Leaderboard

With my 135i being more or less completed (for the time being) I decided to pick up another project. was looking for a little while, as most e30s are very rusty nowadays, but managed to pick up this prefacelift 320i sedan for a good deal, due to the fact that it has a cracked head. Paint and interior appear to be in good shape and has minimal rust. I also picked up an m52b28 engine, a getrag 220 box, m20 flywheel (machined to fit sump), m50 front sump, pick up, dipstick, shift carrier, linkage etc, loom and ecu. ecu will need the ews deleted. plan is to pull the m20 out in the next few weeks while I begin refreshing the m52. So far planning on doing sump gasket, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing, aluminium thermostat housing , thermostat, waterpump, pulley bearings, spark plugs and ignition coils. But keen to hear if there’s any other bits that are worthwhile doing while I’m there. If anyone has any tips/tricks, recommendations or advice let me know. Also will probably have some questions regarding coolant line routing, ccv system and Evap on the m52 as it was already partially disassembled when I picked it up so not sure what parts I’m missing/what goes where. plans so far apart from what’s lifted above is to do a purple tag rack with slim linkage, e90 or clio brake booster not sure which way to go yet. Will also need a manual pedal box, interior trims for the shifter (currently auto) clutch line master slave etc so if you have anything that might be useful you want to get rid of let me know and I’ll buy it off you.

Nice to see you landed one. Look forward to seeing the progress. If you don't mind me asking... What did the m52b28 set you back? I'm looking to get one at some point in the near future and keen to know what ballpark figure is to get one.

Have aquired an e30. Not a coupe but a tidy prefacelift sedan. Also have an m52b28, front sump, and a getrag 220 box. Any tips tricks/advice for the m52s are appreciated.

Probably, not sure who else sells them. They sell the cut down sockets as well if you dont want to make your own. Should be a big metal pipe under the intake which routes a lot of coolant pipes, parts diagram show it whole layout reasonably well. CCV attached to the manifold and has off it 3 pipes - one from valve cover to CCV, one from CCV to oil dipstick for drain, one vacuum line from CCV to FPR. Factory CCV setup should last the life of the car at this point provided decent parts are used and is set and forget. To me a catch can is more hassle in many ways and i never liked the aftermarket look and layout of most setups i see. Preference thing really

Thank you! I paid $2300 for engine, loom, ecu, g220 manual box, shifter, linkage, e34 front sump, front pick up, dipstick, m20 flywheel (machined for e34 sump), m20 starter motor, clutch, and some other odds and ends. So it’s hard to say what I paid for the motor.

Sorry they’ve sold (pending). All yours if it falls through, cheers.

Vanos seals are fairly easy with engine on the stand, there's a way do to it by leaving the gear on the cam so no need for timing tools. New CCV valve and pipes couldn't hurt since its all apart.

You could try MBL8 first. This was hugely popular for 4G63's and SR20's with hydraulic lifters that would trap air or that were slightly worn out. https://proma.global/nz/products/mbl8-concentrated-oil-additive-250ml-9ddc Just a cap fill was enough to sort them out. I haven't tried it with the N52 yet as the ticks mine pick up from repeated short distance driving go away with a longer run luckily.

I think this might be peak "trying so desperately hard to be cool" Fake plastic Wilwoods (in Manukau)

Design breif for the M47 and M57 seem to be to take the already brilliant M42/4 and M52/4 petrol engines, and make them even stronger and tougher.

Well after the last post, and always following the do it once do it right my long term cars, I ordered a new waterpump, belt, tensioners, idlers etc, which have been on hand for a while. Only thing not ordered was thermostat (as thats right on the front and easy accessible if ever needed), and the crank pulley which, while a vulnerable part on these M47, was replaced by Graham already. Ive also known since turbo swap that the rubber intake charge pipe could also do with changing, so ordered too. also after last post, the 320d was parked up down the back. With the December rush, christmas break, welcoming my newest son to the world mid jan, and then busy back into it, there its sat for just under three months! Well today being all caught up finally, i booked the day for myself to finally do the pump. Moved some other cars out the way, key in and bumped the key, and started up first pop! Disassembly done, and I was astonished to find the waterpump was a genuine BMW item. Surreeelt not.. I thought. BMW genuine parts as well as many aftermarket ones have manufacture dates cast into the part, and this one, would you believe it, said 02 on it!!!!! Meaning it is either an original part from new and never been changed, or changed within the first 2-3 years of 02. Which means it has done this milage!! Worth remembering, it wasnt even leaking, just a very slight wobble. Tensioner pulleys also replaced, although the tensioner itself prooved within spec, as well as the belt with plenty of life, so reused “old” ones. intake charge pipe also replaced, the rubber all perished due to oil contamination from the turbo failure. New one all good to go. Anyways , back on the road today, and really enjoyed running about in it again!