The 318ti OBD-II engine swap manual
 

Here you go, guys.:biggrin:

I have had several requests for information on my swap manual and I figured this was the easiest way to tell everyone what they want to know and how to get one.

First, if all you want to do is get one, follow these instructions:

PLEASE SEND ME A PM AND I WILL HOOK YOU UP. NOTE I DO NOT CHECK HERE OFTEN, BUT WILL RESPOND AS SOON AS REASONABLE TO DO SO. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN PATIENT WITH ME!!!

Now the details on the manual, for those on the fence:

• UPDATED AND EXPANDED! It is currently OVER 300 pages long!
• (yes, it is copyrighted)
• It covers the entire swap from start to finish
• it has a section which has a list of the parts needed Dependent on the donor engine used (i.e. the differences between M roadster / M coupe engines and those from the M3) so you can have all the parts you will need on-hand before you start, and avoid the learning curve I went through.
• it is loaded with several photos detailing things that are not clear in the text
• there are several pages of ti and swapped ti specific part numbers, (including several that will not show in your local dealer part network)
• BMW Motorsport cataloge and other information (note most of this stuff is NLA)
• Details on swapping from an auto box to a manual box, including six-speed
• I have sold several copies over the past years, and everyone who has received it has commented that is was very helpful, and informative. Everyone gets something out of it...
• Now granted I am an experienced mechanic, however I was able to remove, replace and drive within a long week (Friday evening to a week from Sunday evening). [3 days of that was at the dealer.]
• The dealer is needed for OBD-II swaps There is no (practical) way around this (1996-up models)
• The manual is equally useful for OBD-I swaps; however the dealer is not needed. (1995 models)
• When I wrote the manual (doing my swap) there was no other source for an OBD-II swap manual, and as far as I am aware, their STILL is no other source for this information. There were/are several OBD-I options out there.
• BONUS: an entire section dedicated to how-to read and use the diagrams for your swap!

I will be happy to answer specific questions; however please read this first, as I think I have covered the main points...

Thanks, and stay safe out there!

Any questions pertaining to this manual can be addressed at
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17308

Thanks to everyone for their input!

Other testimonials:

"But Jims manual is worth every penny."

"I have one of his manuals. It's nicely put together and is probably THE BEST starting point if you're new to e36 swaps."

"Great manual."

"Thanks for your great work.
The manual is great."


"Just want to say the manual is tits. I'm currently working on getting the M44 out and I'm not sure if I would've tackled this job without the manual as ref.
Bottom line: If you are going to do a swap - get the manual first."

"J!m's swap manual is excellent..."

"J!m's swap manual is excellent & he still improves it! I have it as well and have been absolutely helpful even when making decisions on unorthodox methods..."

"BTW, your manual is awesome! I would've NEVER dived into this project without it."

"Received the swap manual and read about ½ of it last night. It is very well written."

"Manual has been a big help in ironing out most of my concerns. Thanks!"

"You're the man Jim. You are the epitomy of After Sales Service!"

I just recieved my copy today and this book is awsome! I was worried it may come in black and white but this booklet is in color! The documentation is very well layout. You guys should get it just for reference! Thanks again Jim!

NOTE: New Email address for payment!
 

Hello everyone.

Please note the email adress has changed for payment.

Feel free to PM as usual- I have updated the site contacts as well.

Stay safe out there!

Guys- I'm back but not yet prepared to send out manuals yet.

I promise I will be able to before year end.

I appreciate the requests and enthusiasm for these now OLD cars!

I am looking forward to getting back at it but you need to be patient a little while longer!

Thank you!!!

Ya, I'm in line too for my next swap. Hooked on the S52. Want another one, but this time a M52b28.

End of year sounds about right...


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MAJOR UPDATE!!!
 

Hey guys.

Due to recent scheduling challenges (that's the PC way of saying I have no time!) I have been unable to deliver books for a while now.

However, as promised, I am looking into options to gauge interest and to offer special pre-order pricing on an actual, professional, color, bound, softcover book.https://www.bimmerforums.com/images/...//buttrock.gif

The printout I was doing crept up in cost to $70 (including domestic shipping) over the years for my 'desktop-published' edition for the last year or so I was able to send them out.

This new, "fancy" version, printed by actual printer-type people, will probably run slightly more, at $80 retail + Priority mail shipping, (which I think is around $6 but I may be able to get a better "media mail" rate). That price is based on the current 218 pages of content, with 143 of those having full color illustrations and/or photos on them. Printed on 70# paper with a glossy soft cover.

So the bottom line is I'm looking for interest for those willing to pre-order to help fund the initial print run. That will be 24 copies (23 because I'd like one for my book shelf!) and I can increase that number if I get overwhelming interest (which I am not expecting). But the pre-order price will be somewhere around $50 and whatever it ends up being, the domestic shipping will be included. I will sign these first run copies as well. Maybe when I'm dead they will be worth more... After the pre-order batch, subsequent book orders will be "normal", so regular pricing. But they should remain available for the foreseeable future. The price on the forums will probably be slightly lower than the eBay price as I have to give eBay their cut of course...https://www.bimmerforums.com/images/smilies//mad.gif

I need to contact BMW and make sure I can use some images I found on the web that are in the current version. That may delay things (or I'll have to take them out) but I'm working on these details now. Do not expect anything to happen for at least a month, if not three. Plenty of time to save up.

