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Thread: 94 325is M-technic > M50B30

  1. #1
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    94 325is M-technic > M50B30

    Edit: It's complete!

    A little over 10 years ago I bought this car from a friend, bone stock with fairly low miles. I just wanted to go fast back then; I sold off the interior, welded the sunroof, 4-pt bar, etc. Sold it to a friend after getting into motorcycles. Recently he was talking about parting it out, talk of it having a blown HG, and it sat for a long time. I bought it back.




    Older days with it:











    Picking it up now:





    - - - Updated - - -

    First thing was to pull the head, about half way into that I decided to pull the whole motor and trans.







    Last edited by MSFIT; 07-18-2018 at 05:47 PM.


  2. #2
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    I got the head off and found the HG to be okay, but the cooling system just looked kinda clogged up. Hard water build up.





    Also one of the cam journals had some scoring.






    - - - Updated - - -

    I took the head to a local shop, they did a pressure test, no issues. Then a full valve job.



    I spent some time cleaning the block and piston heads.



    - - - Updated - - -

    Up late one night chatting it up and was told I should look into using an intake cam from an M54. This sent me down a rabbit hole leading to the swap of the M54 rotating assembly (crank, rods, pistons) into the M50.

    Quick search on pick n pulls inventory and found my local lot had an e46 330i.

    Drove over the next day at lunch to verify:



    Sent this to my friend and asked for help to pull it the next day.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Back to the house with the M54, left it on the ground in the garage until I get the M50 fully disassembled.

    Break loose the jesus bolt (OMG...)







    Dropped out the pistons/rods, then pulled the block off the stand and set it on some wood to pull the rear main seal and finally the crank:



    Last edited by MSFIT; 03-23-2018 at 01:57 PM.


  3. #3
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    '99 M3 | '11 M3
    Sub'd! Looking to take over my buddy's 94 325is M-Technic project soon.

  4. #4
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    Here's a M Technic w/ a blown HG. Looks tempting

    https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto...535141539.html

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by aablown View Post
    Here's a M Technic w/ a blown HG. Looks tempting

    https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto...535141539.html
    Looks like that poor car led a hard stance life, too bad
    CBlock


  6. #6
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    Supreme sticker says it all.

    Fucccc boiii.
    2004 BMW ///M3 Carbon Black/Cinnamon 6 SPD Manuel

  7. #7
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    I wish I still had the original interior pieces. That one in Tampa is a steal, I'd be all over it if it wasn't 3k miles away.


  8. #8
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    Tore down the M54, the pistons definitely had some carbon build up on top.








    The whole motor seems so much more oil stained than my M50, here's the intake cam to be modified to fit.



    Disassemble bottom end.



    Pistons and rods, sitting next to my m50 block.



    Crank on the bench top, removed timing gear from the rear of it.



  9. #9
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    Muskoka, Ontario, Canada
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    '95 325i vert
    sub'd I've been wanting to do this to my M50 for a while
    '95 325i Convertible MT Montreal Blue on Tan Mods: Vibrant Catback, 3.91 LSD, MarkD Tune, Dinan Carbon CAI, Dinan Brace, HSD Coils, ZF Swap, S52 Clutch & Flywheel, Dension GBLx, MFL, Driver
    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtlblaue36/

  10. #10
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    When I was gathering parts for my m52 b30 build, I contacted an eBay seller who sells piston and ring kits and asked him to give me price for the rings, bearings and gaskets I would need. I was able to get the right size rings with the m50/2 oil control ring and gaskets I wanted for under $500 (including a HG). I reused my main cap bolts and bought BMW rod cap bolts from ecs or pelican (don't remember).

    - - - Updated - - -

    I also used a m54b30 intake cam with a shortened helix gear. I removed it to cut it down, which made more work in the end but I made a fixture to set the position. You are welcome to borrow it.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by gdavid View Post
    When I was gathering parts for my m52 b30 build, I contacted an eBay seller who sells piston and ring kits and asked him to give me price for the rings, bearings and gaskets I would need. I was able to get the right size rings with the m50/2 oil control ring and gaskets I wanted for under $500 (including a HG). I reused my main cap bolts and bought BMW rod cap bolts from ecs or pelican (don't remember).

    - - - Updated - - -

    I also used a m54b30 intake cam with a shortened helix gear. I removed it to cut it down, which made more work in the end but I made a fixture to set the position. You are welcome to borrow it.
    Great info, thanks. I picked up the rings and bearings from rmeuropean, everything else so far through pelican. I haven't decided yet on BMW or ARP studs for the mains. What's different about the oil control ring on the M54 set?

