Engine: what should I do?

[EtaSport]

My 87 2.7 has devoted many years of excellent miles and tallied up approx. 370,000 of them. The motor is completely stock with the exception of a cylinder head replacement due to weak valve spring.
Now lets all face it, the old eta is no powerful motor (I know this may be hard for some of you out there) But it is one of the most reliable motors I have ever had in a car. I dont want to start putting worthless bolt on items to my prize engine, and the only thing I have considered has been a chip.

So what should I do? I want a quick, reliable, daily driver, e30. My options I believe are these:
Re-build my eta engine and add the 'i' car components to make the 2.7i hybrid.
Buy a 325i engine, but then I need to get the transmission as well, as the 2.5 will not bolt up to my transmission (am I correct?)
Find a low milage m50 motor and transmission.

I am aware that all these options are going to be pricey, but it will be better than getting another e30. I really dont want to hack up the eta motor, so im not leaning towards i rebuild as much.

I also know that high-performance motors tend to wear quicker than lower-performance motors do. And sometimes I worry about longevity if I were to build a high performance high rev motor. I have a 49 chevy with a 327 bored 332 that is pushing 450-475 hp. This car gets driven about 500 miles a year and I still get worried about the motor (probably cause it would cost 4kish to replace).

Anyone have any consoling words for me?

[Sean]

I say its time for an M50. 370,000 miles has really put the ETa engine to good use, I think. Find a shell to put it in, maybe, and have some fun with it. let it go out in glory? :D ;)

[iXer]

M50, no doubt. The time and money spent on rebuilding the eta engine to an i or replacing with a M20B25 is wasted compared to installing a M50B25. Your eta engine is just a dead piece of metal, "let it go". :)

[Court M3]

I agree just swap in an M50. Although I prefer the stock engine over swaps. Like the original look overall.

[iXer]

EtaSport: btw, your car looks rockin' with those black center rims :bow:

[MR 325]

If you put the 2.5 325i motor, you CAN use your current tranny. E tranny bolts up to I but the I tranny doesn't bolt up to the E.

:)

[EtaSport]

Cool.. I really wanted to find an m50 to swap in and enjoy the added horsepower from it in stock form rather than modding an m20 to get the same numbers. And I think I might have rememebered reading about the 2.5 motor bolting to the eta tranny but not the 'i'. That is good to know.

btw: the old eta isnt dead, but beyond the point where I wouldnt trust the block to handle 170+ hp. I believe strongly that it will make at least 500k before it needs a rebuild. Good thing is my mom's 528e is beginning to age. That cars motor has around 250k and will have to be retired soon, and I think if that happens, my motor car come to the rescue, if not, I am going to put it on a motor stand with a plaque, then someday it will make its way back in an e30 to serve the rest of its 'term'.. This block will see 1 mil someday. :)

yea, the black centers are growing on me a bit. and I like the way it looks in the sig.

[Sean]

Cool.. I really wanted to find an m50 to swap in and enjoy the added horsepower from it in stock form rather than modding an m20 to get the same numbers. And I think I might have rememebered reading about the 2.5 motor bolting to the eta tranny but not the 'i'. That is good to know.

btw: the old eta isnt dead, but beyond the point where I wouldnt trust the block to handle 170+ hp. I believe strongly that it will make at least 500k before it needs a rebuild. Good thing is my mom's 528e is beginning to age. That cars motor has around 250k and will have to be retired soon, and I think if that happens, my motor car come to the rescue, if not, I am going to put it on a motor stand with a plaque, then someday it will make its way back in an e30 to serve the rest of its 'term'.. This block will see 1 mil someday. :)

yea, the black centers are growing on me a bit. and I like the way it looks in the sig.

That idea I LOVE! Be sweet - have people from across the US to come see your engine.

That's what ETA's are alll about, I tell ya! :twisted: