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The m54b30 E30 build (NL)

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    The m54b30 E30 build (NL)

    Hello everybody!


    The setup:
    Engine: m54b30 (e39)
    Engine mouts: e28 535i
    Trans: 330ci 5 speed, or 320z
    Trans mounts: E21 mount with custom aluminium cups
    Clutch and flywheel: M20 lightened flywheel with custom pressure plate
    Cardan shaft: e36 328i
    Differential: e36 323ti compact
    Suspension: VMaxx coilovers
    Brakes: 325i disc brakes all around with a Renault Clio brake booster
    Steering: e46 steering


    A quick introduction:
    My name is Max, I'm a Dutch student (in Mechanical engineering) and just about a 1.5 years ago I decided that I needed to buy an E30.
    (skip the first couple of pictures if you just want to see the swap)
    This is (going to be) a budget build so keep that in mind. Not everything will be done the proper way, but it will be done to the best of my abillilties.

    I bought an automatic e39 530i and began to buy all the nessecary parts
    Like the stupidly expensive oil pa(i)n:
    20180602_163343

    e46 steering from the local junkyard (for quicker steering)
    Out with the old:
    20180908_140321
    In with the new(ish):
    20180829_152626

    While I was doing all this work might as well make it steer decently:
    rear subframe plates to adjust camber and toe:

    20180911_083800

    Welded the plates into the subframe, also added some reïnforcement plates to both the rear and front subframe:
    20180916_141558

    And ofcourse, a smitch of paint (smitch? sounds weird, probably the wrong word)
    20181001_112648

    20181001_112656

    And some more paint...
    It's an E36 323ti compact differential (Does anybody know if you have to use the e30 or the original flanches??)
    20180904_170239

    And with everything installed the rest of the car looks like shit..
    20181002_072712

    More paint stuff:
    20180924_140916
    all assembled:
    20180928_144101

    A Cio brake booster (painted in wrinkle black :) notice a theme?)
    needed to fit a spacer in the master cilinder and had to relocate the part that connects to the brake pedal rod:
    20180829_172250


    And then... it was time:

    Out with the old, in with the new:
    20180830_222640

    20180830_225427

    20180831_142812

    20180831_150212


    Okay, first it needed a little cleaning before the "new" was allowed in the engine bay:

    20180923_165504

    20180923_170657

    Probably wasn't this clean in quite a while:

    20180923_170706

    20180923_170708

    And there it is, looks way better then the old m20 did:
    20181002_072234

    Still have lots of updates I'ill post later on..
    Last edited by maxpostma; 11-13-2018, 01:41 PM.
    M54B30 E30 build:
    https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

    #2
    Why is it that whenever I see posts from enthusiasts in Scandinavian (I guess technically the Netherlands aren't a part of Scandinavia, but close enough) countries it always goes, "I'm just a poor student with a small project I'm starting on" and it turns out they have giant garages with lifts and rotisseries and flatbeds to transport their shells around?

    Excited to see more!
    2003 Z4 3.0 6-speed- Silver, 19's, daily driver
    1990 Silver 325i- Lowered on H&R OE Sports, e90 drop hats, KYB shocks, color matched rocker panels, 16" Emortal RS wheels on 205/50/16 tires... Currently getting a full refresh including an S52 swap!
    1997 Black Ford Probe GT- Stripped to 2220lbs, MS3X, Forged motor in midst of assembly... Dyno results and 1/4 mile times pending

    Comment


      #3
      Nice work, looks very clean! I'm doing an S54 swap but I like the idea of the aluminum M54.

      Do you have a part number for the clio brake booster? I'd be interested in the dimensions and any modifications needed to make it fit.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by dadsbmw View Post
        Why is it that whenever I see posts from enthusiasts in Scandinavian (I guess technically the Netherlands aren't a part of Scandinavia, but close enough) countries it always goes, "I'm just a poor student with a small project I'm starting on" and it turns out they have giant garages with lifts and rotisseries and flatbeds to transport their shells around?

        Excited to see more!
        Not sure if a compliment of an insult :)
        But indeed,I'm very fortunate that my dad shares my hobby and also helps me quite a lot. The warehouse and everything is mostly for his enterprise (being a neon sign technician.
        M54B30 E30 build:
        https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by R3VM3UP View Post
          Nice work, looks very clean! I'm doing an S54 swap but I like the idea of the aluminum M54.

          Do you have a part number for the clio brake booster? I'd be interested in the dimensions and any modifications needed to make it fit.
          It's a Clio brake booster (from 2001 with plastic wings). I believe it's quite a common swap.
          needed to fit a spacer in the master cilinder (about 22mm) and had to relocate the part that connects to the brake pedal rod.

          I will measure the dimensions next sunday :D
          M54B30 E30 build:
          https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

          Comment


            #6
            That wrinkle finish may not seal overly well to the master.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by dadsbmw View Post
              Why is it that whenever I see posts from enthusiasts in Scandinavian (I guess technically the Netherlands aren't a part of Scandinavia, but close enough) countries it always goes, "I'm just a poor student with a small project I'm starting on" and it turns out they have giant garages with lifts and rotisseries and flatbeds to transport their shells around?

              Excited to see more!
              and Belgium is in Germany ;)


              OP - Looking nice!
              Build Threads:
              Pamela/Bella/Betty/325ix/5-Lug Seta/S60R/Miata ITB/Miata Turbo/Miata VVT/951/325xi-6

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Julien View Post
                and Belgium is in Germany ;)


                OP - Looking nice!
                Pretty much what I was thinking :) And thank you :thankyou:
                M54B30 E30 build:
                https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by 95///M3 View Post
                  That wrinkle finish may not seal overly well to the master.
                  Yeah I realised that too when I installed it, sanded it all down to bear metal and resprayed it with some ordinary black paint. (Only the part that touches the master)
                  Last edited by maxpostma; 11-13-2018, 02:04 PM.
                  M54B30 E30 build:
                  https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by maxpostma View Post
                    It's a Clio brake booster (from 2001 with plastic wings). I believe it's quite a common swap.
                    needed to fit a spacer in the master cilinder (about 22mm) and had to relocate the part that connects to the brake pedal rod.

                    I will measure the dimensions next sunday :D
                    Here's a photo of the Clio booster installed, lots of clearance as you can see:
                    6

                    It's about 6cm T H I C C and it has a diameter of 23cm. (devide by 2,54 for the potato unit)
                    M54B30 E30 build:
                    https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Update:

                      This is mostly stuff I did over the past few weeks, bit busy with school/work at this moment, never the less some nice stuff has happened.

                      My father drives an E39 528i, which is basicly the same engine and gearbox combination as I'm using.
                      Drives really nicely but I hate the slow throttle response.

                      This resulted in my decision to use the m20 flywheel.
                      Had my old m20 clutch lightened, balanced and leveled. I also had the pressureplate strengthened:

                      20181019_174221

                      Was really bummed when I saw this: (thought that the starter ring cracked, luckily it was just the original weld)

                      20181010_102215

                      Made some engine spacers at school(to increase ground clearence) and soms gearbox cups to decrease driveline movement:
                      spacers

                      The flywheel and engine spacer all installed and looking great:
                      vliegwiel

                      While I was in there I replaced the rear main seal, wasn't really necessary because it didn't leak. But still it's nice knowing it's fresh:
                      Luckily the old one looked grose
                      20181022_132310

                      My girlfriend bought us some tickets so we could see a car show in Rotterdam. Some really cool cars:
                      20181014_164027

                      Would love to own a rx7 at some point:
                      20181014_161343

                      20181014_163809

                      Really want to have an interior like this some day in future:

                      20181014_162352

                      Also had a custom power steering line made by a local hydraulic part supplier, because the original e30 or e39 didn't look like it would work nicely/easily.
                      20181025_130752

                      Looks a lot cleaner than the original one that loops strangly around the steering rack:
                      20181025_133053

                      Also sold some old shit for a pretty penny :), so I can buy other car stuff.. it never stops (cryemoji):
                      20181012_202301

                      We (my dad and I) also went and worked on the rear side of the car, and installed the trailing arms and new handbrake cables. Ofcourse the wheel bearings were shot on the second hand axle, so that's another thing I can add to the list :(
                      4

                      Freshened up the rear axles a bit:
                      1

                      Also tried to install the gearbox, but the enginemount spacers that I made were to tall, this resulted in an engine that made contact with the firewall.
                      A little trim was needed:

                      7

                      Test fitted with no spacer, and everthing seems to fit just fine luckily:
                      2

                      Well that's about it, hoping to install the newly trimmed spacers this week, along with the brakes, cardan shaft and the rear drive shafts.

                      After that the water en oil lines and of course the wiring...
                      Last edited by maxpostma; 04-04-2019, 04:18 AM.
                      M54B30 E30 build:
                      https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I'm currently busy with fitting the engine in the right position and fitting driveshaft (from a e36 328i) but I'm finding that it's about 12mm too long (or (12/25,4)inch).
                        Am I the only one having this problem? And is there another solution except for moving the engine more forward or cutting a piece of?
                        M54B30 E30 build:
                        https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Which engine arms are you using? Can you post a photo?
                          IG: deniso_nsi Leave me feedback here

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by dude8383 View Post
                            Which engine arms are you using? Can you post a photo?
                            You can see them in the first picture of the thread, They're just your ordinary e36 m50 engine arms.
                            M54B30 E30 build:
                            https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=426585

                            Comment


                              #15
                              LOL wow sorry that is literally the first photo. Can you measure the driveshaft for us and report back?

                              I have an E36 M3 shaft in stock that I can compare it to.
                              IG: deniso_nsi Leave me feedback here

                              Comment

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