i can't believe i found this !!!!

[Slick92GS-R]

has it even been 2 weeks since i took the plunge and bought a 325 with a seized ETA.. all the Honda Camp looks at me strangely.. 'why?' they ask. 'i don't know.. the car is sorta good looking' i answer.. so i'm lost in a world of trying to make some kinda stroker, mix & match OEM parts trying to make a track/project car that will prolly never be a licensed daily driver ...
my day off today .. i planned to scour the local junkyards, maybe i can find some kinda deal.. huh. well what follows is acount of how my day is goin so far ..
i face the morining rush hour traffic to drive 20 miles to the industrial area.. stop at no fewer than 5 yards.. 'nah, we don't even carry those, but check with blah blah blah across town ..tell him i sent u ..' man its gonna be a long day ..
called one place across town ..yeah we have 1.. '88 for $850..no thanks..
i stopped at a 'u pick it' type yard paid my $1-- found about 5 E30's yaaay!! well only 3 had motors . 1 was an ETA ,
1 was a '89 325i with the motor already pulled no dash so i couldn't tell mileage.. head,cam block,intake manifold, oil pan
...the other another 88 325i that was riced the fuk out GAWD .. 152000 miles 5 spd motor looked clean enuff everything there still in the engine .. check with the dude .. i'm supposed to yank the motor myself . ugh not looking forward to that .. well $200. not bad ..
..so i drove a bit further .. 89 325is -- no mileage record slight damage tortalled by insurance.. hmmm $500 complete and dude will remove it and deliver and will also give me 4 'basket weaves w/tires' and the 'is' trunk spolier..
give me 2 weeks i said -- pretty convinced that would be what i end up with ..
check 2 other yards -- no sir nothing here ...
hmmm..basket weaves with azenis i'm thinking.
i pull into this last place .... i asked the guy at the counter .. assuming the worse.. 'what u need?' .. 'uhh, the motor'.. '$500.. but no accessories
yeah i think we have 1.. its a 4 cyl though..' .. damn.. well maybe i can source the diff.. 'where is it?' 'over there' ..he points...
AHHHHHH !!! .. an alpine white 325i convertible looks like it tookout a lampost.. can i go look ? -knock yourself out...

well turns out its an '89 AUTO 325i ..perfect top, .dark blue leather with jus slight cracks *gasp* the driver side front was wrecked real bad ..and the oil pan is torn off.. motor mount is done .. 'do i want this?' i look inside the car again -smells BRAND NEW.. i look a the Jiffy lube sticker.. it says 'NEXT OIL CHNGE @ 44530.." i blink .and look at the clock again 41283 miles.. HUH ? am i reading right ?.. i look again..
-- yeah i want this .. !!!!.. i go back to the counter with a poker face .. the oil pan is really torn up man .. u sure that motor is good?'.. "uhhh.. ok $400.." .. 'hmmmm.. let me go see if it spins..' i get wrench on the crank pulley.. it spins freely .. i think i must've had a big friggin erection at that point.. i can't remember cuz i was giddy w/joy ..
-- the guy comes out says ''gimme a deposit we'll pull it out and if its good pay me rest an take it home ... if not u get a refund...'' $100 later.. i have a recepit waiting on noon tomorrow to pick this baby up !!!
-- should i be happy or did i act too soon ... ?? LMK

ok.. ok .. he'll probably charge me addt'l for the harness and computer .. i need to know if i can re-use the ETA stuff or should i just get those as well ..

[/b]

[PeaveyBassist]

If you're going to an m20b25 from an m20b27 you should be swapping computers as well. The 325i engine is a total different beast than the eta engine.

Will

[Dave]

I think you need the harness too.

[Slick92GS-R]

If you're going to an m20b25 from an m20b27 you should be swapping computers as well. The 325i engine is a total different beast than the eta engine.

Will

that computer is off an AUTO and i'm 5spd i'm sure theres a difference, right ?

[Slick92GS-R]

I think you need the harness too.

well, he says $50 for the harness-- i'll surely get that

[MR 325]

Nice deal

You'll need the harness and ECU

[Sean]

Damn good deal man - if you end up not being able to get the other stuff, I got it.

How was the interior?? Like - condition of seats - were they sports? :twisted:

Nice find man! They don't have any e30's around here, sucks ass...

[ColdAccord]

if i were you i'd pull the head and check for damage

[nando]

that computer is off an AUTO and i'm 5spd i'm sure theres a difference, right ?

not really.. different idle maybe (lower). I don't think there is anything else that the ECU would have to do with the transmission (unless you have an electronic one, and you don't. not in the us anyway).

[Digitalwave]

If you're going to an m20b25 from an m20b27 you should be swapping computers as well. The 325i engine is a total different beast than the eta engine.

Will

that computer is off an AUTO and i'm 5spd i'm sure theres a difference, right ?

Should be fine. All you have to do is jumper the wires that tell the ECU if the car is in park or neutral so you can start the car. You will lose the use of cruise control.

[M3 Ryan]

If its from a later model convertable then it has motronic 1.3 and jumpering past the park/neutral safty is difficult. I tried with George when we did his M30 swap and ended up using his origonal M20 harness on the M30 because we couldn't get the computer to think it was in park. Make sure you get all the parts you can and you shouldn't have too much headache converting it all.

Just how "freely" did this motor spin? does it feel like it has compression? how long has it sat and is the oil in it still clean and new or is it creamy looking from moisture?
41k on an M20, it must run pretty good...

I just smogged my girlfriends car for her today ('87 325iS) and her motor with ~265k miles blew a whopping 9 HC's at idle and 8 HC's at 2350rpm. I was shocked at how well it ran for all the miles and use it has on it, and never been opened up more than having the valve cover off of it!

[Slick92GS-R]

got to the junkyard late the guy was already closing -- says he will deliver on monday --- my bad --

i know i'm getting the harness included at no extra cost but i don't think the ECU is coming -- i'll prefer a manual tranny ECU anyways

Just how "freely" did this motor spin? does it feel like it has compression? how long has it sat and is the oil in it still clean and new or is it creamy looking from moisture?

it spins freely 'enuff' and has compression it gave that resistance with the accompanied 'hissing'.. on the allstate report stuck to the windscreen accident date was 1-8-05 -- so figure 3 mnths sitting.. no signs creamy oil . 30 warranty anyways ..

i picked up a spare oil pan & oil pump/picup from another yard..
figure i still need to yank the old motor..figure within a month this should be running ..

[BMWE30]

There is no different ECU made for manual/auto cars. There are just jumpers installed.

[Slick92GS-R]

There is no different ECU made for manual/auto cars. There are just jumpers installed.

that something i didn't know... any 'how to' on that jumper thing?

[Bryson]

auto harness and ECU == manual harness and ECU

TJ - cruise works, if you install the switch for the clutch pedal!!
(hell, mine works)
if your car is manual and you're putting an auto motor in w/ manual, you need not worry about anything