Is a 2000 Z3 a good swap candidate???

[sikbrik]

Hey BMW pros,

I've got a lead on a wrecked Z3 2.5 (I know, I know...why do a 2.5). I want a nice docile conversion for my wife's 318ti. It's currently an auto and the Z3 is a 5-spd. I have the E36 pedals and mount but I wonder if the Z3 master cyl will fit the E36 pedals, etc? Is the 2000 Z3 a whole different beast, just like the E46's? The car only has 15k miles on it and it would be nice to have a low mileage swap that's pretty cheap and will still get almost 200hp to the wheels with some minor upgrades. Any input? The car is basically a steal...much cheaper than the E36 parts cars I've been looking at. I imagine the seats will fit, also? And is the rear subframe still compatible? Front brakes, etc??? Thanks!!! Without you guys, I'd still be tinkering with my old '76 2002 instead of learning the modern stuff.

Mike

[J!m]

I wonder if the Z3 master cyl will fit the E36 pedals, etc?

Should be OK, but I've never tried it.

Is the 2000 Z3 a whole different beast, just like the E46's?

Nope, still the same. I think it has minor trim changes, but that may be false too... Leftovers until the Z4 came out.

The car only has 15k miles on it and it would be nice to have a low mileage swap that's pretty cheap and will still get almost 200hp to the wheels with some minor upgrades. Any input?

Sounds reasonable...

The car is basically a steal...much cheaper than the E36 parts cars I've been looking at. I imagine the seats will fit, also?

Maybe, but why? get some ti sport seats. The Z3 seats are a bit weird, and may look and function weird in a ti that has a rear seat...

And is the rear subframe still compatible?

Bolts right in with seven bolts.

Front brakes, etc???

Since you have them, why not. Up-grade the shocks and struts to new Bilsteins. Go for the M3 struts and get a used M3 front sway bar for them. The mount is better (on the strut instead of the lower control arm), and it saves a bit of weight. The body end uses the same mount location. Get new bushings and clamps if they don't come with the sway bar, as the ti ones are too big. Don't forget the rear shock mount stiffeners, to prevent future damage, and get aftermarket rear shock mounts. I installed new E46 mounts and they failed in a few hundred FEET (not miles). I think I still have an M roadster rear sway bar kicking around... I'm running an M3 front sway with the M Coupe rear. This seems to be a well balanced set-up for the 3.2 and Bilstein Sports. I'm also running M Roadster rear springs, and Euro M3 front springs, which are stiffer than the US springs.

Without you guys, I'd still be tinkering with my old '76 2002 instead of learning the modern stuff.

What's wrong with an '02?

J!m

[sikbrik]

All great info, as usual! Thanks again! I think I'll go for it.

About the '02...nothing wrong with them...just very basic. I don't own a tii so it's a simple carb setup and the 4 speed is pretty much maintenance free for the most part. They don't challenge a person's technical skills very much (which is a good thing since we whip the snot out of them on track days!) Cheap and fun. Nice to have something like that around when I get to banging my head against a wall with this newer stuff.

Thanks again for the info! I'll keep the board posted!

[sikbrik]

Well, people are going crazy for BMW parts and I can't blame them! I had a deal to buy a wrecked Z3 2.5 for $2k and somebody offered the owner $5k so he backed out! Can't blame either one of them...I know it was worth a lot more than $2k. Oh well, back to the drawing board. :|

[gooten1]

Police auction? Junkyards? Those are where I'm looking (unsucessfully).

[gooten1]

I was doing some hw on engine swaps, comparing the Z3 to the ti. Posted the results on Bimmerforums...

(In the past, my links haven't worked...)

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321363

[sKunkman]

Hey link worked!!

The question I have, kick me if it was asked, is will the I6 fit in the ti engine bay? Its quite cramped already...and the z3 does have a rather long hood. Just a thought, though it could be a dumb question because im not the smartest when it comes to technical stuff =)

[sikbrik]

Yes, the 2.5, 2.8, 3.0, and 3.2 will fit. There are many, many threads in this forum regarding the swap. It's pretty much a "bolt-in".
Have fun and keep us posted if you decide to try the swap!