New drift project: M30 E30

[Erick]

So the cat's out of the bag... I'm one inch away from making this a 100% deal, but right now everything is in motion.

I just got a new shell, an '89 325i coupe. And I just found a perfect donor... clean drivetrain, messed up body local: an '87 535iS. I've been doing my fair share of research for the past few days, but I keep reading different things and wanted to pull a new thread to clear any misinformation.

My main question is what do I need to make this swap happen.

I got the motor mounts covered already, and I have a local M30 E30 guy helping me over the phone (as I'm calling him back to back). But some of the stuff here seems a lot easier than what he says, especially when it comes to the electrical.

What I got covered:
Shell
Motor + Trans
Driveshaft
Motor mounts

What I need to figure out:

1-) This motor (from my research) is a Motronic 1.1. I have a harness from the '89 325i, the harness from the '87 535iS, and the harness from my current track car (which I rather not touch). I have a spare engine harness, which MIGHT be from an '87, but I gotta triple check that.

What combo do I need to make this plug and play? And if I don't have that... how much wiring is necessary to mate the '89 325i harness to the '87 535iS? The more detail the better on this answer.

2-) Materials needed. This motor is off an e28, so my research indicates I need the e34 oilpan and oil pump. I sourced out an oil pan locally, but I am not sure if he has an oil pump laying around as well. I will have to confirm that. Besides that, I already have the driveshaft and the motor mount brackets, and the e28 535iS radiator is obviously coming with the donor car. :) Am I missing something here?

Thanks guys.... this project is going to be hectic. This car needs to be done by no later than the end of March.

- Erick
PS: When I have everything I need, I will start a thread on the project forum to keep everyone up to date.

[yert315]

1.) I asked a similar question and this is what "e30-kid89" responded with:

What i did to "modernize" my b34 is I took the toothed crank wheel/Crank sensor+mount from a b35 and installed it on my b34...which is a straight bolt on. From there I took my m20 "I" harness and everything plugs right in. You will also need to use spark plug wires from a b35. Also re-use your blue/brown temp sensors from you m20. Everything is 100% bolt-on.

I did the install into a "late" model 88iS.

2.) you can use an e32 oil pan and pump as well.

[triry]

easy one,.............the harness from the donor car ( your 89 325 ) will work with the m30. you need to "upgrade" the b34 from the e28/535 by aquiring the b35 60-2 trigger wheel, the sensors from the t-stat housing and of course the oil pan and pick up from the b35.
the m20 harness will be tight as far as length goes, you may have to lengthen a few connections, the oil pressure sender comes to mind as well as those connections going to the t-stat housing.
the required dme for the 1.3 motronic equipped b35, is the 179..........which will plug into the m20s harness.
for what its worth, ive driven a b35 equipped 635csi home using a 173 dme from an e30/325is when the original 179 failed..............

[Erick]

So modernize the b34 with:

1-) 60-2 trigger wheel
2-) T-Stat housing sensors (Will these fit in the B34 T-Stat housing or do I need the B35 housing as well?
3-) 179 DME

And then lengthen wires and I'm all good?

[yert315]

I'm pretty sure the sensors will fit. They are the screw in type.

Use your m20 harness if you are "modernizing" the engine. Lengthen the few wires, plug it in, burn rubber.

[triry]

the b34 t-stat housing will work in a pinch....the bosses for the sensors are there, but untapped.
youll likely need an o2 sensor that has the later "screw-on" end as well. the e34 535 is the longest if i remeber correctly.
also..............the b35 head has a block off plate in the rear, whereas the b34 has a coolant nipple. using the b35s block off plate will save you from masssaging the firewall for clearance.

So modernize the b34 with:

1-) 60-2 trigger wheel
2-) T-Stat housing sensors (Will these fit in the B34 T-Stat housing or do I need the B35 housing as well?
3-) 179 DME

And then lengthen wires and I'm all good?

[RickSloan]

glad to see this thread, i had a feeling this was gonna happen!

the 535 harness is going to be truely plug and play because all the wire are the right length, it ran the car before, and the sensors are all there.

i'm b34 swapped so IM me if you have questions on AIM, i'm usually around.

as far as the firewall, its very little "massaging" for that jacket i can take some pictures if you want cause my motor is out till saturday.

your gonna need a 325e big guibo driveshaft if your using nything close to funks mounts.

get ready to trouble shoot, that is the longest part of the m30 swap, and take the oppertunity to replace things now. Getting at stuff like cap and rotor and clutch means pulling alot once its all buttoned up.

i can't think of anything else right now cause im sleepy, IM me and ask all the questions you need.

im excited for this

[Erick]

So I just got the e34 oil pan, the oil pump w/ pick up, and a T-Stat housing off the B35 with the sensors on it.

The guy says he also has the crank wheel and a chipped ECU, but he has to look for it.

[norcalE30]

i feel a turbo coming on...


please?

[Erick]

Not at first. There's no way I can get that accomplished in such a short time frame. But if no one buys my GT3071R M20 kit, I am taking that turbo and putting it on the M30. Full boost at 1800rpms anyone? :)

[wildstoats]

One tip about the oil pump swap. Just swap the pick-up. The whole assembly unbolts in the middle and you can just bolt the B35 pick-up onto the B34 pump.



Left - B34 Pick-up / Right - B35 Pick-up

[Erick]

e34biturbo, who is a local and has plenty of experience m30s, suggested that I swap the entire pump out, since the location of the pick up will be extremely important as I'm going to be pushing more Gs on this car than just what you do from daily driving... so having the pump on the proper location will be important, otherwise I can starve/fry the pump.

- Erick

[wildstoats]

e34biturbo, who is a local and has plenty of experience m30s, suggested that I swap the entire pump out, since the location of the pick up will be extremely important as I'm going to be pushing more Gs on this car than just what you do from daily driving... so having the pump on the proper location will be important, otherwise I can starve/fry the pump.

- Erick

I'm not sure that I follow you. How can the pick-up be in a different location? I was under the impression that it can only bolt up one way. Not to hijack too much but this is something I would like to know as well since I plan on attending track days with the car and I don't want to run into any problems.

[Erick]

I'm not 100% sure as I have not had the motor out to see exactly what this is all about.

I *have* seen an e28 and an e34 oil pan side by side today and I can tell the oil pumps must sit in a different location in both motors. The e28 pick up sits in the middle of the motor, in between cylinders 3-4. On the e34, the pick up will sit in cylinders 1-2.

Perhaps someone with experience can confirm this, but as of right now, I'm going by what I've been researching. Still have to get the motor before I can do this.

- Erick

[e30esque]

Can't wait to see this completed. Any plans for top end work so you can rev it out without concern? I wish I still had my ported b35 head w/288 schrick and 745i setup to sell you. That thing hauled so much ass.