bmwe21.net forums

hi guys, my car is a 320/6 baur 1980, and i have been offered a 1990 e34 525 m20 which is rough, but a good engine.

would it be worth buying to carry out an engine swap in to the e21? would i need anything else extra, and would the 5sp box from the e34 fit the e21, as mine is a 4sp.

advise guys asap as the car is going to scrap in two days!!

pete

Yes, engine is ideal. Really you want a 323 manual box though as you'll need the speedo drive.

mm, i could just retain the 4sp for now, i thing i could also use the headlights from the e34 with a bit of fiddling, as 2 of mine are shot. bet the front seats are to wide for the e21? it could yeild a whole host of usefull bits

Id say no. the smallest size engine you need is a 2.5 the 2.0 has only 150hp and engine weighs lots. its not a straight forward swap so be wise before you shell out.

The 5 series seats won't go without lots and lots of modifying mate and they are also v.heavy . i had a good look at this myself .

u can't use the box from the 5 series unless you use an electric pulse type speedo. but even then your unmodified sump will hang very low.

Wtf just noticed your talking about an m20 should be fine but still going to all that trouble u may as well go 2.5 m20

Doesn't sound too bad and with a complete car you can also use the wiring loom. If you're not a total originality freak it sounds pretty good to me with added horses.. not the 143 HP of a 323i but even 170 and more torque...

Nas he's talking about a 2.5.

yea its deffo a m20 2.5 in the possible donor car Nas. just debating the issue with myself it seems like a good idea, but as jeroen says its 170 bhp, this then means:

1 - bigger brakes needed?
2 - will the 4sp box take the extra power ?
3 - replacement fuel pump (not sure if the e34 pump will suit)
4 - fair bit of wiring to do

the e34 would only cost me £150, but with all the other bits and bobs its going to push rebuild budget up even further. I might be better sticking to the 2.0ltr for now until its back on the road and look at it again in a year or so when i feel the need. I know that the 2.0ltr is smoking a little, but it has stood for 7yrs, andi think its just stem seals, which isnt a major expense (diy).

i swear im losing it. i forgot the e34 came with m20s as well.

I think i need a nice long holiday straight after Ramadan finishes.

in my defense the thing about the seat being a mission to fit is still true.

The brakes will be ok and so will the gearbox but noisy on motorway

Fuel pump you just need a 318i e30 pump.

Brakes hmm does the 320/6 have vented disks?!

The conversion is something u can do anytime. id concentrate on getting the car back on road

ha ha, the e34 had the m20 till about '92 i think, i thought the seats might of been a nightmare issue, so thanks for that.

and the 320/6 runs solid front disks.

i think ill go with you thought there Naz and get the car on the road first, wait a bit, get bored with the 2.0 and then think about it.
the e34 come up on the off chance and my imagination ran wild!! at the moment even the mot seems a long way off, but at least i have finish welding one side of the car now, (if you ignore the rusty door!!)