Hello! Thinking about a swap! Need some advice please.

[318ti_Portugal]

Hello...

How are you all doing?
My name is Gonçalo and I'm from Portugal. I own a 318ti compact. I've been following this forum for some time and I find it excellent! I've just registered because I'm thinking about doing a swap for a euro S50 3.0 M3 engine and I have some specific doubts.
My Ti is pretty much stock. The only mods are:
- Euro clears all around
- M Kontour wheels 7,5X17 front with 225/45 tyre and 8,5X17 back with 245/40 tyre
- Mtec side trim.

Before I put the S50 engine in I want to prep the car so It can handle the engine weight and power. For brakes I'm thinking of E36 M3 front brakes (Hub + disks + calipers + caliper holders) and M roadster rear brakes wich bolt straight up.
My major doubts are in the suspension setup.
I was thinking of the following:
Front:
- E36 M3 3.0 Koni sport Shocks
- E36 323ti 50mm HR springs
- E36 M3 3.0 stabelizer bar

Rear:
- M Roadster Koni Sport Shocks
- E36 323ti 30mm HR springs
- M roadster stabelizer bar.

Do you think this is a good setup to run an S50?
Also, can I run my stock M42 with this setup?

Finally, do you have any sugestions for a suspension setup? I hope you do, because I really don't understand much about this.

I hope you can help me out!

My best regards!
And thanks!

[J!m]

It looks like you are headed in the right direction with your thought process. I will list what I am running (and am quite happy with) and you decide if it's right for you...

Front:

E36 M3 Bilstein sport struts with E36 M3 Euro spec front springs, E36 M3 US spec sway bar with new factory bushings and end links. E36 M3 caster tops, stiffener plate and M3 LTW (M3 GT in Europe) Strut bar. Us M3 E36 front brakes (complete). 1995 US M3 offset LCA (Lower Control Arm) bushings, with 1998 US M3 LCAs (this little trick pushes the front wheels forward about 1 inch for better weight distribution and lightly longer wheel base).

Rear:

Complete US M Roadster sub-frame with stock M roadster springs, M Coupe rear sway bar and Bilstein sport shocks.

I am very pleased with the ride height and quality. Would look better if the front was lower 1/2 inch or so, but then the M3 GT/LTW adjustable splitter would scrape the ground more than it does already!

FYI: I did run the stock suspension and brakes for a short time after the swap. It sits VERY low, and would be undriveable with the splitter installed. Also, the brakes faded WAY too easy to be safe. You are doing it right- take care of this stuff before you do the swap, and you will live longer to enjoy it!

[Adog2107]

how much did your swap cost you when it was all done j!m?

[J!m]

Quite a bit, but I love it every day, so it's worth it to me...

[nick_hegel]

J!m, where would you suggest looking for engines for a swap? I found a few websites for new and rebuilt S50 and S52 motors. Would a used engine from a wreck be better? I'm wondering on the reliability of it. I won't be doing the swap for a while, becuase my ti is my daily driver and only car, but eventually I'd like to stop being beat by Civic and Integras.

[Dredder]

Trust me you will be doing the beating when you get your swap. I just got my swap professionally done and its crazy. I would have never thought the differance would be like night and day. I can pretty much start smoking the tires without really trying to drop the clutch. Amazing! truely amazing...

[barische]

sound and power of straight six engine is amazing, if i had some money i would definetely do a swap.

[Virgil]

Hmmmm, interesting. Lots of suspension work, ie my kind of car!

could you provide a link to find the engine? I am also looking to find a 3.2 Euro M3 LTW (or GT) engine and tranny. Only sight I have seen them on is bimmerworld.com and they run about 7k for the engine along and additional 1.6k for the used/rebuilt tranny.