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Hello folks,

I'm thinking of buying a cheap run around BMW 5 or 7 series, with a kind of ulterior motive to stuff the engine into a future project at some time!

Considering I couldn't joing bimmeroforums.co.uk E32 section, I was wondering if anyone had any experience of these cars/engines.

I have seen a 1993 740i for £900 with lowish miles.

My questions are

- Are these good engines? (I heard one review back in the day saying that the performance wasn't far of an m5s) and how do they compare to the straight sixes for performance and reliabilty?

- Which one is deemed better out of them? specifically the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 variants.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

caveat Nikosyl bore linings

pse forgive my spelling?
IMO better off with a SBC
small block Chev)

Nikasil is an issue, especially in the UK and the M60 is pretty infamous for that, but don't ask me for the background. Apart from that M60's are strong engines with loads of bottom end torque, only thing to look out for are oil pump bolts running loose but that's an easy check. Have compared the M60B40 in a 540i manual (6 speed) with 3.6 litre M5's (S38B36) and the difference is minimal.

Wouldn't consider a M60B30 though, if a little less power is ok with you and fuel economy counts, go for a late M30B35.

thanks for correcting my spelling!

luckily I am just an enthusiast here (rather than secretary ) so my spellchecker lies dormant at times!

useful background info and engine series affected here:
http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/engines/nikasil.htm

Thanks a lot gents - going to do my research on the m30b35. I'm looking at this one and thinking mmmmm

http://autotrader.co.uk/classified/adve ... ?logcode=p

this one on ebay originally got me thinking of how cheap these cars are, less than the price of a mountain bike!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-BMW-740i ... 500wt_1156

Not sure of the Nikasil issues with either, but will do my research, unless anyone has an idea about the cars I've posted.

I've had several E32 M30 735i, one auto, one manual. Fantastic engines and I'm currently fitting one into my E30 touring. I was getting around 22mpg normal driving, on an interupted 200mile drive from Suffolk to Stoke on Trent with the auto I managed 30mpg at 80mph with cruise on all the way. They are effortless mile munchers, if you can stand the economy!! I sold both of these and I've now got an E23 728i manual M30 project off Mark.

I've also got an E34 M60 530i manual, I used this for about 3 months this year, I've still got it laying around waiting for me to break. I also thought this was a really good car and engine, I think the V8s are slightly more economical than the M30s due to being more efficient and a newer design. Either way you don't buy these cars and quibble about 1-2mpg difference! The V8 loved to rev whereas the M30 is a bit more lazy, but out of experience I would find it hard to choose the M30B35 over the M60B30 and vice versa, I would buy what ever one offered best value for money/condition. But obviously the M60B40 is another animal with close to 300bhp! Nikasil issues are now cited as "it would of gone wrong by now", I never even consider it TBH.

I'd prefer the E32 over the E38, they are more retro and share loads of bits with E34s so parts are very common. You can also get the E32 in M30 or M60 flavour

Never had any issue with them and if there was a bore wear issue the engine would be fubar by now.

You want the 4.4 m62 non vanos, my mate jeek runs one in the british drift championship, bounces of the limiter all day long and never a failure in 2 years of abuse.

Only down side is the cost of manual boxes (still cheaper than a e30 m3 box though) and Jeek jsut happens to be fraging a m62 six speed manual.

Wow - thanks again Rob, Jason - some food for thought again. I was dead set on a 4.0 V8, except I guess I am keeping one eye on economy (I doubt there is much of a difference between a 3.5 and a 4.0?) Also to be honest I want to put the engine into an E3 eventually. As much as I like a retro M5 rival , is it really a good idea to have almost 300 bhp in such an old car? Or is the 3.5 a better all round compromise?

I therefore have a shortlist of three at the moment

this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-735I-3-5L ... 198wt_1156

this one http://autotrader.co.uk/classified/adve ... ?logcode=p

and this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 500wt_1156

thanks again

Are you talking about the 3.5 V8 or M30 or both? A V8 E3 would be the nuts but an M30 would be 10x easier, that said I'm pretty sure the E3 M30 engine mounts aren't compatible with the later M30 engines, still easier than a V8!

People often say the bigger engines are at least the same economy as it takes less effort to get up to speed?

Hi Rob, the M30's a 6 cylinder? If so I'd be more interested in a V8. M60? just need to decide between a 3.5 or 4.0 now

No replacement for displacement, the little difference in cost or fuel consumption

Jason_323i wrote:No replacement for displacement, the little difference in cost or fuel consumption

Yeah I guess fuel consumption is a bit neither hear nor there - is it wise though to have such a powerful engine in a 40 year old car? I'm not saying the 3.5 won't need the rest of the car upgrading, but perhaps not quite as involved?

Well I've gone and done it. Still a little shell shocked, but it's driving for now!



84 735i Auto, 12Months MOT., 6 months tax. Brakes aren't too clever and it needs a new alternator. Oh and I'm in Putney and need to get back to Manchester tonight. Should be interesting!

Sweeettttttt