E36 from 320 to 325 whats needed?

[mc_hawkings24]

So ive just got an e36 320 touring for work although im feeling it needs an engine swap. I've found a 323 engine going cheap but whats needed to make it 325 spec?

inlet, exhaust ecu?

thanks

[320iAN]

it would cost silly money to try make a 323 engine in to a 325 .. better & cheaper going for a proper 2.5 engine for the conversion.

[leeparkes]

It would be a fairly easy swap, of the top of my head you will need engine, ECU with EWS gubbins, exhaust from a 323i 325i or 328i will fit 328i being the best, iirc thats about it...
Not sure how the diffs work on e36's ie would the 320i and 4 potters have a small case

Swap the inlet manifold for an M50 one to open it up to 192bhp as opposed to the 170bhp it currently has.

[Andyboy]

The 320i uses a small case, 3.38 iirc on an M52.

I'd just drop the 323i engine in as is using the existing 320i ECU for now. Then think about manifold swaps, remapping the ECU etc. If you want to use the 323i ECU, you will alse need the EWS11 box behind the glovebox and the ignition key so you can swap the EWS chip over. 170 bhp and the 3.38 diff will still be pretty lively. The 323i used the 320i gearbox and rear section exhaust.

[mc_hawkings24]

Nice one andy from what i gathered on some forums thats what i could do.

From what i can find on vague e36 forums. I need a vanos or non vanos engine and i think non vanos engines are pre-94? mine is a 96. is vanos variable valve timing? I've read alittle about ews and if they dont match it wont work? is ews an engine immobiliser?

apparently i have a simens ecu and the latter are bosch i think but then its all gets abit vague i cant find much info or any decent forums like this one which had all the help i needed when i had my e30.

[mc_hawkings24]

Ok think ive cracked the vanos question after alittle reading. So this is single vanos, i'll just check mine to see

Looks like i have single vanos

and i also noticed the engine im looking at has a siemens ecu aswell

[leeparkes]

Regarding EWS you should have EWS2, if the donor car is EWS2 you will just need to swap the module behind the glove box and the chip in the key, oh and obviously the ECU to match. you wont need to cut and shut wires it should be plug and play.
Yes EWS is an immobiliser

[mc_hawkings24]

Can you not just tear the ews out altogether or is it tied up in the ecu? and theres no doner cars as such im just looking at engines atm

[leeparkes]

Its tied to the ECU

[mc_hawkings24]

Ah lee thats a bugger then you wouldnt happen to know of any e36 forums just to bash a few questions out?

cheers

[leeparkes]

I'd just drop the 323i engine in as is using the existing 320i ECU for now. Then think about manifold swaps, remapping the ECU etc.

Will it run right Andy?

As for E36 forums there's this one but good luck

http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/index.php ... 5159e38094

[mc_hawkings24]

Why the made face? are they the stereotypical bmw wankers on there??

Im now looking at buying a 328i since i got an insurance quote that was just £18quid a year more than the 320i and since im thinking engine swaps it makes sense.

[Andyboy]

There are a few 'heroes' on there.

The 320i ECU will run a 323i fine as a stop gap but it'll need remapping. It's worth doing anyway because it transforms the way they drive.
Siemens and Bosch ECU's can't really be swapped - the loom plug is different and whilst they can be 'altered', I wouldn't.
Given the choice, I would bypass that alloy block shit and look for a good M50 single Vanos 2.5. £250 should buy a decent one and they're unbreakable. I've sold some low mileage minters for not much more than £300 with the M50 manifold. Just swap the E36 engine loom, sensors and ancills over, drop it in, get the 320i ECU remapped and you've got about 210 bhp on a 3.38 final drive - that will be very, very lively.

4th gear 70-100.....not much is getting past you.