SWAAAAAAAAAAPS....?! - BMW Forum

xbmwx · 01-21-2004, 05:31 PM

Hey Guys...
whatsup?!
I was thinking of getting a body of E36 325is, and swap an E36 M3

engine...and i was wondering how much does the M3 engine cost...?!and how many hp can i get?!

or the other option was

to get an E36 325is with the engine...and install a turbo

used ...and i just wanted to know how much does the turbo with installation like changing exhaust or clutch cost...? and what max. hp would it give me?!

hope to get advices and opinions....

I LIVE IN OTTAWA...
so, put that in mind...

waiting for ur answers and suggestions....

thx ...

Furious · 01-21-2004, 05:47 PM

hi ottawa i live in toronto. you can make your 325 look like an M3, thats what im in the process of doing, almost complete.

depending on how many kilometers you have on the car, you can go with a turbo, but for me personally im looking into an M3 engine swap.

max HP for the M3 engine is 240 stock. a 325 with turbo's max HP can vary.

Keehnel1414 · 01-21-2004, 05:56 PM

I have looked into both. A rebuilt or new m3 engine will run anywhere from 5 to 8 grand and will give the 240hp. There is a turbo kit being sold on ebay complete with everything for 3000 and it is supposed to give you 80hp so 189+80=269hp Depending on how much you spend turbo would be my choice. It is cooler and gives you more hp for the money.

El Presidente · 01-21-2004, 05:59 PM

if you wish to sawp, it may be cheaper to find a good looking but high mileage 318. Everything will still swap right in and you may save a few thousand on the actual cost of the car.

bimmerfan620 · 01-21-2004, 06:24 PM

JUST DO IT.... TURBO all the way

Fox · 01-21-2004, 06:53 PM

Turbo lag sucks. Get high compression pistons. Save gas and save money.

xbmwx · 01-21-2004, 08:01 PM

thanx for the replies men....k..now iam convinced more into the turbo...after seeing the results of having more hp from the turboand that the m3 engine will cost more...however, i just wanted to know..what things should be changed to get the turbo working...like: clutch, gear,other stuff.... and also how much would everything add up to not including the turbo price...?!?!

k...one more thing...i have many freinds who live in the Middle east...and when i told them about a BMW...they were like it has many engine problems in it...they told me to get a nissan, a honda, or a toyota..and since u guys have experience....i just wanted to know roughly how much does a BMW maintanance cost yearly...not counting any mods...like just the oil changes and some small stuff... because i kept thinking about it...like i love BMW but i am very unsure...specially that i live in Ottawa and i dont see alot around here...most of what i see are model 2000 + ....so, hope to hear some opinions and facts....

thx alot guys
really appreciated

Fissionx · 01-21-2004, 08:27 PM

the ebay turbo kits are so pathetic, its not even funny. If you're going to do it, do it right.

Fox · 01-21-2004, 08:32 PM

A decent turbo set up will cost you at least 8 grand. minimum..

Furious · 01-21-2004, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xbmwx@Jan 21 2004, 08:41 PM

k...one more thing...i have many freinds who live in the Middle east...and when i told them about a BMW...they were like it has many engine problems in it...they told me to get a nissan, a honda, or a toyota..and since u guys have experience....i just wanted to know roughly how much does a BMW maintanance cost yearly...not counting any mods...like just the oil changes and some small stuff... because i kept thinking about it...like i love BMW but i am very unsure...specially that i live in Ottawa and i dont see alot around here...most of what i see are model 2000 + ....so, hope to hear some opinions and facts....

thx alot guys
really appreciated

well i dunno about the middle east but i know that bmws are very reliable the engines are soooooo solid. if you really want buy a honda i have nothing but good things to say about them, ive personally had awesome experience with them, but they, plain and simply are not a bmw.

if i were to choose say an s2000 or a Z4 (for instance because they are the most comparable IMO) id choose the Z4

bimmerfan620 · 01-21-2004, 09:46 PM

dito, mark has nailed it on the spot. I would have nothing but positive to say about BMW, and honda/acura is good as well, as I've had an integra before, but they are just not made with the quality that BMW is.

El Presidente · 01-21-2004, 11:09 PM

A freind of mine is Iranian, and he grew up around BMWs and MBs. Yeah, in the middle east, the cars dont last. Then again, with that much sand and dust and extreme tempurature flucuations between days and nights, what does last a long time?

As for oil changes, they are very simple to do on the e36. The oil filter is right on top and the drain plug can be reached without jacking up the car. To do it yourself, you're looking at 5-7ish for the filter and 10-20 depending on what oil you use. For regular oil and filter it costs 27 at my garage where they reset the lights, but unless Im having other work done, I do it myself.

Other things you may have to do include what are called "Inspections." Inspection 1s basically give the car a good lookover and change most fluids. An Inspection 2 does everything as the former, plus changes filters, plugs, ect. Average cost of Inspection 2 is 350-500. Inspection 1s range from 200-400, all of this depends on your garage. The Inspection cycles are carried out around 15-25k miles, depending on how you drive.

xbmwx · 01-21-2004, 11:19 PM

k...koool guys...

good to know....

but now..like compared to a 1998 Nissan Maxima what would be cheaper to maintain....since they have the same hp and a V-6 ...and same price range

and what are the common defects in th eE36 ?...like everycar has some common wrong thing that was an error from production...

Moreover, i was little dicouraged at the begining when i saw all the problems in the forum... ?!

so,
what do u guys think??!

El Presidente · 01-21-2004, 11:27 PM

problems with the e36 include a bad waterpump on early models, weak subframe on early models, and brake light/switch failure.

Everything else tends to be things that will happen to any car, such as an o2 sensor needing replacement. the maxima would most likely be cheaper, but it also wouldnt be the same quality.

Fissionx · 01-22-2004, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fox@Jan 21 2004, 10:12 PM
A decent turbo set up will cost you at least 8 grand.* minimum..

not really. I have a whole bunch of parts FS right now, although the setup im on now cost just under that.
Link for the stuff i have FS can be found in my sig. If the buyer wants, they can go ahead and get my exhaust manifold AND my whole ECU with custom dyno tuned AA software for the kit, include EVERYTHING you'll need to get your car running, but the software is only for a 328, tho i have a chip for a 3.0l motor too.