing and dicing?

[Doughnut]

Also, what engine mgmt issues could I anticipate? I'd be using the 535is/e28 ecu, but with the 325i harness..... what are the consequences? splicing and dicing?

I'd use the m30's harness and ecu ( from e28 )

There are countless wiring pinouts on the net (and this forum) use the search button and google.

[euroshark]

lol. Sweet sig.

[Doughnut]

lol. Sweet sig.

lol. I thought it was funny anyways!

[JuanPabloBongto]

for this swap, can anyone recommend an exhaust solution?

I have header & full exhaust (cat delete) that I was going to put in the e30, but now I'm not going the m20 route... I smell welding torch.

[RickSloan]

use the m30 harness and ecu
splicing isn't that bad at all

as far as exhaust, your gonna have to make something cause the exhaust manifolds are different then the m20, I'm not sure if there is any stock solution that will work...

and you still wont have the right drive shaft with the super ETA, use funks mounts and get an 86 87 325e large guibo driveshaft. it will bolt right in.

you are using all the same bits as me, except my car is an body is an 85 so the wiring was more difficult to find, but that being said you should use the M30 harness

[JuanPabloBongto]

I've agreed a price on the e28.... you'll be seeing more of me around, chaps!

[JuanPabloBongto]

as far as exhaust, your gonna have to make something cause the exhaust manifolds are different then the m20, I'm not sure if there is any stock solution that will work...

and you still wont have the right drive shaft with the super ETA, use funks mounts and get an 86 87 325e large guibo driveshaft. it will bolt right in.

Exhaust: how easy is it to get an m30 header? worth replacing the stock manifold?

Driveshaft: no guibo experience... how can i tell? build dates?

[RickSloan]

i believe its 6/86 to 9/87 i'll have to double check

[JuanPabloBongto]

As long as you're using funk's mounts, you can use a 86-87 eta driveshaft, but it has to be the one with the BIG guibo. Make sure. It's production date 9/86 to 6/87 or something like that.

The post was right in front of me, almost the same as your info, Rick, but the month transposed.