E30 M60B40 6-Speed Swap Info

[LucidWerkz]

Hello All,

I am one of the many who has swapped a M60B40 with a 6-speed into an E30 for about 5 years and it driven hard since it's a dedicated track car. So if you are thinking of a reliable big motor swap and don't want to spend a huge amount of money its

Since I am new here, and do not see any recent or rather any heavy info posts on this (at least in the past 5 years), but if anyone has any questions on the swap I can help out, and give you the cost of what it cost me.

Here are some specs of the swap and where I got most of my parts:
Car swapped: 1987 325e
M60B40 from a 1997 740i ($300)
Getrag 420G from a 1995 540i ($400)
Black Label 404 DME from a 95 540i (to bypass EWS) ($40)
UUC M5 Lightweight Single Mass Flywheel ($900) (pretty much any 540i/M5 flywheel/clutch will work)
Garagistic M6x Swap kit, motor mounts, trans mount extension for 6spd, driveshaft, wilwood pedal box setup, modified X5 headers, . (~$2000 from Garagistic, but can be source other places, or built)
Chasebays Custom braided brake lines
Z3 M Radiator
Sikky soild steering column joint (to clear the X5 headers)

I am also not running any A/C or Power Steering. And in order to still have a serpentine drive belt, you swap one of the idler pulleys (larger one) onto the tensioner so you have 2 larger idler pulleys (instead of one large one and one smaller one) and use a serpentine belt from a 05 Honda Element. Weird yes, but it works.

If there is any details you have questions about, ask away, I can also provide info on stuff to avoid and or upgrade.

Sorry for no pictures at this time, still on my probationary period with the new account. LOL

[pbonsalb]

Sounds like fun and the aluminum V8 might not add too much weight. Thanks for posting details. I am not really an E30 person but see some that look great.

[LucidWerkz]

Yes IIRC the M60B40 is only 70lbs heavier than a M20B27, but 3x the power.

[Henn28]

Thanks for the details. I have a m62TUB44 from an e53 x5 swap I did this past winter that will be looking for a home, after I rebuild it as an M60B44. An early 5 series might be easier, but the early 3 series would be more fun I think.