2000 z3 m52 into a 99 ti?
 

I am hoping someone may be able to give me a little guidance with this. I have access to a.wrecked 2000 z3 with a 2.5 m52. Will this swap into a ti or is there more to it than an m52 swap from a.regular.e36? Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I think as long as that year Z3 is still cable throttle it will work out. The E46’s have an electronic throttle and swap gets complicated.
Also, depending on your goals, you may be better off with iron block M52. I’m rebuilding a Z3 engine for my swap and heard it’s not uncommon for headbolts to strip threads on the older aluminum blocks when reinstalling the head.


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I was not aware that some of the Z3's came with an aluminum block. I have a friend that had a 6 with the aluminum block & had that exact problem.

Z's wiring harness is longer. I switched to the 325/8 harness which caused me to have to switch alternators.

Power steering cooling line's are different

Front plastics; air filter box, alt cooler plastics.

Throttle cable is different. Need the 328.

Driveshaft, though that may depend on which trans you end up using.

BRADESTAR, that is exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you! I think I am going to pass on the Z3 and keep looking for a donor e36.

Smart idea, I am almost 100% sure the 2000 z3 would have a m52tu - basically it is closer to a m54 than a regular e36 m52 (Dual Vanos?). Like Motts mentioned, it will be an aluminium block, which depending on purpose can be potentially desirable - it weighs less, but has its own issues as mentioned.

If you still have access to the z3, you can try to see if the diff is a LSD (look up the last 7VIN letters/numbers on a VIN decoder - it will tell you if it came with a LSD) to pick up (it will most likely be a Torsion LSD, and be 3.07 - if 5spd - double check though that is off the top of my head), but even more so try to get the steering rack, especially if it is cheap. The z3 ratio is a lot better than the E36.

The Z3 has an automatic so I am pretty sure (but not positive) it does not have the LSD. I am also pretty sure that the steering rack from the Z3's that are of a quicker ratio were the ones from the 4 cylinders only. Again this is only from memory (which is starting to become a little more hit & miss at times). The other negative for this Z3 is price. The guy wants $2800 for it. It was wrecked, has a salvage title, is drivable but needs a lot of for to make it road worthy again (not worth it). So I would only be using it for parts. On the other hand, there is also a '97 e36 4 door 5 speed for sale near me (328i) that is in pretty good shape, definitely road worthy and would be a great daily driver for around $2500 and has all the parts I will need for a swap (just not sure if I would want to tear it up as a donor car). But thanks for the info, it has been a great help!

I have been pleasantly surprised (or lucky) that most of the Z3s I have seen parted out have had LSD diffs. My current 3.46LSD came from a 3.0 auto z3. The quicker steering racks are from all z3s (except z3m) not just the 1.9L m44 ones, my own rack was sourced from a 2.8L z3 (At least all z3 before 1999 - I would need to check real OEM to see if there was a part change with the facelift and use of m52tu/m54 engines). Ironically the z3m used the slower e36 steering rack, so if you get offered a z3 rack from a z3m don't do it!

anassa, thanks for the info, I hope to put it to good use at some point. If I find a z3 more in my price range I will have to seriously look into it.

I'm sure J!M's swap manual goes into a bunch of detail for what donor car to use (if you don't have it, it will make your life 100% easier) but other than the z3m where you get to use basically everything (drive-train + diff - not driveshaft though -, brakes, suspension ) the 2.8 z3 wouldn't be bad - except for the weakness or strength - depending on use - of the aluminum block, and you get the 3.15 diff and steering rack. I was able to pick up my donor 5spd 328is for 1k, the good of the e36 swap is the same engine bay vs z3 and driveshaft also bolts on, just find a diff separately if you want to be geared lower and there are tons of diff options from e30s and z3s (other models too but I just mention those two to keep it simple)

Anyhow, good luck!

If I end up finding a suitable donor car, I will definitely pick up Jim's Swap Manual. I'm sure it will come in handy!

I forgot to mention shifting linkage is different also.

One pro for the Z is that you can collect a lot more money back parting it out, if panels and hood are good. Those are saught after and sell for a premium compared to other e36 stuff.

If it was a 5 speed I might have looked a little harder at it. Plus the fact it was in an accident, I have not seen the damage but the guy has had it for over 2 years and cant drive it because of the damage. So it cant be good. I was thinking that I might recoup some money by parting it out, just not a big fan of the hassle of parting out a car. I live in the middle of nowhere and its hard to get people to come and pick things up. I tried to GIVE away my dads old '73 2002 on the 2002FAQ, no one, not even a sniff. All someone had to do was tow it away. Interior was OK, all glass was good, motor, trans, diff, were all good. Ended up having to scrap it.. what a shame.