kiwi328i

Just to let you all know. I used a breaker bar of sorts and got 8 out of 9 of them off. I didn't think I would get that many, alas, still one to go, I went up to Mitre10, got a 8mm and 10mm colbolt HSS drill bits and went to town, I used cutting fluid as well, she sure got hot, but that got the last one out. If I was to do it again...fingers crossed I will never have to, but having 2 people do it, with one just stabilizing the motor and putting pressure on the torx so that it is square and not so prone to burring might be the go. Thanks everyone for your input

Hi Andy, Can you add me in for a pair of plates, when it's a go. 530 V8 Cheers Lionel

So I listened to you guys and got stuck into the flywheel bolts, would have been easier with another person, but hey, I cracked 8 of them and of course one burred and you only need one to keep you from getting it off. Those T55's are an out and out daft idea. A trip to Mitre10, some colbolt HSS drill bits and some cutting oil, a lot of swearing followed. And wallah. I have the flywheel off. I now know why they call them anchors. I took the auto one off the M60b40 which was thinner and its flex plate and I will hand that in to the engineer as well, as that might be more useful in machining a new flywheel. Of all the seals I bought I forgot the waterpump one so another order to pelican parts and some other bits, but I have some time whilst the new flywheel is getting machined up anyway. I will need some new flywheel bolts, and I will go down to the lovely blokes at Waitemata Hydraulics for something appropriate, and get some recommendations from the engineer too I guess. So the next step is taking the old flywheel, pressure plate and clutch disc to the engineer, with the new E36 96-97 Pressure plate, E34 M5 sprung hub clutch disc and get him to fabricate a suitable flywheel so that the stacked height is the same. He will be using the original ring gear. Well that's the theory...

There are signs that the motor has been out. The clutch disc wasn't down to the rivets and it's done over 300k. The pressure plate had a 98 date on it, so I am guessing that's been replaced at least, but it must have, even driving like Miss Daisy, you couldn't cover that many k's on the original clutch. We broke half of the exhaust bolts and some of those were not bmw issue so yeah I think its been done. The flywheel looks like the face would need to be cleaned up if ever it got used again, with hot spots all over, not too bad, and not from me, so they are old.

So, My brother managed to pull the...simply gigantic (for 3 litres) motor out and on to the ground. Cool. Time to take off the pressure plate. Faarrkkk, why you can't just pull things apart without breaking just does ya head in. 4 hex head bolts, first one burrs instantly, should've cracked it, but the air gun just f'ed it, so the next one, hammer job then quick crak, lovely, third one the same came out nicely fourth one was also a pig. Out comes the mig, and we mig'ed a 13mm bolt to the b'stard bolts and did it that way, not pretty, actually quite rangi but bloody effective. It's no wonder they tell you to get new bolts for this and that...they just should have said."Bmw disclaimer, we use crap designs for really important bolts that will do your head in, so please replace all of the sh*t bolts that we use with much better engineered bolts, as we used all of our R@D budget on making the worlds biggest 3 litre V8" But really it was Bmw's way of warming me up to remove the flywheel....faaaarrrkkkkkk. Just another very good reason to ditch the dual mass make like an anchor flywheel. Those bolts WILL be replaced by bolts the rest of the world is familiar with. As the custom flywheel has to be recessed to accommodate the sprung hub, I will ensure bolt heads are on the engineers draft when he designs the ruddy thing. As it stands I will have another crack at the flywheel, if it bites me its crank out baby!

Thanks guys, The joys of modding old cars aye?

Well I will give it a go, those torx designs are rubbish, I mean it goes 5mm in and then loosely, I wont be putting those back in that's for sure. Another trip to Waitemata hydraulics should fix that. I don't know how many bmw bolts and nuts and screws I have replaced with much better items, but the list is growing. I will tell ya how I get on, but I think it may all end in tears very quickly.

