Interesting to see what the E30 gang think of the LET and XE.

[Ed]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?n...wtopic&t=69486

[DarrenH]

trying to access a restricted area

cut and paste ?

[Ed]

Oh really damn.

[Ed]

Here is a crude cut and paste then for those interested:

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: calibra turbo conversion

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i was just wondering if anybody has done this conversion before the only prob that i can see is getting a box to suit

is there any body that does a modified box

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k
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 58
Location: cumbria
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject:

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Wouldn't go anywhere near Calibra turbos, very weak engine in 220bhp form, have expensive memories.

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Jon_Bmw
Ex-Boost Junkie



Joined: Jan 12, 2005
Posts: 2202
Location: Salisbury/Bristol/Southampton
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: Re:

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I thought they wern't to bad... The 4wd drivetrain is completely shocking though. Accumaltor/transfer box/prop problems were all common.

I have thought about this engine in something else rear wheel drive. I think you could probably use a senator or omega gearbox as they used the x20xev which was basically the same engine as the c20let. Definatly worth looking into.
_________________
Ex 325i boost junkie

Audi s4 turbo

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k
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 58
Location: cumbria
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject:

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We had a low milage mint Calibra Turbo, and it put a rod through the side of the block. Lots of dialogue with Vauxhall as it had FSH etc, and went to see the stripped engine. Looked just like like a standard 2.0 lump on the inside. 3k to get it fixed, them picking up 1800. Once you start talking to the used car people ( who wouldn't have one on there forecourt as lost to much on warranty claims etc.)and sounding out the technocrats you begin to realise what a moneypit you have bought. Couldn't wait to sell it on. Don't know what the latest Vaukhall lumps are like but beware.

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catrick
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: Re:

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there is always the new vxr engines

just an idea just the gearbox i wuldnt be too sure on

might be un reliable but i still thinking of doing it as only a second car and has got to be fun

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Jon_Bmw
Ex-Boost Junkie



Joined: Jan 12, 2005
Posts: 2202
Location: Salisbury/Bristol/Southampton
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject: Re:

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Catrick i have just given you an idea for the gearbox, get researching on the net to see if it is possible.
_________________
Ex 325i boost junkie

Audi s4 turbo

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Emm3
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 71

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: Re:

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what about the 2.0 redtop in a e30 has that been done?

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cuzz1510
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jan 02, 2007
Posts: 47
Location: Co Durham
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:20 am Post subject: Re:

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saw a clarkson vid years ago and that had a blue e30 with a vauxhall lump in it-think it was the redtop but if your wanting 170bhp (that would be a mint valver!!) why not have a lovely sounding 6 potter like a 325

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OBs
E30 Zone Regular



Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 599
Location: Torbay, South Devon
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:27 am Post subject: Re:

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Ford T5(?) Gearbox would fit... Im guessing that would be out of a Saffy? Well I know of a car that uses one

I dont know how much modification you would need to do... So dont quote me!

OBs
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I want to die just like my Grandad did, Peacfully in his sleep... Not kicking and screaming like his passangers.

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MJG
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jul 29, 2006
Posts: 75

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:50 am Post subject: Re:

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cuzz1510 wrote:
saw a clarkson vid years ago and that had a blue e30 with a vauxhall lump in it-think it was the redtop but if your wanting 170bhp (that would be a mint valver!!) why not have a lovely sounding 6 potter like a 325


Saw that program too Cool transplant. My friend has an xe in his kadett at the moment, think just using a manta gearbox or similar old school opel box.

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catrick
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: Re:

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not sure at the mo weighing up the options always e36 m3 transplant

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mac325i
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jul 29, 2005
Posts: 78
Location: sheffield, s.yorks
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject:

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There is a vid on the tube -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG7oUvgTI7A.
Seems bloody quick!

a vauxhall engine in a bmw is just blasphomey, as is anything with Mr Ford's name on, allthough at least cosworth has a pedigree lol
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MJG
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jul 29, 2006
Posts: 75

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject: Re:

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I don't see it as blasphemy in a crummy e30. If it was some mint rare e30 m3, or e28 m5, then I could see it as blasphemy to ruin a classic but there's millions of e30s and if it works out cheaper/better than using a BMW engine then fair does.

