Engine Swap

[hammerfang]

Originally Posted by itsabimmerthing

I would do an E36 m3 engine before I went to an s54....

i don't know if u can swap an s50/52 motor into an e46, im sure it would fit but i think there r some laws about doing that kinda stuff, i suppose if u got a 99 or 00 e46 u could take the motor from a 99 e36 m3 or a 99-00 mz3, but i dunno how much thats really worth it, i mean a stock 330 engine makes almost as much power, and a zhp 330 is with in 5 hp and is basically just as fast as a stock e36 m3

[Nics]

Originally Posted by hammerfang

i don't know if u can swap an s50/52 motor into an e46, im sure it would fit but i think there r some laws about doing that kinda stuff, i suppose if u got a 99 or 00 e46 u could take the motor from a 99 e36 m3 or a 99-00 mz3, but i dunno how much thats really worth it, i mean a stock 330 engine makes almost as much power, and a zhp 330 is with in 5 hp and is basically just as fast as a stock e36 m3

You can do it, but it's illegal to put an older engine into a newer shell. You also lose the functions of most of the electronics, meaning you'd have to use a stack instead of oem dash. Also I think you'd trip out the whole airbags and that sort of deal. Not worth it in my opinion, but whatever suits your desires.

[hb712]

I'm probably going to attempt this swap in a year or 2. I'm researching everything that needs done, and so far it looks to be pretty doable. For the price I think it will outdo a turbo or supercharger, and I'll be one of a very few to have a 4 door e46 M3.

[Kaisake]

Originally Posted by Nics

w00t, haven't been here in a while.

Good info as usual.

[Nics]

Originally Posted by Kaisake

Good info as usual.

I try.

[U_Lose]

it costs to much money. even if you swp every thing over, you'll need to recode and program the entire car.

[5150CT]

I swapped a 03 330ci drivetrain into a 00 328ci chassis the i got for really cheap. It was for the most part not real difficult, just a time consuming pain in the ass. I swapped to fly by wire, re-pinned 60% of the wiring harness, and also had to switch the dsc unit completely and re-wire the chassis harness to accomadate the new dsc. As far as re-coding, as long as you get the dme,ews,trans control comp., and the lock set out of the donor vehicle, you should be alright. Mine stil has a few electrical bugs i'm currently working on. I only did it because the cost factor was worth it. I can sell the car recover my invested cash and turn a profit on top. I would imagine by the time you found an e46 m3 drivetrain it will cost more than the car as a whole does currently. So resale wise it wouldn't be worth it, but if you're planning on keeping it and making a project out of it it might be worth it to you. After all there are plenty of cars that start out as $500 junkers and morph into 600 hp beasts. It's you're call in the end.

[hb712]

My plan as of right now is to just save up plenty of money and buy a wrecked E46 M3. I've seen them priced around $10K, which is better than $18K for the S54 new. I'm going through auto school right now to be certified in all 8 ASE fields, and from there I will go into mechanical engineering focusing on automotive. Through that I will hopefully gain enough knowledge, experience, and money to be able to "easily" pull off the swap. Hopefully I will meet some electrical engineers in the under grad program who can help me with all the electrical work. Assuming everything works out the way I plan right now the swap will be 100% complete by 2009.

Planned swap as of now will include:
M54 to S54
6 speed manual tranny
Rear Diff
Possible custom drive shaft
Electronics including interior such as the tach
Clutch
S/C most likely ESS but I could go AA

[HappyDude]

just wondering.
can u swap the m54 head for the s54 head?

[SizzFlair]

Originally Posted by hb712

My plan as of right now is to just save up plenty of money and buy a wrecked E46 M3. I've seen them priced around $10K, which is better than $18K for the S54 new. I'm going through auto school right now to be certified in all 8 ASE fields, and from there I will go into mechanical engineering focusing on automotive. Through that I will hopefully gain enough knowledge, experience, and money to be able to "easily" pull off the swap. Hopefully I will meet some electrical engineers in the under grad program who can help me with all the electrical work. Assuming everything works out the way I plan right now the swap will be 100% complete by 2009.

Planned swap as of now will include:
M54 to S54
6 speed manual tranny
Rear Diff
Possible custom drive shaft
Electronics including interior such as the tach
Clutch
S/C most likely ESS but I could go AA

Or just work hard and buy a brand new one

[hb712]

Originally Posted by SizzFlair

Or just work hard and buy a brand new one

Now there's an idea lol. But wouldn't it be fun to tear apart a perfectly good car and make it even better?

Btw, I like that new sti! yours is the first I've seen not in a magazine.

[nefarious79]

hey everyone anyone heard of an M5 before? Doesnt it have four doors and enough power to blow the doors off of an M3. Someone is about half fucking retarded.

[hb712]

Originally Posted by nefarious79

hey everyone anyone heard of an M5 before? Doesnt it have four doors and enough power to blow the doors off of an M3. Someone is about half fucking retarded.

First, an M5 will not blow the doors of of an M3. Yes, it will win; but it's not gonna be as dramatic as you make it sound. Second, I figured that people would understand I said M"3" obviously talking about 3 series....not 5 series. Third, how is someone half retarded? That's like saying I have half cancer. I'm either retarded or not and I either have cancer or I don't...there's no halfway point. Last, I said "4 door E46 M3". That says it all.

[hammerfang]

even better idea, what about dropping in an s62 into ur e46, i think that would be alot cooler and it would be alot faster then having the s54

[RedBarron]

It's a lot of work. IMO i would save the money and buy a M3.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=176943