Jai has a very good point in the fact that why make a car u can go out and buy unless u are saving a lot of money! There are exceptions to this rule, you might just love working on cars have the time and want a project.
I feel that you Nick would be far better off buying a 325i sport your car is buy no means mint and you do not have the mechanical ability to undertake removing an engine letalone and engine conversion project. It will end up costing the same for you and you can drive it straight away.
You want to own a nice car thats for sure and drive it but conversion are a little bit out of your depth.
I know lots of people have offered to help but there is a big difference between help and doing the whole lot for you and when other people run the show for you things get tricky you are nolonger in control of the budget and if they say you need "x" you can't say I haven't got the money sorry and if people drop out your left with a half finished car that ain't going anywhere!
Remember how long it took me to do my Pulsar and when the project needed more money I just had to find it no turning back! Its hard work and you have to want to do the conversion not just want the finished product.
I think if people are honest here they will agree

