M40 swap to...suggestions

[bmwe30mtech]

Thinking about swapping my engine this summer, its a 318i M40 engine and is very tappy, and frankly slow and boring. Sounds awful.

Im just wondering what the options are for the car, as its a really nice solid car with lots of extras so i would rather not part with it.

Im currently thinking 2.5, but are they very much faster than the 1.8's? Also the2.5's i have heard have been tappy, do most of them sound like this now? I want something smooth after the M40!

Am i right in thinking i need to change engine/box, loom, prop, diff, rear brakes, complete front struts, anything else? Are 318i front brakes the same as 325i ones? Rear shafts the same? I would also need fatter front anti-roll bar, and a rear one added i think?

Other option is re-build the head of the 318i, but im not too keen on this.

Any other ideas for engine swaps? Smallish budget though!

Also what are issues with insurance, would it be more to insure than a normal 325i?

Thanks for any info,

Paul

[m-dtech]

do something different !

vauxhall c20let ? skyline engine ?

be different

[Ant]

Cheap and sensible option given your age dude is stick a new cam in the M40 and live with it for another year.

Then you can consider all the options, and be able to insure them too.

M42 would seem an obvious cheap swop, Theo had one for sale iirc ?

[dark_sounds]

just buy a black 318IS, transfer all your good bits over, (leather, kit etc) and break the rest. much easier, cheaper, and legal ;)

[Jhonno]

quite often a 325i swap is cheaper to insure than a 325i..

[DanThe]

quite often a 325i swap is cheaper to insure than a 325i..

Because a 318i has a lower insurance group No

Best way is to sort the suspension and brakes first, get the job lot from a 325i. Once thats out of the way you can start getting insurance quotes and deciding on what engine you want in there

[bmwe30mtech]

Thanks for the responses.

m-dtech - im not competant enough to be able to do that, never done a swap so will start with somthing 'tried and tested'

Ant - its a tempting option, i just dont like the thought of throwing money at an M40 though, may end up the only option. Not worth swapping the head as the engine isnt amazing in general.

Ali - I see where your coming from, but my car just seems too solid and genuine to break apart! I dont know if i could find a decent 318IS, and if i was swapping cars i would go 325i i think (im not the only driver so insurance isnt too bad ;) )

Jhonno - I think thats because they are still (illegally) declared as a 318i?

DanThe - if i do it i will have to buy a 325i im guessing. Even still it will have the open diff and 'boring' box. Hmm No time at the minute, i will be sourcing parts in a month or so, just getting ideas.

Soo many options

[Jhonno]

No they arent

[bmwe30mtech]

Adrian flux may lower the cost actually, i think munky found this out when he did his swap.

[Theo]

Adrain Flux aren't too keen on young drivers

[DanThe]

Nothing illegal about declaring it as a 318i, thats the model. Even with a 2.5 engine it will still be a 318i you just declare the engine conversion.

I bought my car as a 318i and its now got an M50 engine, in some situations its probably cheaper to insure than a 325i with an M50 conversion.

325 suspension isnt hard to come by, but if you have the room you may be better off buying a breaker for the extra parts, rear battery, diff etc.