325i Cabriolet engine swap with A6 1.9 TDi engine..Possible?

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:54 pm

I'm wandering if I can swap the engines of two of my cars. Do you guys think that I can put my 1.9 TDi Engine into the E30 325i Convertible?

If so, how much do you think it'll cost, I've got the engine already, I just need the cheapest you guys will think it'll cost for the mounts or whatever and the parts, I know someone who'll do free labour.

Any help will be much aprreciated, as my beamer is getting a bit on the expensive side of the fuel tank and I want to make my cad unique in every way possible.

The 2.7 Alpina is a beast that she's staying a beast, I'll never touch her engine. Posting pics of her soon.

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:06 pm

worst idea EVER

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:08 pm

Depends how good your "free labour" is! If they're willing to put in a huge amount of work for nowt, then mounts, prop, wiring etc won't be a problem as it's all going to have to be custom...

I hope the A6 is RWD?!

TBH the work would cost thousands if you got a garage to do it (see Fuzzy's cossie conversion etc) & it won't be worth (from a cost saving POV) doing unless you can get a heck of a lot of free work done! But good luck...

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:18 pm

a6's are FWD or AWD on the later more powerful diesels. Bad idea.

330D engine = good idea but still a massive headache. The cost of any decent diesel conversion would wipe the benefit of better MPG for many miles.

Lpg.

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:46 pm

Jon_Bmw wrote:
Lpg.

+1 On the motorway mine gets 24.8 mpg on gas.... at £2.40 a gallon compared to £4.86 a gallon for unleaded (32-35 motorway mpg)

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:11 pm

The audi is rwd, my freind who will do most of it for free said it needs new mounts and that sort of thing, judging by what you experienced guys have told me, I think I'll pass it out untill I find a better BMW engine to put into it.

I want a diesel engine definately because of fuel economy, I can't afford to keep 4 cars and engine swap sounded good.

Anyone know of ANY good BMW dielsel engine which isn't going to cost an arm and a leg in parts and which is fairly easy to source out, without much hassle of changes also?

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:23 pm

BMWAlpinaC2 wrote:The audi is rwd

What model a6 might this be then?

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:23 pm

BMWAlpinaC2 wrote:The audi is rwd

Only if the centre diff has failed.

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:44 pm

Theres plenty of good BMW diesel lumps but the trouble is that the E30 was around before the real advances in diesel technology happened, there were two diesel varients (324d / Td) but they were never built for the UK.

If you've got 4 cars then why not be the first to fit the 3.0 twin turbo diesel out of a 535d, it would be a monster

Post Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:46 pm

A6's are FWD or AWD but the engine does sit longitudinally. Converting an E30 to diesel will be silly as any diesel engine it will easily accept will be rubbish. Go LPG, or just don't have 4 cars?

E30's aren't economical compared to modern cars, they're 20 odd years old after all! Have a 325i for the weekends and buy a diesel eco-box for day to day use.