318-325i conversion

[e30-EVN]

I'm going to be taking on an m40 to 325 conversion next week and I have just a few questions I'd like clarifying please. As some of you well know, I'm no stranger to conversions ect but I'd like to be sure before I take this on as its for someone else....

Firstly, will the m40 fuel pump be ok for this?
I don't need to change the clocks? Just the coding plug from the 6 pot clocks?
And obv providing pin 20 is good it will plug and play?

This is a facelift m40 car so I'd imagine pin 20 won't be an earth, same as my 320 was.....

So as far as I can tell I need
Engine
Box
Ecu
Loom
Rad
Mounts
All hoses
Prop (or front section)
Linkage
Clocks (for coding plug)
Expansion tank

Is there anything I've missed out here? As the engine is being taken out of the doner car this weekend and I want to check with him on the phone everything is there on the pallet before he sends it.

I know about the 52mm struts btw, these are getting done the week after.

Thanks in advance

Ant

[Grrrmachine]

You'll want the diff too; a 318 diff will be in the region of 4.27, which will make first gear in the 325i utterly pointless.

And you can't really mix-and-match propshafts without having them professionally balanced afterwards.

[maxfield]

You'll want radiator mounts too as one side was different on mine.

[Billwill]

Are you going to fit the 325i disks at the rear in place of the drums or do you already have disks at the rear?

And front disks...are you going to upgrade them too?

[e30-EVN]

Of course I'm going to upgrade the fronts, but he will be driving the car nicely for 2 weeks as he can't fit the conversion package and my labour plus struts ect in one go. I've already told him I will source him a pair of 325 struts, calipers and carriers when he has the funds. The rears I'm not sure about yet, he's not the most enthusiastic of driver but the m40 is borring him so I may talk him round evemtually. They should be fine for normal to moderate use, I think the hardest time it will have is when I have a go haha

You're right on the dif side of things mate, but I fitted my old 4.10 to his car 2 weeks ago as his had been badly whining since he had the car, it was knackered....... I sold him mine and fitted it. I run my old m20 through it and it was pretty dam lively . He doesn't want a top end car anyway so I said we will leave it with this dif

And rad mount - check

Thanks guys

[Billwill]

Exhaust pipes and mufflers?
Central locking, electric windows....assuming the donor car has them and the M40 does not.

Or is the donor car getting something hotter fitted and not being completely scrapped

Let us know how the install goes please...I am very tempted to go this route on my M40 although the rising fuel costs would say that it would be a dumb idea.

[e30-EVN]

Fuel - hmmm yeah its not great is it. But then my car is powered by m52! That said, if I treat her nicely she will return way more mpg than any of my old m20's

Surprisingly his m40 car is central locking and elec window equipped.
Ah yes exhaust, that's something I had in mind but forgot in my above list
I've done this swap to my own car, 320-325 but since, I've done both 24v drops to it so I'm confident I will pull it off and he will be happy. But because its someone else's car I wanted to clarify any fuzzy areas first. Fail to prepare- prepare to fail imo

[Brianmoooore]

This is a facelift m40 car so I'd imagine pin 20 won't be an earth, same as my 320 was.....

Assume at your peril!

[e30-EVN]

I didn't say I wasn't going to check Brian
But thanks to you everyone, or atleast I'm aware of it. I will check this pin

[bmw9818]

im gonna be doing this soon, post up if you come across any issues

[e30-EVN]

Will do mate, I anticipate it to go smoothly..... I will add to this as and when for anyone thinking of takling the same

[Billwill]

Stupid question maybe but do you have to move the existing battery into the boot or is there room to keep it up front?

Or is the move-to-boot only done for better weight distribution?

[e30-EVN]

When I did my 325 and the later m52 conversions I just left the battery up front. It doesn't get in the way of anything what soever mate