Personally I don't think the cost/effort is worth having a seemingly unreliable vauxhall 4 pot in there when you could turbo a BMW engine and probably get more power a lot easier.

You could just put an N/A c20xe in, they are only about £300 for the lump, and with bike carbs and good manifold etc it should see you with close to 200bhp and revvy/responsive! That has benefits as for the money you are gaining some power, and losing a lot of weight and what weight there is is further back in the back.

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kam-325i
E30 Zone Addict



Joined: Sep 28, 2005
Posts: 2453
Location: TELFORD !!!! (Shropshire) Stevetigger Land !!!
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:34 am Post subject: Re:

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you can get a good M50B25 for £300
_________________
Brianmoooore once said "If you're going to fit a 2.5 throttle body, then leave it attached to the rest of the 2.5 engine and fit the whole thing."


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catrick
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:32 am Post subject: Re:

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sorry peeps you are baffling me with with the engine numbersm5ob25

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Andy335Touring
Engaged to the E30 Zone



Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 6387
Location: Long Eaton,Nottingham
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:35 am Post subject: Re:

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catrick wrote:
sorry peeps you are baffling me with with the engine numbersm5ob25


http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/enumber.html
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fuzzy
E30 Zone Addict



Joined: Jun 05, 2005
Posts: 4121
Location: edinburgh area(broxburn)
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:39 am Post subject:

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mac325i wrote:

a vauxhall engine in a bmw is just blasphomey, as is anything with Mr Ford's name on, allthough at least cosworth has a pedigree lol

you started badly but redeamed yourself at the end why cant you use the box that comes with the engine then a custom prop? whatever you end up using has to be easy and cheap for later power upgrades to make it a sensible option and worthwhile.
_________________

282bhp/289lbft cosworth turbo touring,stage 2 t34 turbo-17psi,ported+polished head,grpA headgasket,stage 2 t34 turbo,t5 box,EBC drilled/grooved discs, cer

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stonesie
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 445
Location: Doncaster
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:44 am Post subject: Re:

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catrick wrote:
sorry peeps you are baffling me with with the engine numbersm5ob25




For the lazy who dont want to click the link

M50 B25 is the code for the 2.5 liter 24 valve engine fitted to the E36, in its early versoin with a iron block, the later alloy block versions were coded M52

The most important number for you is probably 192..... thats the factory bhp figure for that engine, of course it will have more torque than the vauxhall lump too (181 Lb:Ft)

(another thing to remember about the XE is that they are very prone to porus heads)

Think thats about right
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catrick
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: Re:

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cheers for the info very helpful

was just wondering how much would you expect to pay for a good e36m3 engine

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MJG
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jul 29, 2006
Posts: 75

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject: Re:

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£1500-2000 seems to be the going rate on ebay. Can be had cheaper but only if you know your stuff and can spot a bargain.

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fuzzy
E30 Zone Addict



Joined: Jun 05, 2005
Posts: 4121
Location: edinburgh area(broxburn)
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject: Re:

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when pricing an engine conversion, double the original figure quoted to give you a more realistic amount
_________________

282bhp/289lbft cosworth turbo touring,stage 2 t34 turbo-17psi,ported+polished head,grpA headgasket,stage 2 t34 turbo,t5 box,EBC drilled/grooved discs, cer

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m-dtech
E30 Zone lineman


Joined: Sep 02, 2005
Posts: 1672
Location: Scotland
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject: Re:

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m50 lump looks like this


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maxfield
Stevetigger 2


Joined: Nov 27, 2005
Posts: 6538
Location: Mansfield very near nottingham
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject: Re:

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MJG wrote:
cuzz1510 wrote:
saw a clarkson vid years ago and that had a blue e30 with a vauxhall lump in it-think it was the redtop but if your wanting 170bhp (that would be a mint valver!!) why not have a lovely sounding 6 potter like a 325


Saw that program too Cool transplant. My friend has an xe in his kadett at the moment, think just using a manta gearbox or similar old school opel box.


