Which to go for V8 V10 V12

Originally Posted by SWISS

UN: Terror Activity
Location: Iraq


not sure if srs....

Im A real life terrorist...... NOT
:P
yea I live in Iraq and no Im not a terrorist

both of those are pretty "slow" engines.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

both of those are pretty "slow" engines.

which do u mean?

Originally Posted by TerrorActivity

which do u mean?

the m30 and the 4.4l bmw v8.

the m30 (3.5) only has 40 more bhp than a stock 325i and it weighs over 70lbs more.

the 4.4l isn't great out of the box and has very ittle performance mod capability later on.

if you want a cheap, GOOD v8 .. go with an ls1. it's lighter than a bmw v8 and has a huge performance parts market and support behind it.


if you are broke and this thread was really just BS, go with an m30. otherwise the m30 is a really, really poor choice for a motor swap.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

the m30 and the 4.4l bmw v8.

the m30 (3.5) only has 40 more bhp than a stock 325i and it weighs over 70lbs more.

the 4.4l isn't great out of the box and has very ittle performance mod capability later on.

if you want a cheap, GOOD v8 .. go with an ls1. it's lighter than a bmw v8 and has a huge performance parts market and support behind it.


if you are broke and this thread was really just BS, go with an m30. otherwise the m30 is a really, really poor choice for a motor swap.

So why not buying a camaro V8 LT1 1994 ?
now u confused me a bit you saying GM engine are better for the E30 i mean what is an E30 without BMW engine ? please explain you got the most decent answer I got so far

Because there is a rebuilt camaro almost back to stock need few hot fixes got LT1 engine and its for my friend and he would sell it to me if i wanted to buy it, now that camaro gonna cost me about 6000$ and if i rebuilt my E30 its going to hit almost 10000$ body, engine, interior, etc...

why not an lt1 ? because that is a super heavy, cast iron engine. the ls1 is much lighter so you arent adding a ton of weight to the front of the car.

I'm not saying GM engines are better for the e30. i'm just saying as far as v8's go, the ls1 is better than a BMW v8. the ls1 will have more power right out of the box, the aftermarket support for the ls1 is better than anything BMW has and the ls1 can make more NA power for cheap than a BMW v8 can.

Ok I understand now but since i live in Iraq it would cost a lot for shipping the LS1 engine from the states, if i dont find one here, so I think Im just going to hook my E30 with M20 2.7L maybe? or it got low HP? and get a turbo or supercharge for it? what do you think?

or should I go for the LT1 and install mods for it?

an m20 turbo would be more worthwhile and make good power.

the lt1 is just too heavy to put into an e30.

totally disagree with your M62 comments Steve. The M62 is a fantastic engine.

as with the M52, it is worth while converting it to OBD1 and fitting M60 intakes, very similar to the M52 in this regard. you can use the existing E30 subframe, but will require custom mounting arms as there is no BMW parts bin arms you can use (the M6x was never installed in a 3 series from the factory). you will not have to make a custom sump if you fit E34 M60 parts. with the M60 and M62, be sure to tack weld up the oil pump nuts if they are not already done, they were a BMW recall item.

im not sure on the gearbox side of things but a friends friend has an M62 converted E34 i could pick his brains, also know of an M60 E30 coupe as well.

as for would i do it to an E30, thats where i would agree with Steve, i think it will be too heavy to put in the front. you dont need a LOT of power to have fun in an E30. The M60 was designed for 5 and 7 series vehicles which aren't traditionally thrown around like a 3 series is.

a correctly modified m20 or m30 engine will give you very good performance for affordable price. the ALPINA e30 used 2.7 and 3.5 engines.
i dont know about other countries but in lebanon a clean m20 engine with all the mods (crank, headers..) and with a turbo should cost around 2000 USD

Originally Posted by fcsteve

an m20 turbo would be more worthwhile and make good power.

the lt1 is just too heavy to put into an e30.

I meant leave the E30 in the garage and drive a Camaro LT1 instead of converting E30 engine.

Originally Posted by _Ethrty-Andy_

totally disagree with your M62 comments Steve. The M62 is a fantastic engine.

as with the M52, it is worth while converting it to OBD1 and fitting M60 intakes, very similar to the M52 in this regard. you can use the existing E30 subframe, but will require custom mounting arms as there is no BMW parts bin arms you can use (the M6x was never installed in a 3 series from the factory). you will not have to make a custom sump if you fit E34 M60 parts. with the M60 and M62, be sure to tack weld up the oil pump nuts if they are not already done, they were a BMW recall item.

im not sure on the gearbox side of things but a friends friend has an M62 converted E34 i could pick his brains, also know of an M60 E30 coupe as well.

as for would i do it to an E30, thats where i would agree with Steve, i think it will be too heavy to put in the front. you dont need a LOT of power to have fun in an E30. The M60 was designed for 5 and 7 series vehicles which aren't traditionally thrown around like a 3 series is.

yea see thats what i wanted, since my friend already converted E30 engine and had 4.4L in it no modifcation to the car body and beat a HEMI charger 5.7L 2012 in a drag race Thats what I want speed power drifting...

Originally Posted by BMW lebanon

a correctly modified m20 or m30 engine will give you very good performance for affordable price. the ALPINA e30 used 2.7 and 3.5 engines.
i dont know about other countries but in lebanon a clean m20 engine with all the mods (crank, headers..) and with a turbo should cost around 2000 USD

well it cost around 1300$ here in Iraq for the engine block with all other stuff and the trany

something like this beating those 2 cars is awesome

M20 boosted, maybe even a 24v boosted all the power one would need. 250hp in a E30 is alot like having 400hp in some old american muscle. So 400hp in a E30 is pretty crazy. You can produce 400hp with a turbo built M20. Kamotors on this forum has had a turbo m20 for years now pushing 400hp.

the only reason a bmw 4.4 in an e30 could possibly beat a newer chevy with an LsX engine is driver error and the raw weight of the vehicles. new GM vehicles (almost any new vehicle for that matter) all weigh alot more than an e30.

the m6x engines are not good performance engines at all. they take heavy modification and deep pockets to make much less torque and not as much power as an lsx engine with less than half that money into it.