Need some info!!!

[gespinal0301]

Hey everyone I have a few questions about a m50/m52 swap.

1) I've been trying to find a legitimate hp number for the m50b25 & m52b28, I've seen many figures for both and none of them seem to match up to other sources. Just looking for a concise number if anyone knows it

2) I'm assuming it's possible to use the motor from an automatic e36, but I just wanted to know how much more involved the wiring would be or if there's anything else associated with the swap that I should be aware of. I have a 1991 318is and from what I read the engine bolts right up to the tranny

3) Is it possible to use the m52 from an e46?

4) My clutch is on it's way out so I wanted to know if the m42 clutch would be compatible with either the m50/m52 that I will eventually swap in.

Thank you guys for the help in case you missed it I'm driving a 1991 318is if that helps

[Nick_S]

1. LOTS of power from all sorts of motors and configurations in here

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=327183

2. Sure, a motor is a motor. You'd be better off finding a harness from a manual trans car though. E36 is preferred as the DME cable is the perfect length.

3. Yes

4. I've been running an OE M42 clutch and flywheel with my M50 for over a year without issue. I'm still using the stock G240 from my 318is also.

Search here, google and read build threads till you're eyes cross. The info is out there.

[agent]

Search here, google and read build threads till your eyes cross. The info is out there.

This is the best possible advice.

[gespinal0301]

1. LOTS of power from all sorts of motors and configurations in here

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=327183

2. Sure, a motor is a motor. You'd be better off finding a harness from a manual trans car though. E36 is preferred as the DME cable is the perfect length.

3. Yes

4. I've been running an OE M42 clutch and flywheel with my M50 for over a year without issue. I'm still using the stock G240 from my 318is also.

Search here, google and read build threads till you're eyes cross. The info is out there.

Thank you! I've been reading a lot of builds lately and I'm finally feeling slightly confident about the swap I'm still learning a lot about my car, but most things are in my grasp. I just don't want to spend a lot of money and have to worry about messing things up once I start doing the swap. Anyways I still need the money for a donor car and other parts eventually get there, thanks again!

[R1dd1ck913]

I also have a 318is with a m50 in it. I as well am running a stock m42 fly wheel and clutch. A few things to remember. You need a e34 oil pan, oil pick up. You will also need a shorter drive shaft.

[gespinal0301]

I also have a 318is with a m50 in it. I as well am running a stock m42 fly wheel and clutch. A few things to remember. You need a e34 oil pan, oil pick up. You will also need a shorter drive shaft.

The oil pan and pickup I was aware of, but is the shorter drive shaft needed if im keeping the g240? I was planning on running the revshift guibo if I went with the e36 tranny haven't heard any bad things about it.

[Nick_S]

The oil pan and pickup I was aware of, but is the shorter drive shaft needed if im keeping the g240? I was planning on running the revshift guibo if I went with the e36 tranny haven't heard any bad things about it.

Yes. I'm running the driveshaft from a manual trans E36 and it fit perfect.

My personal opinion here: If you want just about the easiest swap you can do keeping your G240... Find a good M50 from an E36, take the engine, all accesories, wire harness, DME and driveshaft. Aswell as you'll need the E34 oil pan and pick up. Check the forums or Ebay or a local pick and pull. I got mine for $30.

If you don't want to mess with adapting the engine harness to the body harness, a few members here make flawless adapters, I got mine from Nando and it worked perfect.

You'll also need the Euro spec shift linkage for the G240 to work. Hit up Pelican, Blunttech or Guten parts, i forget the part number off hand.

You'll probably want to do maintenance while it's out since alot of the stuff is 100X easier to get to while it's out. I would highly recommend to change the crank position sensor before you even put it in the car. It held me up for over a week diagnosing a no start issues on mine. I've got my build thread linked in my signature. Poke around through it since it's seems a similar route to what you're doing. I had around $1500 into mine but that was before I sold off alot of my good M42 parts. All said and done I had less than $700 into my swap and it's been great for 18K miles.

[gespinal0301]

Yes. I'm running the driveshaft from a manual trans E36 and it fit perfect.

My personal opinion here: If you want just about the easiest swap you can do keeping your G240... Find a good M50 from an E36, take the engine, all accesories, wire harness, DME and driveshaft. Aswell as you'll need the E34 oil pan and pick up. Check the forums or Ebay or a local pick and pull. I got mine for $30.

If you don't want to mess with adapting the engine harness to the body harness, a few members here make flawless adapters, I got mine from Nando and it worked perfect.

You'll also need the Euro spec shift linkage for the G240 to work. Hit up Pelican, Blunttech or Guten parts, i forget the part number off hand.

You'll probably want to do maintenance while it's out since alot of the stuff is 100X easier to get to while it's out. I would highly recommend to change the crank position sensor before you even put it in the car. It held me up for over a week diagnosing a no start issues on mine. I've got my build thread linked in my signature. Poke around through it since it's seems a similar route to what you're doing. I had around $1500 into mine but that was before I sold off alot of my good M42 parts. All said and done I had less than $700 into my swap and it's been great for 18K miles.

I've actually been reading over it a few times, there's definitely a lot more information in there then most threads. I need to keep getting info from builds, although the more I read the more overwhelmed I feel about the whole swap. I'm planning on just buying a running e36 since I want ac and the junkyards charge way more than what a donor car would cost. How difficult is the wiring I was under the impression that you just need to use the c101 to x20 to get everything done. Do you have any tips for a first time swapper? Lol

[Nick_S]

I will fully admit with the amount of different configurations and opinions, it is over whelming but a basic swap is actually fairly easy and straight forward. Take your time tearing down, keep track of all your hardware, label every thing, take your time, double check everything is tight. Install the trans, clutch, starter and all that before you put the motor in. I didn't and it took me an age to get the transmission bolts back in.

There's alot of 'while you're in there maintenance you should do. I forgot to do my rear main seal and it's been leaking since and I don't feel like pulling the transmission/clutch etc out to do it right now. Most gaskets are pretty cheap, do as many of them as you can while it's out.

The wiring is really not all that difficult but I didn't want to cut up my harness so I went the adapter route.

[gespinal0301]

I will fully admit with the amount of different configurations and opinions, it is over whelming but a basic swap is actually fairly easy and straight forward. Take your time tearing down, keep track of all your hardware, label every thing, take your time, double check everything is tight. Install the trans, clutch, starter and all that before you put the motor in. I didn't and it took me an age to get the transmission bolts back in.

There's alot of 'while you're in there maintenance you should do. I forgot to do my rear main seal and it's been leaking since and I don't feel like pulling the transmission/clutch etc out to do it right now. Most gaskets are pretty cheap, do as many of them as you can while it's out.

The wiring is really not all that difficult but I didn't want to cut up my harness so I went the adapter route.

I'm just going to keep reading and keep extracting info from builds. I'll probably keep the zf tranny in case my g240 craps out. I know you said the oe clutch for the m42 would fit, so it would be safe to assume that an aftermarket one would fit the m50 as well? Thank you so much for your help it's good to know that I wasn't the only one who felt a little overwhelmed haha