Question about engine swap - BMW Forum

Oxbrain · 09-08-2004, 12:21 AM

Since I seem to be finding a lot of 325e's for way less than 325i's I got to calling around to some junkyards and found that I can get a 2.5 engine with low milage(under 70k) for about $1100. What other parts would I need to do this swap?
There is a yard near here with over 30 wrecked e30s in various states of smashed-ness and the parts are cheap.

"I Shall Call It Franken-Bimmer"

BMW Lover · 09-08-2004, 12:37 AM

you are going to most likely need to do some computer adjustments...so the car will work

Oxbrain · 09-08-2004, 01:01 AM

ECU is included with the new engine, I'd probably take the wiring harness, tranny and clutch too.
But the engine is pretty much same dimensions and all, same mounts as the eta? Same cooling and exhaust system?

I guess the biggest thing with those low milage engines that I just thought about is that they have probably been sitting there not running for quite a while. Might take a lot to get it going.

M-technik-3 · 09-08-2004, 06:40 AM

$1100.00 for an M20 is to much due to M50's are going for that rate now.

Oxbrain · 09-08-2004, 08:06 AM

what the junkyard here has is a ton of m20's with higher milage for as low as 600, but the low milage ones are 1100. the m50 engines they have go for 1200-1700.

I was looking at an m50 swap, but it is a way more custom process than going to a m20. Looking at over 1000 in just acssesory parts and more in some custom stuff. The m50 is also a lot heavier than the m20. It would also take a whole lot longer since I'd have to ship some of the stuff off to have other people do stuff which would cost even more. I'm on a budget.