e46 m3 into a 320i e3o
Moderator: martauto
First of all, it costs a lot. You need basically the whole engine with all the wiring in order to make it work. No idea will it work without all the sensors (diff, wheels etc etc). If you doubt whether you need to cut the bulkhead, you won't be able to do this swap. So forget it.
Much easier swap (with basically the same power) is S50 from E36 M3, that's been made many many times and you can find a lot of info on many forums.
Much easier swap (with basically the same power) is S50 from E36 M3, that's been made many many times and you can find a lot of info on many forums.
E30 Cabrio M-Tech, powered by V8
E34 M5 3.8 x 2
Alpina D10 Touring #33/93
E46 318i Touring
Toyota Hiace 4wd
E34 M5 3.8 x 2
Alpina D10 Touring #33/93
E46 318i Touring
Toyota Hiace 4wd
I haven't looked into it, but surely if an s62 can be made to run in an e30 on the original loom, the same should be possible for an s54? Not saying it would be easy, but pretty sure it would work. - same problems.
One way around the fly-by-wire throttle is to use the fly-by-wire e30 pedal as used by the 324td
Germans do it on m62/s62 swaps.
One way around the fly-by-wire throttle is to use the fly-by-wire e30 pedal as used by the 324td

The injection pump was electronically actuated on the 324td. IIRC by a solenoid, but nor sure about this one.DanThe wrote:Fly-by-wire in the eighties?
Anyway, as it is controlled by an ecu, you need a potentiometer on the pedal -> drive-by-wire.
Have a look here
By the way, the old M21 is terribly underrated. Stick a proper intercooler on it, adjust the injection and you can see a healthy 175bhp no worries. More if you play with the boost, but then you start to have to think about reliability.
Youtube will have a couple videos, especially of old e28 524td, if you want to have a look...
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- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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without sounding like a total muppet what exactly is fly by wire? electronically controlled throttle rather than mechanically controlled i assume? that surely wouldnt cause to much problems if the pedal assembly could be modified to fit in an e30 and use the original matched wiring and ecu from the donor?
Far right image.

Here's the full thread to give you an idea of cost/time/skill involved:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=359200

Would have to be the way as you could not just make the throttles operate by wire again as then you'll upset the ECU, which in turn is wired into ASR and ABS so that part of it is a mess - as well as all that SMG pain too...fuzzy wrote:without sounding like a total muppet what exactly is fly by wire? electronically controlled throttle rather than mechanically controlled i assume? that surely wouldnt cause to much problems if the pedal assembly could be modified to fit in an e30 and use the original matched wiring and ecu from the donor?
Here's the full thread to give you an idea of cost/time/skill involved:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=359200
Yep, that's the theory.fuzzy wrote:without sounding like a total muppet what exactly is fly by wire? electronically controlled throttle rather than mechanically controlled i assume? that surely wouldnt cause to much problems if the pedal assembly could be modified to fit in an e30 and use the original matched wiring and ecu from the donor?
Glenn got it working on his ex beast, so has tino in germany (e30.de/300mm.de) and a few others, but I don't know exactly how. - nevertheless, it is possible.
i know someone who has an e46 engine for sale if your interested!
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
can you elaborate on that dude? do you mean something like every function is multiplexed through the loom?? In that case rip the whole lot out..lolJhonno wrote:the e46 M3 engine requires standalone to run in an e30.. the standard loom is integrated into the car loom iirc
he basically has the whole car - rolled it, bought back off insurance and lost interest! pm me an offer and i'll pass it on!
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663