NEED HELP IDENTIFYING WHAT ENGINE I HAVE

Vitaliy semenyuk

Vitaliy semenyuk

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Hey everyone, my name is Vitaliy. I'm new to this forum I picked up that engine burn e9 from copart. Got it home, started slowly tearing the engine down. The engine looks fine everything around it not so really. Obviously somebody already did a FI swap. I'm new to these "older bmws". So I don't know much. I need help identifying what engine I have? I will need to buy the engine wiring harness, injectors, throttle body intake, manifold I think can be saved. In order for me to buy those parts I need to know what swap I have. I found a "3.5" on the block driver side. Also casting number on the cylinder head "1708843". The vin on the block is first line: 34 6K5 06A, second line: 5144 A 049, third line: 1100 1 730 8. I will also upload some pictures as well. Thank you guys!
 

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Hi Vitaliy,

To recap our initial chat, you have a "179 ecu". That combined with the 3.5 on the block leads me to believe that you have an m30b35. I mentioned that the head casting probably didn't matter but they did switch to a new casting with the b35.

Anyway I am ignorant about all things B35 and there are some resident experts on this forum. You was most confused about the series of number on your starter plate. I was expecting the last seven of a VIN.

Mark
 
Thanks for your help mark!
Markos said:
Hi Vitaliy,

To recap our initial chat, you have a "179 ecu". That combined with the 3.5 on the block leads me to believe that you have an m30b35. I mentioned that the head casting probably didn't matter but they did switch to a new casting with the b35.

Anyway I am ignorant about all things B35 and there are some resident experts on this forum. You was most confused about the series of number on your starter plate. I was expecting the last seven of a VIN.

Mark
Click to expand...
 
The engine number is 5144 A 049: 5=M30, 144=serial number by month, A=Exchange Engine, 04=April, 9=1989

The engine code is 34 6K5 06A (please double check the 5 I think it needs to be the letter A or B):

The 34 6KA is 535i 85-88, 635CSi or L6, or 735 85-87 all 182hp.

The 34 6KB is 635CSi 88-89, 535i e34 from 1989 and 208hp.

Source: http://www.jaypix.com/files/engine.pdf
 
Post a pic here of the intake port of #1 cylinder and the 2 numbers above it
IMG_1823.JPG
in the circle
 
Hi Vitaly -- I have an older BMW engine identification guide that was intended for BMW technicians to determine which engine to use when replacing an engine. The guide shows a cross reference between certain newer and older engine identification codes and lists an M30 b34 engine with the new engine code of 346KB 06 A, and old engine code of 735 32/1 US A and a part number of 11001730822. Based on the similarity between the new engine code and the number you have, and the part number, I believe this is your engine.
 
Chris, Can you post pics or a link to that guide, I know it's been discussed here before. The 6KB would make it a b35 I think given 88-89 models use.
 
Ohmess said:
Hi Vitaly -- I have an older BMW engine identification guide that was intended for BMW technicians to determine which engine to use when replacing an engine. The guide shows a cross reference between certain newer and older engine identification codes and lists an M30 b34 engine with the new engine code of 346KB 06 A, and old engine code of 735 32/1 US A and a part number of 11001730822. Based on the similarity between the new engine code and the number you have, and the part number, I believe this is your engine.
Click to expand...

Doesn't the "3.5" on the block (see pics above) preclude it from being a B34? Chris mentioned that it should be a "B" and this is for a B35. Vitaly said it was a five. It's a lot easier to confuse a 5 with a B than an A, so I it's probably safe to say it's a "B". The serial, the 3.5, and the Motronic 1.3 all point to a B35 right?
 
Markos, That is what I was thinking as well. If the vin tag is still on the head that will potentially solve the riddle but my b35 head didn't have it although the cracked one I had did.
 
Vitaliy's serial above the starter. Honestly that does look like a "5", not a "B". Is it normal to have all this stuff on the ledge above the starter along with a "Made in Germany", with no VIN? I was wondering if it was a factory replacement engine.

IMG_4235.JPG
 
I am not sure where I found this, but I downloaded it long ago. Here are the relevant pages:

bmw_engine_identification 1.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 2.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 3.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 4.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 5.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 6.jpg
bmw_engine_identification 7.jpg
 
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Markos said:
Vitaliy's serial above the starter. Honestly that does look like a "5", not a "B". Is it normal to have all this stuff on the ledge above the starter along with a "Made in Germany", with no VIN? I was wondering if it was a factory replacement engine.

View attachment 20928
Click to expand...
Mark, I just looked at that picture it looks like a "B" to me. I'll double check for sure once I get home after work today. It was extremely difficult to read the numbers I had scrape and dry and scrape to see any numbers appear lol.
 
Vitaliy semenyuk said:
Mark, I just looked at that picture it looks like a "B" to me. I'll double check for sure once I get home after work today. It was extremely difficult to read the numbers I had scrape and dry and scrape to see any numbers appear lol.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, and uppercase "B". I'm starting to sound like the Windex grandfather from "My big Fat Greek Wedding", but hit it with WD-40 and a scotch brite pad. It will clean up perfectly. Snap a pic before any rust reappears.
 
Yeah, Chris -- my conclusion doesn't make sense. This guide does not have any M30 b35 designations.
 
The 735 32/1 USA on my chart seems to correspond to the 735 32 USA on the October 1990 TRI 11 02 84 (2033), indicating the engine came from a US e32 735i. At the bottom of page 5 of the TRI, they show a 356KB designation for an e32 engine.
 
Ohmess said:
The 735 32/1 USA on my chart seems to correspond to the 735 32 USA on the October 1990 TRI 11 02 84 (2033), indicating the engine came from a US e32 735i. At the bottom of page 5 of the TRI, they show a 356KB designation for an e32 engine.
Click to expand...
That would still be the M30B35 correct?
 
Welcome to the forum. I believe you have an M30 B34 with an earlier style intake manifold. I have one of these in my E12 528i with 3.5L swap. Check the version of your motronic unit also. By the time of these motors the number by the starter is an engine number and no longer correlates with the VIN. If it is a B35 as suggested, I would wonder why they used the earlier manifold.

You should consider the effect of the fire's heat on the head too as this may have been far higher than normal operating temperatures with coolant circulation. When you calculate the cost of all you need you may just consider dropping in another motor.

I have an M30 B34 with the newer manifold complete with harness, motronic controller, accessories for sale in the parts section that is likely less than the sum of all you need. PM me to discuss further if you like.

Good luck with the restoration. The rest of the car looked good and I was watching the auction with intention to buy and use my afore-mentioned motor in it.
 
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