Value of a 325 lump?

[JohnnyRob]

Well we completed Scumball3000 in the e30 320 'ring, but alas the head gasket went (water in the oil) not long into the rally and the CB aerial flew off at 110 on the autobahn. This was after we saw 122mph on the GPS on the autobahn (all legal). I was well happy with this considering the head gasket had gone....

Two rounds of rad weld seemed to keep the water leak at bay. We ran with the heater on full chat and the overflow cap not fully tightened. This neccessitated a cool down drive after gunning it to precent the full cooling from boiling out the overflow.

The mechanics reckon the head will need pressure testing & skimming so I'm thinking now's the time to get a 325 transplant in it. I know a 735 lump will fit, but I'm on a budget.

What's a fair price for a good running (non rebuilt) 2.5 lump? Will I need the ECU / MAF, manifold, etc off the 2.5?

PS - anyone got an Alpineweiss2 rear tailgate complete with glass? Or else a 'ring glass panel?

[fuzzy]

im sure everything can be had for aound the £250-£300 mark iirc from discussions on another thread.

[SPADGE]

£200 from me complete

[johnna]

I have just done this!

You need: Engine , afm to inlet bellows, icv, inlet manifold, injectors and fuel pressure reg. The ecu will come in handy too, although I believe you can add a 325i chip to the 320i ecu. I could be wrong...

I am running the 320i afm still although I have the 325i item to swap over. They have the same part number, but may be calibrated differently.

I did engine and box together.

The starter, pas pump, exhaust manifold headers and alternator are all the same 320 or 325. When it started up it ran awfully until the chip began to learn via idle. SO don't worry too much when you fire up!

I paid £130 for one with 130k on it from an auto, so bolted it up to a 320i box with 90k on it. I am over the moon with it.

[munky30]

I have just done this!

You need: Engine , afm to inlet bellows, icv, inlet manifold, injectors and fuel pressure reg. The ecu will come in handy too, although I believe you can add a 325i chip to the 320i ecu. I could be wrong...

I am running the 320i afm still although I have the 325i item to swap over. They have the same part number, but may be calibrated differently.

I did engine and box together.

The starter, pas pump, exhaust manifold headers and alternator are all the same 320 or 325. When it started up it ran awfully until the chip began to learn via idle. SO don't worry too much when you fire up!

I paid £130 for one with 130k on it from an auto, so bolted it up to a 320i box with 90k on it. I am over the moon with it.

good to hear you've got it up and running.

Value of a 325 lump varies, for a good one with a proven history, 300 sounds fair.

[JohnnyRob]

Mmmmmm.....there may be a good running auto 2.5 with a (very) short MOT, but FSH and nice price on the cards. Complete car. Best I make a move. ;)

[fuzzy]

£200 from me complete

id trust this man and take this.

[Speedtouch]

johnna is correct, you can use the 320i ECU so long as you fit a 325i EPROM chip in it.

[munky30]

Mmmmmm.....there may be a good running auto 2.5 with a (very) short MOT, but FSH and nice price on the cards. Complete car. Best I make a move. ;)

no no no no no NO!

Why on gods earth would you want to convert to an auto?!

If the answer is that its already an auto, if you're going to the trouble of changing engines, change the f*cking pedals too and get a real engine not some chocolate auto pensioner box.

[JohnnyRob]

No, no, no, no!!

I'd be using the 2-5 lump and ancillaries, and mating it to my 2-0 manual box - just like Johnna did.

I want to spend as little money and time possible and converting it to auto won't help that.

Scumball3000 + Autoboxes = bad idea.

I'll be taking her back to scumball next year so an auto box is a definite no-no!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

£200 from me complete

id trust this man and take this.

Also been made aware he has a nice 325 lump for sale...

[Simon]

No, no, no, no!!

I'd be using the 2-5 lump and ancillaries, and mating it to my 2-0 manual box - just like Johnna did.

I want to spend as little money and time possible and converting it to auto won't help that.

Scumball3000 + Autoboxes = bad idea.

I'll be taking her back to scumball next year so an auto box is a definite no-no!

Best engine to go for too, one that's been mated to an auto box, it will have had an easier life than one mated to a manual box.

I've done exactly the same, 2.5 from a 325i auto into my 320i touring, (cheers Glenn!) using the standard 2.0 gearbox, good ratios for accel.

[johnna]

You have two good offers there... £200 snots for a 325i lump from a known zoner is a good deal, but you can drive and check the auto car and then frag the bits left over...


You need the flywheel and flange from the 320i engine crankshaft.

[JohnnyRob]

Cheers chaps! I'll keep you all updated.

[Simon13]

if you buy an auto engine don't forget you need a spigot bearing for the end of the crank

[nzracer]

Good stuff this has made my day as ill be doing a 325i conversion.
I am getting a whole car H reg 325i 4 door for £300 to go into a 316 touring... now Ive just gota find a nice touring and ill get started

[datonyb]

last time i looked

the 320 gear box was as near as dam it to a 325sport box ratios

seems a cheaper option than buying a sprt gearbox to me

use the 325 diff ..and you have the gearing from the s[port

for pennies..although no lsd...........

[JohnnyRob]

Well, life has somewhat overtaken events and I am now a proud father, of a 10 1/2 month old lovely baby daughter!

On the downside, I've not had the time, inclination or cash to fix the e30, with my Scumball partner (Jeff) being waaaay too busy - up until this week, when Jeff was surfing ebay with cash burning a hole in his sky rocket ;)

The car has now been dropped of in Beckton to Syed (thank god for trade plates - lol!) who is going to drop a good hi - compression 325 lump with later motronic ecu - which should match our 1991 loom nicely. Apparently, the previous owner stated that the lump had some headwork done. Syed assures us that the engine is good and strong

Mated with the 320 box it should accelerate rather nicely, I reckon! £450 all in fitted and running (including the lump and all ancilliaries) sounded like a good deal.

The plan is to get her back on the road, sort out a few bits (not least of all the broken rear glass - Dip's tailgate & glass still sit in the boot), run her around and enter her for next years 2010 Scumball!

I'll get some pictures up when she's back at home, cleaned up and running ;)

[maxlee]

i tryed selling my 325i 5 speed manual pick up truk thing on ebay and didn't see £250 on there so you might be better off loking for a 325i with a nuff body or crashed or speek to spadge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1990-bmw-325i-com ... 240%3A1318