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e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:46 pm
by meekie
as i am new to this forum i want to no wat all is needed to do til fit an e36 m3 engine into a 325i sport?
i am sellin me 2.5 engineif any1 interested??? full hartge spec with cams etc... rollin roaded at 186bhp, rebuilt wi all new gaskets not that many miles ago. 92,000 genuine miles
thanks
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 7:51 pm
by N00b
meekie wrote:as i am new to this forum i want to no wat all is needed to do til fit an e36 m3 engine into a 325i sport?
i am sellin me 2.5 engineif any1 interested??? full hartge spec with cams etc... rollin roaded at 186bhp, rebuilt wi all new gaskets not that many miles ago. 92,000 genuine miles
thanks
It's an expensive conversion. The technically mental members here frequently talk about costs in the region of £5k to do the job properly.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:32 am
by ross_jsy
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... pic&t=6676
Have a read through that, has a lot of usefull information in it.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:49 pm
by penton08
IF you are serious, i know where there is a plug 'n' play conversion for sale! you would need a clutch, a propshaft and a radiator and £4k. or (at extra cost) it could be done as a drive in, drive out conversion if needed. it is a well know and proven engine conversion and it makes just shy of 300hp

Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:55 pm
by meekie
i am very serious about this conversion as had a 325i before an it jus needed a lttle bit more power!! so got my hartge 325i cheap an wanna have some proper bhp in it as i completely restorin it anyways.. just dont hav that kinda cash about me so me an my dad will do it..
would love a step by step guide thou as in what all needs doing as we go and im sure someone has it on here??
thanks
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:59 pm
by Jhonno
It is 5-6k DIY..
No step by step as it is a complicated conversion there are many ways to do it.
Don't think you will do it on the cheap, as you wont. End of.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:56 am
by bigchris555
penton08 wrote:IF you are serious, i know where there is a plug 'n' play conversion for sale! you would need a clutch, a propshaft and a radiator and £4k. or (at extra cost) it could be done as a drive in, drive out conversion if needed. it is a well know and proven engine conversion and it makes just shy of 300hp

where can i find this convertion?? and where could i have it done?
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:59 pm
by crossie
Jhonno wrote:It is 5-6k DIY..
Say you get the engine and gearbox for 2k which includes exhaust manifold,ecu etc
Sump
oil pick up
engine mounts
Radiator
electric fan
propshaft
What else is needed?

Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 3:14 pm
by Jhonno
LHD or RHD?
Diff
Servo
Master cylinder
Oil cooler
Exhaust (inc modified manifold if RHD - £1300 from BTB for the manifold - THE ONLY PROVEN OPTION)
Coolant hoses (inc 2x 90 deg Samco's)
Off the top of my head, loads of little bits also needed as you go.
You'd be daft not to swap the clutch/flywheel/release bearing whilst it's apart
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 3:15 pm
by Jhonno
bigchris555 wrote:penton08 wrote:IF you are serious, i know where there is a plug 'n' play conversion for sale! you would need a clutch, a propshaft and a radiator and £4k. or (at extra cost) it could be done as a drive in, drive out conversion if needed. it is a well know and proven engine conversion and it makes just shy of 300hp

where can i find this convertion?? and where could i have it done?
PM me.. It is my setup.
Can be fitted at the Suffolk/Essex border..
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:57 pm
by penton08
crossie wrote:Jhonno wrote:It is 5-6k DIY..
Say you get the engine and gearbox for 2k which includes exhaust manifold,ecu etc
Sump
oil pick up
engine mounts
Radiator
electric fan
propshaft
What else is needed?

the bmw parts list is endless and you will need a few custom parts. trust me mate, everybody (me included) thinks they can do it cheaper but at the end of the day it will end up costing £5-6k. its not just a figure we plucked from thin air.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:14 pm
by N00b
crossie wrote:Jhonno wrote:It is 5-6k DIY..
Say you get the engine and gearbox for 2k which includes exhaust manifold,ecu etc
Sump
oil pick up
engine mounts
Radiator
electric fan
propshaft
What else is needed?

The Exhaust is a big problem as the manifold from the donor car doesn't fit. You can't just knock one together and hope it works because the M3 lump is very fussy about the way it gets rid of its gases. If the manifold doesn't flow properly the engine doesn't give up it's quoted power output.....apparently.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:46 pm
by Jhonno
N00b wrote:If the manifold doesn't flow properly the engine doesn't give up it's quoted power output.....apparently.
No apparently about it.. They are highly tuned sensitive lumps (bless..) The manifold isn't an intricate equal length design for no reason.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:49 pm
by E30BeemerLad
You can get away with just modding the bottom part of the S50 manifold to clear the ARB (if you are prepared to lose sound proofing from the bulkhead and give it the good news with a hammer)
Bodge

Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:00 pm
by penton08
^^^it can be done on a m50/2

the bigger the hammer the easier it is, but i doubt this would work on a s50 as the head is wider and would leave the collectors right in the way of the steering linkage.
Re: e36 3.0 m3 engine into e30 325i sport
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:10 pm
by Jhonno
E30BeemerLad wrote:You can get away with just modding the bottom part of the S50 manifold to clear the ARB (if you are prepared to lose sound proofing from the bulkhead and give it the good news with a hammer)
Bodge

LHD only...
RHD it leaves nowhere for the steering coupling to run..