I want to swap my M10 motor.

[Pablohas a e30]

I want to swap my M10 motor for a different one.

I have a 84' 318i. Sadly the engine's about ready to go. Can any one tell me what motor I can tune up performance wise and drop in the car. Preferably a four banger DOC 16V.

And for those of you who say, "Why don't you buy another car". I'm buying a 90'325is, I'm giving the car to my nephew and were gonna fix it up. [bmwdance]

 

[bmw046series]

How many miles are on it?

 

[Pablohas a e30]

265,000

 

[Cracky]

personally, if you were going to go through all the trouble to put in a new engine, i would put a m50 in there, there pretty affordable and have a lot of opportunity for more power, my friend has one in his 87 325...im not sure if its the e or i that has it, (he has 3 e30's) and its really quick, anyways, it is a 6 cylinder, same engine that comes out of e36 325's, but if your really opposed to putting a 6 in you could do a m42 which has like 130hp or something close to that

 

[Pablohas a e30]

I don't want my nephew to have alot of horse power to play with. He's young.

 

[epj3]

Only 4 cyl 16v motors to the USA were the M42 and S14.

M42 (Late e30 318is and early e36 318i's)

* Straight 4 cylinder DOHC 16V. 1989-1996. 100kg 220lbs
* Used in E30 and E36 318is
* 1.8 (138-142bhp)

S14 (E30 M3)

* Straight 4 DOHC 16V Solid Lifter Valvetrain and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1987-1991. 106kg 234lbs
* Used in the E30 M3 and Italian only E30 320is
* 2.0L (195bhp) 2.3L (192-200bhp), 2.5L (215-238bhp)

And by the way, the M20 (the 325i motor) doesn't have much power anyways. I would probably tune up a 6 and drop it in.

 

[Pablohas a e30]

Thanks. So what could I do to the 325is that I'm gonna buy. I want it to have some go. I was thinking about dropping a performance engine that has a five year warranty, and putting a small turbo on it.70-80HP gain. I'm also thinking about swapping the Diff.

 

[ldzpstnr]

For the 318i I say put either an M42 four cylinder into it, or a 84-87 325e ETA engine. That is if you dont want your nephew having to much power. I think all the 325i's are pretty quick cars, definetly faster then my 325 with the ETA motor. I recommend the ETA because its a hell of a reliable motor, has decent power, and will get good gas mileage.... well not 40 mph or anything, but good for a 6 cylinder car. My ETA gets 33-35 on the highway. But if you put the ETA in you would have to change the Differential, the 2.7 ETA's all had low gear ratios compared to the (i) cars.

You have a lot of options for the 325is. Turbo, newer motor out of the e36, maybe using an m30 engine out of a 5 series. All depends on how much money you want to spend. Turbo would probably be the most expensive, while an engine swap with a newer motor might be a little cheaper. Eventually I will do a motor swap in my 325. I am going with either an M50 or an M30.

You got choices, look some specs up online for the different motors. later.

 

[epj3]

For the 318i I say put either an M42 four cylinder into it, or a 84-87 325e ETA engine. That is if you dont want your nephew having to much power. I think all the 325i's are pretty quick cars, definetly faster then my 325 with the ETA motor. I recommend the ETA because its a hell of a reliable motor, has decent power, and will get good gas mileage.... well not 40 mph or anything, but good for a 6 cylinder car. My ETA gets 33-35 on the highway. But if you put the ETA in you would have to change the Differential, the 2.7 ETA's all had low gear ratios compared to the (i) cars.

You have a lot of options for the 325is. Turbo, newer motor out of the e36, maybe using an m30 engine out of a 5 series. All depends on how much money you want to spend. Turbo would probably be the most expensive, while an engine swap with a newer motor might be a little cheaper. Eventually I will do a motor swap in my 325. I am going with either an M50 or an M30.

You got choices, look some specs up online for the different motors. later.

Unless he can fabricate engine mounts and etc. himself, the turbo would be the absolute cheapest. I know more than a few guys who've done sub-$800 turbo setups.

 

[Pablohas a e30]

I was gonna drop a performance 325i engine from Bavengine.com and the turbo is a straight bolt on, No internal mods needed. on the 325is

On the 318i, the head lamps keep turning off on me when I'm driving. Is it the switch? It turns back on when I turn the knob.

 

[epj3]

I was gonna drop a performance 325i engine from Bavengine.com and the turbo is a straight bolt on, No internal mods needed. on the 325is

On the 318i, the head lamps keep turning off on me when I'm driving. Is it the switch? It turns back on when I turn the knob.

Bad relay

 

[Pablohas a e30]

How much to fix?

 

[Pablohas a e30]

Looked in the Chilton. Do you know which relay it is. Thanks for the help/ Much appreciated.

 

[epj3]

Looked in the Chilton. Do you know which relay it is. Thanks for the help/ Much appreciated.

Chilton manual for an E30 is about as useful as a 1983 chrysler lebaron chilton is for a 2005 M5.

Buy yourself a REAL manual - a bently. It's the ABSOLUTE best $35 you'll EVER spend on your car.

I don't have my E30's bently anymore - but I'm sure someone else knows the position of the fuse. I would guess in the fuse box, or under the rear seat.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I don't have my E30's bently anymore - but I'm sure someone else knows the position of the fuse. I would guess in the fuse box, or under the rear seat.

Eric! Oh, how driving an E34 has dulled your mind!!! Surely you remember that there are no relays under the rear seat of an E30. Man, you really need to get out of that old fart mobile before you forget how to work on real cars!

My Bentley says that the low beam relay is the one in the rear most position on the engine side of the underhood fusebox. The high beam relay is the one in front of it. The fog light relay is the rear most relay on the passenger side of the fusebox.

 

[epj3]

Eric! Oh, how driving an E34 has dulled your mind!!! Surely you remember that there are no relays under the rear seat of an E30. Man, you really need to get out of that old fart mobile before you forget how to work on real cars!

My Bentley says that the low beam relay is the one in the rear most position on the engine side of the underhood fusebox. The high beam relay is the one in front of it. The fog light relay is the rear most relay on the passenger side of the fusebox.

Hey I resent the old fart comment!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pablohas a e30]

hahaha. I raised my brow when I read about the fuse box under the rear seat. Thanks

 

[epj3]

hahaha. I raised my brow when I read about the fuse box under the rear seat. Thanks

Seeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!1 (Much much much cleaner than that now...that pic was only a few weeks after I bought the car and as you can see, there was snow on the ground!)


HEY JUSTIN THE E34 IS A PLEASURE TO WORK ON. THE E30 WAS LIKE TRYING TO SHOVE RUSTY BOLTS IN MY TEAR DUCTS.

 

[Pablohas a e30]

Damn theres a battery under there too. That I did not know.

Since I'm here. My reverse lights don't turn on, could that be a relay?

 

[Pablohas a e30]

Oh yeah. got another question. I already did a full service on my car. One thing I havent done, ever, is a tranny fluid change, or a Diff fluid change. I looked under my car and it has no color coded tag, and it has a internal allen head, so that means it takes 80W GL-40 right. Does redline make it and does the Diff take the same fluid?

Thanks. You guys rock.