M52 Swapped E30 Build - SPANNER RASH

[SPANNER RASH]

Hi guys, I've been a R3v lurker for donkey's years but figured I'd finally create an account and share my current E30 build.

Some of you might have already spotted my vids on Youtube over the past couple of years. Let me know if you have, it's always hard to gauge whether uploads reach like-minded folk or not.

I've also had a thread going on E30zone but unfortunately, it's not as active a place as it used to be.

Anyway, I've been following along with other builds on this forum for a long time, thought I should share some of my own experience, even if it's just "what not to do".

The E30 project I'm working on is a humble UK spec 1990 facelift 316i coupe, in rough shape (good side pictured below) with 103k miles on the clock. It's a proper "poverty spec" car, as in, no frippery such as air-con or even ABS. it's the M40B16 4-pot motor with manual gearbox, which is now removed and sat beside the car in the garage to make way for a 24v swap.



I've gone for the M52B28 engine which is also on a stand beside the car. I personally think the M52 is the best E30 engine swap all things considered (including cost and difficulty).

I had a 318is years ago which got me into E30s. Really loved this car and still regret letting it go:


But I've always lusted after an M52 swapped E30 with all the worthwhile mods to make it as good as they can be, and I'm finally starting to make that happen. It's a very modest build compared to many on here, but I'm gonna figure it out step by step, as my first engine swap (or anything near an engine swap).
I think I'll end up with a pretty epic driver's car to blast around B-roads in once it's done, and that can't come soon enough.

Here's the intro vid for the build, filmed quite a while ago, but the project is still true to this original plan:

In fact, there's plenty to catch up on - I've published something like 33 videos on the build so far. I'm addressing pretty much all common E30 problems as I go too which will hopefully help some people out.

Here's my playlist so far, feel free to catch up on the journey and share your thoughts, I need as many pointers as I can get: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Hd9QrFSAZZVaEd

001 - BMW E30 Build Project Intro - M52 Engine Swap
002 - E30 Rear Trailing Arm Reinforcement
003 - E30 Front Subframe Reinforcement
004 - Big Brake Caliper Restoration Part 1
005 - Big Brake Caliper Restoration Part 2
006 - E30 Rear Trailing Arm Bushings & Wheel Bearing Replacement
007 - E30 Rear Subframe Removal
008 - How To Remove E30 Gas Tank
009 - Modifying Brake Shields for E30 BBK
010 - BMW E30 Gas Tank Restoration
011 - How to repair a gas tank with solder
012 - How to remove stuck E30 rear beam bushings
013 - BMW E30 Underside Clean & Inspection - Rear End
014 - BMW E30 Filler Neck Restoration
015 - Underbody Rust Repair Welding
016 - BMW E30 Rear Battery Box Repair Guide
017 - How To Repair A Rusty Wheel Arch
018 - Rusty Jacking Point Repair Guide
019 - Inner Wheel Arch Repair Panel Welding Guide
020 - Dinitrol 447 Underseal & ML3125 Cavity Wax Application
021 - E30 Petrol Tank, Fuel Lines & Fuel Vapor Tank Installation
022 - E30 Rear Subframe, Trailing Arms, Prop Shaft & Diff Assembly
023 - BMW E30 5 Lug Conversion Guide For Rear
024 - E30 Handbrake Replacement & Adjustment Guide
025 - Front 5 Lug Swap Guide For BMW E30
026 - How To Remove E30 Front Wings, Bonnet, Bumper & Valance
027 - How To Remove BMW E30 Engine & Gearbox [M40B16]
028 - BMW E30 Bulkhead Wiring & Engine Bay Strip Down
029 - E30 Engine Bay Cleaning & Floor Pan Rust Inspection
030 - How To Remove BMW E30 Carpet & Seats
Bonus Short - BMW E30 Gas Pedal Removal Guide
031 - Car Front Jacking Point Repair (but it's not a jacking point)
032 - Front Wheel well chassis rail inner covering plate rust repair
033 - E30 Floor Pan Underseal Removal & Floorpan Rust Repair
034 - E30 Wheel Well Rust Repair & Welding Thin Metal With a Copper Block
035 - Seam sealer, Underseal & Cavity Wax - Ultimate Protection
036 - E30 Removable Front Core Support Conversion
037 - How To Spray 2k Epoxy Primer BMW E30 Engine Bay
038 - Painting The E30's Engine Bay & Colour Reveal
039 - E30 Steering Rack Swap Guide Pt1 - Z3 vs Purple Tag
040 - E30 Steering Rack Swap Guide Pt2 - Steering Linkage & Line Routing
041 - How To Install E30 Sway Bars
042 - How To Dye Carpets Black
043 - E30 to E90 Brake Booster Swap Guide
044 - M52B28 Engine Strip & Inspection
045 - M52B28 Engine Refresh
046 - E30 24v Engine Swap Gearbox, Clutch & Flywheel Options
047 - Fitting The M52 Engine Into The E30
048 - BMW E30 M52/M50 Swap Wiring Guide
049 - BMW E30 M52 Swap Custom Exhaust Manifolds
050 - E30 M52/g240 Short Gear Linkage Guide & Z3 1.9 Shifter Upgrade
051 - E30 M52 Prop Shaft Options with g240 Transmission
052 - M52 Swapped E30 Brown Temp Sensor, Heater Hoses & Custom PAS Lines
053 - How to M50 Manifold Swap an M52 Engine
054 - M52 Swap E30 First Start Problem Solving
055 - E30 M5X Swap Cooling System Guide
Bonus - Making DIY Wheel Cribs AKA Wooden Wheel Stands
056 - M52 Swap E30 First Drive Disaster!
Bonus Short - M52 Swap E30 Finally Moves Under Its Own Power
057 - E30 Half Shafts, DIY Steering Limiters & Coding Plug Install
058 - M52 PAS Pump Install, Coilover Covers, MOT Pass & First Rip
059 - Lanolin Underbody Protection with Buzzweld Chassis Guard
060 - M52 Swapped E30 Drive, Review & Project Update
061 - E30 Limited Slip Diff Install & Improvements
062 - E30 Sport Seat Strut Replacement + Interior Plans
063 - BMW E30 Rear Seat Reupholstering Guide
064 - BMW E30 Sport Seat Restoration Guide


We're just starting to get onto the more exciting parts of the build now the majority of the rust is dealt with - just as I've got to grips with using the welder too.

Cheers!

[Panici]

Thanks for starting a build thread here. I skimmed through your e30zone thread just now and it looks like you're doing some good work on the car!
I think you'll enjoy the M52 swapped E30. The extra power wakes up the car and it's manageable with very few supporting mods needed.

Here's a video of mine when it was N/A. It's not fast by modern standards, but it certainly feels quick and is engaging to drive, which is more important then outright power/speed in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSng0EAeJXQ

I made a note to check out your youtube channel tomorrow morning; I typically watch some car shows with breakfast.

As an aside, I love that you have your own website. In this age of social media I miss personal websites like the internet of old. I'll be sure to give it a read when I have some time.

[SPANNER RASH]

Cheers pal, yeah on paper the M52 sounds like the ideal swap for me, I'm certainly not after big power as tempting as a turbo sounds. I'm hoping for something that's simple, fun and responsive - without requiring high speeds to feel like you're driving it hard.

I just checked your video out, seems like ample performance to me, the raised rev limiter appears to add to the N/A enjoyment too, thanks for sharing that, your E30 looks sublime.

[SPANNER RASH]

I've got a bit more progress to share on the E30 build - I got the front wheel wells repaired and ready to take a new underseal coating which I'll be on to next.

I also discovered how handy a little copper block can be when welding thin sheet metal, would have been handy to have known about that one sooner!

[benfidar]

Spanner Rash! Great to see you here. I have marveled at your vids on Youtube. I have an M52 swapped touring and I think that it is just the ticket. This is especially so since you will no doubt put a ally block m52 in yours as I did mine (from a Z3). Not much heavier than the m40. Can't wait for the updates. Great work so far.

[SPANNER RASH]

Hey man, how are things going with the purple touring?

I feel like I'm getting ever closer to getting the M52B28 in, I can't wait, the engine has been sitting on a stand for far too long. I hope it's in good health, but I guess we'll find out when I properly inspect it!

[QuiqueUy]

Hey spanner , will def take a look at your vids . I started with a modest 316i with slicktop and a naughty m10 from 1988 haha , swapped the engine for a m52 with s52 cams , m50 manifold and light flywheel , with the zf and a 3.64 it goes really hard for sure hahah

[SPANNER RASH]

Hey spanner , will def take a look at your vids . I started with a modest 316i with slicktop and a naughty m10 from 1988 haha , swapped the engine for a m52 with s52 cams , m50 manifold and light flywheel , with the zf and a 3.64 it goes really hard for sure hahah

Awesome that 1988 E30 must've felt much brisker after that swap! Sounds very similar to what I'm going for but you've taken a step further with the cams and manifold. The jury is out on whether I'll be able to resist those type of mods once the car is together. I usually can't help myself with these things!

I'm planning to use the 4-cyl gearbox and in theory, it should work and hold with the 24v engine, but again we'll find out for ourselves!

[SPANNER RASH]

Well, I got the seam sealer, underseal and cavity wax on! I really rate this Dinitrol stuff, but the 447 in particular is tough to work with. I was dealing with a blocked schutz gun yet again, just like when I did the rear!

I think I'd recommend buying a second gun to switch out to while the first one sits in thinners to try and unblock it, as the stuff thickens up very quickly and has a limited working time.

Needless to say, the stuff seems mega and I'm extremely confident in the underside of this car now. As I'm not planning to drive it on salted roads ever again, I'm reckoning this being a permanent rust protection.

[SPANNER RASH]

Feels like another big milestone on the E30 build here, I got the scary job of converting the front end to a removable core support done! I was right to be fearful of starting this job, it took way longer than I anticipated to get it to fit up just right. I know I'll be thanking myself down the line when I'm needing to take the M52 engine in and out, which is probably inevitable!

While I was at it I managed to sort out some cosmetic issues with the OE core support I had and avoid the need to buy a brand new one (which don't look that great to me). The most important thing though is it feels absolutely solid with my M10 and M8 bolts and rivnuts, and it can all be in and out with 8 bolts.

I took it upon myself to make the most detailed video on how to do an E30 removable front core support out there, hopefully it helps some fellow enthusiasts out!

[Northern]

I think I saw you post this on facebook. I'll check it out

[benfidar]

Hey man, how are things going with the purple touring?

I feel like I'm getting ever closer to getting the M52B28 in, I can't wait, the engine has been sitting on a stand for far too long. I hope it's in good health, but I guess we'll find out when I properly inspect it!

Brilliant! Tires next week, Nitto Neo Gen 205/50 r15, $89+$13 mounting and balancing on Amazon; Next month Bilstein B4 and H&R 50406 springs (I want a 'sporty' but OE comfortable cruiser). May, I am planning on driving to Asheville NC to attend "The Vintage". Paint, next year.

[Mike36]

Thanks for all the links!

[SPANNER RASH]

Brilliant! Tires next week, Nitto Neo Gen 205/50 r15, $89+$13 mounting and balancing on Amazon; Next month Bilstein B4 and H&R 50406 springs (I want a 'sporty' but OE comfortable cruiser). May, I am planning on driving to Asheville NC to attend "The Vintage". Paint, next year.

Awesome sounds like you're making it your own, the suspension should be a good upgrade especially if you're running original items currently.

[SPANNER RASH]

Thanks for all the links!

No worries pal, I figured it might be easier for people to catch up as I'm a bit late to the party sharing the build here. :D