How much would/should you pay for a donor m52 swap?

[BaltimoreBimmer]

Been entertaining the idea of a swap for down the line. Aka I would buy the engine now and mess around with it for a while in my garage (on an engine stand) before putting it into my car.

Been thinking the best option for me is to find a 2000 e46 328i manual transmission. I'm thinking if I find one in decent condition on Craigslist I can actually test drive it and run through the gears and so forth. Further more, I have some need for various body panels inside to weld onto my e46.

So what do you think is fair for an old as fuck m52 e46 with upwards of 200k miles. Id strip the car, tune up the engine, drop it in (to the e30 vert or another shell i pick up later) maybe a year or so from now. Aka next winter. Essentiallyl, Im looking for a hobby to wrench around on when I'm bored that will not be on the front burner.

Going to test drive an e46 328i tonight that is on CL for 1500. Car exterior and interior is a shit show. Is it realistic to get what I am looking for, for 600 bucks?

I have access to tons of m52s at junkyards, but I can never tell if they are any good.... perhaps an extra hundred or so is worth being able to drive it and know it's sound??

thoughts?

[MR E30 325is]

This thread is worthless without pictures, but 1500 for an E46 that runs and drives is not a red flag/issue for me.

I'd enjoy the piece of mind of knowing the engine is as described and runs well, having heard and felt it myself.

If the seller is in a jam/really tired of the car, 600 may be achievable, but I would pay more if you really want it.

Having an entire donor car has always been wise for my friends and I in the past.

[2mAn]

The M52 motor you want is a single vanos, not the dual vanos that the E46 has

[BaltimoreBimmer]

If the seller is in a jam/really tired of the car, 600 may be achievable, but I would pay more if you really want it.

Having an entire donor car has always been wise for my friends and I in the past.

here are some pictures:

The M52 motor you want is a single vanos, not the dual vanos that the E46 has

the e46 has the m52b28TU right? As in the technical update was the second vanos? or are there other differences

[M3PO]

A running, driving E46 is worth $1200 in my opinion. And we are swimming in a sea of cheap BMWs in SoCal right now.

[BaltimoreBimmer]

yeah I forgot about the dual vanos thing

[earthwormjim]

the e46 has the m52b28TU right? As in the technical update was the second vanos? or are there other differences

Aluminum block was the other big deal, although Z3's did get aluminum blocks with single Vanos.

[stonea]

The M52tu is basically a M54 and it has very few things in common with the M52.

[BaltimoreBimmer]

Guess I'll keep looking for a wrecked e36 328i