<![CDATA[E30 Swap Content]]>So I've been busy doing some swapping the last couple years and thought I should share what I've been up to. I currently have 2 e30s, red s52 supercharged and blue m50nv(sold).

I picked up an s54 with a 420g(6speed) that has a hole in the block. The head and cylinder are destroyed from what looks like a piston going through an industrial ninja mixer. The flywheel was a bonus, lightweight with new sachs clutch kit.

I found a good cylinder head. I also picked up a mystery block that supposedly had 80k miles on it. Sure enough after disassembly, it looks as though it did. I cleaned everything up and am currently waiting for some new rings and rod bearings.

My goal is to sell the s52, zf310(lightweight flywheel, act clutch)supercharger kit, and mspnp to swap in an s54 turbo. (Sold)

For the s54, I'm going to use arp head studs and the oe mls gasket. The rod bearings are ACL. I'll be opening up the ring gap a little bit as well. Any input is great. I'm deciding what kit or parts to use for this build, as well as a hp goal. Definitely want to go turbo, more tq.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/6076/e30-swap-contentRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 05:45:08 GMTWed, 05 Aug 2020 02:14:11 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 12 Dec 2020 06:14:08 GMT]]>@HipMF

You're right, those are too restrictive. It would essentially make my engine run like it has a choke on all the time. I removed the info/pics on the post.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108384https://wibimmers.com/post/108384Sat, 12 Dec 2020 06:14:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 12 Dec 2020 03:54:22 GMT]]>

need4speed1299 said:

I got more creative and used stainless steel sink strainers to keep big things from getting sucked in the engine.

Motorcycle guys used to call them "bird strainers" back in the day. The engineer in me feels they'd function better on inlet side of the stack where air velocity would be lower though...

https://www.mcmaster.com/mesh/stainless-steel-wire-cloth-9/

Browsing around a bit, it looks like the "open area" on a mesh like that is maybe 50-60%? All the effort of going through the swap is going to be a bit disappointing if you're limited to the equivalent of 50-60% throttle opening.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108382https://wibimmers.com/post/108382Sat, 12 Dec 2020 03:54:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 12 Dec 2020 02:06:35 GMT]]>

YoungCR said:

The E46 tach is the same size? That's cool. My OCD wants the gauge faces to match though...

It's an e30 cluster and tach. The mismatch makes that rev range pop lol.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108381https://wibimmers.com/post/108381Sat, 12 Dec 2020 02:06:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 12 Dec 2020 01:22:26 GMT]]>I installed the velocity stacks from the s54 manifold. I need to build a catch can next. The oil pan on these engines offers a drain for the oil, allowing a maintenance free setup. 

With the possibility of snow tonight, the roads may get salted. Needless to say, I wont have the e30 back out until spring. 

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108379https://wibimmers.com/post/108379Sat, 12 Dec 2020 01:22:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sun, 01 Nov 2020 04:12:09 GMT]]>The E46 tach is the same size? That's cool. My OCD wants the gauge faces to match though...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108019https://wibimmers.com/post/108019Sun, 01 Nov 2020 04:12:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 31 Oct 2020 21:44:31 GMT]]>I successfully seated the piston rings last weekend. The engine sounds amazing. I installed my s54 swap cluster from "e30 clusters" on Facebook. They did an awesome job. I installed a check engine light and hooked up the oil temp sensors.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/108011https://wibimmers.com/post/108011Sat, 31 Oct 2020 21:44:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 14 Oct 2020 17:27:59 GMT]]>It isn't WIBIMMERS official until the compression test happens

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107842https://wibimmers.com/post/107842Wed, 14 Oct 2020 17:27:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 14 Oct 2020 17:18:47 GMT]]>Engine in the car just in time for Halloween. Good to see things are getting back to normal around here!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107841https://wibimmers.com/post/107841Wed, 14 Oct 2020 17:18:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:42:53 GMT]]>E28 m5 motor mounts, I spaced up the drivers side. Underdrive pulleys. I need to hook up the power steering lines and a handful of other things.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107840https://wibimmers.com/post/107840Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:42:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:31:01 GMT]]>I've made a lot of progress since my last post. I ended up replacing the oil pump with a new unit. I got my oil pan and subframe back from Bayside Fabrication(Ben Sipson). I wired in the CAN module from gpetersen(r3v). I built a steering shaft using 2 e46 knuckles. I found a 3turn 712 zhp rack at a junkyard, e36 outer and e46 inner tie rods. I had to extend a few harness to fit into the glovebox, lots of soldering. I'll need to tuck the wiring. My DME came back from Kassell. I ended up having an H bridge installed in an mss54hp, MAP sensor, and csl tune. I used ecuworx for the swap coding. I went with the e46 m3 driveshaft and e30 CSB. 1 1/8" was removed from the front and I installed a 4 bolt e36 flange on the rear(32") for an overall length of 1374mm with the guibo. The shifter is an ebay AC Shnitzer euro e36 m3 6 speed spin off. I shortened the dssr to 109mm. I used a premade s54 3" exhaust adapter and it just so happened to bolt right up to the rest of my exhaust. I modified the airbox to clear the booster. I installed the fuel pump and FPR with some fresh fuel line clamps. The oil cooler AN lines are done. I briefly started the engine and it runs good! I need to finish up the cooling system and break in the rings/hone before running the engine anymore.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107839https://wibimmers.com/post/107839Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:31:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sun, 27 Sep 2020 02:20:20 GMT]]>

need4speed1299 said:

Decided to paint the block white.

