Brother's new plaything

[Frosty]

He assures his missus not a mid-life crisis, but I don't care this is one clean car.

BMW E21 316 with 50k genuine miles. Originally a 1.8 auto, it received an M52

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Engine
M52B28 2.8 24V single VANOS from 728i on 78k
Head skimmed, pistons decoked, valves lapped, new OEM head gasket
New VANOS unit (not refurb)
New OEM MAF sensor
Lightened flywheel, new clutch
M50 inlet manifold, K&N air filter
Custom baffled sump
Custom high capacity radiator
Battery relocated to boot
Custom breather pipe system
Straight-through stainless exhaust
Remapped ECU for 98 RON and breathing mods

Running Gear
Refurbished E24 LSD and 5-speed gearbox
Gaz coilovers
Polybushed arms and engine mounts
Slotted rear beam for adjustable camber (shotblasted &
powder coated)
E21 323i front subframe
E21 323i hubs, discs and calipers (fully rebuilt)
E30 BBS 15" alloys – fully refurbished with centre caps
PAS replaced with manual quick rack

[Rob Hardman UK]

Looks amazing. Rob

[MattOz]

Even in hearing aid beige, that's a properly cool thing. Your Brother is a jammy git!

[Charles]

Who would have thought it would fit but clearly no space for the viscous fan!

How does it run? Given the position of the engine, which appears to be quite far forward over the front axle, does this affect handling?

[Frosty]

There is a build thread from the chap who did it:

https://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17050

[Bob]

Who would have thought it would fit but clearly no space for the viscous fan!

How does it run? Given the position of the engine, which appears to be quite far forward over the front axle, does this affect handling?

I don’t imagine the M52 is much heavier (if at all) than the M20 which the 323i came with. Don’t forget ALPINA and others shoehorned the M30 boot anchor into the E21 and those didn’t handle too badly by all accounts.

[Charles]

I don’t imagine the M52 is much heavier (if at all) than the M20 which the 323i came with. Don’t forget ALPINA and others shoehorned the M30 boot anchor into the E21 and those didn’t handle too badly by all accounts.

It was more a case of whether having the weight further forward over the axle might affect the steering response. I remember, back in the mid-90s, being able to compare petrol and diesel three series six-pots and the 325d felt much more front-heavy. Just wondering ...