    I dropped off the block to get hot tanked. Shortened the gear on the intake cam, just a cut off wheel and grinding wheel on an angle grinder. Been just cleaning parts the rest of the day.





  12. #12
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    z3
    Awesome work so far! Love those M-technics

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  13. #13
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    2002 330i, 2000 528iT
    Be sure you read up about why M54 motors can be notorious for oil consumption. I'm not super knowledgeable as to what you can replace with (I think either M52 or M52TU rings), but the M54 uses low tension rings and are the root of oil consumption issues.
    | 2002 330i 5-SPD - 101k | 2000 528iT - 146k |
    My E46 Maintenance Thread http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1124584



  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by shoman24v View Post
    Be sure you read up about why M54 motors can be notorious for oil consumption. I'm not super knowledgeable as to what you can replace with (I think either M52 or M52TU rings), but the M54 uses low tension rings and are the root of oil consumption issues.
    Huge thanks for that, I had no idea. Ordered a set of the M52TU rings, to use the oil ring from.

    For reference, part numbers:
    M52TU Rings: 11-25-1-437-077 (will be using oil ring from this set)
    M54B30 Rings: 11-25-7-511-697 (compression rings from this set)
    Rod Bearings: 11-24-1-284-849
    Main Bearings: 11-21-1-706-847
    Rod Bolts: 11-24-7-589-671
    ARP Main bolt stud conversion kit
    Last edited by MSFIT; 03-26-2018 at 04:32 PM.


  15. #15
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    Identical engine build in an MTech here locally that I tuned about a month ago! Ran very very well. Fun car! Good luck with the build.
    WANTED: 18" BBS RCj's

  16. #16
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    I've been pretty busy with work, house work, life in general...updates though!

    Got the block back from hot tank. Ordered the rings from the eBay vendor.



    Cleaned out the pistons further.




    Prepping the block for paint, I used Loctite Naval Jelly on rusty spots.





    Block painted grey, I like how it turned out, reminds me of Naval ships.





    ARP main studs and bearings installed.



    Plastigage checked out.



    Apparently I didn't take pictures during ring gap measurements, con rod bearing clearance, etc. So here's the windage tray installed and oil pump.







    Safety wired oil pump nut, courtesy of bimmerworld.



    Front cover installed.



    Headgasket on.



    Head on! Apply directly to forehead!





    Head torqued down.



    Swingin it over to install cam trays.





    Cams installed and done for that night.



    Timing done and Vanos installed.





    Bolted on a few other parts last night too, oil filter housing, sensors, motor mount arms. I'm waiting on a new jesus bolt and motor mounts but hoping to have it in the car before Saturday.


  17. #17
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    E46 330iT E36 328i
    Liking the battleship grey, works well with the alu parts.

    Great job so far, keep up the good work.

  18. #18
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    Long pause
    Quote Originally Posted by Friends
    Joey: “I can’t. Oh, I want to, long pause, but I can’t.”
    Lennard: I’m sorry, sorry. You’re not supposed to say “long pause”
    Joey: Oh, oh, I thought that was your character’s name, you know, I thought you were like an Indian or something, you know with a… (He mimes wearing a feather on his head)
    Didn't take many pics - things like new o-rings for injectors, new power steering lines/res, new clutch slave cyl, clutch pivot, spring, spal fan and wiring...little bits here and there.

    Once everything was ready, I turned it over by hand again a couple times, then pulled the fuel pump fuse and turned over again. I had no bad sounds, so I popped the fuse back in and it fired up almost immediately. No lights on the dash, all looked good, then it started overheating; it would get up to operating temp and hang out there for a while, but it would creep over half way and the fan wasn't starting. I jumped the relays for the fan, jumped the fan switch on the radiator, everything electrical was working properly. I had a suspicion the thermostat was stuck closed, so I pulled it and ran without - fan kicked on when it reached temp, success! Picked up a new tstat and was good to go.

    I also acquired some better condition seats to swap in, Kirkey for driver and a Sparco for passenger (from 1992).

    Got some temporary driving slips from AAA, drove it to work and back, around town and put about 160 miles, then took it to smog. Passed!


    Headers installed, valve cover on



    Tighten Jesus bolt - use old flywheel bolts, large pry bar, and friend/wife



    Oh so ready...



    Engine is in!





    My old ground wire was toast - the bolt became a PITA and required some motivation from an angle grinder



    Finishing up harness connections, intake manifold, front end...



    Seats (and my pup)









    Smogged - passed



    First day driven to work



    Cleaned...



  19. #19
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    Heyyyyy
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