» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,838 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,627 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,441 Views | | | | | | 07-31-2012, 10:02 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | Seeking - advice from the experts hey guys - I have a '96 ti that I took home (to Boston) from Fort Myers, I'm looking into putting a 35k miles / 3.2 Z3 motor into the car, wondering if I'm on the right track, if it's possible like I think it is, and what advice I might heed for the process. I'm using a local mechanic, but I guess I'm just wondering if there are any details I / we should be aware of in terms of compatibility and fitment. Thanks..! | | | 07-31-2012, 10:14 PM | #2 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | There's plenty of info on this forum. You may consider contacting member "J!m". He sells a swap manual which goes into detail on what is necessary. http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17308 Last edited by cooljess76; 07-31-2012 at 10:17 PM. | | | 07-31-2012, 11:42 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | Are you talking about an s52 or an s54? __________________ -Alex | | | 08-01-2012, 12:00 AM | #4 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | Thanks cooljess - i'll look into that. And Uber, not sure. I asked but the place selling it didn't know. It's out of a '98 Z3, all the guy knew was it is a 3.2 6cyl. | | | 08-01-2012, 03:59 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | I think it is an S52 engine rated at 240 horsepower. | | | 08-01-2012, 05:20 AM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | Quote: Originally Posted by jca I think it is an S52 engine rated at 240 horsepower. | I think your right jca.. Wikipedia says the same thing, so it MUST be true..! I sent a message to J!M to see about his manual.. I hope this works, should be a fun car with that kind of power..! | | | 08-01-2012, 07:42 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | Should be pretty easy if you get the full engine/harness/dme/cluster. Essentially you're just unhooking the tranny from the engine, coolant system, engine mounts and then moving it over to your car. You will need to figure out midpipes/exhaust, have the EWS realligned, and install the cluster from the z3 and off you go making m3s wish they were a few hundred pounds lighter. __________________ -Alex | | | 08-01-2012, 03:55 PM | #8 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | Good info über thanks! I didn't realize I'd also need the cluster from the z3, you're talking about all the dash gauges? I'm guessing because it's an e36 they'll all fit in my dash cluster-window somehow? I'll check to see that I can also get the wiring harness with the motor. If not can I find that elsewhere aftermarket? Two questions: What's a dme? And I read I need the dealer for something being an obd-II motor? Thanks again for everyone's time and help! | | | 08-01-2012, 04:27 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | Actually im not 100% sure that the cluster from a z3 will fit, hopefully someone else can confirm about z3 cluster fitment, although I think they do. However you will at least need a cluster from a 6 cyl. The reason being is that you're going from a 4cyl to a 6 cyl, the tach doesn't read correctly. Wiring harness shouldnt be a big deal if its not included in the sale, you can find them on BFC for like $100, just easier if its already attached to the engine. The DME is the computer that controls the engine, and thats actually what needs to be reprogrammed by BMW. The DME controls EWS which is an anti theft system. Basically your car wont start unless the key the DME is programmed for is what starts the car. Since you wont be using the z3 keys, you will have to get the car towed to BMW to have the EWS realigned. You could also opt to send the DME off to a tuner who can remove EWS and skip that step with BMW, but also lose the security feature. __________________ -Alex | | | 08-01-2012, 06:45 PM | #10 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Z3 clusters have the same fitment as standard e36 coupes, sedans, verts and compacts. All that matters is that it's 6cyl OBDII. Engine harness needs to be specifically for your engine/transmission configuration. I think the Z3 harness may be slightly different than the e36 M3 harness, but J!m's swap manual will clarify any differences. You're probably better off using an e36 M3 harness from the same year(assuming it's an S52) but I'm sure the Z3 harness will work. As long as you get the DME(engine computer), EWS module(behind the glove compartment) and EWS transponder chip(inside the key) from the same vehicle, you won't need to have the EWS aligned by the dealer. Last edited by cooljess76; 08-01-2012 at 06:48 PM. | | | 08-01-2012, 06:56 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | Will he need the EWS ring antenna as well if he goes that route or are they just generic? __________________ -Alex Last edited by Uber E30; 08-01-2012 at 07:00 PM. | | | 08-01-2012, 07:21 