it begins....s52 5 speed touring

[JakeB]

Planning to drop a s52, ZF 5 speed, and 3.23lsd in my 95 black on black touring next weekend. I will post pictures as I make progress.

sport seats will be going in as well.

Next summer it will get a drop, M5T sways, and wheels.

It should be a fun project. I just sold my s52 e30 and it was time for something new.

enjoy...

http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1098%20%28Large%29.jpg
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1100%20%28Large%29.jpg
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1102%20%28Medium%29.jpg
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1103%20%28Medium%29.jpg
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1104%20%28Medium%29.jpg

[sn8kbit]

Good luck to ya, I'll be following this. My swap is a couple of weeks out....

[bigsixe34]

holy wheel gap :eyecrazy

sick project can't wait to see it come together

[JakeB]

no engine up front...it was outside to be power washed.

[TGreene]

Awesome, can't wait. Please be as thorough as you can be, you know we always appreciate the effort.

[StealthBimmer]

Have fun. If you have any questions, just ask (although it sounds like you shouldnt have a problem).... many of us have done the swap. I just finished mine about a month ago, not in my touring though, in my sedan.

[Mark@EAC]

subscribed. this will be a good project. Nice garage too!

[JakeB]

I swapped the pedal box in.... One note is that in later e34s the column is wider than on earlier ones. I had to pull the pedals out because of the column haning brackets being different from early to late cars.

I added the clutch line this afternoon. I am hoping that the little bracket on the firewall is for the line....as that is what I bent it too.

Here are a couple pictures of that area as I have not seen it covered in any of the other threads. I cannot imagine getting that line in there with an engine in there or with the car on the ground.

http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1106%20%28Medium%29.jpg
http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1107%20%28Medium%29.jpg

And another...

http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1105%20%28Medium%29.jpg

Engine goes in tomorrow. I will see about snapping a few pictures as it goes in. If there is anything anyone would like a picture of before it goes it let me know and I will see what I can do.

[4500 RPM]

Was that the rust-free CA touring from Koala?

[nismoracer65789]

nice ass garage :buttrock

if everything works out in the next few months I'll be doing this same swap in april

[JakeB]

4500: yes it sure is. I bought it from bret about 2 months ago.

[moroza]

Black on black 95 Touring with an S52? Hell yes.

Take care of that framerail rust before it spreads. It sounds like the same happened to you as to me - brake reservoir leaked onto the paint. With the luxury of the engine (and most everything else) out, I cleaned up, coated with POR 15, painted over. Mine's a car worth hanging onto; yours should be, too.

[4500 RPM]

4500: yes it sure is. I bought it from bret about 2 months ago.

Thank God! '95 rust-free black on black was too nice to crush. What a starting point...you're doing the perfect project! Good luck! :buttrock

[JakeB]

Made some progress today. I was hoping to an easy in but there were a few difficulties. All is ok now....

I am running an m20 flywheel and clutch because it is lighter and the flywheel was making contact with the back of the oil pan. Something I had heard of happening in the e30 swap would. So it took a while to file the part that was in the way down. No big deal really.....

Next issue was that I snapped off a bolt in the flywheel that holds the clutch on. Not a huge deal though as an EZ out got it out. When I put the clutch back on I found the reason for the broken bolt.... I had the torque wrench set to 28 ft lbs and not 18 ft lbs..... So for anyone doing a clutch....the bolts break at 28ft lbs.

http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1111%20%28Medium%29.jpg

Then the trans bolted up without an issue. Dropped the engine in in about 20minutes. Very nice to have the car on the lift to raise up and down a little bit at a time as well as using the engine puller and load leveler.

going in....

http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1110%20%28Medium%29.jpg

The next thing to do was hook up the clutch and get it bled while I had help. That turned into about 2 hours of frustration. Bleed as we could we could not get any fluid or air to come out of the bleed screw. It came down to some dirt in the slave cylinder. I pulled the slave apart and cleaned the tiny tiny tiny bleed passage. Put it back in and it bled it without any trouble. Clutch is working. I need to tighten the return spring a little bit to stiffen the pedal up a little bit as right now it is really light.

Started getting the wiring in place. Should have more time tomorrow to get the wiring all squared away and get the intake manifold on.

I am waiting on an LSD so cannot get it all done.

Engine in...

http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1112%20%28Medium%29.jpg
http://www.theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1113%20%28Medium%29.jpg

I have stock rubber engine mounts and the engine moves A LOT. I will need to track down some poly mounts and swap them out. Does anyone know of an upgraded mount?

[e34Croak]

Oh wow, i'd give a testicle to have that hoist in my garage. GL with the swap, looks like an awesome project!

[jhower08]

Awesome project you got going on here!

Couple questions regarding your trans/clutch setup. What throw out bearing are you using, stock one for an m20 (getrag trans)? And also, will the stock m20 clutch hold up to the HP/torque that the s52 is about to dish out?

[nmp411]

looks great!

[ShapeShifter]

Damn Jake!
No fooling around there!
Making some quick work of it.

I've started seaching for an S5x myself.
I may go snag a ZF310 and associated bits from thhe wrecker this week.
I found another nice low mileage 92 the other day.

[JAX S38]

"I have stock rubber engine mounts and the engine moves A LOT. I will need to track down some poly mounts and swap them out. Does anyone know of an upgraded mount?"

I used new stock ones from autohaus az, but it was not long before the top of the mount came apart from the rubber on the drivers side (bad part??) anyway I had some E28 M5 mounts that were going to be used for the E30 S50 swap and even though they were a bitch to install due to the longer threaded shaft thy are working quite well.

