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Differences between m90 motors
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:28 pm
by fidosd9
Re: Differences between m90 motors
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:47 pm
by thomas_m535i
Could you be more specific on what kind of info about rebuilding your engine you're exactly looking for? About L-jet to Motronic conversion: there are FAQ's about this

(
http://www.firstfives.org/motronic.html).
FYI, some background info: I'm quite certain that only the Euro E24 635csi (<1981), some very early E23 735i's, and the E12 M535i had this type of engine block originally mounted. These were always 3,5L (3453cc) 6-cyl. engine blocks.
The 93,35 (+/- 93,4) mm is of course the bore, stroke would be (for a M90) 84mm.
At this moment, I'm rebuilding my M90 engine and when comparing it with what I see on your pictures, although also being 3,5L, I can see the differences. For example, the design of the block is slightly different and M90 engines never had dual row timing chains installed (as far as I know). I believe that your engine is one of the later 3,5L 'big block' 6-cylinder engines. These were designated 'M30'.
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:52 pm
by Mike W.
The top bolt oil filter points towards being an early engine, the pistons are flat tops, which are at least not the late euro 3.5 and while I don't know on M90s specifically, in M10 and M30s BMW used a dual row timing chain until 79 model year. 79 and later got single row, but if it was out of an E24 and went strictly by model year it could be from as early as 5-78 or 6-78 production as they started model year very early in the calendar year.
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:53 pm
by Adam W in MN
Interesting with the dual row timing chain. Do you have any pictures of the bottom of the engine blocks near the oil pan? I would like to see the casting of the bottom end to see if there are differences.