Replacing 333 Motor with e12 535 Motor

ISADORE

New member
Hi there Gentleman,I'm in the process of replacing my 333 motor with an e12 535 motor,the only problem is that the 535 still has the old round adjustible distributor and the 333 has the bolt on distributor cap like the e34 535,would like to know can the distributor be replaced or what else needs to be done to do the change
 

Nic_s

///Member
Sadly I don't know enough to help, but I am curious to why you taking out the original 333 motor?
 

ISADORE

New member
The 333 basically has the 733 motor with 145 kw,the 535 motor is somewhat stronger at 160kw,in any case I have to replace coz my motor is buggered
 

Raybimmer

New member
Rather sell the car , it is worth more standard than raped .
Put in a 733 motor with gasflowed head and better exhaust ( keep original one ) .

why did BMW SA not put in the 535i motor originally ?
 

ISADORE

New member
Guys this is my third 333 and I'm not selling,I've previously fitted an e34 535 motor in my other one,replaced the cam with the original 333 cam the car runs much stronger with the 535,everything looks exactly the same because the 333 intake,airflow,sump and short ratio 1down box is used,no man kan see any deviation from the original motor besides that its way stronger.
 
W

wikk3d88

Guest
far too many trip 3's have been mangled with the 535 motor...
i has a sad. please keep it original. I doubt there are many left on the road.
 

Raybimmer

New member
wikk3d88 said:
far too many trip 3's have been mangled with the 535 motor...
i has a sad. please keep it original. I doubt there are many left on the road.

Add another one to that list .
If I bought a 333i and later had a motor problem and stripped it and found it was a 535i motor , it would get interesting .
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Just my 2c worth.

Change the motor and drop the value of the car to less than half.
The monetary loss you will experience will be enough to take another E30 and build it wild.
These cars are fetching UKS20 000 plus in England.

The 3,3 motor was a free revving engine and can be modified to produce power equal to the 3,5 engine without stress. It is also not expensive to rebuild your 3,3 motor. The head is superb and with a little massaging and slightly higher compression pistons it will annihilate a 3,5.

Anyway it is your car and you can do with it as you please.

If you are bent on using a 3,5 motor just change the front of the 3,3 on to the 3,5 as everything is interchangeable.
You will also need to change the cam from the 3,3 into the 3,5 as it is longer in the front to drive the distributor rotor or get a later 3,5 head and use that.

In closing I would propose that it is a bad idea.
If you need any help send me a pm.
 

Nic_s

///Member
It's his car, he can do with it what he wants. I'll just say that I've never seen a 333 that's still 100% original... most seem to have the 3.5 bottom end now which is sad as the 3.3 is what makes it a 333 to begin with. If the engine is beyond saving then one can still understand installing a 3.5.

Either way, best of luck and keep us posted as we are dead curious about any 333 :thumb:
 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Fordkoppie said:
Some useless info - AFAIK it is acutally a 3.2 to start off with.
Being pedantic I know 3205cc/3210cc :rollsmile:

1985-38
1986-126
1987-46
 

CLASSICMAN

Member
DON'T DO IT!!! You are destroying a piece of SA motoring history and will selfishly ensure that there is one less 333i on the road for future generations to enjoy!

Harsh I know, but enough is enough guys!!!:argh:
 
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