My '90 316i M50B25TU progress thread (Photos & Videos)

[N-Gen]

The engine started straight away!

[N-Gen]

Updated main post with current standing.

[N-Gen]

Updated main post -

2nd May 2014

• 3.91 LSD swapped ring and pinion to 3.23
• M40B16 Removed
• Car undergoing some bodywork, replacing front valance and both front side panels
• Ordered ECU Chip and EPROM reader
• Ordered swap harness from Andrew325is

[N-Gen]

Updated main post with info & photos.

[N-Gen]

Well the engine has finally been shipped, along with the gearbox, all required conversion parts and a LSD.

Just found a pair of rear trailing arms for the disc conversion as well :)

[N-Gen]

Confirmed purchase of a M50B25 including 5-speed MT from an E36 325i. Just waiting for the added parts needed for the conversion to be available and shipped together :)

Needless to say, I'm having a good day!

[N-Gen]

Currently attempting to seal a shipping deal on a M50B25...I had to live on this island to make things harder...

[N-Gen]

Glass is in tip top condition apart from a scratch in the center of the front windshield. Paint is still factory, or so it seems. Chrome flares are going. I bought it with 3 flares and I think they belong on older Mercs not Bimmers. Only reason they haven't been removed yet is suspicion of a good amount of rust so I'm letting they guy that's sorting the rust out for me take care of it.

[word is bond]

Wait - idiot here. Still a bit confused. So this is a 1990 316i with a SOHC M40? So it wasn't actually registered in 84? Were the VINs swapped or perhaps you were running a VIN off of a replacement panel?

And what's with the chrome flares? I like an OEM+ look, so I vote no on black kidneys. A resounding no on halos - these just look tacky as hell and don't even make sense on Bimmers that already have the classic round headlight look. Mudflaps are fine.Your paint and glass look really nice in that photograph.

[N-Gen]

Well, not much work has gone into this since the last update. Just an alternator belt change and 'new' wheels. Still waiting for a it to get called in for a complete body refurbishment to get rid of all the rust and dents. Thinking of adding mudflaps, black kindey grille and halos...thoughts?

[N-Gen]

Right, so, it has been a while since I posted and quite a lot has happened in real life (such as getting proper job), but not that much to the car. However I did budget and plan what's going to happen to it as it is my #1 priority.

Since my last post I ended up getting a new radiator which is branded Shuberg, have been doing fine with it since the installation, the older radiator was destroyed...literally. Other than that I haven't really done anything to it since as my monetary resources were quite limited.

I went to visit a panel beater a couple of times. This guy does not make his living on this but is a car enthusiast. After looking at some of his work, on his own cars and others (mainly Fords, one of which happened to be featured on a magazine) I decided I should get a quote to get the old girl sorted. He's estimating around €1050/$1,375(US) to get all the rust out which is mainly the rear underside, all 4 arches and the engine bay, sort all the dents and fix some holes and remove some support bars that were placed by one of the previous owners in order to use a tow bar. That being said I will need a front right side mudguard as it is ruined.

After that I'll need to get it fully resprayed as most of it is going to be touched up. My friend's father is a sprayer, therefore I might get a good deal. I decided to stick with the original colour as personally I think it's quite nice.

Now, on to some other things I've planned, my goals up till May of 2014, I'm not going into really expensive stuff for the aesthetics.

I'm looking at spraying the carpets black using carpet dye as well as replacing the front seats with Sparco R100 Sky seats, after that reupholstering the rear seats in the same fashion as the Sparcos.
Replace the wheels with a set of Calibre Vintage wheels in 17" 8J. Changing the headlamps to black angel eye headlights and changing the stock kidney grill with a black one. I'm tempted to add a boot spoiler not for aesthetics but because of the powerplant change.

I've included getting all the braces and bars in the budget as well as a proper set of coilovers, possibly BC racing. At the far end of my timeline I decided I'll be swapping for a M50B25 or M52B25/28.

Of course any suggestions regarding my decision will be appreciated :)

[N-Gen]

Car is at my mechanic right now as I have been bogged down with work.

Went in originally to source a coolant leak, power steering squeak, loose timing belt and a massive brake pedal dead zone.

On the positive side, brakes only needed some setting as the pads, shoes and wheel cylinders have all been replaced prior to me buying the car.

On the negative side, seems like I'm going to need to replace the radiator.

[N-Gen]

Done a bit of work today. Finished getting the rust off the seat railings and respraying them. Adjusted the brake pedal and the brake light switch. Removed both mirrors for respraying and motor attention. Was in the process of getting the bumpers off but the bolts are too rusty, need to find a way to get them off.

[N-Gen]

Oh trust me, that muffler is going...not a fan of it at all. I need to change the brake pads and possibly shoes as well, the brake pedal doesn't retract properly so the brake lights are always on. I don't think it would be wise of me to just adjust the pedal, I think I'd rather go the safe route and sort the brakes out as well. Cleaning will take place after those are sorted.

Motor, well, initially I was inclined towards an SR20DET swap, but now I do find myself more inclined into getting something like an M60 or M62, the sound they make is just glorious to me.

[MazterDizazter]

If it were my car, I would put a smaller muffler on it first. I would then give it a thorough cleaning and try to get a replacement panel for under the steering column. The rest is totally up to you. Bigger motor, perhaps?