Ditching the AFM

As followers of TBMW magazine will know, they have an E30 M3 project car on which they have ditched the AFM for an Alpha N module.

Is this mod available for the M30 as I'd like to get something a bit more 21st century than the Heath Robinson mouse trap currently sitting on my engine.

Thats come down in price. around 400 or so. WOuld be around 550 delivered with taxes etc though. Anyone had this? make much difference?

I need 2! one for the 635, and one for the 335!

So, this combined with air filter, and the 6 throttle bodies, you are approaching m635 territory prior to any head work.

looking at this: -

288 degree piper cam, head skimmed, ported polished, larger valves,

maf conversion,

tubular manifold, and full exhaust system,

6 throttle bodies,

k&n panel filter,

chip.

all this should see 300bhp from the m30 right? I am thinking that 280+ was seen without the chip, and the more agressive cam/ porting and polishing and maf, so the extra 20bhp shouldn't be that hard to come by?

 

single evale. exhaust valve?

could be right, i shall find out without some of these mods, and if i'm getting close see if it can be done. does the 24v make a huge difference over maximum sized 12v? would be awesome to go that far, but again, you are probably right. i bet i can get near 280 though.

time will tell.

This isn't a '90s rice rocket we're talking about, it's a 1968 lump which  has alway put out around 65bhp per litre at best. It got it's power from capacity.

Bear in mind Alpina only got 245bhp & later, 260bhp from the 12 valve M30 & that included head, cam, exhaust & rechip. Any more would require a really hairy cam that would make street use a pain. The Group A race cars were only putting out 285bhp.

If you want 280bhp+ in a Six you have 3 options (in order of ease),

1. buy an M635
2. fit a supercharger or turbo
3. put a bigger engine in

Apart from the obvious M60/M62 V8 and the M70 V12, lots of Yank V8's will fit & don't weigh any more. See the Roadfly E24 forum for details.

I think with the m30 we maybe just barking up the wrong tree anyway, its the torque this engine has, that makes up for the bhp lack, much like the 328i e36. i still think i can get it near the 300 mark, if im off, its an expensive giggle and i tried, and still haave a fast car, if i am, then alot of people are wrong........

Thanks for that ian. The 635 engine will get "hand me downs" from the 335i, but the 335i gets the full treatment being my primary project. Compression on the m30 can be increased alot, given its low standard form. The head i had done, has been done very well, by someone who primarily is a mini specialist. i will measure the valve sizes, but there is no way at all that larger valves could be fitted. looking at the chambers there is simply no more room. Porting is very good, and without going into reliability issues, the wall is as thin as i would take it without having to worry all the time.

With the 335i, i intend to get the rev limit to 7500, or 8000 anyway. with the 6, i'll just raise it to 6500 given the standard clutch, rockers etc.

Cost wise yes, i am approcahing an m3 engine anyway (evo), but will still have the reliability, cheapish parts, no vanos, and be able to install myself as i cannot be dealing with new vs old wiring looms.

to make full use omex engine management does seem the way to go, but to start with, im just bolting in a standard m30 engine to havesome fun with. that way i can get used to the brakin and handling without the power, and give the six a holiday for rust treatment, and a suspension overhaul.

 

What head bolts is he using? apparently the bmw ones arn't much crop beyond normal tuning.

if i had pelnty of cash i would just go for 5.0 V12,
apparantly its a better fit than the bmw V8's and if its
good enough for the supercar boys!

how much is a battered 750? its probably less than
building a race spec M30

food for thought!

lol. its a plan. i never "planned" to learn to weld, and fit genuine saloon m3 wings to the convertible, but did.

I intend to ge the whole lump on the m30 overhauled, lightened and balanced. Im not in competition with alpina, or schnitzer. its just what i think, and its a project, i don't expect it to go to plan, but follow it roughly and get me somewhere near the 300 mark. I could fit a v12, indeed i considered it, but for 2000 reasons for and 2000 against i went with the m30. How i far i will get is anybodys guess. what i do know is that it will be about as far as a street engine can go.