m52b28/m52b25 swap by specialist cost?

[pauljsc]

What would I expect to pay a specialist to swap out a m20b20 from my 320i 1987 and replace with either of the above?
I'm lacking space to store parts and also a garage to do the build.
I've hunted the forum for an estimate but cant find much.

[chu346]

Depends what you're looking for.....

Drive in, drive out?

Just labour cost, and you find and supply the parts?

Where are you based?

[pauljsc]

Im in surrey. Really trying to weight up the options. Looking to buy a workshop at the moment so hopefully I can do it myself.
Id like a quote for a conversion supplied and fitted.
One garage quoted me 3500
Another garage said m52's are unrealiable engines in his opinion and wouldnt quote me to fit it

[jmc330i]

Another garage said m52's are unrealiable engines in his opinion and wouldnt quote me to fit it

I'd walk straight away from that place! In my experience, that basically means they wouldn't even know where to start.

Was the £3500 an all in quote? Keep in mind a decent DIY conversion could be £2k in parts.

[pauljsc]

Yeah 3500 was all in. But they said that was literally just getting an m52 in without going into detail. So they wouldnt de bracket engine bay and clean. No major rebuild on engine etc.
The more I paw over the diy swap guides the more I think I should just have a crack at it myself.
What feeling would be better - starting engine up and going for that first drive after all the hours spent building or the first drive after someone else did all the work.

[Acaciastrain360]

First drive after you do it is a great experience! I haven't had a garage do a car before, but after rolling about under mine for 8 months and constantly cursing and blinding and threatening to scrap it..... It felt great on the end result get that workshop playa!! Plus nothing beats DnB in the workshop, uhn tiss uhn tiss uhn tiss baby