<![CDATA[New Member from Milwaukee]]>Relatively new to Wisconsin and planning a BMW build once I move to the burbs in June and get a garage. Looking for a clean manual E30, running or not, and preferably salvaged 540i and frankenstein them.

Anyway, I have a few months before I can buy the E30 shell or the 540 because living downtown means $100+ parking spaces so I am trying to be patient on those, but still keeping my eye out for a MIG/TIG welder, larger air compressor and related tools, bench grinder, toolbox, cherry picker, etc. It has been some time since I have owned a fun car so I am really looking forward to this build.

I only have my company car right now, but below are some of the toys I have owned over the years. I will keep everyone updated as I source the parts and maybe even find some on here. Looking forward to lurking and learning on here. Ohh and I saw a 6 cyl turbo E30 down by my house last summer. No hood with the exhaust coming straight up off the turbo. BAD ASS if you are on here.

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First car two cars were a turbo honda and a 67 mustang. Sold them to go to college.

Picked up a bike and a truck after I graduated and since I have had my company car I have been saving and looking for something to spark my interest. 

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/2408/new-member-from-milwaukeeRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:02:30 GMTFri, 14 Feb 2014 02:59:18 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sun, 27 Jul 2014 18:10:33 GMT]]>I have the ecu, all wiring, ews, etc from the E39. That seems like the easiest, cheapest, and most reliable way right now.

What spare are you asking about?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45502https://wibimmers.com/post/45502Sun, 27 Jul 2014 18:10:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sun, 27 Jul 2014 14:36:42 GMT]]>Honestly I would just do it the easy way a buy a standalone such as megasquirt 2 or 3 and wire it yourself without looking at any diagrams(nearly)

It's very easy to maintain all stock gauge cluster and such in an e30 with standalone.

How much for the spare?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45498https://wibimmers.com/post/45498Sun, 27 Jul 2014 14:36:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sat, 26 Jul 2014 18:37:43 GMT]]>It was a manual 4 cyl and I am keeping it manual.

I actually made a lot of progress yesterday. Pulled the brake booster off and am going to stop at speedy metals to buy a piece of square 5/8" tube to connect the brake pedal to its not mounting spot behind the front light.

A1 does not work on BMWs, but I found a thing online where you can cut and reweld a driveshaft so after I pull the motor, make sure the current driveshaft has the same footprint as the transmission end and measure I am going to cut and reweld it myself. 

I feel like the cleaning never ends as this has 23 years of grease and dirt, but I still can't believe how clean this thing is for being a midwest car.

jc - I will most likely need some wiring help. I was pretty impressed how easy the ECU and wiring came out of the M42 and am optimistic about getting the M62 wired in, but powering the right parts and getting the ECU to talk to the BCU is going to be a pain.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45481https://wibimmers.com/post/45481Sat, 26 Jul 2014 18:37:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:51:37 GMT]]>I forget whether your e30 was an auto trans?  If it was then you could splice into the start circuit where the starting relay is above your knees when sitting in the drivers seat.  If it was a manual then it goes straight from the key to the starter, not sure of the exact routing though, might be black w/ a yellow stripe IIRC, decent sized wire too, 14-12g.  Not sure how good with electrical diagrams you are but I can help if needed, I am an industrial I&E tech.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45464https://wibimmers.com/post/45464Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:51:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sat, 26 Jul 2014 08:38:27 GMT]]>I used to deal with them over 20 years ago quite often and they did good work then. They would be my first choice.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45460https://wibimmers.com/post/45460Sat, 26 Jul 2014 08:38:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Fri, 25 Jul 2014 22:26:26 GMT]]>Always hear good things about A1 Driveshaft but don't have experience with them. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fa1driveshaft.com%2F&ei=bdnSU4WUNcmWyASFnYG4BA&usg=AFQjCNE2ZyV6ylgEBZ9XFvyiJNb0lgppYQ&sig2=aRQe2LsEWZ8zYDN0imf1iA&bvm=bv.71778758,d.aWw

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45453https://wibimmers.com/post/45453Fri, 25 Jul 2014 22:26:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:57:27 GMT]]>Any local Milwaukee places that can shorten a driveshaft?
 

Anywhere outside of Milwaukee?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45443https://wibimmers.com/post/45443Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:57:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:56:14 GMT]]>147428304528755d7f86cz.jpg

Pulled the motor/trans/wiring and sold to a HipMF on here. Thanks again for stopping by!

I have the M62 motor and 6 speed trans on hand.

Still need to:

     Clean the engine bay

     Get the driveshaft shortened

     Decide if I am keeping the AC

     Remount the brake booster (apparently one of the hardest parts of the swap

     I sold the beige seats and bought some black ones which means I need to do the full black interior swap, but this is secondary since getting it running is priority #1

     Figure out how I am merging the E30 body control unit with the E39 ECU/EWS/BCU

          Wire the E39 EWS in line with the E30 ignition switch so it looks stock

     Decide if I am keeping the stock steering rack or going to a Z3 which most people do

     Probably changing up the rims

     Probably keeping the 4.10 since I decided to stick with the 6 speed instead of the 5

I keep getting surprised by how clean this car is though. I am thinking about getting the whole thing painted after the swap and keeping it for a while.

