bmwe21.net forums

Rav320uk wrote:Wrong,wrong,wrong.
Please don't put that Plastic engine in your car Mark.
If anything, M30 it, keep in times of the car.
IMO, these look totally wrong in the engine bay.

They LOOK wrong? Yeah Mark cancel your engine swap right now!

From what I've read Mark's engine will rape an M30 performance wise and it will be a lot lighter.

i think its a good idea to try and keep with the period look but as for engines anything bmw with a lot more power gets my vote!
If the car was gona be a toy to use when the mood takes you ,personaly i like the slammed wide bbs rs look with enough power to break traction even in forth gear

wiz0r wrote: From what I've read Mark's engine will rape an M30 performance wise and it will be a lot lighter.

?? how much power do these lump push out? also not forgetting you can get a lot more power from an m30..

I think rav forgot there's a few of us with m5x engines.

Tbh, I don't think I liked the plastic inlet or the cover either but it doesn't bother me tooo much, I could always make an alloy cover and get some inlet pipes made?

The m52b28 is 1kg more than an m20 and with a few simple additions 240hp is attainable.

It's a good idea to use this engine.

I believe I read Mark is looking for 240ish BHP with US M3 cams and an M50 2.5 inlet manifold. I can't think of any OEM bolt on swaps to get an M30 up to that level (short of a B10 engine), but I might be wrong? Let's not forget that the M52 is much lighter and gives better economy.

I'm not against M30s at all, I'm tempted to fit one into one of my other E21s as a quick and easy swap, I just find it hard to believe the M52 swap is being dismissed because of looks

nas80 wrote:Tbh, I don't think I liked the plastic inlet or the cover either but it doesn't bother me tooo much, I could always make an alloy cover and get some inlet pipes made?

I think they look great! (Please excuse the mess in my engine bay, I promise it's not as bad these days )

Yea man - I went to from Leeds to bristol - I got 40mpg at 80-85 ish, then from bristol to polperro / cornwall I hit an average of 32mpg, but I wasnt going less than 95 on the m5 and there are hills n twists when u get into cornwall

Mark will have -

E21 m30 (twr)
E21 m20 (track car)
E21 m52b28 (daily)

essentially all bases covered, n I'm kinda jealous of his e21 selection actually.

Lol yes don't look too bad, from the other side either.

MIB is my everyday car and so reliability & good mileage are an added bonus. Apart from that, the only ''original'' part of my car is the glass, the brake servo and some pipes, clips and wiring.

The next step on the m20 would be engine management & mapping - not cheap! Turbo or supercharger? Also not cheap. It's an ongoing thing and I like modding MIB. Otherwise, I would just buy a modern BMW and wash it on Sundays. I'm do know that I'm very lucky to have the TWR to keep as a ''period'' car and after yesterday, I will be selling a kidney to enable me to keep the track car. I do take the point about the m20 though. It does suit the character of the e21 and sounds great too! If I were going to keep it m20 powered I would go for triple 45's and bin the Motronic though personally. I'm middle aged and carbs are my era.

The m30 in the TWR should make about 250bhp. It came from TWR with a 240 spec engine and I have now fitted bigger e34 inlet valves and a 6 branch. I'm also going with L-jet as opposed to K and a group A ecu chip. I've also got an M5 clutch and flyweel. I reckon were I to fit triple 45's or 48's, I might even get a bit more?

nas80 wrote:Yea man - I went to from Leeds to bristol - I got 40mpg at 80-85 ish, then from bristol to polperro / cornwall I hit an average of 32mpg, but I wasnt going less than 95 on the m5 and there are hills n twists when u get into cornwall
Mark will have -
E21 m30 (twr)
E21 m20 (track car)
E21 m52b28 (daily)
essentially all bases covered, n I'm kinda jealous of his e21 selection actually.

now seeing it put like that.. a full tank on mine only gave me 172 miles at under 3,000rpm when petrol prices hadnt started to climb into space , and it does weigh a fare bit up front..... also the kudos of having 3 very cool E21's with 3 differnt power plants sounds like the best of all worlds. one for road/show use, one for a daliy driver, one for track days , all quicker than most new cars.
Mark you seem to have a lot going on at the mo.. respect is due...

I put MIB away today and won't be using it again till it goes up to Sheffield for the M52 conversion. I'll miss not having an e21 to smoke around in.

Nas was good enough to let me have a go in his car yesterday and the M52 2.5 was way smoother and faster than my m20 2.7. The difference is unreal. With a 2.8 and an extra 30+ bhp it'll be an animal.

I've started gather the bits I need together and the 2.5 inlet manifold & TB was waiting on the step when I got home yesterday. I am going to order the alloy rad next week.

sheffield? where's it being done?

Nas.

oh cool, nas is doing it? he'll do a top job, he is a craftsman!

Take one 328 coupe...



One owner with a nice tight 2.8 fitted under warranty after the old Nikalsil lump threw the towel in. Am gonna break the rest if anyone's interested?