M30 Build Specs - ALL

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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szacsi72
Posts: 286
Joined: Nov 13, 2022 3:41 AM
Location: Hungary

M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by szacsi72 »

Hi all,

Since informations getting lost, I thought it might be a good idea to make a topic that sumirizes the build specs and infos needed to build an M30.
Please let me know if there's something that you consider important and I'll add it to the post!
I'll also update this post with more and more specs as my time will allow.

Regards,
Dave

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
M30(B35) BUILD SPECS

H.R. Etzold: BMW 5er REIHE - So Wird's Gemacht --> Short: 5er Reihe (E28)
Haynes BMW 3- & 5-Series Service and Repair Manual 1997 --> Short: Haynes
Bentley Publishers BMW 5-Series Service Manual (E34) --> Short: Bentley



ENGINE BLOCK
Bore diameter: 92.00-92.01mm - Haynes
Bore wear limit diameter: 92.03mm - Myself (but check the piston-to-wall clearance!)
Bore wear limit out-of-round: 0.01mm - Haynes
Bore wear limit taper: 0.01mm - Haynes

Block height: 217.5mm
Block height limit: ???

Main bearing cap torque spec: 60Nm - Haynes (yes, you CAN reuse these, but clean them well. BMW recommends you run a die trough them)
Main bearing cap torque spec: 40Nm, 60Nm - Myself (I like to torque in two steps as even a perfect condition crankshaft will be slightly banana'd. an)



CRANKSHAFT
Main bearing radial clearance: 0.020- 0.046mm - Haynes
Main bearing radial clearance: 0.030-0.068 mm - BMW Blue Book (upper value is probably wear limit)
Main bearing radial clearance: 0.041-0.055 mm - Mahle General
Main bearing radial clearance: 0.041-0.068 mm - Mahle High Performance
I would personally recommend to stay between 0.035 an 0.060 just based off my experience. 0.020 sounds REALLY tight; especially since most M30 users will use heavier oils (...W50)
Main bearing axial clearance: 0.075-0.175mm - Mahle
Main bearing axial clearance: 0.085-0.174 mm - Haynes



CONNECTING RODS
Conrod bearing radial clearance: 0.020-0.055mm - Haynes
Conrod bearing axial clearance: 0.041mm - Haynes (limit? AVG? no idea, does not state)

Conrod torque specs: 55Nm - Haynes (yes, you CAN reuse these, but clean them well.)

Wrist pin bushings radial clearance: ???



PISTONS
Piston diameter Alcan: 91.972mm - Haynes
Piston diameter Mahle: 91.980mm - Haynes
Compression height: ???
Piston wear limit: ~0.10mm - Myself (Based off p-t-w clearances)
Piston-to-wall clearance when new: 0.02-0.05mm - Haynes
P-t-w limit: 0.15mm - Haynes (sounds way too much to me. If it's over 0.10mm, it's not worth the work to install it anymore)

1st compression ring gap: 0.20-0.45mm - Haynes
2nd compression ring gap: 0.40-0.65 - Haynes
Oil ring gap: 0.30-0.60mm - Haynes

1st compression ring gap: 0.368-0.41 mm - Mahle, Hastings
2nd compression ring gap: 0.414- 0.460mm - Mahle, Hastings
Oil ring gap: >0.381mm - Hastings
0.368 mm to 0.414 mm.



OIL PUMP
Oil pump mounting torque specs: 22Nm - Bentley
Oil pump axial play: 0.04-0.10mm - 5er Reihe
Oil pump radial play: 0.12-0.20mm - 5er Reihe (between the inner and outer gerotor at their wide-open/entry point)
Oil pump radial play: 0.04-0.10mm - 5er Reihe (between the outer gerotor and the housing)

Oil pump nut LH: 25Nm - Bentley

Oil pump chain slack overall: 5-10mm - Myself (You can adjust this via shims from old M30 engines; such as an E9. It is not really a requirement, but I do recommend it EVEN if you have a newer M30 with the chain tensioner.)



CYLINDER HEAD
Cylinder head height: 129.0 +/- 0.1mm - 5er Reihe, Bentley
Cylinder head minimum height: 128.6mm - 5er Reihe
Cylinder head warpage limit: 0.1mm - 5er Reihe
(If you really need it, these heads will safeily go down to 128.3mm.)

