If anybody wants to pick it up in DistMarVa, they can have it for free.
It's a BMW M20B23. Manufactured from 1977-1982 and sold only in Europe, as far as i know. I think spec was 141HP and redline about 6400 rpm. 2.3L slant 6 with an overhead cam. Easily mates to any Getrag 260. Used in E21s and E30s.
I have the distributor, ignition wires, coil, electrical harness, oil pan, flywheel, and alternator still on it. I'm pretty sure I have the starter too. I can throw in an electric fuel pump that mounts in the engine bay.
Before you can use it, you will need a BMW Jetronic ignition control module, and a carburetor such as a Weber 38/38.
I ran it for a few years but I don't need it anymore. Compression was still good and even across the cylinders around the time I pulled it, and it had plenty of torque, though it did have a bit of piston slap until it got warmed up. It was a good street motor, and I even tracked it about 4 times with good results. It needs valve seals to curtail oil consumption. Rings wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it needs them.
Act now, and I'll throw in a free dipstick and 6 slightly used spark plugs.
I wish I had something to put it in. That was the motor from the Euro-only hot rod E21 323i (I'm assuming you converted it to carb?). Hope someone snaps it up - it would be great in an E21.
Thanks! Previous owner converted it to carb, using the intake from a 320/6.
It came with my 323i Euro, which I'm still taking to the track a few times every year, but with a tuned M20B25 under the hood now.
Man that's the only M20 I'd want to put in my 2002 but it's too far away.
what head casting number does it have?
some of the non-eta heads are really nice to swap onto an eta motor(m20b27).
Stampie, I've never shipped a motor, but I'm willing to try, and I have a damn good idea how to pallet one up.
Cactus
Reader
5/31/18 4:38 p.m.
Daeldalus said:
what head casting number does it have?
some of the non-eta heads are really nice to swap onto an eta motor(m20b27).
This probably has the same "200" head that an eta came with. I'm willing to bet it came out of an e21, so it's the same as the eta head with a better cam. The one out of e30 323i's had a "731" head, which wakes up an eta quite nicely.
I could be wrong, but I have a good use for it whichever head it happens to be.
In reply to JBasham :
I'll let others take dibs. I kinda have my heart set on a turbo M10.
Hey, I'll jump in - 1984 M30B25, the smallest of the big sixes fitted to E28 525i and E23 725i as sold outside of North America. 150HP, 159lb-ft but when it was in the car it felt like a lot less. 375,000 km. Has all the L-Jetronic bits and the mechanical ignition along with a manual transmission. Free to good home. Who wants it? No one?? Located in Southern Ontario, Canada.
In all seriousness the fuel injection stuff would probably come in handy for someone trying to keep a Euro 528i going so if you are one of the handful of people in North America with one of those let me know.
Adam
Cactus said:
Daeldalus said:
what head casting number does it have?
some of the non-eta heads are really nice to swap onto an eta motor(m20b27).
This probably has the same "200" head that an eta came with. I'm willing to bet it came out of an e21, so it's the same as the eta head with a better cam. The one out of e30 323i's had a "731" head, which wakes up an eta quite nicely.
I could be wrong, but I have a good use for it whichever head it happens to be.
If you want it, I'm happy to hand it over -- but it stays bolted to the engine block until it's out of my jurisdiction.
