Evening All,
Been reading through the engine swap threads for a while now and whilst I appreciate that a lot of things have been covered, I am asking as a complete novice, what would be the best / easiest option for an engine swap to update my 325i?
I have read up on the following swaps:
E36 M3 S50B32A
E46 / E39 M54B30A 330i 530i
E36 M3 S50B32A
E39 M5 S62B50A
And I'm just trying to get a general opinion from people that have carried it out.
Cheers,
Andy
Opinions / Advice
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pac1982
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When you say novice how novice are we talking? novice as in never done an engine conversion or novice as in never done a BMW engine conversion?cswip31 wrote:Evening All,
Been reading through the engine swap threads for a while now and whilst I appreciate that a lot of things have been covered, I am asking as a complete novice, what would be the best / easiest option for an engine swap to update my 325i?
I have read up on the following swaps:
E36 M3 S50B32A
E46 / E39 M54B30A 330i 530i
E36 M3 S50B32A
E39 M5 S62B50A
And I'm just trying to get a general opinion from people that have carried it out.
Cheers,
Andy
1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
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Fastroad
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I personally think they are all as complex as one another but if your planning on doing any of them I would do the E39 M5 a˜Ž 
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Brianmoooore
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The straight sixes are all relatively simple to fit mechanically, but once you get to engines where the ECU communicates with every other electronic module in the car, the electrical part of things goes from fairly easy to a whole host of problems, so the easiest swaps are pre canbus ones, unless you can find someone who can modify the ECU at a sensible price, so that it doesn't require the canbus connection.
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GB69
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I've just done an e34 540 M60B40 swap in my 318is. It wasn't too bad a job aslong as you or a mate can weld exhaust manifolds.
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cswip31
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Should have clarified a point or two at the start.
I'm not carrying out the swop, I know a mechanic who will be doing it for me.
Basically I can't make my mind up regarding what engine to stick in, and that was why I was asking for opinions, quite tempted by the E39 M5 or the E46 M3 being totally honest.
Am I correct in assuming that they require a modified ECU for the canbus thingy?
Cheers,
Andy
I'm not carrying out the swop, I know a mechanic who will be doing it for me.
Basically I can't make my mind up regarding what engine to stick in, and that was why I was asking for opinions, quite tempted by the E39 M5 or the E46 M3 being totally honest.
Am I correct in assuming that they require a modified ECU for the canbus thingy?
Cheers,
Andy