Help! What starter for M52 swap

[steve5134]

Hi all - thanks in advance for any help as I'm lost at the moment.

So I'm putting an M52 2.8 into my 316.

I've got a E36 M52 engine, an E21 323 clutch, flywheel and 5 speed box looks like it should all bolt into place but what starter motor should I be using??
It looks like the M52 starter wont match the E21 323 flywheel would a E30 item fit?? What have others used...

Thanks

[steve5134]

I think I need a BMW e30 318i starter... Can anyone confirm if that sounds right pretty please

[Jeroen]

The early E30 320i and 323i use the same flywheel as the E21 323i but use a different starter, perhaps that one fits?

[steve5134]

Thanks for reply Jeroen. I haven't tried a E21 323 starter as I assumed it wouldn't fit onto the M52 engine but maybe give it a go if I can get one...

I'm assuming I'm doing the right thing by using the e21 323 flywheel that came with the gearbox

[steve5134]

Soooo I found that Nas used a starter from a early e34 535i with a manual box ( M20 ) when doing Marks original mib

I'll give this a go and see if it works

[nas80]

lol how did you find this info out? man there must have been some pretty long reading or clever searching!

i did use a m20 e30 starter, you cant use the e21 one as its far too chucky and big.

have you changed the spigot bearing for the gearbox? you need to fit the m20 spigot into the end of the crank on the m52 otherwise your gearbox bearings dont last long.

[steve5134]

Hi Nas, it was luck when searching

Yes I've changed the spigot bearing.

The E30 starter I purchased should be coming Monday so will start putting the engine in on Tuesday

[Moutinho]

i´m also thinking of doing the m52b28 swap on my 320/6, i´m going to use my 5 speed gearbox and i guess my starter should fit... keep us updated with the swap... if you are recording the swap, please give me the link!

[steve5134]

I'll do some pics and add them to my thread, but very much learning as I go.

From a glance the E21 323 starter is too bulky to fit so the E30 M20 (325i) starter seems to be the one to use but maybe someone has used the 323 e21 starter on there conversion

[Moutinho]

where is your thread?

[mcjjordan]

I used the m20 starter. Had to remove a few fins from the block