E36 Engine Swap

[Nik101]

Hi Guys, new to the forum and just looking for a bit of advice on engine swapping with E36s, 'cause you lot seem to know everything!

Anyway, I'm buying my first car soon, and was considering either an E30 316, if i could get a good one, or an E36 316 coupe. But somehow a 1.6 doesn't sound too tempting! Anyone know what's involved in swapping out a e36 316i lump for a 318is one? Straight swap or would it be a bit more complicated than that?

Cheers, Nick!

[78dude]

Why not buy an 318iS instead and you have saved your self for an engine swap.....

[Nik101]

Ah, because I live in the ever lovely Northern Ireland, and as well as having insurance prices about 3 times that of the rest of the UK, they won't insure new drivers on pretty much anything over a 1.6.

Really just wanted to know if buying a cheap 316 with a very high mileage and swapping out the engine for a more powerful one is much more than a weekend's work.

[Ian_M]

I'd suggest you learn to walk before you start running. Keep the 316 for a while 'til you've got to grips with driving by yourself (I assume you've just passed) or you're just going to end up another statistic and another reason for the moral high horse brigade to raise the age of driving.

[casper8r]

Nik101, don't forget that swapping the engine without declaring the mods will leave you high&dry in case of an accident - believe me, there is nothing the insurance companies love more than to get out of paying! You might get lucky but don't count on it.

[78dude]

Well back to Topic, it shouldt be to hard to convert and 316i to an 318iS but you also need to do a brake job on the car as well. 316 have drums for the rear axle and the 318iS have disc, you have also have solid disc for the front axle and you maybe need to change them over to vented disc....
Then you need to take out the M40 lump and ECU for so fit the new engine with a new ECU and maybe some new engine mountings...

If I was you, I would rather spend some cash on the M40 engine to make it be a more funny engine like a performance camshaft and performance exhaust.

[Nik101]

Ah having heard that, think I might give the effort of swapping lumps a miss!

As for the driving, I'm confident enough in that, I've been driving mates' cars and all that off public roads for a long time, but I get your point. Fast rear wheel drive car on R plates could have me pointing the wrong way through someones lovely hedge, and the insurance wouldn't pay out. Not a good situation.

Think I'll just try and get a good 316 then.
E30 It is!

Thanks guys!