Years for Z3 2.8L Alloy

[funcrew]

What years of alloy-block 2.8L Z3 engines would be most suitable for an E30 swap? I know the later M54's are out (except for a few brave souls) but don't know if all the M52xx versions were the same. Use small words and explain your answer 'cause I'm not that bright.

[FredK]

1997 to 1998 Z3 2.8. It will have steel liners pressed into the aluminum block, but you can tell it looks like a 96-99 M3/328 engine on top.

A 99 Z3 2.8L will have an M52TU (technical update), which won't work as easily (what I think you're trying to avoid).

[e30polak]

Good luck finding one for sale outside of buying the whole car. These are almost never available, I gave up my search for one a while ago. :(

[funcrew]

Good luck finding one for sale outside of buying the whole car. These are almost never available, I gave up my search for one a while ago. :(

There's always a couple on eBay, but of questionable condition/completeness, and no way to check them out beforehand. Also close to $3K typically.

[delt266]

Good luck finding one for sale outside of buying the whole car. These are almost never available, I gave up my search for one a while ago. :(

here are like 30 for sale..

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?userSearch=int&userPID=1000&userLocation=All+States&userIMS=&userInterchange=D%3DA%3FE&userSide=&userDate=1997&userDate2=1997&dbModel=9.37.1.1&userModel=BMW%20Z3&dbPart=300.1&userPart=Engine&sessionID=200000000000000000339310692&userPreference=price&userZip=39201&userLat=32.2896&userLong=-90.1841&userIntSelect=125183&userUID=0&userBroker=&userPage=1&iKey=

[Mr.SWISS]

Saw one on ebay go for $250. I always wanted to build one with S52 internals but was steered away by others saying it isn't as solid for boost.
some 98's have M52's and some have TU's. Gotta check the build date or look at the valve cover for single vanos.