help deciding to do m3 conversion HELP!!!!!!!

Post Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:53 pm

Need help deciding costs on converting my e30 1989 320i . To a e36 m3 what would i need and how much will it all cost been going in blind can get engine loom gear box ecu for 1k but not sure about prop or dif would i need expensive breaks?? Been wanting to do this for years any help making me decide would be GREAT thanks Dave

Post Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:58 pm

NZmpower wrote:can get engine loom gear box ecu for 1k

Add another 4k or so to that and you will have a decent finished project.
It could be done cheaper, but with this sort of conversion, you get what you pay for.

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:30 am

Ive heard numerous times figures around 6K

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:10 am

thaks for getting back well just missed out on a 3.2 m3 complete car on ebay been rolled in a mess but engine etc was good so apart from a new sump and engine mounts cant really see much more i would need ???? not in a rush to get it complete just not sure if there is any thig else i have not taken into account thanks Dave.............

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:14 am

Well, it all depends on what you want to achieve.

Some kind of "budget-car" would be like this ("about prices" in northern europe):

-325 axles 500â‚¬
-H&R cupkit 500â‚¬
-Powerflex bushes 250â‚¬
-All new dogbones, support-arms, bearings etc etc 500â‚¬
-Brakes (www.300mm.de style) 1000â‚¬
-LSD 400â‚¬
-And you can add easily one 500â‚¬ for all the little things (hoses, fluids, bolts, clips etc etc etc)

-Engine & gearbox with ALL the parts 3000â‚¬

-Rims, tyres, paint, interior, new driveshafts, propshaft?

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:21 am

well not as easy as i thougt mine is a convertable thought that would be strong enough all round so i would not need 325 axles and support arms e.t.c. ? looks like i need a re think on how to get some power thanks alot for help. Dave

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:12 am

I could be wrong but i think its the manifold and exhaust that swallows up a lot of the money.

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:21 pm

leeparkes wrote:I could be wrong but i think its the manifold and exhaust that swallows up a lot of the money.

No, you are right.
Its also all the little bits that add up which people forget.

As a basic guide -

Engine, box, loom, ECU, radiator, oil cooler from the E36.
Propshaft and diff from an E30 M3 (other propshaft combinations can be used as can other diffs).
E34 M50 sump and oil pick up pipe.
The brakes really need sorting - believe me, the standard 325i stuff cant cope after a while.
The 325i suspension is fine, but ideally would need refreshing and a little bit of uprating, so thats shocks, springs, all bushes etc etc.

Then you get into the realms of getting all to fit.
Theres work needed to get the intake plenum to fit (smaller servo and moving it seems to be easiest way).
The exhaust manifold isnt easy to DIY correctly, and expensive to get done by anyone else.
The exhaust needs to be custom - the E36 center section can be used with some mods, but the rearbox is way too big to fit.

Then its all the fiddly little bits that people forget about, but always cost £10, £20 or £30+ here and there, so it all adds up. Dont forget new gaskets and rubber pipe work around the engine (at BMW prices), a new clutch, master and slave cylinder......... you dont have to bother renewing these things, but it will just save time, money and hassle in the long run if you do them before the engine gets anywhere near the car.

Its been said before, but you could probably do it cheaper than the 5 or 6k figure that keeps cropping up, but with this sort of conversion if you do it cheap, you do it twice.

NZmpower wrote:looks like i need a re think on how to get some power thanks alot for help. Dave

How about the E36 328i engine? With a few simple mods and a remap they can make 230bhp+ AFAIK.

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:25 pm

jmc330i wrote:How about the E36 328i engine? With a few simple mods and a remap they can make 230bhp+ AFAIK.

Thats what i thought^ much easier option.

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:06 pm

the 328 did cross my mind so that would be alot easier?? but not got the same ring to it as an m3! lol. So if i can get hold of a cheap written off e36 m3 will have most bits on that to use? as i want to keep interior as standad as possible. also i have to throw into the equation that trying to move to nz next year so thats the reason of keeping cost down as its a hard sell to my mrs to take it over there, also with the two seats, i have 3 kids, fighting an up hill battle lol thanks everyone for your help learnt so much in the last 24 hours cheers Dave..

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:11 pm

Cheaper, easier and more likely.

If you can't see what else you'll need, you haven't read enough. If you haven't read enough, give up now.

Mine has easily cost £6k. Easily.

Jai

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:13 pm

right 328 it is! 328 i chipped with exhaust system....that should put a smile on my face..i think i will go for that.
so will putting the 328 in be a lot easier to do? will it be a straight swap?
sorry for pestering with silly questions!!

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:20 pm

Its kind of the same as the M3 conversion, just less intense :lol:

It still needs the sump changing etc and a change of diff and prop, but on the whole it can be done a lot cheaper than the M3 conversion - thats until you get into really modding it.
Change the inlet manifold and TB for the M50 325i version and a chip or whatever and it will liven it up considerably AFAIK.

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:34 pm

ok thanks...will keep u posted as to wot i decide to do!!!!!!
i'm in 2 minds to go mad!!!!

Post Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:52 pm

NZmpower wrote:right 328 it is! 328 i chipped with exhaust system....that should put a smile on my face..i think i will go for that.
so will putting the 328 in be a lot easier to do? will it be a straight swap?
sorry for pestering with silly questions!!

328i is a much cheaper and easier swap

bank on 6k for the S50

1.5k for the 328i

Post Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:30 pm

Dan's right. It's lots of small differences that add up to a much bigger bill on the S50. Things like manifolds and exhausts have to be much more substantial (from an engineering stanpoint), oil coolers need fitting, servos need moving, brakes and suspension need more than a cursory look at (they need to be TOP notch and higher spec!).

You wont be dissapointed with a 328i powered E30..

Jai

Post Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:19 am

will do 328i decided so if i get a old 328i e36 cheap can get mosts bits off that then sell rest for scrap? but will still need mounts/5 series sump? and to find someone to fit it lol got my work cut out for me. so should be able to get 220 bhp so Jhonno said it would cost 1.5K ish thinks that is likley thanks fo your help..

Post Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:56 am

NZmpower wrote:will do 328i decided so if i get a old 328i e36 cheap can get mosts bits off that then sell rest for scrap? but will still need mounts/5 series sump? and to find someone to fit it lol got my work cut out for me. so should be able to get 220 bhp so Jhonno said it would cost 1.5K ish thinks that is likley thanks fo your help..

Get some AKG engine mounts from the US. Will make life much more easy. $200 though!

Post Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:03 pm

as above realy, i thought i could do a s50 swap cheaper but it will be close to 6k when finished. which ever route you go for m52/s50, buy a whole running car!!! or at least a engine you have seen to run! saves a lot of heart ache.

Post Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:05 am

right been doing homework going to go for 325i e36 conversion does anyone know somewhere in kent that will be able to do this for me???? PLEASE.................

Post Sat Jul 04, 2009 12:16 am

NZmpower wrote:right been doing homework going to go for 325i e36 conversion

Use an E34 525i (same engine)

Post Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:49 am

SO IF I USE A 525i I WONT HAVE TO CHANGE THE SUMP ? STILL NEED SOMEONE IN KENT AREA TO GET IT IN....