E30 TDI Swap

[Ofwolfandman]

I got this little guy about a month ago. I have previously been owned VWs and Mustangs, but this is my first BMW.

I feel like I practically got her for a song and a dance. She is relatively rust free with a spot around the tail lights and some where the trim clips to the drip rails. Other problems included the drivers door latch inop from the outside, drivers door window would fall out of track, drivers lock wouldn't work with the key I had, and the fan blower only working on high.





As you can see the interior looks ok. There are no cracks in the dash and only a small tear in the DS comfort seat.

So far, I have repaired a few items including the battery, ext door handle, door latch, lock tumbler rebuild, and a new set of keys from BMW. Btw, those keys must have some gold stuffed into the black plastic, because they were expensive.

I got a couple of new doors yesterday to swap to late model window lifters and already have the resistor for the heater fan.

Now the fun stuff.

I'm planning on doing an engine swap. I've already got my flame suit on for the BMW purists... I plan on swapping a VW tdi from a 05 passat. I plan on building it up for 2-300 hp and 350-450 lb torque, and I should still get 45+ mpg. I will try to keep this post updated as the project moves along.

[Civilian]

Oh shit! Do you have experience with those TDI engines? That'd be a pretty fun swap, but I have no clue where you'd even start.

[Ofwolfandman]

Ive always wanted a TDI, but never had one. Electrically they are very simple and popular for swaps in other vehicles. There are bell housing adapters for Chevy, Toyota, and other transmissions for RWD applications.

[scabzzzz]

Why not just turbo an M20?

Nice base to start with. Welcome to BMW ownership.

[MrBurgundy]

DOOOOOOOO IT, and roll coal on all those lifted diesel trucks :devil:

Also, as a noob, its mandatory you take a picture of yourself laying across your hood in a seductive manner.

[Ofwolfandman]

I must have missed the thread with all the seductive noob photos... or do I need 10+ posts to see the thread?

The turbo M20 would bee cool, but I think the TDI would be unique in an E30. They are fairly simple, can make decent power, and there is a lot of knowledge about it out there, but not in an E30. Also 45+mpg...

[Ofwolfandman]

1.5 year update

Update coming soon with pictures. TLDR... gathering parts and initial mockup.

[Julien]

I've seen people swap the 1.8T (same transmission bell house) in an e30 using a volvo manual transmission and adapter plate. Good luck!

[Ofwolfandman]

So a bit of an update as promised. Excuse the junk in the photos as I have recently moved.

Here is the engine and E30 subframe. The motor mounts almost line up with the engine support arms on the VW. If only they were a little bit longer. So I will have to fabricate some other engine supports to make em work.





Here is a bit closer of a view on the drivers side motor mount, and then the passenger side.





A couple of photos of the go fast bits. Kerma TDI intake manifold, Darkside developments tubular exhaust manifold and GTB2260VK turbocharger.







For the transmission im going with the Tremec TKO 600. It will handle all the torque I can push out of this little 2.0L tdi. For the engine to trans adapter Ive got the Quicktime RM-4082.

Things that still need purchased are fuel nozzles, ported cylinder head, Performance cam shaft, timing belt kit, standalone wire harness, clutch/flywheel kit, tuning and lots of other less exciting odds and ends. Funds being the biggest deterrent of progress.

Well that's it! Hopefully the next update will be sooner than this one.

[Sh3rpak!ng]

this is cool. subbed