Olaf

Score!  I've been interested in learning what these are like to own, will be watching.

What's the main difference between R50 and R53?

'on ya.  making a proper job of it.  keep the faith!

you have a skill for life!  next thing you fab up, you're ahead!

which muffler did you use, and is the pipe easy to source?

it really did happen!! awesome pics man, and the stubby looks the part.

by the way, I meant to say:  loved your earier post. "need an exhaust.  bought a tig welder.  taught myself to weld.  made this."  looks rather bloody excellent.  well done!

Yes I did the same last night.  Interestingly one of the listings suggested 'these are rare'.  Uhhhh, didn't you check your market first?  There's a metric sh!t-ton of 130i's for sale currently.

I'll give you a shout next coffee meet or cruise.  It's Club Pub Night tonight, though I'm not there this time.  First Thursday of every month in J'ville, all welcome.  Be good to see you.

@slideways Jeez Chris, how many e30's do you have?!  Like having a wardrobe full of suits, you'll need to pick which one to bring to e30 Mega Meet this year ?

@NZ_InFerno  Come on mate, pics or it simply didn't happen!!

On 7/1/2020 at 12:17 PM, Driftit said:

Been waiting a month to get the 130 to BMW for a recall notice they issued.

There is a snow warning on the Remutaka's in effect until midday tomorrow so we rang to re-book.

Next appointment.  4th of August.  Is Winger BMW really that busy?  Or are they just fobbing off recall customers.

they were really that busy even before lockdown.  needed an alignment as part of insurance repair of a minor love tap.  'Ooh, a chance to experience BMW alignment procedure.  Repairer is certed and work with Winger.  Should be easy.' thought I.  "First appointment - 3 weeks".   I used the repairer's other supplier.

Cool project, @Karun!  Saw your e28 parked up near the Massey workshop recently ?

Watching with interest.  Machining from Delrin should be very interesting.  You'd still be adding the slugs for weight?

outstanding!  and on-track for e30 Mega Meet this year!

9 hours ago, wrs said:

In my case the cert guy said - it's not the original auto driveshaft and it doesn't matter if it's OE, it has to have hoops. It may depend on the certifier but maybe it's also a recent change in the rules. I just did what I had to to get the cert plate!

In my case I'm fortunate, no change to driveshaft and already factory manual.  I agree - pick your certifier and do what's required for the cert plate.

8 hours ago, gjm said:

Bizarrely you can dismantle and rebuild the entire brake system and no-one will bat an eyelid. 

Ain't that the truth.  Perhaps they assume they're unable to protect us from maintenance stupidity, and the greatest threat is from modifications.

good luck with your insurance company in event of an accident.  

sure looks sharp to me.

Just now, leightonf said:

Other way around it seems, cert isn’t required so long as it’s an unmodified factory gearbox crossmember and driveshaft. So borderline for using an E36 box with the spacer. 
Seems silly that it’s the extra valves/cam that tips it over the edge but that commodore example makes it pretty clear. 
 

Im sure it won’t be a problem until it is, then I’ll worry about it ?

I think you'll find that the manual conversion will require cert, as you're changing the brake pedal in which case braking system change ===> cert.

2 minutes ago, wrs said:

If you need to get it cert'd you'll also need driveshaft hoop(s). The cert guy wouldn't even look at it until the hoops were in even though every part on the car was OE and there was no cutting, welding or modification.

Hoops only if increase in horsepower is over 50% threshold - unless that rule has changed again.    

5 minutes ago, alisterh said:

The certification threshold seems to always be changing even different rules from when I did mine but yes currently you technically do.

so on the basis of not the same or less capacity, and; not same number of valves and camshafts, and 138hp (e36 DISA M42) is more than 20% greater than 102hp (M40B16 in my case).  Hopefully driveshaft hoops remain not a requirement.  Thanks for that ref, @alisterh

25 minutes ago, leightonf said:

You go for it mate, I haven’t decided what I’m doing for coils yet. But if I do CoP then I’ll do something like the welded bosses @aja540i has done, that looks classy. I’d be keen to see it with the coils on and to know whether you had to modify the #1, or is that an E36 problem?

Also yes, if you can believe it I got the E30 318iS loom and computer basically for free with my manual conversion (which was definitely not free) out of the states. They only got the M42 there I believe so it’s equivalent to what a M40 loom would be worth here.

Do you really need a cert for what is effectively a factory repower? It’s not like an E30 never came with M42 motors from factory. And standard I doubt it’d hit the threshold for power increases..

Thanks for the info mate, I should have re-read your build/guide before replying because it’s all there. Feels like keeping the DISA is the right way to go and just figure out a nice way to adapt the C101.

Was there a reason for using the E36 starter, alternator and power steering? Are they different mounting from M40 stuff or just newer?

iS loom is a score!  I think modifying #1 is the requirement due to proximity of mounting hole, and standard spec of those coils.  Yes, USA is an M40-free zone.

Yes I understand a cert is required, going by the rules.

I think sticking with the e36 DISA manifold (if the engine is sourced from e36) is a 'why wouldn't ya?' thing - yes we could be purists and shop for e30 intake manifolds, but you'd miss out on DISA benefits and a few extra horsepower.  And as you point out, needs the engine management to run it.  @alisterh has a great wiring chart for the C101 adaptor.

48 minutes ago, aja540i said:

Cut some risers from solid aluminium round bar, 16mm I think, shaped to fit rocker cover, welded on, drilled and tapped M6 holes, powder coated wrinkle black. Couldn't be easier!

Pics or it didn't happen!! ?  Sounds very classy.

EDIT - Oh yeah sorry there it is!!  Wow.

@aja540i Andrew I don't recall seeing that; what was involved?

@alisterh that's awesome, a real wealth of knowledge!  Thanks man!  

Just now, alisterh said:

I may have a spare cop plate. I had two made when mine was done, it's not the prettiest but works fine. I Also have pdf of the dimensions  

I'm a bit behind @leightonf in readiness, he could probably use the coil plate ahead of me... care to share the PDF?  If Leighton doesn't want the plate you have, I can pay you for it. 

10 minutes ago, leightonf said:

Doesnt the late E36 have some sort of built in immobiliser or fancyness with the keys?

you're talking about EWS.  You can get a chip that takes this out.

On 6/28/2020 at 3:50 PM, leightonf said:

1. Does donor car make any difference since I’m using an E30 318is loom and ECU? Things like sensor locations, updated engine revisions, better spec’d models?

2. Is it possible to use the E36 intake manifold (ie, does it physically fit. Not bothered about which is better out of E30/E36 for performance)

3. Options for exhaust manifolds? Obviously E30 318is but that’s $$, I’ve read M44 potentially works with our RHD models?

1.  Are you using an e30 318iS loom?  Where'd you find that?

2.  I understand the e36 intake manifold works and fits beneath the e30 hood.  e36 is the most common source down here in the shaky isles ?

3.  I've read (here on Bimmersport) that the M44 works.  What I'd like to know, is does it need to be M44 from Z3, or any RHD M44 manifold.

I'm preparing for the same repower myself (including cert) for next year.  Mind you, my M40B16 is great fun and running really sweetly in the mean time.

I'm interested in doing coil-over conversion on M42 also.  Have you found a source for the coil mounting plate?  Ideally someone's open-sourced the file so we could both get one milled up?

Uncertain; the seal material has changed which I think indicates a (in hindsight) less-than-great material choice.  Note that the same seal material is found in N42, M54, N52 etc so not solely a risk with N62 V8.  I *think* neglect exacerbates things, poor oil choices or missed oil changes.