I know a local lad breaking a 1998 e36 2.8
im interested in buying the engine and conversion parts of him, and i have looked at the wiki but im afraid of missing something,
as far as i can see i need,
-engine with alternator, inlet, injectors, coils,
-engine wiring loom
-engine mounts
-ecu
-electric fan
Do i need the keys?
is the ecu plug and play into the existing e30 plug?
Do i need the exhaust?
Im also a little confused with the ews system, am i better disabling this or is it easier to fit it?
finally whats a fair price for everything i need out of the e36, the lad im talking to dosent have a clue either.
sorry for all the questions, but im trying to get a good understanding, and get it all done in one go rather than figure out later on. I see that i need other parts including an e34 sump etc but for now i just need to know what i need from the e36.
thanks
m52 swap parts
Moderator: martauto
It's up to you as to whether or not you want to retain the EWS. If you do, you'll need the key - or at least the small transponder chip from inside the key - you'll need the coil from around the ignition barrel, you'll need the sender unit from inside the steering column (iirc) and you'll need the control unit from behind the glovebox, as well as the matching ECU. If you have all these bits, it's not difficult at all to get working and shouldn't cause you any grief.
You'll need to take the engine mounting arms, but I wouldn't bother with E36 engine mounting bushes. Electric fan can be re-used, radiator if you're not going to use a new one. Gearbox & prop if you're not going with the E30 'box and prop arrangement. The E36 'box and prop is a little easier and supposedly provides a better drive, if you can source a diff with a suitable, taller ratio.
E36 loom/ECU isn't plug and play into the E30 C101, but DanThe on this forum provides a pre-made loom to make it so for a very reasonable cost - and looks like a factory installation. For this, he'll need the E36 loom in exchange. If you want to do this yourself, there are wiring guides in the wiki.
Exhaust isn't worth it, but you will want the exhaust manifolds and lambda sensors; manifolds will have to be modified to get around the E30 steering linkage.
If you don't already have an E36/E46 steering rack and you're not going down the E46 rack, take the E36 rack and UJs too.
You're also going to need a sump & dipstick tube from an E34 5-series or an E38 7-series
Other generic useful things to take - I only took these as I bought a whole donor car and scrapped what was left - are assorted relays, fuses, engine earth straps and battery positive cable from boot to engine bay. Never know what they might come in useful for!
You'll need to take the engine mounting arms, but I wouldn't bother with E36 engine mounting bushes. Electric fan can be re-used, radiator if you're not going to use a new one. Gearbox & prop if you're not going with the E30 'box and prop arrangement. The E36 'box and prop is a little easier and supposedly provides a better drive, if you can source a diff with a suitable, taller ratio.
E36 loom/ECU isn't plug and play into the E30 C101, but DanThe on this forum provides a pre-made loom to make it so for a very reasonable cost - and looks like a factory installation. For this, he'll need the E36 loom in exchange. If you want to do this yourself, there are wiring guides in the wiki.
Exhaust isn't worth it, but you will want the exhaust manifolds and lambda sensors; manifolds will have to be modified to get around the E30 steering linkage.
If you don't already have an E36/E46 steering rack and you're not going down the E46 rack, take the E36 rack and UJs too.
You're also going to need a sump & dipstick tube from an E34 5-series or an E38 7-series
Other generic useful things to take - I only took these as I bought a whole donor car and scrapped what was left - are assorted relays, fuses, engine earth straps and battery positive cable from boot to engine bay. Never know what they might come in useful for!
