5.0 swap?

[bimmerboi318]

hey guys

im new to the forum so i thought i'd post something.

has anyone, or does anyone know of someone who has swapped a 5.0 v12 into their ti? or any e36 for that matter. i know hartge has a conversion kit. i havent seen anything for prices, but it has to be up there. now THAT would be a swap i'd want to see. i envy you guys with the 6 cylinder conversions as i am still with my m42. but i'd like to hear how a ti can handle that 5 liter beast.

[1996 328ti]

No prices but some info on Racing Dynamics' V12
http://www.theautochannel.com/publications/magazines/sci/feb-mar-97/dynamics.frame

[andy]

I found an inexpensive '95 4.4l V8 I thought would make an interesting addition to the nose of my ti. Biggest problem is that the V8 mates up with a bellhousing a great deal larger than the 3 series transmission.

So, count on finding a tranny too...

[J!m]

If that 4.4 is an aluminum block engine, it is only slightly heavier than the us M3 motor.

Go with the euro M3 front springs as I did- they should carry the weight with no problem (they are a bit stiff with the six).

'95 should be OBD-I, so the conversion should be quite easy (in relitive terms...).

[andy]

It's the 4.0. My car is already toting the full treatment by Ground Control, so that part should be okay -- it's my mostly track car. I'd imagine adjusting sway bars a little differently, but putting the battery in back and a CF hood could compensate easily. I'd still need to keep my foot in check coming out of T11 at Sears Point, though. :)

Biggest problems are the tranny issue (the manual 6 speed is not easy to find) and that some of the V8's in 1995 had problems with the Nickasil degrading under the more-sulfurus fuel found in some places in the USA. The engine's seller hasn't responded on that issue yet, though. Here's hoping...

[J!m]

Yes, the NicaSil plating can be a problem. The company I work for has a replacement to that technology which is in use at Volkswagen and Audi at this time.

Check on the price for a replacement block [only] from BMW, before you even install the new motor. It may be worth the trouble to replace the block before instalation...

Those weight savings ideas will certainly help. My car is decidedly nose heavy, but the LSD and 'power on demand' easily cope with it. Rear tires get expensive though... The car is very well behaved, even at the limit.