e36 engine swap advice

Thread in 'Technical Questions' started by dannyboy94, Jan 27, 2015.

  1. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    hi, im after a bit of advice for my budget drifter
    i have a 98 e36 318 on 205000 miles, had my first drift day at santa pod earlier this month and popped my radiator.
    if anyone is interested 4.25 when the radiator split


    now seeking more power i just bought a 95 bmw 325i auto on 150000 miles for £320.
    now questions
    as its an auto im going to need a clutch, this is a budget build so cheapest lasting cluch is there any ideal ones?

    as its on 150000 miles i was thinking of doing a bit of work while it was out of a car, would it be worth changing the head gasket and getting the head skimmed?
    any thing else advised to change while its out of the car?

    thanks
    Dan
     
  2. Stavros

    Stavros Active Member

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    Is the current engine ok?

    Seems a lot of effort to change to a more powerful engine when you still doing donuts in the playpens
     
  3. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    It is fine as I can tell had a short test drive didn't over heat, It's only because the engine is coming out I wondered if it was worth while doing.

    I'm also looking at this clutch for it
    http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=161031635082&alt=web
     
  4. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    It is fine as I can tell had a short test drive didn't over heat, It's only because the engine is coming out I wondered if it was worth while doing.

    I'm also looking at this clutch for it
    http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=161031635082&alt=web
     
  5. Mike@TDSW

    Mike@TDSW Active Member

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    If the m50 you're going to fit is currently running a ok I wouldn't worry too much about overhauling it.
    Have a good check for hard to reach pipes, hoses etc whilst it's out of the car, fit a new water pump (with metal impeller not plastic) and metal thermostat housing and just a general service / check over.
    I know head gaskets can go on bm's as with any marque tbf but from my experience, owning a good 30+ of them and drifting most, I've never had an issue so I don't worry about it.
    You know your gearbox will fit yeah?
     
  6. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    Ok cool ill probably just end up doing that.
    1.8 gearbox will fit? I read that it will cause the engine to sit at a bad angle?
     
  7. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    95 325i auto as an doner car for the engine swap.
    can anyone else conferm manual gearbox off the 318 will fit the 325 engine?
    apart from a flywheel and clutch is there anything else i need to buy to fit this engine to my 318?
    apart from the engine, cooling system and exhaust, does anything else from the 325 need to be swapped over to the 318?
    My engine crane has arrive so I'm ready to crack on with this
     
  8. icebluesmx5

    icebluesmx5 Member

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    Hi just put a m52 tu 2.8 into my 318ti and it connected to my 1.9 gearbox ok you will need to swop over the ews unit ,ecu and key as it won't run otherwise. You will also need to tell the ews that your car is a manual now not an auto as it won't start or turn over
     
  9. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    Cheers did you change the prop or still use the 318 one?
    forgot to mention I got a ecu chip for ews delete
     
  10. icebluesmx5

    icebluesmx5 Member

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    No still using 1.9 prop and final drive running 195 or 185 profile tyres
     
  11. Andy318ti

    Andy318ti Active Member

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    M50 shouldn't have ews. But the car might.
    Locate the module behind the glovebox and link the two thickest wires. Can't remember the colours.
     
  12. XDCghost

    XDCghost New Member

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    Hey guys I have currently got a 323 m52b25 sitting in the garage, im putting it into my 1.9 (m43b19) compact, is it true all I need is to get a ecu and then get the ews delete?
     
  13. dannyboy94

    dannyboy94 Member

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    Just have an engine or a doner car
     
  14. XDCghost

    XDCghost New Member

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    Hi guys any one know if a 323 e46 2000 ecu with key and locks will work on a e36 323 engine for my conversion ??
     
  15. XDCghost

    XDCghost New Member

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    Hey Danny it's just a engine with flywheel and clutch
     
  16. LiamE36

    LiamE36 Active Member

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    No and E46 engine will not work In an E36 with just the key and the locks. You don't need the key or the locks. You need the ECU, EWS module & key chip. But they must all be from the same car.
    To the best of my knowledge Theres a good bit more wiring that needs doing when fitting an e46 engine in an e36. It's not as easy as just putting in an e36 engine.
     

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