I can think of a few creative ways to stop the rotating mass...rotate. I usually grab the car jack handle and have access to many other things that can do the turning part. The weak point is the torx T55's all nine of them. I will rip them to shreds before they even think about turning loose, if an impact driver and me swinging a sledge hammer like Thor on acid don't move them...they aint going to move without disintegrating. I may call around a few places, otherwise I will pull the crank from under Cheers everyone

Help!!! I have taken off the pressure plate, and the engine is on the ground. I have hammered the crap out of the torx t55 on my 530i and it aint coming off. Yes I am using a proper impact driver thingy. I don't think bmw really thought about ease of removal during this part. How did you guys do it? I will have another crack at it, but I think I am going to drop the bottom and remove the crank. I need the flywheel itself to go to the engineers, I wont be using it or the rest of the motor for that matter. Cheers

Hi Guys, I am wanting to know if anyone has one laying around? I would have taken my own to the engineers so they can make me one up, but they need a template. You could say I had a hard time taking my flywheel off. O.k, I admit I couldn't take it off, and rather than keep trying to take it off, and chances are I wont, I was hoping someone here had one off already that I can borrow? Text me on 021795306 if you can help me out Cheers Lionel

Hi Everyone, Has anyone bought wheels, specifically rims from the U.K / Europe and had them brought here? What's the deal? What is the best way to do this? Does anyone have a recommendation to go or not go with? I am thinking of getting some secondhand wide rims from the U.K., for my E34. It seems like they have more choice, which makes sense. Cheers

I am no expert, but I bought a 5 speed manual attached to an M60. The M60 was attached to the car. Good luck finding a 5 speed. As far as I know, they were only behind the E34 530i. And then only for 3 production years. I could be wrong, but I am not wrong saying they are very rare. I like the idea of having the 5 speed, as it is comfortably rarer than the 6 speed...which itself is pretty rare. As the small V8 5 speed didn't morph into the E39 range, it's rarity is secured. The only other box is the 6 speed. I could be wrong about everything.

Hi All, I have a 1993 E34 530i manual. From what I can tell, I have a medium case 3.07 open diff. I am putting in a 4.0 litre. It wont be a fire breathing dragon, but I think I would still like to have an LSD. What is the easiest way to accomplish this? I think if I keep the same 3.07 as I am keeping the standard 5 speed manual anyway, putting in a LSD clutch pack is the best option for me, and should be cheaper than buying an LSD outright? Cheers

"It is not for the faint hearted" love it.

For the straight and narrow routine maintenance I would vouch for Burger's as he knows his stuff and his rates are more than reasonable. He wont suggest you throw a V10, 6 speed manual in there. He will get your car running at 100% for what it is. He is close to my work otherwise I would go to Ray. Ray is awesome. I would use Ray if he was closer to me. He may suggest throwing in a V10 6 speed manual in there, with a wry smile no less. 100% is not enough for Ray whatever it is.

Oh crap, My bro pulled it out and said to me 'should be alright' I thought it was a press in thingy. In the bin. Apologies everyone. Thanks Glenn.

I bought this for Mum's car last year as it had all the symptoms...so I swapped it out and of course it didn't fix the problem. I swapped in a brand new cheap rubbish crankshaft sensor from China off fleabay for pocket money and wallah, it stopped coughing and stopped being resistant to starting up so I put the original camshaft sensor back it all is dandy, wasn't the camshaft sensor after all. I really need to buy one of them diagnostic things. Hence I have a spare camshaft sensor. Mum;s car was a 320i, but it should fit any of the M52's? It has done 0.00 kms, as it was only running without being driven on. Secondhand technically, but should work like new. When I pulled it out some of the outer sleeve broke, its only aesthetic as per image. It doesn't and will not affect it's function. less than half price of a new one and I have the receipt. Please text/call me if you are interested 021795306 Lionel

Second half day on the car. Got both valve covers off, cleaned them petrol, I am going to take them to the powder coaters at some stage. Took off most of the harness. Radiator out. I am going to leave the front on now. It's just more shite to take off and put back on. Be different if I had a full garage to just leave it all over the place but as I am doing it up my brothers driveway I cant make too much of a mess. So here it is now. Slowly but surely, this project is going to take forever.

