525i 2.5 in e30 325i 2.5 - BMW Forum

flipsgonetopless · 10-24-2003, 05:22 PM

Hollo once again, I'm going to replace the engine on my 89 325i, it has a pretty loud noise coming from the block. I was told that it might me a wrist pin or maybe a bearing, never the less when I did the oil change the last time I had metallic shavings. I just found an angine from a 91 525i, the guy said it was in excellent condition before the accident. Can anyone tell me if this engine will work on my car, he said it would but I just want to make sure that it will work with my ecm. Please I need info like right away because i'm gonna go see the engine in the morning. Some one told me that these engines from the 525 had a little more horse power that the e30 2.5, is this true? Oh by the way he wants to sell me the tranny also its a 5 speed but I only need the engine being that my car is an automatic. Any help will be appreciated and I guess if I do end up buying the combo I will have a transmission up for sale...

alanh · 10-24-2003, 05:36 PM

i think it'll fit BMW does share several of thier engines

MrM3 · 10-24-2003, 05:52 PM

i think 91 525i's used a M50 which is different from yours, but better (24v dohc, 189hp compared to 12v sohc 168hp). the only thing is you will probably need a new driveshaft, ecu, and some other things. and if you take the transmission from it you would need a new differential. plus about 70-80hrs of labor, ballpark. it is very easy to telll if it has a M50 or not, if its a M20 like yours then costs should be alot lower

alanh · 10-24-2003, 09:18 PM

fo shizzle mrm3s' nizzle i think hes right... so i checked a web page and it says
525i '88-'91 M20
525i '91-'96 M50
so i don't really know what that means. was it changed before, during, or after 91? you could just ask him how much hp it has. if 168 yeah if 189... maybe some work.

MrM3 · 10-24-2003, 10:09 PM

i'm pretty sure they changed it in late 1990 for the 91 model. but like i said it is very easy to tell if its a M50 or M20. the M20 is what you have now so i'm sure you know what it looks like, but the m50 was a totally new design and looks like this...

flipsgonetopless · 10-25-2003, 12:24 AM

Well thank you for your input, I dont plan to put in the tranny but only the engine. I hope that new engine bolts on to me tranny. I will keep you updated on what happens and hopefully I can do the swap with minimal cost and labor. Oh another thing the guy told me was that this is a self tuning engine so I'm assuming that it is an M50, but again I dont know. So again my fellow bimmer fanatics I thank you.........