My neighbor has a 1984 euro 528i with an M30 swap. The thing halls. I was just wondering how hard the swap is becuase he bought the car after the swap was completed. Thanks.


oh another cool thing about his car...it has a dog leg transmission where 1st gear is where 2nd usually is and 2nd where 3rd etc.

all swaps are hard, but the engine bay is the same size, so its not as hard, m30 is a big engine

would i need to use an e28 M30?? because i have a M30 from a '90 535iM and also a trans.

Ecu and harness and you're set. The e34 M30 is actually a better choice since the compression is higher and the engine management is updated. DO IT!. And if you get stuck, there are a couple of guys on mye28.com that have done the swap.

yeah I'm not sure when/if i will get it. I'm just trying to find some good ideas for low $$. I'm also looking at a 325es and thinking about dropping in a 328is motor into it.

would i need to use an e28 M30?? because i have a M30 from a '90 535iM and also a trans.
a m30 is a m30

Yes but there are different versions. I was just checkin reguarding ecu and drivetrain stuff

yeah I'm not sure when/if i will get it. I'm just trying to find some good ideas for low $$. I'm also looking at a 325es and thinking about dropping in a 328is motor into it.

Have fun converting OBD-II to OBD-I.

If you're serious about an E30, Matt swapped an M50 into his E30.

COnverting an M52 to OBD1 is easy.

And a Euro 528i had an M30.. assuming it's the non-cat version they have about the same power as a US-Spec 535i of the same vintage.

a m30 is a m30

No it's not, the M30B34 (E28 motor) is not the same as the M30B35 (E34 motor). Of course, each motor was used for more than one car, but we're just talking 5ers here, so I just listed their corresponding "E" codes.

go for it!