'86 535i M30B34: Camshaft Conundrum

[code]

Thanks Desmond. My last few emails with Jeff were very helpful, and put at ease some of the misgivings I had initially. I'm going to run the IE 270 cam, along with the IE HD Rockers, rocker shafts, rocker locks, new eccentrics, and new hardware. I made a build thread for my e28 a while back, I'll post there with progress and updates but will check this thread if anyone has additional input.

[Mike W.]

If you have a local machine shop you trust, I'd take the cam into them and ask for their opinion, none of them look good to me. I am emphatically not a pro engine builder, but I have put together a bunch over the years and I wouldn't put in a cam like any of those. Unless it looks much different in person than by photo, which is possible. At the very least I'd be taking crocus cloth to it.

[code]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for your feedback. After spending some time researching other M30 camshafts, I don’t see any others with this kind of finish. It is giving me pause, because the lobes aren’t as smooth as the polished cam journals.

The HD rockers, rocker shafts and other hardware look good. I think I’ll return the IE cam and go with a different company. Dbilas has a 276 grind.

Ok - so switching gears. What cam brands / grinds are preferred for a stock M30B34 with Motronic 1.0?

[SlickDizzy]

I would just post a want ad here for a good B35 cam or do some adventuring at your local junkyards. Dbilas has a good reputation, but for a stock M30B34, I wouldn't want to troubleshoot issues across languages, time zones, and the Atlantic Ocean if something is wrong or doesn't work out.

[code]

I would just post a want ad here for a good B35 cam or do some adventuring at your local junkyards. Dbilas has a good reputation, but for a stock M30B34, I wouldn't want to troubleshoot issues across languages, time zones, and the Atlantic Ocean if something is wrong or doesn't work out.

True. I'll try that first, thanks.

I'm sending the IE cams back on Monday. I did a closer inspection of the third 270 grind cam I received, and it too still has grooves on some of the lobes.

[euroshark90]

Holy crap. That is not good. I have had issues before with IE products. Similarly to you, Jeff and his team did the right thing, and made efforts to correct issues.

B35 cam is great cam all around. Im making 560whp on 19psi, pulling all the way to 6500rpm.

[code]

I should post an update -- I ended up returning the cams back to Ireland Engineering and ordered a new 276 road cam from Dbilas. The head is assembled and I'm just about ready to put it back in the car. I'll update the thread with once everything's back together and running!

[Mike W.]

I should post an update -- I ended up returning the cams back to Ireland Engineering and ordered a new 276 road cam from Dbilas. The head is assembled and I'm just about ready to put it back in the car. I'll update the thread with once everything's back together and running!

Glad to hear they took them back, but bad news since I think they were the ones with a knock off of Paul Burke's cams.

[Sagi]

I should post an update -- I ended up returning the cams back to Ireland Engineering and ordered a new 276 road cam from Dbilas. The head is assembled and I'm just about ready to put it back in the car. I'll update the thread with once everything's back together and running!

Glad to hear they took them back, but bad news since I think they were the ones with a knock off of Paul Burke's cams.

A very bad Paul Burke knock off.its not easy to make the same finish and the same accurate measurements if you don't have the original Paul Burke cutting profiles, Paul Burke camshafts are made with a superior material that will break your rocker arm before it will be scratched(it has a polished lobe ) if you don't know what you're doing with the balance of the spring.
I don't buy from IE, a lot of the stuff they sell is just cheap Chinesium . You can see the same products at Alibaba and I suspect the blanks are Chinese too.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KhxYTVoHK3S91NT9A I ordered some blanks from china for inspection. It look the same.
my Paul Burke N45 camshaft will be ready next month.

[Mike W.]

...my Paul Burke N45 camshaft will be ready next month.

Might I ask where you're getting it from? My understanding is Paul had some serious health conditions and was out of business.

[code]

A cam from Paul would have been my first choice. I thought he was out of business too.

[LeiseyJr]

A schrick 284 on a 8:1 motor works very well. Don't knock it until you try it Gives it a bit more mid range and it doesn't start falling on its face after 5000.

Old videos from that setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeyW_jyYyu4
https://youtu.be/akFon2sq8Pk?t=441

Had that setup with headers and a Korman chip for a few years. Can beat it on it relentlessly (once you upgrade the rockers) and don't have to worry about fuel/pinging.

[Seeker]

Good thread Code, sub’d it was very diligent of you to take your time with this, I’m afraid I rushed in a bit when choosing a cam, my M30B34 needed a head refresh and I decided to use a 270 camshaft from IE, the cam appeared to be polished with no apparent grooves but only time will tell if it holds up…

Looking forward to hearing how your engine runs after installing the Dbilas 276 camshaft, please keep the updates coming.

[code]

Hey Seeker!

The engine is finished, and I got stuck for a bit installing the new evaporator. Just about done, and I'll have it all buttoned up. The 276 cam sounds aggressive at idle but is very drivable, I did a few test drives before doing the interior console work for the evap and expansion valve. I'll take some video after I get it back together.

[Seeker]

Hey Seeker!

The engine is finished, and I got stuck for a bit installing the new evaporator. Just about done, and I'll have it all buttoned up. The 276 cam sounds aggressive at idle but is very drivable, I did a few test drives before doing the interior console work for the evap and expansion valve. I'll take some video after I get it back together.

I bet you are excited, I’m excited to see and hear your car run!

[code]

Resurrecting this thread. I've had the car back together for a while now and have been troubleshooting two issues, lopey/rough idle and running rich. Would a 276 camshaft be enough to cause the engine to lope along at idle and shake the car? It isn't a constant blub blub blub, it will go into a gallop on occasion and then settle back into the lopey blub blub blub of an idle again. Also smells heavily of sulfur. Here is a link to a short video https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zcO0d1pC_XA