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Mar 21, 2018 10:18:55 GMT
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Hi all.
Greetings from sunny Australia. I own a e21 323i with an m52b28 which i have had for sale for the last few months and no one has offered me enough money for it.. so i have decided to keep it and i have just purchased a s54b32 and am going to do the conversion myself. I am wondering if there is anyone on here or does anyone know of anyone who has done this conversion on a right hand drive car? Would like to pick whoever's brains about a few things..I'm not really used to posting on forums but will keep all updated with progress and hopefully post pics as i know everyone loves pics. That's if i can figure out how to upload them.
Cheers
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Mar 21, 2018 20:03:10 GMT
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this guy is on here doing the same swap although he has been a bit quite lately link |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,197
Club RR Member Number: 170
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S54 e21 swapChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Splitty456 is your man to speak to. I don't know what you'll be doing but here is my advice. One thing I will say is that you can get a better manual 'box potentially by buying an SMG 'box and then either machining the bellhousing to accept the manual detent springs or better still, get a self-centralising shifter like the CAE, Samsonas or RTD shifter. This way, the 'box will require no modifcations. The advantage this way is that you're less likely to come across a worn 'box; a computer/robots change the gears on the SMG cars. I'd also do the valve clearances with the engine outside; they're not the easiest to do on an S54 and it is still a job most dealers still hate after all these years. The shims smaller than a 5p piece and you need the special tool/magnet on a stick to fit them. Othwerise, crack on! Did someone say Velocity stacks or a CSL airbox?
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Last Edit: Mar 22, 2018 7:39:49 GMT by ChasR
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I don't know what you'll be doing but here is my advice. One thing I will say is that you can get a better manual 'box potentially by buying an SMG 'box and then either machining the bellhousing to accept the manual detent springs or better still, get a self-centralising shifter like the CAE, Samsonas or RTD shifter. This way, the 'box will require no modifcations. Son of a curse word, why didnt i think of that!!! I think key things on a RHD E21 is using the M20 mounts to give you enough clearance around the steering linkage for an exhaust. That does mean you need either velocity stacks or a modified airbox as the standard MAF elbow won't fit. I'm assuming you've already got a suitable sump and oil pickup on the M52, those will bolt up to the S54. Wiring and ECU coding is basically the same as for an M52, but depending on what inlet you use you might need to swap to an AlphaN map (CSL map basically). there are plenty of guys that will code these ECUs for not much money. Also you'll probably need to upgrade the gearbox to cope with the power. Honestly the best solution is a 5 speed from a diesel E34. it's the same box as used in the 3.0 E36 M3 (so bulletproof) but with an M21 bell housing angle. You might even be able to get away with an E30 gearbox cross member and prop and have it all bolt in! |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,197
Club RR Member Number: 170
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S54 e21 swapChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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The self-centralising function is that Splitty456? I thought about it before. It seemed then a few other people did and some went and tried it! It does now mean an SMG'd E46 can now be manualised without even removing the gearbox if you are clever with the coding options  . But still leave you with a nicer gearshift than a factory manual. |
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Last Edit: Apr 5, 2018 10:12:28 GMT by ChasR
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Yeah, the self centering linkage
It's such a nice solution to that problem and sure beats stripping down 2 gearboxes to swap bell housings! I don't know why it never occurred to me before!
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. But still leave you with a nicer gearshift than a factory manual.