Holy crap that's a nice engine putterinnathing. Just wait till you see the photos of the thing that I am going to use. ha. The guy next door John commented on the size of the engine. He deals with big block Chevs 454's and the like and thought this little 3 litre was just a beast...well it is externally I guess. I wish it was the other way around. Brent, from your pictures I have to take the exhaust manifolds off, on both motors. Painful. I think I am going to pull the front off, much better access, cause I will be spewing if I damage it trying to shoehorn this thing in. Cheers!

I bought these of trademe, cause I could. I don't need them, the E34 has such a narrow area for rear boxes, these wont fit no matter what I do with them. I think they maybe for an E53. They are from an X5 I know that much. Sorry for the poor picture quality. Get me on 021795306 if you are interested. It may be worthwhile for a V8 project as well? Cheers

I drive past your place quite a bit, and I always thought...ahaaa, another bmw dude who must like the E34. Its good to know beer as a currency amongst men should always be encouraged when and where possible. Awesome stuff.

Hey thanks for the support. It will be interesting to see where all the headaches will be for this project. Well I started today. It took me ages to pull the headlights, headlight surrounds, grille and bonnet off. In the time it took me to take off the bonnet, I could have gutted an entire Corolla. Took longer again to get the front bumper off. Freakin heavy as it has the washer unit for the headlights. I don't think I will be hooking that back up. Not much use in Auckland, it just doesn't really get cold enough to warrant it. And its heavy and way out in the front where you don't want all the weight. Some may say it looks classy, and I guess it was back then... To be fair, I would have achieved more with another pair of hands. The weather was nice today so I wasn't going to spends hours on it, that was enough for today. I am still wondering whether it is worth removing the entire front? If I leave the transmission in place, it might be better in terms of swinging the B40 in? Ideas? The beginning And the end of day one and the other side.

Hi All, I am going to, well like the title says, pull the M60b30 out and drop in a M60b40. I have googled my little digits off, and it's not that uncommon, well it's pretty uncommon here only because we don't have a lot of 5 speed 3 litre v8's around. Some swaps have been good, some not so good, none of them cheap. I want to keep my 5 speed manual, so I have a few issues there. Many have done all sorts of things with flywheels, pressure plates and clutches, mine will be no different I guess. However I am wanting to get a custom flywheel made as I have found that in theory at least it may be cheaper, than going aftermarket. Oh for those that don't know, the reason I am changing the flywheel at all, it that the B30 has done over 300k, I am guessing that the flywheel has done its dash, I don't hate the oem dualmass, but it is going to go. I have heard the B30 stuff wont last long behind the B40, and even if it does, wear will be accelerated due mainly to the increase in torque so for some assurance I may as well change it now. There are no aftermarket B30 clutches, clutch kits etc. So I am working on a cunning plan, gleaned from many hours on the internet. To be fair the engine has yet to be pulled, and only then will I really know what I am up against. The reason for this thread is that I have not been totally happy with the info I have seen thus far. It's like no one has been really happy with whatever action they have taken, in terms of really nutting out what you need, don't need and should not do. Most of the info is from the UK where they like to transplant the v8 5 speeds into the E30, which is even more work than what I am hopping to do that's for sure. It may help someone in future. I will update this as best I can

Good luck with the M50 manifold bro. A change of cam profile will hopefully work in with the characteristics of the M50 manifold. Add a custom tune to ensure that's the case and you cant do much more with what you have. Those three things are usually the 'fix' for that upgrade. Not much point having a chip or tune with std stuff, no point changing the manifold without the corresponding cams...so put them altogether and you should have a nice overall jump in performance. Of all the guys who have done the upgrade, if they miss one of these points, they are not very happy, to those who have done all three then some, they come away very happy having done the manifold swap. Especially those with manuals, which makes the cold data less significant as no one knows how you drive, except you. Some like hitting the limiter on a regular basis, some never have, some never will.

Try http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/bmw/clutches/auction-725709075.htm If you got the pingers, especially good if you are thinking of future upgrades.