I am buying an '82 320i that is having some troubles with the electronic ignition. So I'm wondering if worst comes to worst, can I just simply swap in a set of points for a 78-79 model with points ignition? Or do I need the whole distributor, and would it bolt in?

No, no, and no. The two distributors turn in opposite directions. No interchangability.

No, no, and no. The two distributors turn in opposite directions. No interchangability.

hmm... So what is different to make them turn the opposite direction, just the gears? Could you take the distributor gear off a new style distributor on put it on the shaft of the older style?

(sorry, I've never worked on an m10!)

Yes, but don't forget to replace the camshaft as well.

The distributor on an m10 is driven off the cam right?

The points distributor will work if you change to an early cam with the correct gear drive on the rear.

If you change the drive gear on an early distributor to the late distributor drive gear it MAY work but it will be rotating backwards to the way it was designed to rotate-the points may not like that arrangement. I don't know of anyone that has done that so give it a try and let us know how it works.

ken

I wonder if I could swap the distributor gear and use the points distributor, then put in one of these http://hot-spark.com/ An electronic trigger shouldn't care which way it spins. Really I just want to elliminate the stock ignition modual while giving me a way to adjust timing.

Also are the m10 points distributors vacume or machanical advance?

I don't know of anyone that has done that so give it a try and let us know how it works.

I've done it and it runs great. the hardest part is getting the gear off the bottom of the distributor. once you get that done, it's easy as pie.
Jake

The centrifugal advance won't work if you turn it backwards. What is so dang scary about the stock ignition? It is 100's of times better than points. And if you think the timing is not adjustable you need some more time under the hood. (ie: it is adjustable)

What is so dang scary about the stock ignition? It is 100's of times better than points. And if you think the timing is not adjustable you need some more time under the hood. (ie: it is adjustable)

Oh! I didn't know that! I've never worked on or even been under the hood of an m10 in my life so I assumed the timing on the electronic controlled ones was non adjustable like an m20. So you can time them with a timing light and turning the distributor like any other convetional distributor?

Yes. The electronic part is simply a replacment for the points (like the aftermarket types but much better). It still uses centrifugal and vacuum advance, and turning the dist changes the timing.

Okay I got it now. I'm just not familiar with m10's Thanks for the help

The centrifugal advance won't work if you turn it backwards.
you can swap the centrifugal advance from the electronic dizzy as well.
Jake