318i + m52b28

[e30rapidic]

good job...incentive!!!

[monkeytaco]

some random notes for anyone doing/planning a swap like this:


WIRING:
Electronic Troubleshooting Manuals (ETMs) are your friend.

It is stupid hard to find all the pinouts for a 91 318, even with the ETMs and Bentleys. I ended up going to the power box and testing out some wires to be sure, I wanted to be 100% positive nothing was going to fry.

Before starting this project, I could wire up a replacement light socket. Now I understand the entire electrical system of my car and know what every wire on the engine and in the fuse box does. Its awesome.

All the electrical hookups are not hard to make, but I probably spent about 50 hours going through wiring diagrams and testing on the car to make sure it was right. Two pins on my c101 did different things than EVERY other diagram I could find.

MECHANICAL (not brake booster)
Everything mechanical was easy to do. Engine mounts, transmission, driveshaft, diff, etc... is all basic wrenching. Nothing hard about it.

I dropped my engine/tranny in together and it worked fine, scratched the heater cover a bit because I didn't jack up the back of the engine enough once it got down in there. The moment i raised the transmission about 4 inches in the back, it went in like butter.

I do recommend bolting the driver side engine mount arm to the engine after dropping it in, otherwise it is a bitch to line up the bolt on the rubber mount with the arm.

OBD1 Conversion
Buy new sensors. As a refresh for the engine, get new ones, its worth it for the maintenance. Also make sure to get the M50 manifold mount arms, it makes routing hoses easier and pretty much everything under the manifold look a lot cleaner.

Brake Booster
All the options people list are viable. My setup ended up being a booster from an e32 and a master cylinder from an e34. The e32 booster had the clevis fork cut off and a new rod welded on to accept the e30 clevis fork. I've been welding for 15 years, and if you go this route I recommend having it done by a pro (not me LOL).

random thoughts
While it would be awesome to have a beautiful car, like many r3vers, I have a wife and kids so I can't spend lots of money. I started with $2500 and right now, after buying and selling parts and the 528 donor, I still have 1800. It took a long time to get where it is, and I am okay with that. I'll most likely pay to have the exhaust done since I have cash for it.

Over time I'll spend the time/money to make it beautiful, right now I want more go than show.

Also, r3v is a wealth of info and inspiration. Awesome. you guys rock.

[iamsam]

Awesome man!! I am super excited for you!! I may recruit your expertise when I do my future S50 swap...

[glucklich21]

All the electrical hookups are not hard to make, but I probably spent about 50 hours going through wiring diagrams and testing on the car to make sure it was right. Two pins on my c101 did different things than EVERY other diagram I could find.

I'm starting the process of my swap (also a 91 318i), were you referring to pins 8 and 9 because I've yet to figure out what the hell they do on the M42.

[328ijunkie]

Interesting build!.... You have any issues with E39 specific parts vs their e36 counterparts? As far as diagrams go i get alot of mine from these sites:

http://www.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/

http://www.bmw-planet.com/diagrams/release/en/

[monkeytaco]

I'm starting the process of my swap (also a 91 318i), were you referring to pins 8 and 9 because I've yet to figure out what the hell they do on the M42.

Pin #8 (bk/wt on mine) is the fuel consumption signal, which won't be accurate, but its fun to watch it fly around in the cluster when you rev the engine LOL

Pin #9 (bk) is the tachometer signal. This is a critical one as is #14(bk/wt on mine) which is the DME engine speed signal.

Even the ETMs do not show some wiring for the 91 318, like I said earlier, I went to the fuse box and traced wires based on the fuse description and Bentley/ETM descriptions. I used the Bentley for the e36/92 318, it was reasonably helpful.

