Should I do the engine swap?

[Damiene30]

Hi guys I have a 1991 318i manual convertible With 94k on the clock I love the car but the only thing I don’t like is the engine it’s not powerful enough for me and I don’t know what to do maybe I should swap the engine? Or maybe I should leave it original? I don’t know what to do because the 1.8 that’s in there now is very clean and sound very good I’ve got full service history from new hopefully I’ll get some advice from you guys thanks. Damien

everything is that car is original I just changed and alloys but I still have the original 14’s and I’ve put a brand new roof on it around 2 weeks ago.

I’m also thinking to put BC Racing Coilovers tell me what you think.

Here’s my e30

[Brianmoooore]

Coil overs: Definitely not.
Engine swap: If you want to enjoy the car more, then go for it. If you have somewhere to store the original engine and box, then so much the better.

[Damiene30]

So which suspension Would you recommend I want the car to have the stance.

engine I was thinking of e36 2.5 or 2.8 but I don’t know anyone that would do that do you know anyone in London or surrounding areas? And money wise how much would that cost to convert.

[Brianmoooore]

You can have a car that handles well, carries you in comfort is an absolute pleasure to drive and allows you to glide over potholes, or you can have 'stance'. You can't have both.
Bilstein B4 dampers and H&R -30mm springs are are about as far as you should go. Lower than that, and all the suspension geometry starts to go wrong.
Engine wise, the cheapest option by far would be a M20B25, since you would be creating a model that already exists and no fabrication would be needed. You could take that a step further by building a 2.8 litre M20, which would still have the advantage of no fabrication needed to fit it. and retain the sound of a M20 - important in a ragtop, where you can hear the exhaust.
There are people on here who do a M50 or M52 conversion for you, and a very pleasant car it makes. Barry (bss325i) is one such person somewhere near London. As for price, you'll have to ask him.

[martauto]

I would agree with Brian but also say enjoy the car for what it is another car for your daily mate.
It just looks too good to alter.

Mart.

[Damiene30]

So with the Bilstein B4 dampers and h&r springs I’ll have comfort?

[Brianmoooore]

So with the Bilstein B4 dampers and h&r springs I’ll have comfort?

Certainly - as good as when the car was new. Some recommend B6/B8 dampers, and if I lived in France I'd probably agree, but not with UK roads in their current state.