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318 to M3

4K views 35 replies 20 participants last post by  sean 
#1 ·
does anyone know if its possible to put an e36 engine into a 318is body? would you need to replace the transmission as well?
 
#7 ·
Yes. You would need to replace everything from the nose on back that has anything to do with the engine. You're 318 has a 4 cylinder engine in it, the M is a 6 cylinder.
 
#8 ·
e36 is the chassis number, not the engine. It is possible to put an S52 (m3) engine into a 318 and replace the M42 engine the car came with.

Along with the conversion you will need a new differential, transsmission, driveshaft, engine, ECU, exhaust, intake, and various other little things. Total cost is in the 8-15K range depending on installation
 
#11 ·
Originally posted by ehlpitel@Oct 8 2003, 08:02 AM
what about replacing a 4 with a 8 cylinder, i read somewhere that it would fit into a e36 chassis, right wrong? if so, you could put a 540 engine in w/a 6 spd tranny- that would be some shit
people put the s62(e39 m5 engine) into a e36 chassi. and it cost them about 15-20k for the engine alone. and about 20k to install it.
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by e36_332i_s52+Oct 9 2003, 05:23 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (e36_332i_s52 @ Oct 9 2003, 05:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-ehlpitel@Oct 8 2003, 08:02 AM
what about replacing a 4 with a 8 cylinder, i read somewhere that it would fit into a e36 chassis, right wrong? if so, you could put a 540 engine in w/a 6 spd tranny- that would be some shit
people put the s62(e39 m5 engine) into a e36 chassi. and it cost them about 15-20k for the engine alone. and about 20k to install it. [/b][/quote]
wow such a wonderful swap...money just falls out of my ass Imma do that swap soon......... :rolleyes:
 
#13 ·
Originally posted by Eggrolled211+Oct 9 2003, 04:47 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Eggrolled211 @ Oct 9 2003, 04:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by e36_332i_s52@Oct 9 2003, 05:23 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-ehlpitel
@Oct 8 2003, 08:02 AM
what about replacing a 4 with a 8 cylinder, i read somewhere that it would fit into a e36 chassis, right wrong? if so, you could put a 540 engine in w/a 6 spd tranny- that would be some shit

people put the s62(e39 m5 engine) into a e36 chassi. and it cost them about 15-20k for the engine alone. and about 20k to install it.
wow such a wonderful swap...money just falls out of my ass Imma do that swap soon......... :rolleyes: [/b][/quote]
so ur better off going from the m42 to s52. it will be cheaper and easier to work around in the engine bay
 
#15 ·
Originally posted by Eggrolled211+Oct 9 2003, 05:47 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Eggrolled211 @ Oct 9 2003, 05:47 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by e36_332i_s52@Oct 9 2003, 05:23 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-ehlpitel
@Oct 8 2003, 08:02 AM
what about replacing a 4 with a 8 cylinder, i read somewhere that it would fit into a e36 chassis, right wrong? if so, you could put a 540 engine in w/a 6 spd tranny- that would be some shit

people put the s62(e39 m5 engine) into a e36 chassi. and it cost them about 15-20k for the engine alone. and about 20k to install it.
wow such a wonderful swap...money just falls out of my ass Imma do that swap soon......... :rolleyes: [/b][/quote]
i wish money fell out of my ass. i'd have to wear depends though....that would suck. :lol:
 
#18 ·
Originally posted by ehlpitel@Oct 11 2003, 12:19 AM
im almost positive an m52 is a e36 m3 '95 engine, correct me if im wrong
a m52 is a non M engine, the S50 is the 95 m3 engine, the S52 is the 96-99 m3 engine, the S54 is the e46 m3 engine, the S62 is the e39 m5 engine, the S14 is the e30 m3 engine, just to name a few, the 92-95 325i has a m50 engine
 
#21 ·
I know I have prolly asked this before....but im too lazy to look....about how much would it be for me to swap a Manual Tranny into my car....a few things I know I would need to do, is cut the firewall and seal it for the new pedal...i heard someone say replace my rear diff, then get a new ECU.....I really would like to change out my tranny rather than sell the car and find one with a stick....


Oh and were should I look for all the parts?
 
#22 ·
Originally posted by ehlpitel@Oct 11 2003, 11:13 AM
so am i wrong?
actually, since there is such a huge difference between the euro and US m3 engines, imo the euro spec M3's have the real S50B30 and S52B32 engines. the US spec M3 engine is just a bored and stroked M52 to create the 3.2L displacement, of course there are some ///M 'tweaks' but it is still basically a M52(obd2 3.2L) or M50(obd1 3.0L). americans will say our M3's have S52's but from a europeans stand point we (US) just have plain single throttle body M50's that have been boosted to 3L or 3.2L depending on year.

but there's nothing wrong with calling the US M3 engine a S50 or S52 to make things less confusing
 
#23 ·
the problem with the conversion is that u havta change just ahout everything, so i got a question, if u would ot buy a 328i or a 6 cylinder 2 dr, would it be easier to put the M3 engine in it without changing all the things, because of it having a bigger engine bay, or am i just trippin on about shit?
 
#24 ·
Originally posted by daniel318is@Oct 13 2003, 09:37 AM
the problem with the conversion is that u havta change just ahout everything, so i got a question, if u would ot buy a 328i or a 6 cylinder 2 dr, would it be easier to put the M3 engine in it without changing all the things, because of it having a bigger engine bay, or am i just trippin on about shit?
why not just buy a M3, it'd much cheaper than converting a 328. and even though its a 328, it wont make insurance that much cheaper because it would be smart to insure the car after the conversion which may make it actually higher than a M3 due to the overall cost it took to convert
 
#25 ·
daniel, i got a question, whats the 318is like in terms of overall performance, acceleration, top speed handling, fuel consumption, all the usual shit, cause im planning to get a relativeley cheap e36 and i wanna see the options, moreover, yeah iwas doing some research on the engine conversion, and if you live anywhere near the new england area, check out this site:conversions
whatever, on the site its cheaper to do the conversion to a i6 than the m42, for the conversion youd need brakes, suspension, tranny, ecu, exhaust system. it seems like a great deal for less than 15k you have a BRAND NEW e36 m3, i also read in some places about replacing the m50/m40 engine with a v12 from a 8 :rock
 
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