Just a quick one.... I've got an E36 318ti compact. Its getting a 6 cyl in the next few months... I keep seeing full donor 323's for stupid money and i'm trying to decide if a 2.8 will really be that much better as the price compared is ridiculous.... Can anyone that's driven both a 323 or 328 compact or otherwise please let me know their thoughts and if its really worth the extra hassle and cost of finding a decent 328 or better and cheaper to just chuck a 2.5 in? It will be a daily and occasional skidder. Cheers in advance guys.
Hi man, well i own a 323ti compact and i have often driven a e36 328i (non compact), so here you are my thoughts.. you can have plenty of fun with the stock 2500cc engine.. just do some few cheap mods and you'll be fine! It can go from 170 to 190 hp with small money, and with a 316diff and gear.. more than enough. 328 is obviously better (more torque) but there is no need for it on a compact, especially with small tires.. i'm saving money for a "bigger swap", that could make a bigger difference (m engine).
I aggree. It's basically the same engine. With an M50 manifold and a new map file it's already at stock B28 level of power. But I think the Compakt is tailhappy enough as 323. But 20bhp are 20bhp. Whats the price diffrence for you? Gaining 20bhp has a price too.
I have a 328ti compact , m50 manifold , remap with 7200 limit , 318ti welded diff , m20 flywheel conversion , BEST FUN EVER not driven a 323 so can't say much .
Here is a shitty driver (me) on a completely stock 323ti, with only welded diff. Shitty coilovers, lots of weight, wrong (big tires).. anyway there was enought power to have big fun https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zuhVdXMFjoo# . Soon i'll post a video of a friend (good driver) on a fully modded compact with stock engine.. this is to say u dont need extra power to drift.
Just go 2.8, they're like £150, and lighter than 2.3/2.5. Then as you add manifolds, remap etc... they get quite fast.
Personally i would bye a 2.8 engine (loom and all the necessary shiz) and drop it in , its easy enough and its more than youll ever need , dont settle for a 2.3 , itll do the job but if your going through itall you might asswell do a 2.8 its still stupid cheap
I have a m50b25tu in mine, chipped, 7.2k limiter, m52 headers, m20 conversion, remapped, panel k&n filter and custom exhaust and its bloody quick, more than enough to have fun in and will skid 3rd gear easily enough
Cheers guys... Thank you for your responses........ 2.8 it is then, but i'll wait to find a reasonably priced full car and chuck it all in, in one... Rather than buying engine, gearbox, loom, ecu, ews, etc etc. If I've got a full donor car it should be easy in a weekend with an engine hoist... Can anyone make any recommendations as to 'must haves' when doing a conversion? (engine mounts etc) Cheers again.
Complete bullshit...323 E36 (compact or not) has M52B25 engine (2500cc) and 328 E36 has M52B28 (2800cc) which indeed is the same engine with 300cc more...Both engines have alli blocks and weight the same. The one that weights a little more is 325's M50B25 which has an iron block. OP - both engines (m52B25 and M52B28) are almost identical, M52B28 has 22HP and 35NM of torque more (which you would hardly notice), but a 328 weights 160 kg more than 323ti compact which you will surely feel more and has a longer diff ratio (2,97) compared to the 323ti compact which has 3,07 which can be noticed also. Better buy the engine which is in better shape (lower milleage and better maintaned), because the difference in performance IMHO is not big.
