I recently acquired an E30 318iS without a drivetrain and am starting to consider the best way to get her up and running again. The car does not have an engine (or ancillaries), gearbox or diff. It does have a prop and a set of half shafts, an exhaust backbox, and the original fusebox, ECU, wiring and fan are present. The shell is rolling but just for manouvering purposes and there are no brakes on the car. There is a full set of polybushes with the car, mostly still in the box. The car also needs a bunch of other things like a fuel system, screenwash system, seats, etc.
As I need so many parts I'm drawn towards buying a donor car in order to pull most of the bits required. The car needs to remain 4 cylinders, and if it is 16V then it needs to keep the manufacturer's original fuel injection setup.
Option 1: early E36 318TI with the M42 engine, as this would allow me to use the engine box and diff (with E30 sump assembly and engine mounts, also exhaust manifold?) and should work with the ECU that's in the car without major headaches. I would also be able to use the rear suspension and brakes, and possibly also the front suspension and brakes (with modifications)? However, early 318TIs are thin on the ground these days.
Option 2: later E36 318TI or Z3 with M44 engine, this would be similar in principal to the above swap but I think it is slightly complicated by the change in engine type. I would have to use the M44 ECU with modifications. The M44 is also a slightly worse engine I believe as it doesn't have forged internals. M44 engined cars, however, are easy and cheap to come by.
Option 3: find a Z3 with the M43 1.8 SOHC engine and do a similar swap to the above but go for ITBs with some sort of custom engine management. A bit of a left field option but a Z3 1.8 is very cheap and it could be a fun project with the induction roar.
Option 4: Buy all the bits separately. This would allow me to get an E30 M42 with all the E30 specific bits on it, and probably also source a medium case LSD. Disadvantages are that it will cost a fortune to pick everything up separately, and there is no way to see all the parts working which you can if you are buying a complete running car.
Has anyone any opinions, particularly relating to the respective difficulty of the swaps. Thanks in advance.
318iS Drivetrain Donor - Options
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rix313
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When you say it doesn't have brakes, in what capacity does it not have brakes? Just callipers missing?
I assume you've checked out the M42 swap guide in the M42 engine section? You will need to find an E30 exhaust manifold. As you point out, you just need an M40/42 sump and engine mount arms. You can use an E36 gearbox but I believe you have to modify the gear linkage and prop shaft as the box is a slightly different size.
Don't get hung up on the forged internals. Only the E30 engines had this anyway.
From the wording at the start of your post, is this for competition purposes?
I assume you've checked out the M42 swap guide in the M42 engine section? You will need to find an E30 exhaust manifold. As you point out, you just need an M40/42 sump and engine mount arms. You can use an E36 gearbox but I believe you have to modify the gear linkage and prop shaft as the box is a slightly different size.
Don't get hung up on the forged internals. Only the E30 engines had this anyway.
From the wording at the start of your post, is this for competition purposes?
