My 318 to 323 conversion begins

Post Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:15 am

im not new to mechanics but i am fairly new to BMW's been searching but not got anywhere anyone got any tips fro removing the 318 engine or the 323 engine?

im gonna swap the lot all wiring etc as ive got both cars waiting

i was gonna use the 318 diff to get nice short ratios or wont that work?

Post Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:52 am

just brought a haynes manual for the car

83-91 all 3 series models but odesnt cover a 323

Post Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:15 am

Andy.... Good luck with the swap.

The details in your Strains manual will be pretty much the same for your 323i as for the 320i. I've never seen one, but the general concensus seems to be that the Haynes isn't up to much. It ought to be OK as a rough guide though.

As for the diff, if your '18 has the M10 engine, it should have a 3.64 fitted. I'd have thought this ratio would be fine with your '23 motor.
If, however, it's a M40 '18, you've probably got a 4.10 diff which would make your "new" '23 a screamer.
At the end of the day, it's all down to your personal preference, and how much time you spend cruising on motorways.

Nice to see that someone else is going against the 2.5/2.7 trend!

I think that the 2.0/2.3 option is under-rated - particularly when the longer stroke motors aren't as silky smooth.

All the best, keep us posted,
Stuart.

Post Sat Jul 16, 2005 2:03 pm

cheers m8

its the f reg 1.8 8 valve engine dont know if thats the M10 or not?

i want the car for about 80-90 top end only as its purely a drift motor however i need to drive to the drift events at the moment so it needs not to be too much of a screamer. Is there a chart to figure out the revs at 70mph?

Post Sat Jul 16, 2005 2:04 pm

just putting the bodykit on at the moment having fun and swapped the wheels for the 7 spokes on the 323

Post Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:27 pm

got the kit on now

getting some springs this week, and then drift practise posibly next monday if not straight on to the 323 engine in.

WIll it be easier to swap all wiring etc with the swap as my 318 is a F reg and the 323 is a A reg?

Post Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:34 pm

Andy...... I don't know if there's a list of gearing/road speed anywhere, but I can do it for you if you want. All I'd need to know is what size wheels & tyres you're running and the diff ratio.
Is your 1.8 a chrome bumper car or a face-lift??
Cheers
Stuart.

Post Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:43 pm

facelift m8 is a 89F M40 engine

the wheels are 205 55 15 or 195 65 14 depends which ones im using

Post Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:52 pm

Right. A 318i M40 should have a 4.10 diff in. That would give you roughly 3300rpm in 5th at 70mph. 205/55x15 and 195/65x14 tyres have roughly the same diameter, so whichever you use, the speed will be near enough right.
There should be a tag attached to one of the rear cover bolts on the diff which tells you the ratio. It may be a bit rusty, if it is, drop it in come Pepsi or Coke!
Stuart.

Post Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:04 am

My 323i with a 4.1 LSD and 205/50/16 tyres is at about 3100rpm at 62mph in 5th according to the tachometer. That doesn't seem right though going by your results, either the tachometer is wrong, 5th gear isn't 0.81, or I would have a 4.4 LSD. I am fairly sure the LSD is 4.1, I saw it being put together and did BMW even make a 4.4 LSD? Something isn't quite right here.

Aston