M90 engine overhaul

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janusz200
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Location: Warsaw, Poland

M90 engine overhaul

Post by janusz200 »

I have to take off the engine and fix the valve tightness and crankshaft axial play. This is also the opportunity to check the rest and probably to overhaul the block – machine the cylinders and replace the pistons. Do somebody know whether factory block overhaul manual exists as a separate publication beside of general repair nmanual? My engine is M90 (3453 cm3/bore 93,4mm – motor up to 1981 models). I appreciate all your advises about motor overhaul.
1980 635 CSi EU
M90/L-Jetronic/manual
Drew
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by Drew »

Can't help with your question, just a reminder to get the correct CH gasket on rebuild. The 3453 engine has a very different gasket to the 3430
bpoliakoff
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by bpoliakoff »

Janusz I had my M90 rebuilt at an engine machine shop. Standard engine building tolerances were used nothing other than M30 fitment. Pistons were made to spec and fitted as true 10:1 giving required clearances at cylinder walls and valve interferences. valve adjustments were provided by the cam shaft grinder at ten thousandths at the cam. There was nothing out of the ordinary about rebuilding the motor other than making sure all the specs were right on and again we used standard BMW specs as used for an M30. The engine was carefully balanced and all ports were cleaned up and matched. Engine builder estimates at least 45 HP over stock but that will be found out when the car is running and goes on a dyno
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos.
88m53453
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by 88m53453 »

Pretty much everything Bert said, My 79 M90 was extremely strong, hi comp forged pistons, cam and Stahl headers and it easily handled e30 M3's at Summit Point 30 years ago. Also a e9 with supposedly 12:1 and triple side drafts that the builder claimed well over 300HP... I doubt it, but it felt good anyway. M90 is a great engine properly built. It's been a long time, but I think my cam builder spec'd 12 thou. I got the chance to drive a track prepped m635 a few years later and it spoiled me lol
bpoliakoff
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by bpoliakoff »

My cam grinder specd 10 thou but that could be at the cam not sure. Probably. My cam is a regrind. It is a 284 and I am using oversized eccentrics
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos.
janusz200
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 6:09 am
Location: Warsaw, Poland

Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by janusz200 »

My engine is in pieces now. Cylinder head - I have to change the valve’s guides and sealings. Crankshaft – rod journals are scratched – have to be grinded.

The block - cylinders 1…5 are worn of 0,03-0,04 mm (0,0012-0,0015”) measured across the crankshaft below the "fret" at the top (I mean upper end of top ring travel). Pistons lost max. 0,015 mm (0,0006”) 13 mm above the skirt’s bottom (measuring as recommended by shop manual). Total wear between piston and cylinder is max. 0,12-0,14 mm (~0,005”). Not very good but no disaster.

But the cylinder no 6… Max. wear at the top measured across is 0,08 mm (0,003"). But is twice bigger measured at about 45° to the engine axis. This means the rod is bended most probably. Anyway – I don’t like to leave it like it is.

I have the following possibilities:

1) Buy custom oversized pistons (original Mahle are not available no longer) and machine all cylinders. Proper solution according to the state of art but… Piston manufacturers (JE Pistons/Wiseco and Ross) recommend clearance of 0,004” (~0,1 mm) between piston and cylinder. In factory manual there’s half of this (0,045-0,055mm). Maximum allowable wear clearance is 0,15 mm. I’m not a specialist but it looks for me like their alloy gets higher thermal expansion than old BMW’s. Does it mean that engine will be noisy working cold? Can it cause higher wear of piston’s skirt low part? I suppose their pistons are very good for sport engines but not for classic car driven occasionally. Last but not least the price of custom pistons are beyond my budget (see viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30466).

2) Leave the original pistons, polish them (some small scratches available), replace the rims and put the cylinder sleeves into the block. Looks attractive due to clearance of forged custom piston’s problem as well as price-wise .

3) Do as above but only for 6th cylinder. I feel that it’s not the good idea.

All your opinions are highly appreciated.
1980 635 CSi EU
M90/L-Jetronic/manual
janusz200
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by janusz200 »

What is the mounting direction of connecting rod? Both sides of rod look the same. Only difference is a small hole on the top just below the bushing available on one side only (pointed with red arrow on the photo).
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1980 635 CSi EU
M90/L-Jetronic/manual
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jps635
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by jps635 »

Hi Janusz

I missed your previous post 16 Dec.

When I rebuilt my M30B34 I was initially considering custom pistons, but as you have found is not straight forward, so I stuck with Mahle 2nd oversize.

However I had trouble locating these and sourced through Carl Bennet at Korman Autoworks https://www.kormanautoworks.com/, so may be worth a try for your M90.

Pauter rods are a good upgrade if building a stronger engine and looking for replacements.

Good luck with your rebuild
'85 635csi JPS (RA2-66)
Pasocb
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Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by Pasocb »

IIRC the conrod small end oil hole faces forward and the bearing shell tab reliefs appose each other. I would not reuse the cast pistons in hopes of a quiet engine during warmups. The last m90 I rebuilt reusing the original pistons sounds just like it has forged pistons as it warms up. Granted I bought the car not running with no knowledge of the engine’s history but it measured in spec. If you are like me talking it easy during an initial warm up period for the engine is just good practice anyway. I have had great experiences with forged pistons in street engines over the years.
1981 635 Hennarot
1980 635 Polaris (Project)
janusz200
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Location: Warsaw, Poland

Re: M90 engine overhaul

Post by janusz200 »

There are good opinions for forged pistons. Anyway I used my old pistons - the rest is here viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30466
Pasocb wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:06 pm IIRC the conrod small end oil hole faces forward and the bearing shell tab reliefs appose each other.
Thanks a lot. By the way it's interesting why this direction.
1980 635 CSi EU
M90/L-Jetronic/manual
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