» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 365,444 Views | | | | | 07-20-2006, 01:04 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 | 98 318Ti Engine Swap I am contemplating swapping the engine from a 98 318ti to a 97/98 (not totally sure on the date of the m3 engine) M3 engine. I am getting a great deal on the engine from a friend and i can get a tranny and the engine. I know i have to buy a few more pieces but i am looking to do almost all of the work my self. I know it will be complicated and i will be honest in saying i do not know much about mechanics right now i hope to have this project teach me ALOT. My dad is the next best thing to a mechanic and will be helping me intermittantly and has dropped engines into cars before. I have been reading the forums alot and i saw that someone on the forum has a manual on how to do the swap. I was wondering if i could get ahold of that because i want to begin reading up on it. Any input would be great. Thanks! =) | | | 07-20-2006, 01:06 PM | #2 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | try sending a PM to J!m. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 07-20-2006, 05:47 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | I think the most important point is that you need as much of the M3's electrical as you can get. Dashboard, engine wiring harnes and ecu etc. Prefferably you want the car sitting there to pull all the pieces your going to need. If you don't you are going to spend a LOT at the dealer. From looking at the swaps a local shop has done this isn't "hard" it just requires you know what your doing. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 07-24-2006, 02:05 AM | #4 | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 | you need the dashboard? i can see some of the computer stuff but the dashboard? At the point it seems it would be easier to just buy an M3 hehe. I was assuming (apparently incorrectly) that i would need an engine/tranny ECU/Misc computer parts and maybe some suspension type stuff. | | | 08-08-2006, 07:57 PM | #5 | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laramie, Wyoming Posts: 6 | You don't need the dash board just the guage cluster from a I6 car so the ecu and will work with the guages corretly. It won't work if you use most of the computer stuff from the m3 and the cluster from the M44 Engine. __________________ "Just remember if street lights are time for 35 MPH they are also timed for 70 MPH" | | | 08-12-2006, 06:22 PM | #6 | Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 36 | Lets see you've never really worked on a car before and you want attempt to do this swap. Dude I'm a tech at a bentley dealer and I can't find the time to do my own swap. Don't be fooled, this swap will take a considerable amount of time, know how and patience to complete. If you have absolutely nothing else to do like going to work or school for instance and you have all the pieces needed and all the equiptment like a lift and air tools etc, it'll still take 40 to 60 hours of continious work to complete. Go ask around the local BMW specealist shops how many hours it'll take to do. I'm not trying to discourage you I just want you to be prepared for whats in store for you. Good luck.... __________________ 92 318I : Cosmo CAI . Custom cat back exhaust . Fan delete mod . 80 stat . Home made wieghted shifter rod . M3 shifter . Momo knob . Bilstien sport dampers . Eibach pro springs . Eibach sway bars . Ebay F&R strut bars . Bmp rear shock mounts . Bmp F&R camber plates and bars . 17X8 BBS Bugatti wheels . 235/40/17 tires . Ebay engel eye head lamp assemblies . Way more to come......... | | | | 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 | | | |