Engine Swaps

TK-421 · 08-28-2012, 10:42 AM

I'm curious to see if the BMW people really get their hands dirty. Who here has done a motor swap themselves, [i]not[i] hired a shop? You don't really see BMW people do it with cars after the E36 and jdm people do it all the time for the price of BMW bolt-ons and make double the power or even more so it makes sense to do it in my book. I'm in the middle of doing 2 - an S50 into my E30 for DD use and a 1JZ into my 240 drift car (damn near triple the power of the stock motor for only about $6K).

MisterSkiMask · 08-28-2012, 11:50 AM

I have never swapped a motor, and I'm not really interested in it. I have done some wrenching (oil changes, valve cover gaskets, replaced starters, etc) on older stuff and boats. Now I don't have the time for that stuff, if I want more power its time to buy a car with more power.

DASHOCKER · 08-28-2012, 12:37 PM

the bizarro world of jdm and motor swaps..

TSM330i · 08-28-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK-421

I'm curious to see if the BMW people really get their hands dirty. Who here has done a motor swap themselves, [i]not[i] hired a shop? You don't really see BMW people do it with cars after the E36 and jdm people do it all the time for the price of BMW bolt-ons and make double the power or even more so it makes sense to do it in my book. I'm in the middle of doing 2 - an S50 into my E30 for DD use and a 1JZ into my 240 drift car (damn near triple the power of the stock motor for only about $6K).

The major issue with the e46 and e90 is they are OBDII\ with CANBUS and the DME electronic systems. It can be done, but there are MAJOR headaches that need to be taken care of vs. e36 and older.

I seriously looked into doing an LS7 into my car. I was told it'll cost a fortune and that it wouldn't really be worth it in the end due to all the hassles.
e36 with an LS1/6 swaps are quite common. There is one e46 with an LS2 swap in the UK I believe.

Food for thought:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...play.php?f=208

eVitO · 08-28-2012, 02:06 PM

Damn, I wish I lived in Tampa and was your friend. I would help you swap engines as soon as you asked lol.

My friend is putting an M50 into an E30 for DD use, but it's taking him quite some time. I haven't had a chance to help yet 'cause his motor is still lying around in his garage and he's kinda lazy.

TK-421 · 08-28-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eVitO

Damn, I wish I lived in Tampa and was your friend. I would help you swap engines as soon as you asked lol.

My friend is putting an M50 into an E30 for DD use, but it's taking him quite some time. I haven't had a chance to help yet 'cause his motor is still lying around in his garage and he's kinda lazy.

Lol my friend is doing the same and is too lazy and is taking forever as well. What sucks about the M50/2 and S50/2 swaps is that the oil pans are so damn low and are 1-piece cast aluminum so you either have to use a crazy heavy skid plate or not lower it that much.

eVitO · 08-28-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK-421

Lol my friend is doing the same and is too lazy and is taking forever as well. What sucks about the M50/2 and S50/2 swaps is that the oil pans are so damn low and are 1-piece cast aluminum so you either have to use a crazy heavy skid plate or not lower it that much.

I didn't know that... I doubt he'll dump it though... He has a 6mt C230 that he dumped the shit out of already.

Efthreeoh · 08-28-2012, 09:57 PM

I'll stick my chest out.

Not done a BMW motor swap as I have no need to. I do do all my own maintenance including clutch replacements, head replacements, seat rebuilds, halfshaft replacements, blah, blah, blah.

In 1981 I replaced the engine in my 1972 Pinto with a used engine (I had a spare). It was late January and about 20 degrees outside, on a gravel driveway. Do I earn my stripes? It was after all the German Ford 2.0L.

Mueller944s2 · 08-28-2012, 10:44 PM

My dad and I have done two together, engines built elsewhere but we put them in/took them out, we do all the dirty work (and clean work) on our cars. NO idiot mechanic ever touches our cars unless it's for an alignment, even the specialists mess it up. If you want it done right, you do it yourself. We're not BMW guys though, all the work is Porsche. The BMW didn't come along until a year ago when my dad bought it for my mom. Luckily everything on the BMW is SOOO easy to work on so it doesn't cause any problems!

08-28-2012, 10:42 AM	#1
TK-421 Registered Sex Offender 617 Rep 4,757 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| 1JZ S13 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Engine Swaps I'm curious to see if the BMW people really get their hands dirty. Who here has done a motor swap themselves, [i]not[i] hired a shop? You don't really see BMW people do it with cars after the E36 and jdm people do it all the time for the price of BMW bolt-ons and make double the power or even more so it makes sense to do it in my book. I'm in the middle of doing 2 - an S50 into my E30 for DD use and a 1JZ into my 240 drift car (damn near triple the power of the stock motor for only about $6K). __________________ Stop putting stuff like painted reflectors and premium package in your signature. You're embarrassing.
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08-28-2012, 11:50 AM	#2
MisterSkiMask Banned 151 Rep 2,014 Posts Drives: I Can not say Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: you must not know iTrader: (0)	I have never swapped a motor, and I'm not really interested in it. I have done some wrenching (oil changes, valve cover gaskets, replaced starters, etc) on older stuff and boats. Now I don't have the time for that stuff, if I want more power its time to buy a car with more power.
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08-28-2012, 12:37 PM	#3
DASHOCKER The power of V! 103 Rep 1,971 Posts Drives: 2007 335i coupe steptronic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 1998 Lexus Gs400 [0.00] 2010 ebony & ivory [0.00] 2006 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 pics [0.00] 2009 e92 335 xdrive [0.00]	the bizarro world of jdm and motor swaps.. __________________ 2007 335 coupe Alpine white, steptronic, sportpack, etc. (gone) 2006 X3 3.0 steptronic Titanium Silver, 2009 E92 335xdrive, next.... Caddy CTS_V! 13 Lincoln MKZ? hmmm.
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08-28-2012, 09:57 PM	#8
Efthreeoh General 19706 Rep 19,994 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Verginny iTrader: (0)	I'll stick my chest out. Not done a BMW motor swap as I have no need to. I do do all my own maintenance including clutch replacements, head replacements, seat rebuilds, halfshaft replacements, blah, blah, blah. In 1981 I replaced the engine in my 1972 Pinto with a used engine (I had a spare). It was late January and about 20 degrees outside, on a gravel driveway. Do I earn my stripes? It was after all the German Ford 2.0L.
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08-28-2012, 10:44 PM	#9
Mueller944s2 Private 6 Rep 98 Posts Drives: '90 Porsche 941, Z4 Roadster Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana iTrader: (0)	My dad and I have done two together, engines built elsewhere but we put them in/took them out, we do all the dirty work (and clean work) on our cars. NO idiot mechanic ever touches our cars unless it's for an alignment, even the specialists mess it up. If you want it done right, you do it yourself. We're not BMW guys though, all the work is Porsche. The BMW didn't come along until a year ago when my dad bought it for my mom. Luckily everything on the BMW is SOOO easy to work on so it doesn't cause any problems!
	Appreciate 0 Quote