engine transplants

[ocallen]

what is a good and easy transplant into my 325?

Does either the 2.8 or 3.0 make a big difference and which variation is needed?

Any other suggestions? I like Ian Haynes' 332 but not capable of doing it myself.

[Sjoerd320i]

what are you looking for mate?

the 2.8 from an e36? and I asume you mean the s50b30 3.0 lump out of the e36 M3?

I think the best (and easyest! and cheapest) way to go is to make youre engine a 2.7

[jmc330i]

It depends which 2.8 or 3.0 youre talking about.

M50 2.5
M52 2.8
M54 2.8
M54 3.0
S50 3.0
S50 3.2

The M50 and S50 engines arent to bad to fit. Im not sure on the M54 engines, I think there is more electrical difficulties with these.

[Sjoerd320i]

or maybe m30 3.0 or 2.8

[jmc330i]

Good point, well made.

[Dan318-is]

ian took me for a spin in his car toda wen i picked up the bumper

i kid you not the whole way home me n my mate oculd not stop talkin about it

the car is a masterpiece the interior is awesome an the engine is a fookin animal

best e30 iv seen to date easily, although i aint seen many lol

[ocallen]

James, what engine have you got in your car?

[jmc330i]

James, what engine have you got in your car?

3.0ltr S50 mate. E36 M3 motor.

[ocallen]

James, how big a job was fitting it or did you get it done for you and how much did it cost.

[jmc330i]

Im doing the work myself mate, on the driveway at home. I only work on it at the weekends when the weather allows, which is why its taking some time.
The only bit I did on the ramps at my mates workshop was fit the gearbox and prop, it was just easier. Its not quite finished yet, but its getting there.

I cant really say how much its cost, but Im doing it on as small a budget as possible - another reason its taking so long.

Fitting the engine itself is fairly straight forward as is the 5spd gearbox. The 6spd requires custom mounts and propshaft.
If youve got the right equipment, I believe the engine and box can go in as one unit. I did mine separately, but its quite tight getting the top gearbox bolts done up!
The main problems are fitting the exhaust manifold and the inlet plenum/brake servo clearance. The electrics turned out to be not as bad as I thought, although I still got a little stuck

It can all be overcome with some modification though. Its been discussed on the Zone at some point or another so do some searches on here for M50/S50 threads, have a read, make a list of any questions you have and ask away.

[ocallen]

cheers, james, will do that.

Is the E30 M3 4cyl an option, have many done that?

[Jhonno]

well if you cant do one like Ian's all other conversions are v similar (unless your sticking to e30 engines..)

[jmc330i]

The E30 M3 4cyl S14 is an option I guess. I havent heard of many people putting one of those in a RHD car.

I dont know much about about the E30 M3 but thinking about it, it should be fairly easy. All the bits would be available from BMW cause the engine was designed to fit in an E30. The only problem I know of, would be having to cut and modify the exhaust manifold to fit around the steering column/joint.
Other than that I cant think of any other issues, someone else might come up with some though.

[Martinaston]

Trying to find the engine is the first stumbling block