e36 m3 engine into e30 318is

[ps318is]

Hi everyone, not a regular poster as you can tell (been enjoying the car too much!) but i feel nows the time for more power and with a company A4 to rack the miles up on by beloved 318is can get some treatment!! I know the conversion is possible, just wondered if anyone out there has done it, knows how difficult it is, expense, that kind of thing. Cheers.

[Jhonno]

looking at around 3k for DIY

it is possible but is alot of work.. Im about to do mine once my mates barn he rents comes free again

[ps318is]

Have you researched it much? Havn't really found that much info out there (google etc) but i seem to remember reading about a conversion someone had done can't remember where though!

[E30BeemerLad]

I am not too much of a pedigree snob mate but I think decent 318is are becoming more and more rare, so don't know if you would be better off finding a tidy 325 with a shagged engine for a good base car and selling on the iS?

But it's your car to do as you like though fella.

The vibe is that the 3.0 ltr M3 engine is a safer bet than the 3.2 which has problems with the Vanos system. Also do your homework and if possible buy an engine you can hear running rather than someting that has been sat in the corner of a yard for months. It's a lot of work though.

Ian332 is the man to speak to

[ps318is]

Yeah, i knew about the 3.2 being a bit weak on the VANOS 'cause i was looking at getting an e36 m3 but i want to stay with the e30 'cause its more of a classic. My 318is is in really good nick, FBMWSH untill 108k and then BMW specialists, although its done 120k it feels lovely, i just wanted to avoid all the problems you get with an old engine. I was gonna go for a bigger lump, adjustable suspension, respray- after all its only a wknd car now so it's worth it! You could be right about not breaking it up though- maybe i shouldn't be so greedy and let someone else enjoy it first!

[Jhonno]

Have you researched it much? Havn't really found that much info out there (google etc) but i seem to remember reading about a conversion someone had done can't remember where though!

been researching it for about 6 months now tbh

this is how much it has cost me to get to where i am with it (ie ready to go in) and i got a good deal on the bulk of the parts..

[Dan318-is]

dude if u decide to do it

i mite buy your IS engine of u at a reasonable price

if you got ne mods done to is also i deffo be interested

on the project side, great idea conversiosn are always great; but like the gusy say,

ian332 is the man, his car is a masterpiece iv seen it in the flesh so hes deffo ur dude to talk to

[jonbuoy]

I've spoke to Ian332 before and he said after doing most of the work himself, it still cost about Ԛ£10,000

[Rearwheel_nick]

hate to repeat myself, but zoommotorsport do specialise in this conversion. so www.zoommotorsport.co.uk is a good bet for info advice parts etc.

its your car mate do what you want, and 3.0 m3 engines in anything are ridiculous fast

[ps318is]

Thanks for the info guys, zoomsport are currently doing the same conversion- they're turning a scrapped 318is into a trackday weapon with a 3.0 litre m3 engine so they're definitely worth talking too, i'll keep you posted.

[jmc330i]

Mines almost finished and has me for about Ԛ£3.5-4k.
The only big expense Ive got left is the brake upgrades, when I decide what to do.

I wouldnt worry to much about using the 318is for the conversion. It can be done without modding the car to fit the engine, you mod the bits that are used.

Thats how Ive done mine (and Ian as well I think) so if I ever want to put mine back to standard 325i Sport, it could be done in a matter of days and nobody would know the S50 had ever been in there.

[Rearwheel_nick]

Thanks for the info guys, zoomsport are currently doing the same conversion- they're turning a scrapped 318is into a trackday weapon with a 3.0 litre m3 engine so they're definitely worth talking too, i'll keep you posted.

if you got that from the website i think its quite outdated, but s50 engine into e30 chassis is their speciality. got their own intake manifold to clear the brake servo and everything.

[jmc330i]

got their own intake manifold to clear the brake servo and everything.

One of the things that stopped me buying the Zoom inlet manifold (other than the price) is that unless you run aftermarket engine management to get rid of the MAF, you need to cut the end off of the manifold to fit the MAF and air filter - I wouldnt want to do that on something that costs that much.

Ive got no objections to running an aftermarket engine management, but the likes of DTA (which I think Zoom use) cant run the Vanos so you would need to spend big bucks on a Motec system or lock the Vanos, which seems a bit pointless.

[Rearwheel_nick]

i know on johns engine on his Zm coupe he runs dta and has got rid of the vanos.

but yeh understandably on something that costs a fair bit you might not want to go cutting it up.

[jmc330i]

Yeah, sorry should of said that you get rid of the Vanos and lock the cam(s), not lock the Vanos.

I guess on Johns coupe, not having the Vanos isnt a problem, its probably a benefit for drifting and it probably isnt a problem a on race car either.
But I dont see the point in losing it on a road car, which is why if I ever go for an aftermarket EMS it will be the Motec - but I will await the lottery win first

[Rearwheel_nick]

down side to no vanos is johns coupe only gets 5mpg (but then his engine is 400bhp just make sure i clarify that so people dont start thinking normal m3 engines without vanos would only get 5mpg )

yeah, it would be a nice thing to keep on a road car. being able to have performance and economy in an old bodyshell. ideal really.

[jaistanley]

As an (almost) aside, does any one know which EMS systems would be capable of running the Vanos? Can the vanos be controlled by an on/off signal a lá VTEC systems? If so, they could be driven from a shift light output. If not, can the ECU for the vanos (if separate from loom and main ecu) be retained?

Can the newer revisions of megasquirt be used for example?

I have been considering buying a decent ECU and fitting some e36 3.2 throttle bodies to my 318is as an interim upgrade before fitting a new engine and box (late 200sx is a winner atm, or a 3 litre M3 engine).

How much is a motec with traction controll and the ability to controll VANOS?

Jai

[jmc330i]

I read something ages ago about someone trying to fit the E36 M3 TBs (well 4 of them) to an E36 318iS. Dont think it ever got finished as it seemed to be a lot of hassle and be costing loads. Might not be worth it as an interim upgrade.

I think the only aftermarket EMS that will run the Vanos is Motec. I dont know how much it costs, but its not cheap.
Im not sure if the E36 M3 engine can have traction control - something to do with the TBs but I could be talking bollards - I just remember reading it somewhere. Thinking about it, I think the Racelogic TC will work.

If not, can the ECU for the vanos (if separate from loom and main ecu) be retained?

The 3.0ltr M3 has and engine ECU and a separate Vanos ECU, so i have been thinking the same thing as you - but have no idea if it would work. The Evo 3.2 M3 has an all-in-one ECU, so I would say its not possible on the 3.2ltr.