Cylinder head bolt torque specs: 60Nm, 20min, 80Nm (E28) - 5er Reihe (I don't think this is correct!!!)
Cylinder head bolt torque specs: 60Nm, 15min, +33°, engine op.temp, +33° (E28/B34) - Haynes
Cylinder head bolt torque specs: 60Nm, 15min, +33°, engine op.temp, +25° (E28/B34) - Garagistic
Cylinder head bolt torque specs: 60Nm, 20min, 80Nm, engine op.temp, +35° (E34/B35) - Haynes, Bentley
Cylinder head bolt torque specs: 60Nm, 25min, 80Nm, 80°C --> +35° (E34/B35) - Elring 802.700
(These cannot be re-used. I've heard people get away with it, but these are TTY - notice the degrees instead of torque?)


Cylinder head bolt tightening sequence:
-------Front------>
14-8-6-2-4-10-12
11-9-3-1-5-7--13

Camshaft axial play: 0.03-0.18mm - Bentley
Camshaft radial play: ???
Camshaft journal: ???
Camshaft distributor bolt torque spec: 23Nm - Bentley
Camshaft-rocker clearances: 0.24mm Cold - Myself (I recommend this method if your drivetrain is worn heavily)
Rocker-valve clearances: 0.30mm cold - Haynes, Bentley, BMW (go-to method - I recommend you to change the eccentrics when adjusting as they wear)
Eccentric locker nut torque spec: 10Nm - Bentley
Rocker arm radial clearance: 0.015-0.051mm - Haynes

Camshaft spray bar torque spec: 11-13Nm - Bentley
Always use new bolts, new PROPER BMW washers and loctite! Using different washers can cause impoper torque settings, crushing the oil spray bar!

Spark plugs: Champion N9YCC - Haynes
Spark plugs: W8 LCR/W8 LPR - Bentley
Spark plugs: W8 DC - 5er Reihe
Spark plug gap: 0.7-0.8mm - Bentley, 5er Reihe
Spark plug gap: 0.8mm - Haynes

Spark plug torque specs: 30-33Nm - Haynes
Spark plug torque specs: 30Nm - Bentley, BERU
Spark plug torque specs: 28Nm - BOSCH
Spark plug torque specs: 25Nm - BMW

Intake valve diameter: 47mm - BMW
Exhaust valve diameter: 38mm - BMW
Exhaust valve stem diameter: 8.0mm - BMW
Valve face angle: 45°- BMW
Valve seat width intake: 1.4 +/-0.4mm - Bentley
Valve seat width exhaust: 1.7 +/-0.4mm - Bentley
Valve guide wear: 0.8mm - Bentley, 5er Reihe (Push valve out until the end of the end is flush with the top of the valve guide, then measure the valve tilt)

Valve spring height: ????
Valve spring outer diameter inner: ????
Valve springn outer diameter outer: ????

Camshaft rear cover torque specs: 10Nm - BMW

Valve cover torque specs: 10Nm - Bentley

Oil pressure switch torque spec: 40Nm - Bentley

Head gasket thickness: 1.72mm - Elring



CHAIN DRIVE
Cam sprocket torque specs - 10Nm - Haynes, Bentley, BMW

Timing chain tensioner - 35Nm - Haynes
Timing chain tensioner - 40Nm - Bentley

Camshaft nut torque specs - 145Nm - Haynes
Camshaft nut torque specs - 145 +/-5Nm - Bentley

Crankshaft nut torque specs - 440Nm - Haynes
Crankshaft nut torque specs - 440Nm +/-10Nm - Bentley



AUXILLAREIS
Crank pulley torque specs - 22Nm - Haynes

Rear swan neck (coolant tube) torque spec: 10Nm - BMW

Upper timing cover torque spec: 10Nm - BMW
Lower tpper timing cover torque spec: 10Nm(M6), 24Nm(M8) - BMW

Oil sump torque spec: 10Nm - Bentley, BMW, Haynes
Oil drain plug torque spec: 25Nm - Bentley
Oil filter top bolt torque spec: 33Nm - Bentley
Oil filter type: Champion X115 - Haynes
Oil filter housing to block torque spec: 24Nm - BMW

Rear main seal torque spec: 10Nm(M6), 24Nm(M8) - BMW

Engine mount arm torque spec: 24Nm(M8), 47Nm(M10) - BMW

Flywheel torque spec: ???

