how to identify M60: B30 VS B40

[crazyrobbery]

If i was to look at a car and not trust the badge how could i identify either engine quickly?:confused

[Pooch]

Drive it. If it has no balls it's a B30. :D

[me78569]

Is the engine cover on or off?

[snake109]

the emissions tag in the engine bay will say the displacment. or the vin tag on the drivers door will say

[jessejames]

you'll also be missing a liter. :stickoutt

[Gazman]

Well also if it is a 95 and a manual it should be a 6 speed yeah?

[billygoat777]

I'm bumping this thread because I'm going to be looking at a 540i/6 that is debadged soon, but it is quite a drive to go see it, I would hate to find out I accidentally picked up a b30. The emissions tag and vin tag shuld suffice. But are there any other ways to differentiate the two engines? The 530i didn't come in 6 speed did it?

[Steve547i]

no 6 speed on the b30. look at the intake manifold. Its smaller.

[billygoat777]

Thanks, also if the interior is perfect and it has been well maintained mechanically, has 135k miles, but has paint issues (clearcoat issues on the roof and trunk) is $4,700 a fair price?

[Steve547i]

Kinda up to you. I feel like mechanical issues like suspension work is easier to deal with than paint but thats me. I dont really know paint. Have any pictures at all?

[93G34]

Drive it. If it has no balls it's a B30. :D

:lolhater

[Bloodhound50]

Thanks, also if the interior is perfect and it has been well maintained mechanically, has 135k miles, but has paint issues (clearcoat issues on the roof and trunk) is $4,700 a fair price?
I wouldn't pay that unless the car was mint, it will have sport seats, lower springs, 6 speed if its real

[eightynine535]

is the m60b30 really that bad???

[Bloodhound50]

is the m60b30 really that bad???
I'm not sure if its a bad motor, but BMW did go back to I6 for the 3.0's. E34 seems like a 3.0v8 trial and error.

[AZChris]

is the m60b30 really that bad???

When would a 3 liter V8 in a 3000lbs+ car ever be good?

[BigBisonT]

is the m60b30 really that bad???

Hell no it aint that bad. Just not the "best". Some people dislike it on that principle. plus people still bitch about nikasil despite it not being an issue for a decade. combine a "rep" with the fact it wasnt the biggest/best even in its inception and u get a LOT of (i feel undeserved) disrespect. But it is what it is...

[m60b30530i]

My M60B30 was a blast, straight pipes, B40 intake and tb, electric fan conversion. Had 4.10s sadly it was auto. It would pull on my 535 :)

[curbsideprophet]

Hell no it aint that bad. Just not the "best". Some people dislike it on that principle. plus people still bitch about nikasil despite it not being an issue for a decade. combine a "rep" with the fact it wasnt the biggest/best even in its inception and u get a LOT of (i feel undeserved) disrespect. But it is what it is...

but with a muffler delete it sounds SOOOOO smooth! i thought a lot of the hate was you got the v8 problems without any of the v8 "benefits". engine bay is cramped and difficult to work in, not terribly reliable, and slightly (:shifty) underpowered.

[AHenry014]

ill agree with above statements. my b30 was awesome. replaced under warrenty by bmw, the engine only had 130kish on it when i took it out. it ran perfectly. i had good power and never let me down. i think the auto trans took all the fun out of it. felt like a snowmobile if you didnt have it is sport mode. usually rolled around in '4' unless i was above 45-50ish. on the other hand, my b40 idles like doodoo and im still working out the kinks with it. going to the 4.0 gives you about a 70 hp and 70 ftlbs addition. way faster than the b30, but i still have respect for that engine, and by no means does it deserve the rep its given. someone needs to boost their 530/5 , i want to see some numbers

[AHenry014]

Thanks, also if the interior is perfect and it has been well maintained mechanically, has 135k miles, but has paint issues (clearcoat issues on the roof and trunk) is $4,700 a fair price?

too spensive i think. for 4g's its reasonable. thats only if the front end has been maintained and the cooling system gone through

[DUDMD]

The top intake pipe / maf and TB should be close to 3.5" on the b40 motor, the b30 setup is 3". That's the easiest way to spot the difference.

[DUDMD]

You tell me which one the 4L is.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h153/dudmd/IMG_0341.jpg

[84318i]

I am going to guess the top one, just based on the intake runners...

[billygoat777]

Thanks guys.

The guy selling it seems like an enthusiast, he took care of the control arms and cooling system, recently done clutch, and the roof is a lot worse than I'd like, however, it could be vinyled because it's black, and the trunk shouldn't be that much to get resprayed. After searching old FS threads on 540/6's i see immaculate ones go for ~5k so I think I'm gonna have to pass this one up.

Here are pics from the ad.

http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z330/adamjamesv/L1020860thumb.jpg

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z330/adamjamesv/?action=view&current=L1020859thumb.jpg

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z330/adamjamesv/?action=view&current=L1020844thumb.jpg

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z330/adamjamesv/?action=view&current=L1020848thumb.jpg

http://webmailab.juno.com/webmail/new/21?folder=Inbox&msgNum=00005500:001D^wd200003kop&count=1301542951&randid=1807657939&attachId=4&prevId=-2&action=photoviewer&userinfo=684a0008816da49e4df0f889a27d284f&randid=1807657939


You tell me which one the 4L is.


Bottom engine is the b30?

[84318i]

see if he is firm on the price....

[billygoat777]

4,700 is the lowest he would go.

[EmperorK1]

I was given a 95 530i that the guy said had the m60 b30 engine that it came with replaced with an m60 from a 740i. Everything I have found says the 740i's only came with a 4L version. The clut needs to be replaced but I want to verify that it is the 4L engine so that i get the right parts. What i saw on the block near cyl 3 was nothing like what I read should be there and was very difficult to get to. So how can I be positive which engine I have?

[Pink120]

I was given a 95 530i that the guy said had the m60 b30 engine that it came with replaced with an m60 from a 740i. Everything I have found says the 740i's only came with a 4L version. The clut needs to be replaced but I want to verify that it is the 4L engine so that i get the right parts. What i saw on the block near cyl 3 was nothing like what I read should be there and was very difficult to get to. So how can I be positive which engine I have?

Ignoring the fact that this is a 13 year old thread, from what I have read on what I could find, the block should have a part number on the right side of it. With that, you can look it up and confirm what you have.

Also, this might be useful: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1575119-Locating-the-Alusil-Block-Number