Just purchased an E30 325i in Manual

[charles28 136]

Have purchased site unseen basically, am collecting it in 2 weeks.

Its a 4dr in White with the Recaro Style Seats, seats have been recovered and hoodlining re-done, is a 1989 Facelift looking one.

The car has some engine mods of sorts, all I know so far is: (below comment from seller)

the engine is a m20b27 looks exactly the same as the 2.5 version but has a bigger crank and I have put the 731 casting head on it which has double valve springs

He tells me the compressions a little low at 190psi and that it will smoke if thrashed, i'm not too worried as this car is going to be a project of sorts.

Since I will likely be rebuilding this engine, what other mods could I do while getting this done? maybe some kind of race cam?

Cheers

Edited August 13, 2009 by Charles28

[Guest Simon*]

Is this the one from Blenheim that was on trademe?

Rings were in need of attention last time I heard something about it, backed up by his comments by the looks of it. Lucky you're planning to rebuild I guess.

Still looked a reasonable buy, hope you have fun in it

[charles28 136]

Is this the one from Blenheim that was on trademe?

Rings were in need of attention last time I heard something about it, backed up by his comments by the looks of it. Lucky you're planning to rebuild I guess.

Still looked a reasonable buy, hope you have fun in it

yeah, its that one from Blenhiem, I offered $3000 and he accepted, probably doesn't seem like a good price for a car that needs work, but alot of those manual 325i's are $4500 + and alot of those are in need of attention also.

from what I can see a really good one is $7000 or so.

I am having to wait 2 weeks to get the car due to going on Holiday down to Milford Sound.

For me 1/2 the fun of buying it is the "project" factor of having to fix it up.

[bravo 35]

I'd do the required maintenance/ rebuild. You could keep the 2.7 or you could rebuild as a 2.8 (prob worth looking into if you are doing a full rebuild). There's info on the site here about how to go about that.

I'd look at a lumpier cam, and maybe some minor head work (port/polish) but the heads flow fairly well from stock.

A decent set of equal length headers, a cold-air intake, and a decent dyno tune nad you'd have a strong, reliably, fun combination without spending the sort of money a boosted setup would require.

[fuzyfrog 0]

Had a quick look at this when i went to pickup mine.

The basis for a great project is there.

[APT 195]

Glad it went to someone here.

This was on my watchlist even got emailed the guy to get pics of the headers.

[charles28 136]

Does anyone know the part number for the Rings i'll need? from what I can tell its

Part Number: 06106004292.

Actually.. this part number is probably meaningless and refers to one brand of parts only.

So can I just get standard M20B25 Piston Rings?

But can anyone confirm/back this up for me?

Also looking at somethine like this for Headgasket Set, i'm not good at knowing which parts I need to order, especially when the Car has been modified previously, I guess all I need to know is, is this suitable for use with the 731 Head?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30-325...s#ht_1426wt_849

Cheers

Edited August 15, 2009 by Charles28

[charles28 136]

2.7 conversion, ETA bottom end, 731 Head,323 Cam, 325 inlet manifold ported to match, running later engine management ,new cam belt, water pump, tensioner, spark plugs,

- 5 speed conversion

- Recaro seats just been retrimmed in BMW fabric

- Retrimmed headlining in black fabric

- 15" Cross spoke alloys

- lowered

- new clutch, lightened flywheel

- K & N filter

- extractors

- Nolathane engine mounts

- Alpina badges

- M gear knob

- chrome dumpy exhaust

Drives well, smokes under very hard acceleration, new rings would improve, but still goes hard, Compression test all 190 -195 psi, NO cracks in dash, slight kerbing to mags, recent paint touch up.

Note; Speedo in MILES

Found this old ad on trademe for the car when it was for sale November 08. so I have some more info on it.. shows that its had "manual conversion" was hoping it was a factory manual one, ohwell.. hopefully its still got the Getrag 260 box

[charles28 136]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.as...amp;permanent=0 so who thinks I should buy this?

[Guest FrantiC]

Essentially the same motor? Just would require abit of working making it fit into an e30, and it's a bone stock 2.7 too which is slow as heck.

[tire 10]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.as...amp;permanent=0 so who thinks I should buy this?

Bit overpriced. I have seen 24 valvers sell for that.

edit - I just saw it includes a manual conversion so its not that bad a price I guess. Could still b cheaper.

Edited August 25, 2009 by tastic

[charles28 136]

Essentially the same motor? Just would require abit of working making it fit into an e30, and it's a bone stock 2.7 too which is slow as heck.

I really only want the block, the gearbox etc I could re-sell or perhaps the seller will sell me the block only.

I can put my head etc on it, according to the guy i'm buying this car off it smokes if thrashed, but there's always a chance that this block won't solve this problem as it may be as worn as mine.

I guess I should just keep an eye out for a block only thats cheap and rebuild it whilst keeping the car on the road

[c.robertson00 11]

In the BMW engines ive pulled apart the bores are mint and still have hone marks on the bores. It will probably just need a set of rings thrown at it and bearings while your there too.

[charles28 136]

In the BMW engines ive pulled apart the bores are mint and still have hone marks on the bores. It will probably just need a set of rings thrown at it and bearings while your there too.

Yeah, that would be nice, it looks like I can get rings and bearings for a good price from Autohaus for $89 USD + shipping for the Rings, Main Bearings $92.99 + GST, connecting rod bearings $48.93 USD.

I finally pick the car up in 2 days.. hopefully its a fun driving back, weather could be bad though

[QuickSilver 0]

The 731 head doesn't have double valve springs, that's the 885 head. Also, I recommend picking up the new parts from, rings, bearings etc etc from our sponsor EuroItalian, great quality, and it will be cheaper.