Swapping/increase capacity of engine

[msbhvn]

I have a 1999 E46323ci, doing some research and noticed that the current engine I have M52 shares the ability to be brought out to a 3 ltr by swapping the 330 bottom end.

Does anyone know of a website that has wrecked BMW in Australia that are being parted out? I guess I will need to know wether swapping to an S54 or just increasing the capacity would be a better route.

This is a very long way down the track just doing my research at this time and general feel of the prices associated. The engine will be turbo charged when companies start bringing out off the shelf kits (similar to the supercharge kits) so the engine would have to be opened regardless.

Thanks for the help!!

[MaDhAtTeR]

you already have a 2.5L motor, i wonder about the cost effectiveness of swapping out a bottom end (which wont be cheap here as 3L motors are still pretty recent), only to turbo it later on. Id say spend the money on tidying up the head and getting a set of cams for the turbo install.

[Aaron318iS]

I don't think it would be worth the expense to swap from a 2.5 to a 3.0? If I remember correctly there's only 30kw difference between 323ci and 330ci?

In my opinion you'd be better off saving for a 330Ci which is better spec to begin with or put a supercharger kit on the 323Ci and get some real gains.

[breytonhartge]

don't think you could swap the bottom end as there is a difference in bore sizes? Correct me if I am wrong... also you would need all the other accessories which would make it cost prohibitive... get an SC, much more effective way of realising the power gain... or get a 330i... i am with Aaron on this one...

[323Sum]

msbhvn, dont bother with the bottom end. Spend on a charger or turbo kit and you will def see a difference instead of spending an arm and a leg on a new bottom end or a 330. 330's or not that much quicker anyway...

[MaDhAtTeR]

man you guys must be blind.

This is a very long way down the track just doing my research at this time and general feel of the prices associated. The engine will be turbo charged when companies start bringing out off the shelf kits (similar to the supercharge kits) so the engine would have to be opened regardless.

[breytonhartge]

if you are thinking of turbocharging the engine, I suggest getting the bottom end from the old cast iron S50 or M50 engine and boring that out. These are much stronger. In fact there is a rebuilt 3.2 in adelaide with the M52 heads and M50 lower end which was bored out.... brand spanking new... get that instead and you are half way there, from memory the guy wanted $7K.

[msbhvn]

Thanks Breytonhargte

So the regulations allow for an E36 engine to be swapped in? I presume that if I can find a '99 M3 engine it would relate to the fact they are the same age?

By the way the car is already pretty modified, so for everyone saying sell and buy a 330
selling it would not get me back the investment.

[breytonhartge]

Hey Msbhvn,

Why don't you have a chat with Reuben of BM Auto Engineering, he is in perth and does some wild stuff. I think he may have a set of cams, crank shaft and pistons to increase the capacity of your engine to a 3.0. He may have some M3 engines lying around and last I checked he did have a cast iron M50 longblock. Or do a search on ebay, i think there is one floating around for not much money.

Here is the info for BM Auto Engineering.

Contact: Rubin Sadique (AIAME)
WorkShop: Unit 1 /14 Vale Street MALAGA
Western Australia 6062
Postal Address: PO Box 456 Morley
Western Australia 6943
Phone: +61 08 9249 9600
Fax: +61 08 9249 9611
Mobile: +61 0418 959 924
Email: bm-auto@bigpond.com

Hope this helps you.

Originally Posted by msbhvn

Thanks Breytonhargte

So the regulations allow for an E36 engine to be swapped in? I presume that if I can find a '99 M3 engine it would relate to the fact they are the same age?

By the way the car is already pretty modified, so for everyone saying sell and buy a 330
selling it would not get me back the investment.

[s8n]

How do the 2.5litre engines (M54) go with a low boost supercharger? any requirements to start upgrading internals/gearbox?

[Aaron318iS]

Originally Posted by s8n

How do the 2.5litre engines (M54) go with a low boost supercharger? any requirements to start upgrading internals/gearbox?

Try a search for user "mikisu" as he had an automatic 325Ti with an ASA supercharger kit on it from Bavariacars. A basic bolt-on low boost kit shouldn't cause any problems with the automatic gearbox or internals.

[s8n]

My car has a 6speed manual gearbox, but thanks for the tip! Ill search