77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

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canada karl
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77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

Post by canada karl »

How complicated would it be to swap a good motor (bad body) from a 530i into a 730i with a seized motor(good body)? in terms of ECU's and electrical harness's etc. I know it's kind of an odd thing to do but I have a very good M30 motor in the 530i and it would save a nice looking 730i from the wrecker. Any thoughts?
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
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Lock
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Re: 77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

Post by Lock »

From what I've read, they are an identical motor and transmission and all the parts including the ECU are the same. There might be small differences but not enough to matter, the 7-series is just a slightly bigger, slightly improved e12 5 series.

I don't know of the 730i being sold in the US, only the 733i and 735i - is this a Euro import, or Canada-spec model? My guess is the only differences regarding that would be emission controls, or lack of. Euro models with higher compression and no cats.

If you wanted to be 100% sure you could swap the ECUs and harness but I'd say if you check the stickers on them, I'd bet they are the same color and part #.

If either is an auto, they're all hydraulic as well with no electronics beyond reverse lights, starter Park/Neutral relay and gearshift indicator, so keep the best of the two transmissions.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
canada karl
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: 77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

Post by canada karl »

Thanks for the info. I made a mistake...it is actually a 733i i was talking about.
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
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Lock
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Re: 77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

Post by Lock »

No problems, in that case it would be a minor downgrade, 3.3 to 3.0 liter. As I understand the connecting rods are the same length in M30 motors, it's the wrist pin location in the pistons which is moved for the different stroke, but I could be wrong. In case you were thinking of swapping the crankshaft across.

The 3.0 and 3.3 liter blocks are the same 89mm bore, just different stroke 80mm vs 86mm so the external physical dimensions will be the same and in fact will have the same 3.0/3.3 stamped on the side of the block so if you installed it, it will look original at least.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
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528i-1981
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Re: 77 530i motor into a 77 730i ?

Post by 528i-1981 »

Lock wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2020 3:02 pm in fact will have the same 3.0/3.3 stamped on the side of the block so if you installed it, it will look original at least.
You can see for yourself in Mike (keenh)'s teardown photos.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
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