Here is my m52 swap story...
It all started in August last year I had the itch to swap a new engine into my 1991 318is. I searched for an engine and found a 1996 328i with a good engine for only $650 with 130k miles. I bought it and here is what it looked like:
So the swap began. I removed the m42 from the 318is and removed the m52 from the 328. Did most of the work myself but had help from my father in law removing/installing the engines. He also let me do the swap (and store the cars) in his backyard. I did my research and decided to keep OBDII since I had the entire parts car including the EWS system and original key. It took a couple of hours to get the engine to sit on the mounts but we muscled it in. I was in the process of wiring it up when disaster struck.
It was a very windy day and the trees were swaying way too much. There was a dead tree about 15 feet from where my car was so my father in law suggested we move it closer to the house in case the tree fell down. We pushed it over near the deck and went inside to have lunch. I'm sitting there eating lunch when all the sudden I hear a loud crack and watch the tree fall toward the house and hit the deck. I wasn't even thinking of my car until I went outside and saw this:
The tree fell over, took out a large branch from another tree, took out the clothesline (with clothes on it) then slammed onto the top of my car. As you can see from the pictures, it crushed the rear corner of the car, pushing it down about 6 inches, shattering the rear window and rear side window. It also took out my roof rack and bike carrier.
Obviously it was deemed a total loss but my parents-in-law claimed it on their homeowners insurance and I got almost $1000 for it (was able to keep it).
I then started looking for another e30 to swap the m52 into. Found one a couple months later, a 1987 325e for only $500. Brought that home, swapped the engine out and put the m52 in. This time around we were able to get the new engine into the car in about half an hour. Got everything wired up and here is how she sits today:
And the money shots...
Interior (swapped from the 318is)
Specs on my car:
- 1987 325e zinnoberrot coupe
- 1996 M52B28 OBDII engine, includes EWSII system
- late e30 325 single mass flywheel, clutch, PP
- g240 transmission (from the 91 318is)
- e36 325 driveshaft
- 3.73 LSD
- Wired my own c101 (e30) to x20 (e36) adapter
- Ebay replica headers
- 2.5-inch single piping all the way back
- High flow cat
- Borla ProSX center exhaust
- Vibrant streetpower rear muffler
- e34 535i stock air box
- moved stock brake booster 1/2 inch to the right
I think that's about it. Car drives great and pulls hard. Next up is the m50 manifold swap and s52 cams when I can find a pair. Then custom OBDII software and I'll be happy :twisted:
It all started in August last year I had the itch to swap a new engine into my 1991 318is. I searched for an engine and found a 1996 328i with a good engine for only $650 with 130k miles. I bought it and here is what it looked like:
So the swap began. I removed the m42 from the 318is and removed the m52 from the 328. Did most of the work myself but had help from my father in law removing/installing the engines. He also let me do the swap (and store the cars) in his backyard. I did my research and decided to keep OBDII since I had the entire parts car including the EWS system and original key. It took a couple of hours to get the engine to sit on the mounts but we muscled it in. I was in the process of wiring it up when disaster struck.
It was a very windy day and the trees were swaying way too much. There was a dead tree about 15 feet from where my car was so my father in law suggested we move it closer to the house in case the tree fell down. We pushed it over near the deck and went inside to have lunch. I'm sitting there eating lunch when all the sudden I hear a loud crack and watch the tree fall toward the house and hit the deck. I wasn't even thinking of my car until I went outside and saw this:
The tree fell over, took out a large branch from another tree, took out the clothesline (with clothes on it) then slammed onto the top of my car. As you can see from the pictures, it crushed the rear corner of the car, pushing it down about 6 inches, shattering the rear window and rear side window. It also took out my roof rack and bike carrier.
Obviously it was deemed a total loss but my parents-in-law claimed it on their homeowners insurance and I got almost $1000 for it (was able to keep it).
I then started looking for another e30 to swap the m52 into. Found one a couple months later, a 1987 325e for only $500. Brought that home, swapped the engine out and put the m52 in. This time around we were able to get the new engine into the car in about half an hour. Got everything wired up and here is how she sits today:
And the money shots...
Interior (swapped from the 318is)
Specs on my car:
- 1987 325e zinnoberrot coupe
- 1996 M52B28 OBDII engine, includes EWSII system
- late e30 325 single mass flywheel, clutch, PP
- g240 transmission (from the 91 318is)
- e36 325 driveshaft
- 3.73 LSD
- Wired my own c101 (e30) to x20 (e36) adapter
- Ebay replica headers
- 2.5-inch single piping all the way back
- High flow cat
- Borla ProSX center exhaust
- Vibrant streetpower rear muffler
- e34 535i stock air box
- moved stock brake booster 1/2 inch to the right
I think that's about it. Car drives great and pulls hard. Next up is the m50 manifold swap and s52 cams when I can find a pair. Then custom OBDII software and I'll be happy :twisted:
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