M30 or LS swap , age old question ?

[speed_is_addictive]

Hey everyone, I just bought an e24 lat model, love the car and was starting to work on it.

The m30 runs ok , and i know I can do some things to it , but also know that it will never reach 300 HP.
An LS would of course do this no problem.

What do you guys think of the two engines,
Keep it original or go with the LS ?

[Tommys 89 635]

have it rebuild and you can get it close to 300hp or get a turbo

[Pod]

Keep it original. Why ruin it by changing the engine?

[bpoliakoff]

A good engine builder can get 300hp or close to it reliably for a lot less than the conversion or look up TCD ( Turbo Charge Dynamics) Todd can get an easy 400 HP out of them easily and totally streetable

[Brucey]

if you change the engine for something completely different, is it really an E24 any more?

There are a few -and I mean very few- E24s which have been heavily modified with all kinds of weird bits on them where I think "yes I can see why the owner has done that". But most often I am left baffled by it.

cheers

[speed_is_addictive]

I think after getting the m30 running and finding out it smokes like a sob im gonna go with my LS engine as its in great shape. I also have a free 4 speed auto and a ratchet shifter

[Pod]

Sacrilege - but it’s your car to ruin

[bpoliakoff]

Have fun doing that conversion! It isn't just about motor and transmission mounts as you will find out . It has taken many before you to their knees

[Pod]

Last year I bought two E24s for restoration from a chap who had a DIESEL conversion to his E24