eS vs iS/i

#1

I know the e cars come with a 2.7 motor, but if someone were to swap the motor/tranny, would a eS car make a good base for SE30? I’ve got a friend here looking to build a car and was curious if there were other things to keep in mind if he were to start with an e car.

#2

An eS will make a great donor car. In addition to the engine swap, you’ll need to change the differential, DME, wiring harness and instrument cluster. I’m not sure if all eS cars came with ABS so you need to check your car.

#3

Excellent. I figured the diff and wiring harness/DME would have to get swapped. Are the brakes the same between the chassis’?

#4

Brakes are the same…

#5

Only if the e was cheap. The swap is a pita. If count your time, the donor parts, you can fiqure that you can spend more a get a i donor. You are always better off to start with a good running i donor. Just my opinion, I know it is tempting to start with the cheapest car, but it is not always worth it.

#6

I agree. If starting from scratch and you don’t have an M20B25 power train, etc. just laying around you would have to get awfully good deal on the ETA car for this to make sense.

#7

Thanks - we do have several M20B25 motors and a couple g260’s around so that helps.

So it sounds like the first choice is to start with an i car, of course, but with the other drivetrain, the Eta would be a good choice.

#8

I believe only the 1986 model etas were ABS cars. The 325e model was available in 84 and 85 but was wihout ABS until 86. The 325es model was available in 86 and I beleive there were some early in the 87 model year until the 325is came out.

The switch from es can be done if that is what he already has.

Don

#9

I dont know if everyone is familiar with that site, you can find a lot of your answers there:
http://realoem.com/bmw/select.do?kind=P&arch=1

#10

I asked about ABS at e30 tech when I was car shopping. The consensus that emerged was that it became an option in '85, and standard in '87 on. One guy chimed in that his '84 E28 had ABS.

@Ludo. There are times when RealOEM is terrific, but like everything, it’s not always right.

#11

I completely agree, it’s like the bible, all answers are not in there :wink:

#12

I was looking at a 86 325es yesterday that was sale and it did have ABS. It would make a good candidate.

#13

How much was it? I might have a buddy interested if you guys aren’t.

#14

I ended up buying it - got a good deal. We’re putting together a Chump Car team…so we have our candidate now!

#15

Dude, you’re French. When you guys don’t like the answers in the bible you get your own Pope.

#16

Dude, you’re French. When you guys don’t like the answers in the bible you get your own Pope. [/quote]Lyon was a perfectly good substitute, so was Canterbury <.< >.> shuffles off

#17

tttt, we were fighting against delocalization/relocation, we french are visionaries because I am pretty sure the concept didnt even existed back then, fighting to keep our business in france rather than sending it back to Rome! :laugh:

#18

ES vs. Si

I have an ES…

The change to Si is simple… Change Gague cluster, the Diff, Engine and CPU (and wiring harness)… The swap though can be expensive… But if you’re able, you will likely be exchanging these parts anyway…

Everything else is the same.

#19

The “800” car was an e…as long as it is a late car with round plug for engine harness it is not a problem…e motors are in demand from LeMons/Chump racers…I know I wouldnt want to waste an i motor on a crapcan race…

I think a major consideration is if the car has been wrecked, I would pick a clean e car over a wrecked/repaired i any day.

Al