Intake manifold nuts: 22Nm - Bentley
Exhaust manifold nuts: 15Nm - Bentley

Thermostat housing torque spec: 24Nm - BMW
Water pump pulley torque spec: 10Nm - Bentley
Water pump to timing cover torque spec: 10Nm - Bentley
Water pump torque spec: 10Nm - BMW
Viscous fan torque spec: 40Nm - Bentley



OTHERS
Oil pressure at idle: 0.5-2.0bar - Bentley
Oil pressure max: 4.0-5.0bar - Bentley
Compression values: 10-11bar - BMW
c.v. max.dif. b. cyl.: 0.5bar - BMW
Fuel pressure: 3.0bar - Bentley



GENERAL BMW TORQUE VALUES
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPPepT ... sp=sharing
Last edited by szacsi72 on Dec 12, 2024 1:16 PM, edited 3 times in total.
Aldo525
Posts: 366
Joined: Mar 24, 2021 3:04 PM
Location: CHILE

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by Aldo525 »

Hi, great info for the records....I just suggest to add the M30 engine type, I mean, M30B34 or B35, etc....as far I know, types are B25, B28, B30, B34, B35 so they have different specs (example, Bore Diameter...)
szacsi72
Posts: 286
Joined: Nov 13, 2022 3:41 AM
Location: Hungary

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by szacsi72 »

Aldo525 wrote: Dec 11, 2024 9:11 AM Hi, great info for the records....I just suggest to add the M30 engine type, I mean, M30B34 or B35, etc....as far I know, types are B25, B28, B30, B34, B35 so they have different specs (example, Bore Diameter...)
Thanks, I wanted to do that but forgot.
Mike W.
Posts: 27179
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: California Whine Country

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by Mike W. »

Aldo525 wrote: Dec 11, 2024 9:11 AM Hi, great info for the records....I just suggest to add the M30 engine type, I mean, M30B34 or B35, etc....as far I know, types are B25, B28, B30, B34, B35 so they have different specs (example, Bore Diameter...)
They are, but clearances are likely the same. Torque settings are likely the same. I should do a scan too so we have the specs in Imperial measurements as that's what most of us here in the US use. I think of clearances in inch terms and torque in foot pounds, which is what my torque wrench reads.

Excellent data though.
szacsi72
Posts: 286
Joined: Nov 13, 2022 3:41 AM
Location: Hungary

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by szacsi72 »

Mike W. wrote: Dec 11, 2024 8:35 PM
Aldo525 wrote: Dec 11, 2024 9:11 AM Hi, great info for the records....I just suggest to add the M30 engine type, I mean, M30B34 or B35, etc....as far I know, types are B25, B28, B30, B34, B35 so they have different specs (example, Bore Diameter...)
They are, but clearances are likely the same. Torque settings are likely the same. I should do a scan too so we have the specs in Imperial measurements as that's what most of us here in the US use. I think of clearances in inch terms and torque in foot pounds, which is what my torque wrench reads.

Excellent data though.
Yes, clearances for the bearings etc. are the same for at least the M30B28, M30B30, M30B34 and M30B35.
The only differences in the build specs I've found so far are the piston dimensions and therefore piston-to-wall clearances (I will update with different pistons and bores soon), and the cylinder head bolt torque sequence.

Interestingly enough, the bolts are actually the same P/N, both pre and post 87: 11120621144
the HG does have multiple P/Ns , but bmw-fans.info states all of them for both the B34 and the B35: 11121716223, 11121730223, 11121730226

Essentially, the only thing that changed was the torque sequence. I'm not sure why they might have done this; but there must have been a reason. Due to this, I would recommend everyone to go the B35 route even on an older B28/B34 etc. unless the bolts manufacturer states otherwise.
szacsi72
Posts: 286
Joined: Nov 13, 2022 3:41 AM
Location: Hungary

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by szacsi72 »

I did some math, this is just an approximation..
Dry/lubricated with engine oil

Method pre-87 (60-33-33):
242/245kN
Method post-87 (60-80-35):
143/147kN

These are of course much less in reality, as much of the torque gets lost due to friction.
However, in any case, they actually REDUCED the clamping force.

Maybe this has something to do with the blocks cracking? I think we all have seen a couple of those..

Elring also recommends the reduced method, for both the B34 and the B35:
https://docs.teilehaber.de/0010/75049200.PDF
stuartinmn
Posts: 9462
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Minneapolis

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by stuartinmn »

It would be worthwhile to compare the numbers to what factory 5 series repair manual says (I have a copy but can't guarantee I'll have the time in the near future to do it, so if someone else who also has the manual wants to I won't object... ;)
szacsi72
Posts: 286
Joined: Nov 13, 2022 3:41 AM
Location: Hungary

Re: M30 Build Specs - ALL

Post by szacsi72 »

stuartinmn wrote: Dec 12, 2024 7:16 AM It would be worthwhile to compare the numbers to what factory 5 series repair manual says (I have a copy but can't guarantee I'll have the time in the near future to do it, so if someone else who also has the manual wants to I won't object... ;)
I have the version 8, so I'll update the post later with even more specs :cool:
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