e30 318i lux with m20b25 swap

Post Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:06 pm

Looking for some advice. Since the cambelt went on my 320i, it's been off the road for a good 6 month while I look for an engine/donor car. There's a 318i lux 4 door with a b25, 240 gearbox and a diff from a 320i in it for sale local to me. Owner is unsure what else has been done to the car. Needs a bit of TLC in the usual areas. But the owner cant seem to get the engine started. He's put it down to the battery being dead but apparently tried starting it with a jump pack and still nothing. As I'm really looking at it as a donor car for the engine, how much would it be worth? I know this is a bit vague and difficult to value but any thoughts appreciated

Is it a bad idea to buy a car that's already had a conversion done to take the engine out again? If the engine still doesn't start by the weekend is there anything I can do to make sure the internals of the engine aren't shot and maybe take a gamble on it?

Should I make him an offer?

No tax or MOT either.

Thanks!

Post Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:19 pm

Considering all you need for your swap is the actual block, head, and ECU (the new "donor" is using the same diff and gearbox you already have) then it seems daft to spend more than 200 quid on it, when that's the cost of a decent, known-working M20B25.

2.5 lumps really only die from cracked heads and broken belts, so if this one won't run I wouldn't touch it. Plenty of solid engines out there.

Post Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:55 pm

Thanks for the advice! It does make sense when you put it like that. I do need a few other bits like a windscreen and other smaller bits and so on. I thought it would make sense to get a whole car and then possibly keep it for parts or sell the parts to make some money back. But there wont be many similar parts as mine's a 320i baur (sorry) and the car for sale is a 4 door 318i lux.

Anyway, I think I'll speak to maggspower as he's local to me and see if he can make me a package deal on everything! haha.

Thanks again