E28 M30 motor

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canada karl
Posts: 1058
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

E28 M30 motor

Post by canada karl »

Other than the Motronic system is this basically the same block as the 530i or different in some respects? Could the block be used in the E12?
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
gmonsen
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2021 1:06 pm

Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by gmonsen »

If this is a US 2.8 motor, it should have slightly higher compression (9.3:1) than the 3.0 (8:1).
canada karl
Posts: 1058
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by canada karl »

and a bit lower HP?
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
gmonsen
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2021 1:06 pm

Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by gmonsen »

I think it made perhaps 8 bhp more than the 530i 3.0 liter.
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Robert Bondi
Posts: 338
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:33 am
Location: Austin, TX

Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by Robert Bondi »

Yes, you can use the block. From the E28, you're basically looking at either the M30B32 or M30B34 from memory, corresponding to the 533i and 535i, respectively. Things get a little weird with the E34/E32 M30B35, notably you'd need
an adapter motor mount bracket for at least one side.

One minor unexpected difference is the coolant fitting that feeds your throttle body to warm it up is not tapped and
threaded and available on the M30B34. I wanted to keep that function, see I tee'd the heater core input hose from the back of the cylinder head to substitute this same function.

The M30B34 has a little more HP, but a lot more torque than the M30B30 3.0L as I recall. Compression is a little different too.
Robert
77 530i
77 Euro 528
garyinwestoz
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Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by garyinwestoz »

in 2007, in my 77 528i, I swapped my original motor to one out an E28 which came with a 5 speed sport gearbox - stupidly I gave that gearbox away! :evil: I reget doing that.

Anyway once installed this motor was a rocket - I reckon it has a non standard cam - has a lopey idle - gees with the 4 speed box its quick!

All I had to do was swap over the engine mounts, sump, power steering pump brackets, air con brackets, injection system, exhaust manifolds and think maybe the water pump. I might have also had an issue with the rear heater pipes - cant remember. I think I also changed over the clutch.

Then I put it all in the car.

BTW I did the remove from underneath installation - which was mostly okay - took quite a while to line up the 4 x cross member to chassi bolts. - hardest part was reinstalling the air con.

some photos

the engine as purchased ( form a car that had an accident)
Image

Image

removing engine and trans from underneath
Image

comparing old (sans cracked head) and new engine E28 motronic

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putting new combination back in

Image
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
canada karl
Posts: 1058
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: E28 M30 motor

Post by canada karl »

Thanks for the info. 8)
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
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