E28 528e M30 swap question

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  • E30_Evan
    Member
    • Mar 2016
    • 45
    #1

    E28 528e M30 swap question

    Hello all,
    I'm on the verge of buying an '88 528e. I was looking for a 535i, but the 528e presented itself and it is pretty much too clean to pass up. Will an M30b34/M30b35 bolt up to the transmission? How simple is the swap? Would it be cheaper to just find an "i" head and just run with the m20b27? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
    Tags: None
    • nickskater09
      Member
      • Mar 2013
      • 59
      #2
      No, the transmission won't bolt up. Will need the M30 trans and possibly driveshaft depending on the year, the swap will be pretty in depth. Exhaust will have to be changed, mounts, some wiring if I remember correctly, radiator, and some other misc things. The i head swap would be a ton easier.


      1983 528e, 200k mile club, BBS Mahles.

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        • djjerme
          R3V Elite
          • Sep 2010
          • 5082
          #3
          ..and if you do a cam upgrade on the head before installing, you'll have a healthy combo.
          1991 325i MT2 Touring (JDM bro)
          2016 Ford Flex
          2011 Audi A3 - wife's other German car

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            • itsonlygeorge
              E30 Modder
              • Feb 2014
              • 852
              #4
              Do the swap! You will want a different differential as well, the 2.93 that the 528e has is slow as shit.

              Wiring is easy, you are basically upgrading the Motronic 1.0 to 1.3 which is just swapping the engine harness and ECU.

              An m20b27 needs a lot of work to produce good power and it will still fall flat on its face above 5500 rpm. To really get some power out of it you'd need to port the intake and match the exhaust, install an aftermarket cam, you'd want aftermarket ECU management as well and a good tune.

              An m30 will produce more HP and Torque without any modifications. Find a good m30/trans and replace the all the seals/rubber bits and it will be well worth it.
              sigpic
              1987 325e Lachssilber w/ MarkD chip and late bumpers, Zender EVO spoiler, s3.25 LSD

              Originally posted by nando
              I don't think there's really strong evidence that ZDDP harms cats.

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                • bmwstudent
                  E30 Fanatic
                  • Sep 2011
                  • 1364
                  #5
                  Originally posted by E30_Evan
                  Hello all,
                  I'm on the verge of buying an '88 528e. I was looking for a 535i, but the 528e presented itself and it is pretty much too clean to pass up. Will an M30b34/M30b35 bolt up to the transmission? How simple is the swap? Would it be cheaper to just find an "i" head and just run with the m20b27? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
                  I'm doing this swap now on an 88 e28. Putting a m30 b35 in it. It was already as manual so no problem there. If you are up for it you can do it.
                  sigpic

                    Comment

                    • bmwstudent
                      E30 Fanatic
                      • Sep 2011
                      • 1364
                      #6
                      In North Delaware if you are close enough to come check it out
                      sigpic

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