What engine to replace 316i?

[Rkive]

In the near future I am thinking of doing an engine swap as it is the only real way to get the most out of my car.

But I was wondering what suitable engine would go well in a 316i?

What shall I be looking for?

[maxfield]

M20 2.5. M50 2.5. M52 2.8. M30 3.5. S50 3.0/3.2. M60. M70. S54. S65. S85. M54.

Plenty of options out there

[Rkive]

Which would be the easiest to fit?

What overall parts would be needed for the replacement?

And what cars (models) should I be looking for?

Cheers.

[maxfield]

Budget? How much power one would be looking for?

[E30BeemerLad]

you need to decide what you can afford

give us some more ideas such as what you can afford to buy, what you can afford to insure, if you want 4 pot or 6 pot, can you do the work yourself etc etc

[Rkive]

Well to be honest I would probably just be on lookout for one, just in the breakers yard and generally keeping my ears open. Probably go for something less than 60,000 miles and costing under £500.

[StuBeeDoo]

IIRC, the M50 bolts straight up to the M40 gear box. You just need to change the linkage and the front prop.
The rear brakes will need upgrading to 325i (or Touring) discs. Probably best to swap the complete rear suspension/diff assembly for 325i, then you'll have the large case diff with a more suitable ratio.
HTH
Stuart.

[Joshy]

Well to be honest I would probably just be on lookout for one, just in the breakers yard and generally keeping my ears open. Probably go for something less than 60,000 miles and costing under £500.

You want an engine with less than 60,000 miles for £500. Isn't that pushing it a bit?

[E30BeemerLad]

the guy lives in Jersey, 60K miles is intergalactic there

[Rkive]

Il tell you straight up I don't really know anything about engines etc., so as much guidance as possible would be great.

I would be looking for an engine with preferablly with more power at the bottom end rather than top as Jersey is all about beating people off the line and in the corners.

What model cars should I be looking out for?

[Joshy]

For low end grunt and your budget, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a motor better than a M30. Probably wrong though.

So keep your eyes open for 535/735's

[Scruffymurphy]

Put in an M42. It's a simple conversion nice power upgrade and it's still easy to insure.

[Rkive]

Which cars hold an m42?

[Dave_M3]

The M30 would be good in low end grunt but he wants to beat people in the corners too it seems.
(No offense to M30 owners but they would be one of the lesser handling E30 conversions. Bucket loads of torque though


From what you seem to want which combine a budget, straight forwardness of conversion and handling.

An M42 seems the best bet. These come from the 318iS
Your best bet would be to find a crashed or rusty old iS and swap everything over from the engine, back to the rear discs.

These engines are kinda lacking in low down Torque but a Chip from Sal will make a big difference in that area

[bazza93]

buy a knackered 325 with a good engine and box, and change all the bits over should be able to find one on ebay for £500

[Morat]

I don't see why you'd go through the hassle of an engine change for a 1.8, sorry to the M42 owners but thats my take. You _could_ put in a 2.5 M20 - but again, why bother when you can buy them like that anyway?
If you're going to swap the engine, I'd say either an M30 (with the caveat on weight as above) or the 24V 6 pot out of an E36 (M50?? I think) which makes better power for the same weight (pretty much) as the M20 found in the E30 3235i. Check other threads but you could be looking at a nice 190-200 HP easily from an M50 without breaking the bank.

OR

Get a 325i and turbo it
Get a 325i and 2.7 it

if you're not into swapping engines afterall - which is a pricy pasttime if you can't do it yourself just due to the hours required.

or both

Whatever happens, make sure someone competent checks out any engine before you buy it

Do bear in mind that it will be cheaper to sell your 316 and buy a 325 than swapping the engine, unless you can do it all yourself. You should probably get a quote from your insurers to check out what they'd think of a car with an engine swap.

[Rkive]

Well my Dad has a mechanic who he employs so the conversion itself wouldn't really be a problem, its just the time it takes. He would only have a day or two to do the conversion, so which engine would be easily dropped in 2 days?

[bazza93]

here's an engine for you.................. http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 793#899793
look and you shall find

[snoops]

I would go for a m20 2.5 out of an e30 325i, no point going for anything bigger like m30, 2.7, etc as you wont really get the most of it in Jersey

[E30BeemerLad]

5 mile road with no fuzz hanging about is where all the action takes place I guess?

[Rkive]

Are the m42 engines from 318is also in other 318is apart from the e30?

If so should I be looking for them also?

[Brianmoooore]

Are the m42 engines from 318is also in other 318is apart from the e30?

The M42 went on to be used in E36s, but all the external parts of the engine are different and won't fit an E30.
You can use an E36 M42 engine to replace a blown E30 engine M42 engine, but they're not practical for a change of engine type.

[Rkive]

5 mile road with no fuzz hanging about is where all the action takes place I guess?

Yeah 5 mile for sprints, but there are loads of decent lanes in the country side, its a fun island to drive around.