My current problem is the E39 I am 100% parting out is still in my garage and I need to clear it out so I can swap the 1998 motor while it is in the garage. I have had a lot of interest, but nobody has pulled the trigger. I am keeping it in there until the drivetrain is sold.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/45442https://wibimmers.com/post/45442Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:56:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Fri, 13 Jun 2014 03:10:59 GMT]]>Yep - bone stock other than the M60 intake which apparently helps with torque, powder coated valve covers, and a catch can. I have to look more closely, but there is at least a cat back on it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/43128https://wibimmers.com/post/43128Fri, 13 Jun 2014 03:10:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 23:59:25 GMT]]>What type of modifications were done to the TUB engine? Just the intake and valve cover powder coat?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/43117https://wibimmers.com/post/43117Thu, 12 Jun 2014 23:59:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 04:17:53 GMT]]>Well I decided not to us the M62TUB44. I will be parting out the entire 2000 540i/6 I have.

I picked up a 1998 540i/6 so I don't have to deal with all of the wiring.

My driveway is getting kinda of packed...

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/43043https://wibimmers.com/post/43043Thu, 12 Jun 2014 04:17:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Thu, 22 May 2014 20:29:16 GMT]]>I may be parting out the entire E39 so that I can get a pre 99 non vanos to make this whole swap easier.

Haven't decided yet, but if I do I will have a perfectly good M62tub44 and 6 speed for sale.

On that note if anyone comes across a pre 99 540i preferably e34 manual with decently low miles let me know - thanks.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41726https://wibimmers.com/post/41726Thu, 22 May 2014 20:29:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 19:45:07 GMT]]>http://www.bmw-planet.com/diagrams/release/us/

Try this for the e39 diagrams.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41653https://wibimmers.com/post/41653Wed, 21 May 2014 19:45:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 19:33:55 GMT]]>It cant be too hard if you have a full donor car.  Unless there are space limitations under the hood.  But it has been done before so it can be done again.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41652https://wibimmers.com/post/41652Wed, 21 May 2014 19:33:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 18:44:31 GMT]]>Wow that is overwhelming.

The 318is wiring is there, but still need the 2000 540i/6.

Everyone says this swap is near impossible, but I am leaning towards attempting (instead of buying a M60) because it would make it that much better to succeed.

Thanks JC43089!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41644https://wibimmers.com/post/41644Wed, 21 May 2014 18:44:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 16:51:07 GMT]]>http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

See if what you need is on here, these are all factory electrical manuals.  Very thorough.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41628https://wibimmers.com/post/41628Wed, 21 May 2014 16:51:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 14:30:30 GMT]]>It should be!

Does anyone know where to get comprehensive wiring schematics of each car?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41601https://wibimmers.com/post/41601Wed, 21 May 2014 14:30:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Wed, 21 May 2014 13:00:48 GMT]]>This will be a fun mutation when it is done.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41585https://wibimmers.com/post/41585Wed, 21 May 2014 13:00:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Mon, 19 May 2014 17:13:21 GMT]]>Nice find

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41451https://wibimmers.com/post/41451Mon, 19 May 2014 17:13:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Mon, 19 May 2014 15:16:47 GMT]]>Picked up an absolutely rust free 1991 318is 5 speed from out of town this weekend. Paint needs some attention and it needs a driver side front fender. Interior is pretty good though all things considered. Cant wait to start cleaning it up. 

Here is a pic with the 540 behind it.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/41438https://wibimmers.com/post/41438Mon, 19 May 2014 15:16:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:59:43 GMT]]>If I find a good deal on a 5 speed I will pick it up and sell the 6 speed. This will be a fun weekend/auto X car so I don't need the extra gear and it would be MUCH cheaper to go 5 speed.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37670https://wibimmers.com/post/37670Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:59:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:25:25 GMT]]>Nice find, Are you planning to keep the 6spd behind it in the e30?  Not only will it have ridiculous power, but good fuel economy besides lol.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37667https://wibimmers.com/post/37667Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:25:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sat, 22 Mar 2014 23:50:48 GMT]]>I dont know what happened to my intro pictures, but I do have a little update. I missed out an a clean E30 a few weeks back because of some bad timing, but did pick this up.

2000 540i 6 speed with a m5 interior swap, coil overs, rims, racing seats, and some light engine modifications. Car was rear ended so I got it for a pretty good deal considering all the parts included. Engine runs great, compression checked out, and the tranny shifts smooth.

Now I just need to find a clean E30...

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37662https://wibimmers.com/post/37662Sat, 22 Mar 2014 23:50:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to New Member from Milwaukee on Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:08:35 GMT]]>Thank you for the welcome. I am looking forward to the move. I've heard nothing but great things about Bayview and REALLY looking forward to having my own garage. It has been years since I have worked on a project car and there seems to be a great community behind this platform in case I run into any problems...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36108https://wibimmers.com/post/36108Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:08:35 GMT