328I Compact build

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:37 am

As above, I am very seriously considering doing this to my compact in the not to distant, does anyone know what will required, I would imagine with a donor car the mechanical swap will be relativeley straight forward the issues I am more concerned with are the EWS and also potential ABS/ASC issues, the car is a V reg 316i (M43B19TU), I remember Kos had a 328 compact and it was very nice, also after borrowing Si's 328 touring for a couple of weeks I personally didn't think the fuel consumption was that crippling especially as most of my driving is motorway.

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:29 am

EWS 3 needs removing and a couple of wires moved to get the EWS 2 on the M52 loom working

compacts dont have a send/receive module between the ring antenna and EWS box, so thats what you need to add.

Easily done BTW

Mines staying M44B19

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:38 am

E36 Compact wont be EWS 3 will it?

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:44 am

last 4 I swapped to 6 cyls were dude.

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:47 am

Furry muff.. Didn't realise it saw the E36 era.

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:12 pm

Not sure of the dates but the later cars did go to EWS3, I think its around 98 when they changed, same with the E39's you can get a 528i single vanos with EWS3

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:04 pm

EWS 3 is the one with the bigger white EWS module under the dash on the drivers side - it's basically an E46 set up. I've just broken a '99 1.9 Compact with this system.

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:29 pm

My compact is iirc late 98 and it was EWS 3, as said its just a case of cutting EWS 3 out and grafting EWS 2 onto it. I do have a list somewhere but iirc you just match colour to colour from both modules.

You will need to shift all the main + wires from one side of the loom to the other too to connect to the battery.

You will be lucky to get the ASC in as the TB fouls the battery, i removed my ASC and the ABS still works fine.

Here's my swap if it helps, loads of pics and info in there.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:35 pm

This is what i was sent from a guy on E36coupe who has also done an M52 compact.

EWS 3 pin configuration (pin no. - colour - function)
1 - BLK - Ground
2 - RED/YEL - Fuse 31
3 - Auto only
4 - WHT/VIO - Diagnostic
5 - BLK - DME control unit
6 -
7 - BLK/YEL - Starter
8 - GRN/BLK - Ignition switch
9 - VIO/WHT - Fuse 45
10 - YEL/BLU - Toroidal coil
11 - YEL/BRN - Toroidal coil
12 -
13 - BLK/GRN - ZKE control unit
14 - GRN - DME control unit (immob. device)
15 - BLU/RED/YEL - Control unit, remote control

EWS 2 pin configuration (pin no. - colour - function)
1 - BLK/YEL - Starter
2 - WHT/VIO - Diagnostic
3 - GRN/BLK - Ignition
4 - GRN - DME control unit (immob. device)
5 - RED/GRN - Fuse 31
6 -
7 - BRN - Ground
8 - BLK/GRN - ZKE
9 - Auto only
10 -
11 -
12 - BLK - Instrument cluster (engine speed input)
13 - BLU - Transmitter module
14 - BLU/RED/YEL - control unit, remote control
15 - BLK/GRN - obc

Danthe was a big help too

Post Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:43 pm

Ant wrote:
Mines staying M44B19

go on you know you want to

Post Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:36 am

powelly wrote:As above, I am very seriously considering doing this to my compact in the not to distant, does anyone know what will required, I would imagine with a donor car the mechanical swap will be relativeley straight forward the issues I am more concerned with are the EWS and also potential ABS/ASC issues, the car is a V reg 316i (M43B19TU), I remember Kos had a 328 compact and it was very nice, also after borrowing Si's 328 touring for a couple of weeks I personally didn't think the fuel consumption was that crippling especially as most of my driving is motorway.

thanks

the best bet is to buy a complete donor car, you will need other things like a 6 pot ARB, Rad etc

finally, an e30 medium case LSD with a ratio about 3.07 will be ideal. a 3.25 like can be a bit buzzy and harm your MPG. your existing diff is small case one and it will be ok up to a point. and hard driving and it will expire. its probably a short ratio of about 3.38, thats what was on my ti. too short on motorway runs

ABS should not be an issue, and as for ASC, bin it. you wont need it and its for poofs and i'm sure you'll have an LSD

when you fit an e30 diff, you can use the existing out put flanges which mate up to the with the shafts. i;ve had no issues despite some peoples "concerns". if you use the e30 flanges, you will need e30 shafts and need to space out the ABS sensor to avoid it hitting anything

as for ews, dan sorted mine out

Post Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:01 pm

I have been thinking about this type of conversion for a track car. I will keep a lookout for your build thread

Post Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:41 pm

Also you will need a 6 pot instrument cluster,
also you will need to work out a rear silencer, nothing is an exact fit apart from Z3 2.8 and even then it still needs chopping to make shorter (or longer)
centre section fits perfect

Post Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:20 pm

Interesting reading guys, thanks for the input. It's definatley a conversion I want to do, such a shame BMW never made one. Some thoughts on the exhaust, we know in europe they did have a 323i 6 cylinder compact, would it not be simpler to get a one of these or would it not mate up to a 2.8, also concerning the engine, am I right in thinking you could build an engine using the M50 cast iron block but with the M52 internals and head etc, if my understanding is correct this would make a US spec engine.

Post Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:10 pm

Kos wrote: finally, an e30 medium case LSD with a ratio about 3.07 will be ideal. a 3.25 like can be a bit buzzy and harm your MPG. your existing diff is small case one and it will be ok up to a point. and hard driving and it will expire. its probably a short ratio of about 3.38, thats what was on my ti. too short on motorway runs

Post 1998 316i 1.9's use a 3.23 diff which is okay - 70 mph is 3000 rpm in 5th as opposed to 3500 with the original 3.45.

Post Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:35 pm

I have an instrument cluster from an E36 328i in my garage doing nothing, it came from the donor car I raped for my M52 lump, I think it was showing about 139k on the odometer.

On the exhaust front, it will probably be best to butcher a stock 328 system as they seem to flow pretty well and probably just need 6" chopping from the length of the centre section pipes.

In E36 circles, the lads with 323i's often upgrade their exhausts to the 2.8 version as they are larger diameter pipes, so I would avoid using the 323 setup as it may be restrictive.

Post Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:32 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:On the exhaust front, it will probably be best to butcher a stock 328 system as they seem to flow pretty well and probably just need 6" chopping from the length of the centre section pipes.

The rear box is too long to fit under there, it hits the driveshaft. You could bodge one on but it would have to sit low.
E46 boxes are smaller in length and use 50mm pipes so may be a possibility, iirc the box cant be no longer than 50cm.