Costs

[dan-]

I really like the idea of buying an e30 and putting an m50 engine, this car will need to be a reliable daily but only to do about 6 miles. I am not technical so roughly what would the cost be for me to get the work done?

[Motorhole]

If you're overhauling all the service stuff while you're at it - which is recommended (i.e. water pump, plugs, aux belt, rad & hoses, prop guibo, clutch etc), budget around £1500 in parts & fluids. Perhaps a bit more if you are starting from a 4-cylinder car and need to source a suitable exhaust.

Expect to pay around 20 hours labour for it all if using off-shelf wiring loom etc, throw another 5 or 6 hours onto that if you're getting all the wiring etc done as well. So at today's rates, say £40 an hour including VAT, that's £800-£1000 in labour. So about £2.5k before you start considering upgrades to brakes, suspension and steering too.

[ashje]

I've spent about £1800, done everything myself bar fitting a few bushes. Car was originally a 318i auto.

Spec:
m52b28, e36 zf gearbox and e36 prop ( Service parts done)
Custom sump, 1.5" shorter and wings added to maintain volume. (Now sits above subframe and rack)
Engine loom i did myself and used EWS
m50 manifold
Refurbed injectors from u.s.
Mazda rx-7 front brakes and corrado callipers
Rear disc conversion and eccentric bolts for camber and toe correction
z3 Torsen LSD
Stainless scorpion exhaust, DanThe Manifolds
e46 rack, corsa linkage, danthe pipes
Nearly every bush has been replaced

Suspension wise i'm putting air ride on my car so haven't included this as most people don't go this route.

[Motorhole]

I've spent about £1800, done everything myself bar fitting a few bushes. Car was originally a 318i auto.

Spec:
m52b28, e36 zf gearbox and e36 prop ( Service parts done)
Custom sump, 1.5" shorter and wings added to maintain volume. (Now sits above subframe and rack)
Engine loom i did myself and used EWS
m50 manifold
Refurbed injectors from u.s.
Mazda rx-7 front brakes and corrado callipers
Rear disc conversion and eccentric bolts for camber and toe correction
z3 Torsen LSD
Stainless scorpion exhaust, DanThe Manifolds
e46 rack, corsa linkage, danthe pipes
Nearly every bush has been replaced

Suspension wise i'm putting air ride on my car so haven't included this as most people don't go this route.

You've done well there bud! If I add up my costs roughly...

£350 for engine, gearbox, prop ecu etc from 328i donor car accounting for money returned from scrap.
£320 for Z3M LSD (which I've recently had to rebuild at additional cost due to shot bearings).
£200 for clutch, flywheel & e21 release bearing.
£200 for e34 sump, dipstick, pickup & intake manifold.
£150 on assorted service parts for the motor.
£90 for a new Nissens radiator.
£200 for plug & play manifolds & downpipes.
£180 for plug & play engine & electric fan looms.
£40 for used 325i exhaust.
£120 on assorted silicon hoses etc.
£100 on Condor Speed Shop engine mounts.

So that's in the region of £1900 just on swap parts. That's before I think about the E46 rack, the hydraulic pipes, the E34 UJs and splined shaft mod, the E36 M3 Evo/E36 318ti 5-stud swap with Koni coilovers - with recon M3 calipers and new discs/pads etc, the polybushes, anti-roll bars and strut bar...

Then there are the cam/crank sensors I've since replaced and the diff rebuild etc etc...

Not a cheap hobby this car lark. But you do save a bomb by taking on the work yourself. I'd hate to think how much I would've spent in labour paying people to do all this work...

[dan-]

It's all sounding a bit of my league this. Is there anywhere that specialises in conversions

[anothere21323i]

It's all sounding a bit of my league this. Is there anywhere that specialises in conversions

Speak to Dan - Danthe on here. He will be able to help you out.

[dan-]

Cheers mate it's a while off yet I'm currently driving an e46 330d that's mapped and goes really well but with the mileage I do my next car could be an e30. What sort of gains can you get out of the standard e30 325? And how complicated is a turbo conversion?

[HairyScreech]

The b25 is harder to get power out of than fitting an m50.
Turbo conversions are harder still.