e36 318 tds. M51 swap?

Post Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:20 pm

currently craving more power from my little 318 tds. I know there is the re map option. but being obd1. it not as easy as getting the ecu flashed.

Looking into the idea of buying a 325 tds as donor vehicle. And use the engine box mounts looms etc to convert my car into a 2.5 tds compact

My car being a compact, is the chassis of an e34 saloon the same as the front end of mine?? I know the rear suspension set up on my compact is more or less e30 still.

Is there any known issues in doing this? possible wiring issues using a obd2 loom? prop length between compacts and saloon.

thanks for any hlep

Post Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:59 am

One assumes you mean E36 chassis, as E34 is 5 series.
But in answer to your question, the E36 compact is identical to the E36 4 door saloon and touring, up to the A pillar. Everything from that point backwards is compact only.
The Convertibles and coupes have a different front end layout.

Post Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:51 pm

oh dear. yes i mean e36 saloon.

Ive only just spotted that the dash boards are different. so using the car loom might cause problems.

Post Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:17 am

it's only the panels that are different at the front on coupes, the main structure is identical to the compact / saloon under the bonnet.

don't think you'd have to use the whole car loom, plenty of people put 6pot petrol lumps into compacts with only engine side wiring.

wonder if the full e36 dash setup will fit into a compact?

Post Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:25 pm

The only problem I see with the wiring is that my car is obd1. And the 2.5 engine is in obd2. Which is why I thought it may be easier to use the full loom.

Post Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:49 pm

Easy, sell the compact and buy a 325 tds touring, job jobbed no aggro, lots of room for frag. On the down side, contrary to what TDS sellers might say, don't be expecting 50 mpg anytime soon

Post Wed Jul 04, 2012 2:18 am

If I wanted a estate I'd go for an 530. I like my compact. But I want more power. Yet retain wccomany for traveling to work.

A tuned 2.5 in a compact should offer both fun when I want to put my foot down. Yet, eccomany when pottering. The 1.7 4 pot has to work to hard to get decent mpg

Post Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:33 am

brown4454 wrote:If I wanted a estate I'd go for an 530. I like my compact. But I want more power. Yet retain wccomany for traveling to work.

A tuned 2.5 in a compact should offer both fun when I want to put my foot down. Yet, eccomany when pottering. The 1.7 4 pot has to work to hard to get decent mpg

Simple ! Sell your TeDiouS and buy a 318 ti, 140bhp and 40+ on a run no problem . Factor in the cheaper fuel price and it will be cheaper per mile than the diesel.

Unless you are bored / have masochistic tendencies/ have a supply of cherry

fitting the M51 engine makes no sense.

Post Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:03 pm

If you can find one that isn't a 200'000 rattling shitbox with a leaking pump, an M51 would go in. You'd need the gearbox and prop, loom, radiator, instrument cluster etc etc etc etc.

A better idea, apart from selling it, is to fit a tuning box. TDi tuning still do one and they work well. What they do is not increase the boost (often the kiss of death) but raise the fuelling to match the standard boost. They gain around 20-25 bhp, a load more torque and lose the awful dead spot.
They're nearly 300 quid though which is about half the value of the average 150'000 mile 318tds.