It was an E21

The car is veryyyyyy council.

Watching it now i have it on video
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Grim_Reaper
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 10, 2007
Posts: 96
Location: environmentally freindly london!
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:22 am Post subject: Re:

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vauxhall engines are good IMO, so long as they are standard the c20let engines from the cav turbos and cally turbos are also good, but they do lack power...worst thing about vauxhall is their transmission the 4x4 (according to many people) is basically **** as the transfer box is basically made from melted butter, and the torque kills them...theres no point having a FWD turbo cav/cally as it will just keep spinning and spinning, and its the wrong wheel drive anyway lol...finding a good 20xe or a c20XE (redtop as you like to call it) is hard to find as most people who dont know much about cars will have ragged the sh*t out of them, x20xe and x20xev are the newer varients from the vauxhall range which have less power and are meant to be more economical

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cuzz1510
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jan 02, 2007
Posts: 47
Location: Co Durham
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:27 am Post subject: Re:

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Quote:
It was an E21

The car is veryyyyyy council.

Watching it now i have it on video


could of swore it was a e30 nevermind.yeah she was council.sure he mentions summit bout it having a drainpipe on the front of it for a splitter or something good old clarkson

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[Ed]

Page 2

Lack power? 204bhp from a 2litre 16v turbo in road trim in the early 90's was perfectly powerful enough. Cosworth engines of the same period were exactly the same.

If you want facts about Vauxhall engines log onto www.migweb.co.uk and ask away. Plenty of standard lumps running chip sets up to 280 plus bhp on there, with little or no trauma.

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maxfield
Stevetigger 2


Joined: Nov 27, 2005
Posts: 6538
Location: Mansfield very near nottingham
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:07 am Post subject: Re:

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cuzz1510 wrote:
Quote:
It was an E21

The car is veryyyyyy council.

Watching it now i have it on video


could of swore it was a e30 nevermind.yeah she was council.sure he mentions summit bout it having a drainpipe on the front of it for a splitter or something good old clarkson


Is definatly an E21, drainpipe eybrows

Proper council chariot.
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Grim_Reaper
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 10, 2007
Posts: 96
Location: environmentally freindly london!
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:35 am Post subject: Re:

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kadettc wrote:
Grim_Reaper wrote:
vauxhall engines are good IMO, so long as they are standard the c20let engines from the cav turbos and cally turbos are also good, but they do lack power...worst thing about vauxhall is their transmission the 4x4 (according to many people) is basically **** as the transfer box is basically made from melted butter, and the torque kills them...theres no point having a FWD turbo cav/cally as it will just keep spinning and spinning, and its the wrong wheel drive anyway lol...finding a good 20xe or a c20XE (redtop as you like to call it) is hard to find as most people who dont know much about cars will have ragged the sh*t out of them, x20xe and x20xev are the newer varients from the vauxhall range which have less power and are meant to be more economical


Lack power? 204bhp from a 2litre 16v turbo in road trim in the early 90's was perfectly powerful enough. Cosworth engines of the same period were exactly the same.

If you want facts about Vauxhall engines log onto www.migweb.co.uk and ask away. Plenty of standard lumps running chip sets up to 280 plus bhp on there, with little or no trauma.


i am on migweb ive been there since 2005 lmao...what i was trying to say is that a mint lump is usually pretty expensive or ragged...nothing wrong with vauxes TBH

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pete1979
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jan 04, 2006
Posts: 23

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:33 am Post subject: Re:

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well i think its wrong to put a xe or let in a bmw as for 280bhp with a chip ? crap 230 max u want more buy bigger injectors know this first hand and ya kkk turbo wont last need a gt28rs job and in standard for 200bhp no problem ask it for more it will spend more tme off the road then it will on go for a 325 but if u must the the gearbox you want is a 2.0 carlton or if you can find one a manta 1.8 or 2.0 all the same messed on with xe and let motors but when you need a car to get you to work and not worry if it it will i got rid and got another bmw

