BMW 3.0CS w/ M Engine

V

vanak60

Active Member
Messages
47
Reaction score
4
Location
Reston, VA
Hi,

I was just reading the article, it certainly takes alot of dedication to install an "M" engine. Has anyone had prior experience with this. I'm getting ready to take my engine out as part of the restoration and was wondering what would be the process involved with replacing the engine similar to the article.

Thanks,

Alex

Article:
http://www.bavariacars.com.au/article/?id=54
More Pictures of the car:
http://forum.bmwslo.com/showthread.php?t=5872
 
M5 M6 Motor in E9

This theme was discussed several times in the german E9-Forum

1069944fceadc2c4d94e85e157c21ff5.jpg

68cadbb8484089cc7d7767ccba3a1b87.jpg


see thread:
http://www.bmw-cscoupe.com/forum/showentry.php?sNo=5538
 
S38 into e9

Someone in Maryland has a gorgeous green e9 with a S38
transplant - don't know if he is on this board.

The real question is whether the Karmann body could hold up.
 
How ironical! - I'm a newbie here and the M-transplant question was among my first questions I had planned to ask-Thanks varak60!

Like gkb, I'd be concerned with the other components and body being able to handle the extra HP on a daily basis.
The second concern is that the engine may write checks the suspension and brakes can't cash!
I'd love to find one if anyone knows of any!
This combo would be the ultimate "sleeper".
 
Would be a lovely setup however I think the exhaust would cause problems for us right hand drive folk! From Orangener's pictures there have been lots of other modifications besides just dropping the engine in......

As to the body holding up to it I think the rear diff mount would need to be braced to spread the load as a minimum. Seam welding would be a plus.
Remember the basic chassis layout was carried over to later BMWs which had this engine so the handling dynamics will be the usual tail happy stuff especially in the wet!.
The brakes etc are probably up to it especially if you have vented front and rear disks in tip top condition, and of course control over how far your prepared to push the "loud" peddle!
Malc
 
The conversion is not easy, cheap or fun and there is a bit of fabrication necessary. I recall the article about this car mentioned having to move the radiator forward a few inches, among many other things, because of the external water passages on the engine (something I, thankfully, did not have to do as I had the passages from an early (3.5L) M engine). A coupe with a 3.5L or 3.6L twin cam looks very impressive under the hood (bonnet) and is very drivable with the Motronic injection (The Ausie car uses after market electronics). However, a single cam if done correctly can have just as much power and would be way cheaper. Just my opinion, though.

As for the chassis being able to withstand the added power, there should be no problem (others will know better than I about that. The thirteen point roll cage in my car adds a bit of chassis stiffness over a standard coupe)

Link to TBL with 3.6L twin cam.
http://tblracing.com/e9coupe/TBL M5 pix/almost complete 4 web.JPG
 
Re: S38 into e9

gkb said:
Someone in Maryland has a gorgeous green e9 with a S38
transplant - don't know if he is on this board.

The real question is whether the Karmann body could hold up.
Click to expand...

That is Doug Dolan, who lives here in the Washington DC area. I don't think he is on this board. He bought his car after the previous owner had the conversion done by Ray Korman in North Carolina. I think that Korman has done some other S38 conversions as well.

I've ridden with Doug and his car is noticeably faster than my 230HP 3.0CS (engine built by Korman). His doesn't seem any more flexible than mine! I haven't found any significant stress problems, just the usual rust.
 
Dolan's Car

Just a note on Doug Dolan's car ... which must be the preeminent E9 on the East Coast (aside from the concours CSLs, perhaps, although it's difficult to compare): I believe that EVERYTHING in that car was pulled from either an E24 or E28 M car -- engine, transmission, suspension, etc.

I believe he said it had been chipped as well and was pushing north of 300 HP.

BTW, Doug is a heck of a nice guy and one of the most helpful coupe owners I've encountered -- which is saying a lot!

Ian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top