PM | #12 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Quote: Originally Posted by Uber E30 Will he need the EWS ring antenna as well if he goes that route or are they just generic? | Great question, you'd be surprised how many people screw that up. As long as he doesn't swap the EWS antenna transmitter in the drivers side legwell, he won't need to swap the antenna ring around the ignition switch. Don't touch either of those things, keep the originals that came with the car! I try to get people to think of it as two separate systems even though they're directly related. The antenna ring is coded to the EWS transmitter under the dash in the drivers side legwell. Then the DME, EWS transponder chip inside of the key and the EWS module behind the glove compartment are all coded together. So one part of the system has two components that are coded together and the other part of the system has three components that are coded together. Since swapping the engine requires swapping the DME, you'll need the matching transponder chip out of the key and the matching EWS module behind the glove compartment. That's all. You retain the original antenna ring around the ignition switch and the original EWS transmitter in the legwell. There's no need to touch those two things. They're not matched to the other three components. Sorry for being overly descriptive, but a lot of people mess this up. Hope this clarifies things Last edited by cooljess76; 08-01-2012 at 07:35 PM. | | | 08-01-2012, 07:27 PM | #13 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | holy cow. | | | 08-01-2012, 07:35 PM | #14 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: North East Posts: 27 | Sounds like I need someone to take my car, fix it, and give it back to me with an invoice and full tank of gas. ha..! I'm definitely not a mechanic (I'm a photographer) - I have NO clue what all those letters and codes and rings and transmitters and whatever else are that you guys are talking about..! haha..! I'm a pretty handy and capable guy, but I know I can't pull an engine out of a car and re-install another one. I approached my mechanic today and he said "whoa, that's a big job, there's a lot that goes into swapping an engine like that. The cost will probably be double what you expect it to be after it's all over. ". Sounds like he's not interested, he now wants to sell me his '98 CLK430 with 140K. Don't think I'm going to go that route though considering a headlight bulb is $130 for that car. Do any of you guys know a mechanic in the Boston / CT area who can do something like this..? | | | 08-01-2012, 08:00 PM | #15 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Quote: Originally Posted by daves-ti Sounds like I need someone to take my car, fix it, and give it back to me with an invoice and full tank of gas. ha..! I'm definitely not a mechanic (I'm a photographer) - I have NO clue what all those letters and codes and rings and transmitters and whatever else are that you guys are talking about..! haha..! I'm a pretty handy and capable guy, but I know I can't pull an engine out of a car and re-install another one. I approached my mechanic today and he said "whoa, that's a big job, there's a lot that goes into swapping an engine like that. The cost will probably be double what you expect it to be after it's all over. ". Sounds like he's not interested, he now wants to sell me his '98 CLK430 with 140K. Don't think I'm going to go that route though considering a headlight bulb is $130 for that car. Do any of you guys know a mechanic in the Boston / CT area who can do something like this..? | It's not as difficult as it seems. People get all freaked out about EWS and there's only 3 small components that have to be swapped. The first is the DME. This is also known as the ECU(engine control unit) and it's located in a compartment on the firewall behind the battery. You need to swap the DME anyway because it manages the engine. The DME had a code in it that has to match the two other components. The second component is called an EWS module. The EWS module is a small plastic box located behind the glove compartment. It unplugs easily and fits in the palm of your hand. And the last component is called a transponder chip. This is a small nugget about half the size of a dime located inside of the key. Take a utility knife or razor blade and pry the key open. It just unsnaps and you'll see the transponder chip held in place with a rubbery adhesive. Pop the transponder chip out and stick it in your original key. That's it! Those three things are coded together from the factory and must all three come from the same vehicle. Don't worry about those other two things. Forget about them. LEAVE THE ANTENNA RING AND EWS TRANSMITTER ALONE! Your old ones will work just fine. It's not confusing at all, but people always seem to make it out to be. BTW, I think you might have missed my previous post as you were probably typing when I posted it. If so, go back and read it as it will help you identify which engine you're getting. | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |