Looking for help in Long Beach

[Dixon]

Yeah its my Boss's friend he used to work for snowboard magazine i think he got shafted by a ghetto mechanic in seal beach.

[Alkasquawlik]

lol I know the PO. He's fairly well known in the snowboard industry. Kinda funny that something of his is showing up on r3v

[Dixon]

Well its all back together now and I'm pleased that its running 100 times better than it was (with no ghetto wiring or make shift parts) and Ive had the drive shaft and shifter rebuilt, also my E36 steering rack will be installed in a few weeks, and after that maybe i will start thinking about a complete swap but i cant see the need for it yet.

I will put some pictures up later so you can see the difference from the ones at the beginning of this post.

[E30nate]

maybe the PO didnt know there were two different m20s? sadly it happens more than it should

[Dixon]

I think he put the 2.5 motor and intake manifold and some other parts from the 225i and left everything else as stock from the 1985 325e its like he went part of the way into doing a swap but then stoped. now i have reversed everything except the motor should i just get a 2.7 motor and put it in??

[kronus]

Ok so here is my update for this: i decided to go back to stock so i went to the junk yard and got the intake manifold and AFM and TB and all the other parts i needed now we have come to put it all back on and it turns out it has the 2.5 motor on there not the 2.7 but it had the wiring harness and ECU from the 2.7, So to cut along story short i now have a a 2.5 motor and everything else stock from the 2.7. can anybody give me any feedback on this i.e will i have any problems and performance issues?

Yes.


My mind is blown... the previous owner of your car essentially downgraded the electronics system from Motronic 1.3 to Motronic 1.0, which is worse in unspecified ways. (Not to mention, there is no chip for the 1.0 ECU that would run an M20B25 properly and efficiently)

Grab a 325i wiring harness and ECU. I'm curious to see which timing sensors are used, also - are there two in the bellhousing?

[Dixon]

Ok so here is my update for this: i decided to go back to stock so i went to the junk yard and got the intake manifold and AFM and TB and all the other parts i needed now we have come to put it all back on and it turns out it has the 2.5 motor on there not the 2.7 but it had the wiring harness and ECU from the 2.7, So to cut along story short i now have a a 2.5 motor and everything else stock from the 2.7. can anybody give me any feedback on this i.e will i have any problems and performance issues?

[Dixon]

let me know if you want that driveshaft Dixon. I will also have those Eibachs fs soon if you want to grab them.

Dont think im going to need the driveshaft, But ill take the Eibachs Bud definitely.

[e30polak]

let me know if you want that driveshaft Dixon. I will also have those Eibachs fs soon if you want to grab them.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I love the chammois on the distributor.

[Dixon]

It runs like crap right now it feels restricted, i don't think its been changed over by a skilled person.

[reelizmpro]

You guys disappoint me. The engine obviously has a 325i intake manifold, throttle body (modified) and intake boot (late 89-91 style). Still running the basic Motronic 1.0, which is why the plumbing is like that. That isn't the stock 2.5 bar fuel pressure regulator either. Probably a 3.0 bar from the 325i. Look at an 89-91 325i engine and compare. You'll see exactly what they did to make it work. Nothing "wrong" with it, just make sure there's no vacuum leaks. Everything else about the car is legit, even the seats.

[Cha Ching]

Been to see Robert at "E30 Motor Werks" and hes looked my car over and has set me on the right path excellent guy!
Hes going to untangle the mess the PO has made and get everything back to stock and also fix my drive shaft and shifter two thumbs up, and thanks Kronus for the recommendation.

Robert's da man! We're lucky to have him here in So Cal. :bow:
He'll definitely keep your ride in top running condition.

[Dixon]

Been to see Robert at "E30 Motor Werks" and hes looked my car over and has set me on the right path excellent guy!
Hes going to untangle the mess the PO has made and get everything back to stock and also fix my drive shaft and shifter two thumbs up, and thanks Kronus for the recommendation.

[s52e30m3]

Looking at the link he posted looks like the car has an I head and a M30 Tb.........