Hey Gents I've picked up 1976 530i e12 and I was told it has an Euro Engine what to look for to confirm what engine it is
I can take some pics and post in next few days
Chris
I can take some pics and post in next few days
Chris
Engine Identification
- Thread starter GK-E30M3
- Start date
At the risk of sounding flippant, all of the M30 engines are of European design and manufacture. You were unclear whether the E12 is Euro-spec or if it has a Euro-spec engine transplant/upgrade - or just a generic M30 engine from/for another model that used the same block. For that matter, it might be helpful to know if the so-called Euro-spec engine was a short block or a long block (with head).
What generally distinguishes M30 engines intended for Euro markets versus North American markets is: displacement, compression and fuel/ignition modifications affecting emission controls. Block serial number, casting marks/stampings can offer clues, but not always. There isn't much to distinguishing bare blocks without measuring bores, etc. and/or examining piston crowns, wrist pin placement and rod lengths. Cylinder heads and the moving parts attached thereto can differ too.
A Euro-spec engine can be rebuilt using North American-spec parts and vice versa, so what you see is not always what you think you got. But sometimes, the ordinary looking can be a big surprise package - without the bow!
Pictures and more details might be helpful. ;-)
What generally distinguishes M30 engines intended for Euro markets versus North American markets is: displacement, compression and fuel/ignition modifications affecting emission controls. Block serial number, casting marks/stampings can offer clues, but not always. There isn't much to distinguishing bare blocks without measuring bores, etc. and/or examining piston crowns, wrist pin placement and rod lengths. Cylinder heads and the moving parts attached thereto can differ too.
A Euro-spec engine can be rebuilt using North American-spec parts and vice versa, so what you see is not always what you think you got. But sometimes, the ordinary looking can be a big surprise package - without the bow!
Pictures and more details might be helpful. ;-)
Compression test please.
Assuming this is for transplant
Hi GK, Lloyd is quite correct and having just gone through this it indeed can be confusing. I think I may be able to at least point you in the right direction; If you have the car in your possession and it has Euro bumpers that's a start, if so check the VIN on the chassis and on the block if they are the same then you have an e12 that came from Europe and that's good, but, you still have a 3.0l engine, not a 3.5 which is what most people are looking for- still, the 76 should have about 190 hp and a good FI set up. Check the date on the head and it likely will not have a 76 on it since these cars were really prone to overheating and cracking the head so there is probably a later head on it. If your current engine is tired you may want to do a simple transplant, also check the diff for an S stamped on it because that would be a LSD diff which again is good. The 76 530i had either a brutally inadequate automatic trans or a 4 speed so neither is good for a transplant. Although Lloyd goes into a little more detail, bore and stroke are the big differences, the heads are basically the same, maybe some had larger valves but nothing super.
Most of the info I typed up comes from my dabbling with 2 family e12's in the late 70's and early 80's and there are others who know much more than I so I likely will be corrected hopefully not scolded!
Good luck
Oh, and like Don said- check the compression
Hi GK, Lloyd is quite correct and having just gone through this it indeed can be confusing. I think I may be able to at least point you in the right direction; If you have the car in your possession and it has Euro bumpers that's a start, if so check the VIN on the chassis and on the block if they are the same then you have an e12 that came from Europe and that's good, but, you still have a 3.0l engine, not a 3.5 which is what most people are looking for- still, the 76 should have about 190 hp and a good FI set up. Check the date on the head and it likely will not have a 76 on it since these cars were really prone to overheating and cracking the head so there is probably a later head on it. If your current engine is tired you may want to do a simple transplant, also check the diff for an S stamped on it because that would be a LSD diff which again is good. The 76 530i had either a brutally inadequate automatic trans or a 4 speed so neither is good for a transplant. Although Lloyd goes into a little more detail, bore and stroke are the big differences, the heads are basically the same, maybe some had larger valves but nothing super.
Most of the info I typed up comes from my dabbling with 2 family e12's in the late 70's and early 80's and there are others who know much more than I so I likely will be corrected hopefully not scolded!
Good luck
Oh, and like Don said- check the compression
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The 76 530i is a US Car but the engine was transplanted in 85 and I was told that it was Euro Crate motor and actually Pete McHenry worked on this car and Engine
and its a 4 speed gearbox I got the car cheap and most likely will be parted I thought it might be a good engine to save for the CS e9
Will get some pictures this weekend
Chris