Keep Meaning To Ask This

[2ndclasscitizen]

What with my age, type of car, where I live.... seems insurance is rather expensive. Dont get me wrong, more than happy with the 2.5, but I always want more, MORE! Insurance stopped me getting a M3 (my policy was going to go up from £1200 to more than £3500!!! I know you can get an M3 engine in there but how easy is it to swap the 2.5 engine in there now, and put a 2.8 lump in there? So much more tuning possibilities straight away over the 2.5, and seeing as on paper the 2.8 is only +1bhp over the 2.5 the swap shouldnt be too hard on the old insurance.

Anybody know if this can be done?



Easily..... :wink

*edit
-just realized that this might be the wrong bit of the fourm. Neh.... too late now.

[e36_m3_Turbo]

honestly. i dont see if it would be worth the swap.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Well I know on paper the 2.8's only one more brake than the 2.5, which means when I let my insurance company know i've swapped engines they go by what's been put in there (I believe) that they'll go by any increase in BHP.
I don't expect to ever get a really really fast car from a non M car (unless I turbo/SC it) but a 2.8 lump would just be easier/cheaper for me, plus theres a lot more potential what with CAI/BBTB/Manifold/Zorst/Chip than the 2.5, I've seen some rolling road print outs where the 2.8's are pushing 250 brake. I'm not even sure of the torque, I thought the 325 had 240 odd lb-ft of torque, the 2.8's got 280lb-ft standard. Just more..... potential there.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Or what other (sensible) engines can I put in there out of other BM's?

[jrhaile]

Somewhat of an easy swap, and if you keep the engine OBD1 it's well worth it as you'll gain power near 3.0 M3s. I've posted on my swap a 100x before so I'll make this quick. Fitment is drop it in and bolt it down. You need to weld the o2 sensor holes on the headers closed. You need to make a custom pipe to run the coolant to the rear of the engine. And then you need a custom chip made to accomodate the new engine. Oh and the 2.8l engines are WELL under estimated in power compared to a 2.5l. It might only be 2.5bhp, but the torque MAKES a huge difference especially if you're going to convert the engine to OBD1 like I did. While you're at it, slap in some s52 cams for 500 extra and you'll really be screaming.

Obviously, the other engines that can go in there are the 3.2 m3 and the 3.0 m3 engine.

[Deloriant]

Personally I don't think a motor swap is worth it unless you are going to go with an M motor/port+polished 2.8L. But if you do, you will enjoy the additional torque that you get out of a 2.8L M52.

[drz]

Only do it if you're going to make it OBD1.