98 318Ti Engine Swap

[theunforgiven]

I am contemplating swapping the engine from a 98 318ti to a 97/98 (not totally sure on the date of the m3 engine) M3 engine. I am getting a great deal on the engine from a friend and i can get a tranny and the engine. I know i have to buy a few more pieces but i am looking to do almost all of the work my self. I know it will be complicated and i will be honest in saying i do not know much about mechanics right now i hope to have this project teach me ALOT. My dad is the next best thing to a mechanic and will be helping me intermittantly and has dropped engines into cars before. I have been reading the forums alot and i saw that someone on the forum has a manual on how to do the swap. I was wondering if i could get ahold of that because i want to begin reading up on it. Any input would be great. Thanks! =)

[cali-ti]

try sending a PM to J!m.

[pdxmotorhead]

I think the most important point is that you need as much of the M3's electrical as you can get. Dashboard, engine wiring harnes and ecu etc. Prefferably you want the car sitting there to pull all the pieces your going to need. If you don't you are going to spend a LOT at the dealer. From looking at the swaps a local shop has done this isn't "hard" it just requires you know what your doing. :)

Dave

[theunforgiven]

you need the dashboard? i can see some of the computer stuff but the dashboard? At the point it seems it would be easier to just buy an M3 hehe. I was assuming (apparently incorrectly) that i would need an engine/tranny ECU/Misc computer parts and maybe some suspension type stuff.

[baron]

You don't need the dash board just the guage cluster from a I6 car so the ecu and will work with the guages corretly. It won't work if you use most of the computer stuff from the m3 and the cluster from the M44 Engine.

[E36LUVA]

Lets see you've never really worked on a car before and you want attempt to do this swap. Dude I'm a tech at a bentley dealer and I can't find the time to do my own swap. Don't be fooled, this swap will take a considerable amount of time, know how and patience to complete. If you have absolutely nothing else to do like going to work or school for instance and you have all the pieces needed and all the equiptment like a lift and air tools etc, it'll still take 40 to 60 hours of continious work to complete. Go ask around the local BMW specealist shops how many hours it'll take to do. I'm not trying to discourage you I just want you to be prepared for whats in store for you. Good luck....