Interesting build!.... You have any issues with E39 specific parts vs their e36 counterparts? As far as diagrams go i get alot of mine from these sites:
http://www.armchair.mb.ca/~dave/BMW/
http://www.bmw-planet.com/diagrams/release/en/

The biggest issue, which was minor, was the alternator differences. I have a 120amp bosch alternator that only has a single power post and then a 3 pin connector, and the power on the harness had 2 connections. I had to wire up my d+ connection to the connector to get the alternator to charge the battery while running. It was as simple as connecting the d+ wire(smaller) for the alternator to a spare 3pin connector pin#2.

Keep in mind I tossed power steering and air conditioning so I didn't worry about those connections at all, both the a/c compressor and ps pump looked larger than the e36 ones.

I found those sites as well when looking at wiring, the bentleys and etms were the most helpful.

[monkeytaco]

Also a good thing to note, I tried keeping OBD2 for cheapness sake (with the e39 harness - ugh) and the hope that good obd2 tuning software will be available eventually, but it was a big mistake.

I still have everything for the OBD2 form of the engine and will keep it but get an e36 obd2 harness if the time comes tuning is easier.

Right now I'm learning the details of tuning the 413 and trying to figure out if I want to get an eprom reader/writer to make my own chips. I have a TRM chip that came with my dme, but its not tuned for my pink injectors...

[monkeytaco]

Oh what fun, more developments.

After installing the slave cylinder, the clutch would still not release properly so I could get it in gear. After much bleeding (proper bentley procedure and all) still nada.

After much research it appears the clutch disc may be in backwards. If not that then something else is wrong with the clutch. Either way, I'm yanking the transmission tonight to check it out.

If I could afford it I would have a single mass flywheel in there, but I can't and don't. Boo on me for fucking up...

[monkeytaco]

The verdict is in, the clutch disc was in correctly. However, I am apparently retarded as the pressure plate is the self adjusting kind, and since it wasn't new and I don't have the tool for compressing it(if there is one). I'm looking at a whole new clutch.

You may ask why I didn't put a new one in earlier? Well this is a budget build and the clutch was nearly new when I got the engine/transmission.

I'm poor. Fml again.

[rightcoastbias]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for posting up the knowledge you have gained.

In the coming year, I plan to swap a M5X into my 1991 318i. I'm adding your notes to my many '91 specific spread sheets and saved threads.

BTW: Not to muddle your thread. Yes, the 1991 318i ETM seems to be missing a large portion of the wiring pages. For instance, Injection Electronics section is only 1360-1. The 1992 (e30) 318i ETM Injection Electronics section is 1360-1 up to 1360-5.

In the 1992 e30 318i ETM, it indicates Pin #8 is Yl/Wt Fuel Rate and Pin #14 is Bk/Wt clusters car-speed output. So, yeah. I found the 1992 e30 ETM to be somewhat helpful. Although, I have not used my harness. ^_^

[monkeytaco]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for posting up the knowledge you have gained.

No problem, I figure that I couldn't have completed the swap without all the info others gave away for free, so I'm spreading the joy.

Hit me up when you do your swap if you need more info!

[monkeytaco]

Today was an epic day.

After buying and installing my m3 clutch, getting that in a few days ago and then getting the transmission bolted back up yesterday, today was final wrap up.

I got the driveshaft torqued down and did a final check of all my nuts and bolts. I wired up the diff speed sensor and adjusted the brake pedal height (had to screw the clevis fork down a bit further to get the pedal to sit right).

I still have a few things to tidy up under the bonnet, but it runs(well) and moves under its own power.

I tore up and down the street a few times just for fun... it is awesome. I'll update with video once I get it downloaded.

I promptly got everything together and headed to the muffler shop. It will be ready to pick up on thursday!

[monkeytaco]

A little video of my m52 powered 318


Watch this.

[328ijunkie]

I have never seen an E36 with an Self adjusting pressure plate.

[monkeytaco]

I have never seen an E36 with an Self adjusting pressure plate.

Me either, my original clutch came out of a 98 528i. The e36 m3 clutch is way better and lighter anyway.