[JakeB]

thanks for the tip Jax... I will have to pick some up. I will trim some of the threads off to make it easier to install.

So the e28 m5 mounts fit the same ?

[JakeB]

no pictures with this update but an update none the less....

(I will add some pictures soon)

Wiring is all connected, intake is on, radiator is in and plumbed, power steering lines are connected, shifter is in (1.9 Z3), 3.23 LSD is in, and drive shaft CSB replaced and drive shaft is installed. I have tracked down the starter immobilization relay and will be replacing it with the jumper relay. The later cars do not have the relay in the fuse box, it is in the left hand kick panel.

Here is the part number for the relay, 61 36 8 366 282. and a picture

http://www.munichmotorcycles.com.au/images/products/main/02-02-06.JPG

left to do.......

replace diff fluid
connect exhaust (waiting on a flange)
fill engine with oil
fill with coolant
power steering fluid
connect maf and make an intake, I need to track down some 3.5" pipe to go from the 540 maf to a cone filter that will be tucked up near the headlights.
swap out starter immobilization relay with jump relay
replace hood
re bleed the clutch....sounds like there is still some air in it.

start....

Then there is a bunch of stuff to fix....well not a bunch i guess.
find out why the heater fan isn't working....and fix it
new stereo
repalce headlights and fogs (already have replacements)
have the car wheeled out and all the little dents fixed.

[Sneezy]

Cool. Another sleeper wagon beast being born.

[sfgearhead]

You're making short work of this! Very cool, what part of Michigan are you in? I'd love to do this swap someday, color me jealous.

[birkire]

I added the clutch line this afternoon. I am hoping that the little bracket on the firewall is for the line....as that is what I bent it too.

Here are a couple pictures of that area as I have not seen it covered in any of the other threads. I cannot imagine getting that line in there with an engine in there or with the car on the ground.


I had mine on jackstands but was a royal pain in the butt ! :embarrasm

I like where this is heading, great project !

[JakeB]

I am in Bay City...about 2 hours north of Detroit.

I just ordered the last of what I need to get it running. Hope to have it going by early next week. It would be sooner but I am I waiting on parts as well as have zero time this week.

Any one know where to start looking to fix the heater fan? In addition when I push any of the buttons for recirculation and/or AC they do not turn on.... the rear defrost does but nothing else. Not sure if the fan has to be engaged for all that to work or not. So I am thinking it might be the fan switch. If I have to dig through the ETK I will but it would be nice if someone knew... TIA

[JakeB]

I am in Bay City...about 2 hours north of Detroit.

I just ordered the last of what I need to get it running. Hope to have it going by early next week. It would be sooner but I am I waiting on parts as well as have zero time this week.

Any one know where to start looking to fix the heater fan? In addition when I push any of the buttons for recirculation and/or AC they do not turn on.... the rear defrost does but nothing else. Not sure if the fan has to be engaged for all that to work or not. So I am thinking it might be the fan switch. If I have to dig through the ETK I will but it would be nice if someone knew... TIA

[JakeB]

Its alive....after a bad DME another s52 touring lives. Runs good...its quick for such a big car. I am happy with stage one.

At first I thought the trans was bad becasue it was poping out of 2nd and 4th. But if I held it I could keep it in gear. After looking at it the shifter was at the back of the opening and not allowing it to go in all the way. I spun it around all is good. I also have a bent front wheel that I need to replace. It was hitting on the caliper..... So I ground down the inside of the wheel a little bit. Its ok now....

I went with the 1.9 Z3 shifter and it is way to long. I need to get something shorter. What does everyone suggest?

Next step...install sport seats and stereo.

Suspension/wheels will come next spring/summer. Winter is coming soon....

I might need to open the exhaust up a little too as it is pretty quiet. Any suggestions for a cat back? Or just a muffler change. I do not want loud but I do like a little sound when you get on it.

More pictures and details will come this weekend.

[ShapeShifter]

Awesome!
Any chance of video?

[Mark@EAC]

hey JakeB-

short shifters are a popular subject tonight but have a look at this post:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17657414&postcount=2

try it out, I love mine!

[JakeB]

I had a slight slow down...the radiator I bought leaked.... in multiple spots. I got a brand new one and all is good there.

Added the 545 shifter and it is much much better than the z3 lever....I am digging it.

I have the sport seats in now.... I need to fix the recline on the passenger side seat and both the headrests but that is not a very high priority at the time.

I have new hood and hear hatch shocks coming. I will do the glass shocks in time but also not a huge priority.

Also come to find my heat is on HOT all the time so I have a new valve coming.

Next step is to get the rear hatch popper switch working. As well as clean and lube the sunroof...it works but the front panel moves pretty slow.

Next summer.....
17" BBS RX
B&G springs
Bilstein HDs
M5T sways
Planning to replace every suspension piece, link, bushing, etc etc
New tint

I haven't had a time to take many pictures but here is one of the interior that I took tonight.

http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1214%20%28Large%29.jpg
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1215%20%28Small%29.jpg

Also...ground the pin with the connector to get rid of the trans program
http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1213%20%28Large%29.jpg

Connect pin 6 and 7 to the reverse switch in the manual trans

http://theguestroom.net/e34/IMG_1209%20%28Large%29.jpg

I am going away this weekend for my two year wedding anniversary but will get more pictures in the next week of the entire car and a video. Anything in particular anyone wants to see?

[ShapeShifter]

Awesome!
Interior looks good.

[kahluastud412]

I know its a little far away but Im from Jackson, we should meet up some time!!