Please read, I know it doesnt fit in this section but i need help (tranny)

[Brian e30]

Ok , Ive been carless for weeks .. honestly like a month+ and its eating me slowly .. i been trying to find engines , m20's or m30's or m50's , WHATEVER . I finally found this guy right by me in another city selling engines low at a shop .. i can go pick up a m30, (COMPLETE SETUP) for 400 bucks . Its still in the car and I can go listen to it , pay a deposit and get it removed . My question for EVERYONE, (yes ive done research) is which tranny would I need to get ?? here is more info on the engine .

It comes from I believe he said 1986 , but a e23 735i , its a 3.5L engine with only 80k miles ! STEAL !

Do i need another drive shaft / transmission for this engine to be put into my 1989 bmw 325i ?? btw im going to sell my m20 engine for only 200 bucks on here if anybody wants . great for parting out i just dont have the time . Im changing engines because I have a warped head .

[Rigmaster]

you need a transmission from a "big six" car, 3.3 or 3.5l. Like a 535i, 635csi, etc.

ALso, you might want to keep looking, that 86 735i is indeed an M30, but it's not the "good" one- you want the big valve M30 out of an ~88/89-up car.

Sounds like you need to either keep looking, or just eff it and find a good used head for your M20, slap it on and go.

[TurboJake]

you can use the getrag 240 from an M10 on an M30...
done

[Brian e30]

dam both of you gave me mad good information . Thanks alot ! For the price of getting a new head, I want to put a nice new swap in and boost it .. Idk i just dont feel comfortable with boosting the engine I have in it now .

[Adrian_Visser]

you need a transmission from a "big six" car, 3.3 or 3.5l. Like a 535i, 635csi, etc.

ALso, you might want to keep looking, that 86 735i is indeed an M30, but it's not the "good" one- you want the big valve M30 out of an ~88/89-up car.

Sounds like you need to either keep looking, or just eff it and find a good used head for your M20, slap it on and go.

How's that? An M30B34 is still better than an m20. An M30B34 plus boost is what good n' tight runs I believe and he's pushing 500whp. No doubt a B35 would be better but still.

[Brian e30]

How's that? An M30B34 is still better than an m20. An M30B34 plus boost is what good n' tight runs I believe and he's pushing 500whp. No doubt a B35 would be better but still.

thanks bro ! info keeps getting better and better

[Eecen]

You'll want the one w/ the biggest adam's apple you can find.











but yeah...

If you don't feel like searching for hours to find info, a member here (FrankM E30) sells an M30 swap write up for $10. Lotsa good info in it.


But yes, b34 runs an older version of motronic and makes less power than a b35. A b35 also "looks better" than a b34 (less exposed wiring etc).

You can easily convert a b34 to the newer motronic a b35 runs on.


You will need the front end of the driveshaft that comes w/ your tranny (bigger guibo), and the back half of your current one, then have it cut to length and balanced etc.

[Wh33lhop]

How's that? An M30B34 is still better than an m20. An M30B34 plus boost is what good n' tight runs I believe and he's pushing 500whp. No doubt a B35 would be better but still.

The B34 is better for boost, but I'd definitely go for a B35 if I were doing an M30 and not boosting.

[20gmr]

if your not happy being car-less, idk if a swap is the right direction to go....why don't you just find a good used head and slap it on in a day? seams like the smarter more economical solution. Also if you are worried about the cost of an m20 head,dont be, sure there are a lot of ppl who know what they can be worth but there are also a lot who don't.... my last running m20 was bought for 60 bux

[Rigmaster]

if your not happy being car-less, idk if a swap is the right direction to go....why don't you just find a good used head and slap it on in a day? seams like the smarter more economical solution. Also if you are worried about the cost of an m20 head,dont be, sure there are a lot of ppl who know what they can be worth but there are also a lot who don't.... my last running m20 was bought for 60 bux

x1000


but WTF do I know..........

[Sputnik]

Brian, the b35 has like 208hp and 225tq and the b34 has 185hp 200tq?

I'd go with the b34 because it has a lower c/r and only 80k miles!

Check the valve train for wear and any strange ticking, because low miles doesn't always equate to proper maintenance...


Adam