Note: this is a "feeler" and I already have several old PM's of people looking for my book who I will be contacting as well. I will also be posting the same thing at www.bimmerforums.com . As ,mentioned above, if I get more than 24 people who want to pre-order I will increase the initial order volume to have one for everyone that has pre-ordered. I will not be asking for any money from anyone until we get closer to the order placement. I will need payment in a timely manner once that ball starts rolling however.

Thanks for reading!

+1 for pre-order
 

Just picked up an M52 last night and wanted to buy the manual. Count me in for the preorder.

Sounds good!

Probably next week I'll make up a master list of those who are interested. I just released this today.

Please put me on the list for pre-order copy as well. Thanks.

Put me down for one too Jim!

Thanks guys!

You can count me in too Jim.

Great guys! Thank you!

Per our PM's, count me in!

I have not heard back from BMW yet regarding using their photos. Once I do, I can move forward.

I will take one, as well!

Sign me up too!! Can't wait to get one!!


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Hi Jim,

I recently bought a 1998 318i "Sedan" with an m44 engine and I have an m52b28 with all the other extra parts needed to do the swap. I am very interested in buying your manual. Would it help me with my swap even though my car is a 318i and not a Ti version?
Thanks!
Can I get on the list for the pre-order deal? ;-)

Yes, the book has been purchased in the past for other E36 swaps. It just requires the correct ETMs for the car and the donor car to sort the wiring out.

And you can use regular E36 M3 rear sub frame rather than trying to find an M Roadster one.

Count me in!
 

J!m per my pm to you please count me in for a swap manual of the 23 available. It would be very handy to have. I appreciate it, thank you!

You got it!

I'm in process of re-editing for the "10th edition" although I never really mentioned what version was going out before...

Anyway, once I'm done, it goes to a pro for editing, and then to the printers!

Please put me on the list for one.

All righty!

I expanded the appendix with a detailed error code list. I forgot I had it as I've been using carsoft so long and that sort of spoon feeds you the errors but if you have a Peake tool for example, the list (which is from BMW) is more accurate than the list provided with the tool.

Anyway it made the book a bit bigger. I'm going to reduce the font size for those lists and start taking stuff like my detailing tips out completely.

It's coming along!

Put me down for one


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You got it !

i_definitely_want_1_2

Ok!

This is coming along!

Sign me up! Thanks!


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Great!

Please put me down for a copy of the book at well. I have a 1998 318i that was imported from Germany with an m44 and I am going to be doing a full m52b28 swap with upgraded tranny, LSD, and suspension. I am basically just waiting for your manual to start on the swap. My dad always said, "No point in doing something unless you're gonna do it right." ;-)

Any idea when the first batch of the new books might ship?

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I don't have a ship date yet but I have been working/editing almost daily on it.

Now it is 267 pages long and will be longer before I'm finished.

Note that once I finish, it goes to an independent editor to give input.

Finally I'll give it one last go-over before conversion to PDF and sending to the printer.

It will be worth the wait but it takes time.

Hi Jim,

I was just wondering if there might be an older version of the manual available somehow?

Just wondering so I might be able to use the older version while I am also waiting to purchase the new professionally printed manual. I am still souring a few parts such as an upgraded transmission and LSD for my 318i sedan swap project so I will not start immediately. However if it is a matter of months before the new book is available then I might need to find another solution. I am hoping to make this my spring time project and maybe have it ready sometime this summer.

I really appriciate your reply.

Thank you!

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Well I don't have that answer for you.

I'm going this route because I don't have time to support it the old way where I print d on demand and shipped it out.

Plus I have collected a ton of other information that will be included to broaden the appeal to the now ageing E36.chassis. It doesn't seem to have the same cult following the E30 developed. Maybe that will change but a lot of the "cool" parts are going NLA on the E36 although still around if you dig.

Anyway, I can offer guidance as time permits.

Please include me on the pre-order.

Sounds good!

As of today, we are at 302 pages. I expect another half-dozen or so in the final product. I don't have any additional large lists for the appendix, so I don't expect any major growth now.

I am in process of refining and adding any relevant photos I have to clarify things. Also adding additional parts sourcing information to expand on what I have- stuff like where to get the right fuel rail depending on if you use the early or late fuel pressure regulator arrangement...

Anyway, I am still at it as time permits. Roughly an hour a day at this point, sometimes more.

Thanks to everyone for their patience! I promise it will be worth the wait!

Please add me to the pre order also.

Please add me to the order list J!m, I have the donor carr siting in the drive way

ready to get torn apart :biggrin:

Done!

I'm ready with my donor car, '97 M52 (aluminum block) w/33k.
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