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Eddiejt2
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 34

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject: Re:

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pete1979 wrote:
well i think its wrong to put a xe or let in a bmw as for 280bhp with a chip ? crap 230 max u want more buy bigger injectors know this first hand and ya kkk turbo wont last need a gt28rs job and in standard for 200bhp no problem ask it for more it will spend more tme off the road then it will on go for a 325 but if u must the the gearbox you want is a 2.0 carlton or if you can find one a manta 1.8 or 2.0 all the same messed on with xe and let motors but when you need a car to get you to work and not worry if it it will i got rid and got another bmw


Ever heard of punctuation?

And from what I can decipher, you have written a lot of bollocks anyway. Anyone who is slightly genned up on engines will know both the 20XE and 20LET are fantastic engines. Also you are wrong about the gearboxes. For a rearwheel drive gearbox to fit an XE or LET you need the 1.8 gearbox only from a Carlton or Manta. The 2.0 will not fit.


I don't know where all this talk of the LET being unreliable has come from.

As has been said by a few, get yourself over to MIGweb.co.uk if you have any questiins.

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keri-WMS
E30 Zone Newbie



Joined: Apr 30, 2006
Posts: 163

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:50 pm Post subject:

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Redtops etc are common swaps into MK1/2 Escort rallycars, buy a Classic Ford and all the bits / kits for the conversion to RWD are for sale there. Burton/RallyDesign/Ralloy/SBD etc should be able to help as well.

I don't normally get dragged into anything "engine", but if I was looking for an engine swap from scratch I would take a serious look at Toyota! One E30 guy here is already playing with the Lexus/Toyoya 4.0 32v V8 AFAIK, but there's still inline 4 fun to be had. Options:

1) - 4AGE 20v 1.6 - 140-160bhp (versions) in std trim on OEM ITB's - 9,000rpm, 180bhp is possible with an aftermarket ECU on a std engine!

2) - BEAMS (designed by Yamaha) 2.0 16v from the Lexus Altezza RS200, lower revs but still 210bhp out of the box and supposedly 230bhp on aftmarket ECU.

8psi of boost (possible on most standard engines if the timing is retarded etc with various black boxes - not my thing so don't ask) on a 230bhp BEAMS running a screw supercharger would give you aprox:

230bhp/14.5psi(1 bar of atmos) = 15.862bhp per psi absolute.
15.862bhp/psi x (14.5psi-atmos + 8psi-boost) = 357bhp
357bhp minus maybe 30bhp to drive the supercharger = 327bhp with no lag!

[Mark T]

Just Chuck a V12 in it, fits the Carlton OK, so why not an E30?

[Gt5500]

2JZ no sh1t

[Colonel K]

1uzfe Ftmfw :d

[Colonel K]

Just Chuck a V12 in it, fits the Carlton OK, so why not an E30?

In an Estate IIRC. Cool pics those. Would love to see some vids of it (the carlton)

[CraigGreen]

What a boring read.

BMW owners really believe they are blessed with the best of engineering & bragging rights.

[Brett]

indeed. Hardly a well informed bunch are they?

Oh well. end of the day it only reflects badly on them.

[CraigGreen]

I wouldnt expect them to know the difference between a crossflow or an XE tbh, but it just comes accross as narrow minded & like you say ill-informed yet opinionated.

[turboastra]

A guy at my work has an 02 plate M3 convertable and he went away on holiday in it down to the south of france and came back without it as it broke down over there. Its now with a french bmw dealer. Gonna be a huge bill me thinks.lmao

[CraigGreen]

I bet theres more XE's left on the UK roads than E30's.

[Champion]

posted my views

[sbd16vastra]

posted my views

i joined up just to post mine LOL

[lethal]

I bet theres more XE's left on the UK roads than E30's.

Only because they're all in novas and you can't transverse mount the E30 engines

[Violet]

See that type of thing on every forum though. Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, etc. It's only fair to quote if you've had a 'love affair' the car I say. Not 'a go of me mate's an it was sh*t'.