M20B25 and M20B27 visual differences?

[BigD]

Hey guys, how can I tell for sure what engine I have? My little track car I bought this summer is officially an 87 325eS. The previous owner doesn't know anything about cars so I never asked him what has been done, I assumed nothing, ever. I just changed the O2 sensor, plugs, oil and filters, and took it out for a spin. I pegged it in first and holy mother, it pulls almost as well as my M5 did. The odd thing is that the needle flew past the redline and pegged at 5 grand and I backed off right away. There was no sign of a rev limiter (which should be at 4700) nor was there any sign of the power subsiding, it only pulled harder as the RPM rose... I've never driven a 325i or a 325e before so I don't know what to expect. Maybe even with 127hp, a car this light will feel fast, esp in low gear but I dunno. I've owned an E28 535, E34 535 and E34 M5 before and the engine behaves very much like those cars, coming to life at higher rpm.

I have been singing praises for this motor as with 392k km on the clock, it runs better than any of the previous BMWs I've owned, feels, sounds and pulls like it's a new car. But if the engine's been swapped, this would explain why. I don't have the previous owner's contact info anymore so I don't know how to find out. Can anyone tell me how I can check if the engine is the 2.7 or the 2.5? I don't really care either way because I'm 100% satisfied with it's performance and it's all I need for a track car for now but this is pretty interesting.

[Erick]

The m20b27 has torque, but it's nothing out of hand. It's slow as balls.

M20B25s have a valvecover that say BMW. M20B27s have the BMW logo on the valvecover instead. The intake manifold runners on the B27 are a lot thinner, and so is the throttle body.

[808BMW]

The cooling system, oil filter, ICV and some other stuff are moved around a bit.

Post a pic of your engine bay, it might help.

[Erick]

oh yea... the complete lack of the oil cooler is another thing.

[Mike325]

There is a bracket on your valve cover too. Twards the back. This is for the m20b27 engine.

[Jand3rson]

oh yea... the complete lack of the oil cooler is another thing.

Which is funny, because they're totally unecessary on the 325i.

[Erick]

For performance, probably. Reliabilty and endurance? I'd beg to differ.

[Jand3rson]

For performance, probably. Reliabilty and endurance? I'd beg to differ.

I could argue, but not here. :up:

[BigD]

Cool, thanks guys! It is indeed an ETA (has the roundel on the valve cover and the bracket). Which is just amazing to me. I mean, I guess I had low expectations from all the hyperbole about how slow etc the ETA is but it's really perfectly fine. It's more than enough for having fun at the track for now and I won't feel so bad pulling it out for an S52 when the time comes (which I don't see being for a while). Also the fact that it has 392k km's on it. My beater 535 had 300k and I was just happy every time it started, no matter how crappy it ran. And this car runs better than my 535 with 192k and my M5 before or after the rebuild. Smooth idle (I was starting to think BMW was incapable of making an i6 with fixed timing that had an idle), no smoke, no misfire... I'm really looking forward to ringing it out. All of you in the PAC-NW, see you at Pacific Raceways in November.

Only thing that sucks is after coming back from the drive and filling it up that it does have one leak afterall - looks like the damn filler neck is leaking (had all my BMWs leak fuel at this same spot). Do any of the so called repair kits work for this?