M52 swap with an E36 donor

[Mike-]

I've been reading a few threads regarding M52 swaps and it's something I'm interested in coming from 328 ownership myself and enjoying it very much.

However I'm not sure I can be bothered getting the whole trial and error affair of buying random engines and bits and whacking them together. I'd like to buy a 328 complete and run it for a few weeks to see if it's a dog or not (a cheap one, mind), then removing the bits.

Exactly how much of an E36 328 can I use? Engine, box, prop, diff, driveshafts?, steering column, exhaust maybe?

My E30 is an auto, would I have to use an E30 pedal box?

I've never done an engine swap before but I'm fairly competent with nuts and bolts and things, bound to fall down with the electrical side of things however. I read a lot of OBD1/2 stuff, with a donor could I just use the 328 ECU and bodge the speedo etc into the E30 clock surround then job done? Then heaters etc.

I'm aware of the need for an E34 sump and pickup, and engine mounts and that's not a problem.

Any info welcome, I'll be collecting it slowly over the coming months as I want to make sure it's all done properly.

Mike.

[BATTS91]

1 .you can use e36 engine , gearbox, propshaft , m52 tubular manifolds mated to e30 system ,you can make e36 system fit with fiddling n a hammer

2 yes you will have to convert pedal box with an e30 item along with clutch master , and connecter the park sensor ,

speedo works from diff so no worrys , rev counter will depend if your e30 is a 4 or 6 pot , if its a 4 pot you will need the chip that goes in the fron of the clocks to make it work properly

ecu ews is easy stuff if you find the thread for it

[maf260]

Have a good read through here:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... forum&f=56

Most of the info you need, if not all.

[Mike-]

Ha yeah, saw the sticky right after I posted this actually. If I can use the 328 prop can I use the diff and driveshafts as well? I liked the gearing in my 328, which also cracked 40mpg on a run which was nice.

Gearbox option number 3 in the sticky mentions using an E30 clutch and flywheel, and starter. Could understand the latter if there isn't room for an E36 item but is the E30 clutch necessary?

[e30-EVN]

to use e36 gearbox a low dif ratio is needed to get the gearing right. an e30 m3 dif is what you need, as all other e30 dif ratio's would be way out..! these can be found (in lsd form of course) for between the 300-450 mark...

e30 clutch is defo nessessary mate,,,, its the flywheel thats the most ness part . much lighter than the dual mass crap found in the e36.! so obv the e30 clutch is needed to mate with the flywheel

[e30-EVN]

and e30 starter is needed with that combo because the teeth of the starter match the flywheel...

you need to do some reading mate

[Mike-]

You're not kidding. Having a read around then it seems a bit redundant to get a complete 328 if it's really only the engine and exhaust manifold I can use. Finding/paying for an M3 diff may be more of a challenge than just finding a different gearbox to the E36 unit. Could I just get a 3.46:1 open diff and stick it in my current casing? 1987 318 auto :\

I wanna start collecting bits

[DanThe]

318 has a small case diff, you want to be using the medium case, which is the largest that will bolt onto an E30 rear beam. Also you cant just stick the diffs in different cases there is a lot more to it than that

[DanThe]

See here for diff rebuilding - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh ... ?t=1650106

Once you have had a quick look at that send Gareth on here a pm and be more than happy to hand over his charge for a rebuild

[e30-EVN]

You can of course pick up an m42 ( e30 318iS) box for around the 50-70 quid mark like I did. Then, with exception of small case difs for 2 reasons, (1 - not strong enough to handle an m52, and 2 - ratio's to short) you can use any med case e30 dif from 3.91 to 3.64 ratio. Open or lsd is entirely up to you but a slipper can be had for 300 quid. More fun to

[Brianmoooore]

You're not kidding. Having a read around then it seems a bit redundant to get a complete 328 if it's really only the engine and exhaust manifold I can use

There's absolutely no problem using the 328 gearbox, other than needing a non E30 diff, and the clutch can be used as it is, but it's a dual mass thing which isn't noted for its reliability or its lightness.
The old E28 525e has a 2.9 diff which can be used with a change of backplate, the Z3 2.8 can supply a 3.15 slipper diff which bolts straight in, and there's probably other Z3/E36 compact stuff which is suitable