KaiserRolls said:

White block, I see you like to live dangerously lol

Oh man, don't get me started on white engines... I love seeing when people go 100% OCD and spend hours smoothing out the casting and then spray the block pearl/metallic white. Not that I have the ambition for that kind of stuff. I also considered painting my block white, but then Ben talked me out of it. To make up for it, I cleaned the hell out of all of the aluminum castings and then just left them bare, uncoated metal. Shiny stuff is nice, but the patina that comes with age and use can be nice too.

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B C said:

Clever oil cooler mounting.

What is the plan for the tune? Remote dyno tune or an off the shelf tune?

I sent my DME to Kassel Performance for a full CSL hardware/firmware conversion. They have awesome products and customer service. The cat cams have the same duration as CSL, but more lift. I'll also be running a CSL MAP sensor from them.

https://www.kasselperformance.com/product/mss54-mss54hp-full-csl-hardwarefirmware-conversion/

I built a flash harness and can do some adjustments as needed, as well.

https://github.com/saildot4k/MSS54-XDFs

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107652https://wibimmers.com/post/107652Sat, 26 Sep 2020 16:22:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 26 Sep 2020 10:43:40 GMT]]>Clever oil cooler mounting.

What is the plan for the tune? Remote dyno tune or an off the shelf tune?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107651https://wibimmers.com/post/107651Sat, 26 Sep 2020 10:43:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 26 Sep 2020 04:09:37 GMT]]>The steel breaded AN hose is a challenge to work with, very tight. The setup fits on the original condenser mounting points, no modification to the radiator support or valance.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107650https://wibimmers.com/post/107650Sat, 26 Sep 2020 04:09:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Sat, 26 Sep 2020 02:43:17 GMT]]>Alright I made some progress on the engine! Rings, rod bearings, and bottom end. Head gasket with ARP. I installed the 288/280 cams and vanos. New oil pump is on. I also ceramic coated and wrapped the headers. I found a spot on the block the e30 cluster temp sensor screws right into, I'll see how it goes(may read too hot?). I have the adapter harness ready to install, as well, with a CAN module. I'm setting up my oil coolers in front of the condenser fan with some brackets. 2x 10 row coolers linked together. I'll also be running a puller on the radiator.

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m42b32 said:

Very interested in these, but couldn't find much info. Do you need to use different output flanges in the differential too? 

Here's a link to their site.

https://www.born2drift.co.uk/shop/bmw/bmw-e30/rear-axle-shaft-adapters-bmw-e30/

I do not recall if I had to use e36 output flanges or not. Regardless, they held up very well. The inner cv is much larger.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107584https://wibimmers.com/post/107584Fri, 18 Sep 2020 02:48:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:56:03 GMT]]>White block, I see you like to live dangerously lol

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need4speed1299 said:

born2drift axle adapters

Very interested in these, but couldn't find much info. Do you need to use different output flanges in the differential too?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107571https://wibimmers.com/post/107571Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:30:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:51:10 GMT]]>Im currently in the process of getting all the parts together. Decided to paint the block white. I'll be going NA, power goal of 350whp with cams/intake/pulleys/exhaust/tune. I went with megan racing headers and a vac single collector. I'll be running AC through a CAN module. Pusher and puller fan setup. Dual sump pan. ZHP rack, born2drift axle adapters, garagistic secondary diff mount. I'll post more as I go.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107568https://wibimmers.com/post/107568Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:51:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:50:08 GMT]]>I've decided to put the s54 in the red e30 and sell the entire powertrain. I love e30s 😁. I am at a standstill until the new piston rings come in from the UK. The ACL bearings came today, woohoo!

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107115https://wibimmers.com/post/107115Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:50:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:41:51 GMT]]>

SteelBlue said:

Is that a euro bumper on the red car?

Yes, I bought it from a guy in Poland and color matched it, brilliantrot.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107067https://wibimmers.com/post/107067Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:41:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Thu, 06 Aug 2020 19:06:39 GMT]]>Is that a euro bumper on the red car?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107064https://wibimmers.com/post/107064Thu, 06 Aug 2020 19:06:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:35:55 GMT]]>I'll check it out. The m54 transplant has some similarities.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/107056https://wibimmers.com/post/107056Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:35:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Swap Content on Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:22:56 GMT]]>

YoungCR said:

*Brian. I think we’ve had a few user name changes each haha. 
 

Welcome back, cool projects! I tend to agree that the S54 would be more suitable in a E36 as well. @m42b32 has a M54 swap E30 if you haven’t seen his thread.

Hey that's me! I would agree that the s54 is better suited in an e36 too, probably one of the best engines you could put in that chassis. I'm a little biased, but the M54B30 is pretty great in an e30 haha.

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