Diesel Questions

[riverdale21]

no, more difficulty. M50 is an OBD-I engine. New diesels are OBD-II if i'm not mistaken. That alone is a problem, not to mention the EWS issues you'd have to sort out.

Plus, the M50 sends signals compatible with the E30 instrument cluster, newer engines do not; unless i'm mistaken.

If I'm not mistaken you can find the M51 in a OBD-I style configuration from the E34. I would totally dig going with the engine from a E46 330d but the expense and complexity is a deterrent to me.

[BavarianBimmer]

no, more difficulty. M50 is an OBD-I engine. New diesels are OBD-II if i'm not mistaken. That alone is a problem, not to mention the EWS issues you'd have to sort out.

Plus, the M50 sends signals compatible with the E30 instrument cluster, newer engines do not; unless i'm mistaken.

I was talking about the M51 engine If i'm not mistaken ;)

[PanamaE30]

no, more difficulty. M50 is an OBD-I engine. New diesels are OBD-II if i'm not mistaken. That alone is a problem, not to mention the EWS issues you'd have to sort out.

Plus, the M50 sends signals compatible with the E30 instrument cluster, newer engines do not; unless i'm mistaken.

I was talking about the M51 engine If i'm not mistaken ;)

Oh ok, my bad.

I was tunnelvisioned on those sexy variable twin turbos :)

[riverdale21]

So in theory the existing fuel pump and lines would be ok with diesel? I would go ahead and swap to a clean new fuel filter during the swap and clean out all the lines before proceeding. Anything else aside from that?

[BavarianBimmer]

So in theory the existing fuel pump and lines would be ok with diesel? I would go ahead and swap to a clean new fuel filter during the swap and clean out all the lines before proceeding. Anything else aside from that?

no just the tank
the rest from a diesel
diesel fuel pumps are different I think

[Jonathan M3]

It'd be pointless. You'd never make up the cost of the swap from saved fueling costs.


Just buy an m10 or eta powered E30. 30+mpg easy and gasoline is cheaper than diesel.

[riverdale21]

It'd be pointless. You'd never make up the cost of the swap from saved fueling costs.


Just buy an m10 or eta powered E30. 30+mpg easy and gasoline is cheaper than diesel.

If I'm planning on keeping this car forever and I take 8+ hour road trips regularly I think it would be worth it.

[Rob]

but who actually keeps a car forever? especially folks our age?

[riverdale21]

but who actually keeps a car forever? especially folks our age?

I'm probably on the older range of this group of car fiends. And if I invested enough money into a car I love I would keep it forever.

[BavarianBimmer]

but who actually keeps a car forever? especially folks our age?

I'm probably on the older range of this group of car fiends. And if I invested enough money into a car I love I would keep it forever.

dunno but I would keep my Mtechs as long as possible too

[riverdale21]

dunno but I would keep my Mtechs as long as possible too

And I think it would be very safe to assume that Jordan is planning on keeping his E30 for years if not forever. Especially after all the work he has done to it. That is a labor of love my friends.

[Eric]

to try and answer your origional question...

In CA you definetly CANNOT change a gasser to a diesel. the car would not pass smog, and then would be illegal to drive. I'm sure in GA you have smog as well, so without lookking at your lawbook, I would say that you cannot put a diesel into a gas car.


if you really want a newer diesel motor, I would buy a 524td and stick the new motor in there... that way you won't have to worry about different fuel pumps, fuel lines and so forth.


BTW, I pay 1,89 a gallon for diesel, at the same station gas is 2.05 for 87.


I also have a friend that has a new bug diesel (bought becuase he commutes 60 miles on way, not becuase he liked bug) anyways we went to vages a year back, and averaged 40mpg doing about 90+ with 4 pretty big dudes in the car (I was the smallest 180lbs)

[Digitalwave]

with 4 pretty big dudes in the car (I was the smallest 180lbs)

That must have been a sight, 4 huge guys in a new Beetle :)

[Jand3rson]

with 4 pretty big dudes in the car (I was the smallest 180lbs)

That must have been a sight, 4 huge guys in a new Beetle :)

They are actually pretty roomy inside, TJ. My mom has one, and I like riding in it. Lots of legroom.

[riverdale21]

In CA you definetly CANNOT change a gasser to a diesel. the car would not pass smog, and then would be illegal to drive. I'm sure in GA you have smog as well, so without lookking at your lawbook, I would say that you cannot put a diesel into a gas car.

Looking at the website http://www.cleanairforce.com/engine.htm on emissions regulations in Georgia I see the following:

"Diesel posered vehicles that have been converted to operate on gasoline must meet the emissions standards and applicable emission control equipment for the year, make, model of its equivalent gasoline vehicle's body and chassis. Simply put, a diesel-to-gasoline conversion is legal if the gasoline engine used was originally available from the original auto manufacture in the same year body/chassis as the diesel engine."

There was no mention of a gasoline to diesel conversion so I take it that it would be the same requirements for the reverse procedure. I take that to mean that I can swap a diesel engine into a previously gas powered car as long as a diesel was originally offered by the manufacturer in that particular chassis. Also I must use a engine from the same model year or newer. In my case I was going to use the engine from a E34 525tds in a E28. I am assuming that all of this would be legal if I did actually go through with it and it passed emissions requirements.