Getting A 318... motorswap?

[nate]

Hi guys... I'm pretty new to the BMW world, but by no means new to racing cars/motorsports. I'm going to be getting rid of my current project in favor of a BMW... Anyway I'll cut to the point...

I am going to be to getting a 318i, and am looking for information on swapping a M3 motor into the chassis... can anyone get me pointed in the right direction?

Thanks!

[clubin]

Ooh, I'd be interested in learning how cost-effective that'd be. Bimmerphiles, tell us: What different M3 engines are out there? How much do they go for, roughly? Is there anything about the non-M3 3-series engineering that will make installing an M3 engine in it less effective than one would think (you know, "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link")? All that good stuff.

[dport]

I'm sure if you go to the search you can find info, it has been done before. Seems like a lot of extra work when you could start with a 325/328 or even a good used M3. There are plenty out there.

[clubin]

The great availability of cheap 318's in great condition with little miles on them just made this fairly interesting. It just might be cost-effective. It can be a pain limiting a car search to 328's and possibly 325's when so many great deals on 318's in better condition are out there. If this really is feasible, I might actually consider it. I'd probably learn much more about the car in the process, too.

[///M Power]

Or maybe he has a 318 with hih mileage and realizes that he could buy it cheap, and put in the M motor an be good to go.
Does it matter?
I'm prtty sure autotechnica would have a plethora of information on this matter.

Ill give you my basic knowledge on this issue. The problem with swappign to a M3 motor is that the whole issue of the motor is not the problem. If you got the money, you could do it. You have to realize that the 30 liter or 3.2 liter (probably 3.0) motor is much heavier than the 1.8 liter of the 318. Although the M3 motor will fit in the i4 engine bay, you are throwing off the weight balance of the car. That is the biggest issue when swapping motors into cars. It could be dangerous.

The M swap has been done succesfully many many times but you have to upgrade your suspension in the process. The springs and shocks aren't meant for such a heavy engine. Many suspension mods (sway bars, strut..etc) are recomended. I just hope you aren't running into this project thinking that its a simple motor only swap.

[dport]

And the transmission and differential would need to changed.

[frank de jonge]

This is what we are doing at the moment

[frank de jonge]

Shot of the Engine into the 318is chassis

[frank de jonge]

This is the car

[Mr White G]

Dude, just buy an M3 if that's what you want. An M3 isn't just a 318 with a naughty engine in it.

If you want to plant a special engine, try dropping in a skyline 2.5. I know of a car in the UK with this conversion (an E21) and it is a rapid and unique car.

[CiscoKid]

wait... isnt that an e46 m3 engine!!!!

[CiscoKid]

thats unique in itself!

where are you from?

[frank de jonge]

It's not an E46 M3 engine, but an E39 M5 engine . You can see that it is an V8

400bhp and 500NM of torque.

I'm from the Netherlands

[dutchbmw]

Nice project frank! The suspension and drive line you are using is from the e36 M3 I guess? I have a junkyard within 10 minutes driving from here with also a lot of M engines and cars on it. When I'm finished with my degree I going to do a project like yours!

On my website is a video of a Honda h22a. We did to it an engine swap too!

[nate]

I have been swapping motors into cars forever now... 350's in S10 trucks, 350 into a dodge starion, h22 into del sol, 4g63 into a dodge colt... trust me I KNOW motorswaps. I know all the quirks that come with it... like how it changes the balance of a car... my current setup has pretty much every modification to the suspension available... swaybars, aftermarket control arms, aftermarket bushings, toe kit, big brakes, I could go on and on... but that's not the point...

I'm asking for specific information... is it a bolt in swap? Where can I find some info on it?

Also for those of you that said it is not feasable money wise... listen up...

I can pickup a 95 or so 318i in good condition for around $6500

I can get a M3 for anywhere between $16-$22k --

So -- If I end up sinking the extra 16k that I didnt spend on a real M3 into a car that I originally paid 6k for, in the end, if done right, which car do you think will come out better/faster/nicer? The 318... yeah thats what I thought.