Anyone keep a tab on your swap costs?

[e30s50dan]

S50 ...$4100

Suspension/brakes ...$1900

First drive down main street...priceless! :D:D

[straight6pwr]

m50 swap:

bought e30 with m50 swap: $4800
value of e30 without swap: $3500

paid $1300 for the m50. :)

[Leo_328i]

I think it also depends a lot on how you look at it.

I'm about to take the plunge on the 24v swap. One of the new things I'll get is a new clutch but the one on my M42 is currently shagged so I would have had to incur that expense anyway. IMO not really a cost directly associated with the 24v swap.

For me so far.... (keep in mind Australian stuff is expensive as hell). Prices in Australian Dollars which is roughly worth 5% more than USD at the moment.

$800 - M52 2.5l alloy block with 90% sensors, E36 arms, alternator, PS pump, AC, harness etc
$100 - E36 rack and tie rods
$120 - E28 M5 mounts
$50 - Full E36 328i exhaust system (bargain!)
$30 - E46 M3 trans bushes


Soon to be incurred:
OBD2 ECU - $150
E36 323i/325i clutch - $300 approx
E36 228mm DMF (used) - not doing M20 flywheel - $50
Various new sensors/pulleys/waterpump - Minimum $250
Bimmerworld M50 intake adapter kit - $180
M50 inlet manifold - $100
Exhaust modification costs - Minimum $100
E34 M50 pan/pickup - $200

My goal was to do this for less than $2000 so it looks like I'll be just over....

If you discount the clutch expense because it needed to be done anyway then I'm very close to budget :)

EDIT: Transplant into 1990 318iS

[samiam3356]

s52 OBD1
New Rack
5lug swap
rebuilt 3.46 lsd
sport seats
AST 4100's
style 5's
Stromung cat back
Custom dual exhaust

~14k because While I'm in there required such things! lol

[Danny]

I think I spent around 4k including engine on my s50 swap.

[Eecen]

And if you aren't doing the "whileiminthere" you're half-assing things.

[nrubenstein]

Swap cost depends largely on whether or not you succumb to whileI'minthereitis. It can really multiply the cost of things.

[trackjunkie21]

Engine $600
Maintenance and partial rebuild $600
Other swap parts, another 600 dollars
Around 2 grand? give or take.

[sohc12vm20]

S52 with full obd1 conversion $3400. thats wit e28 mounts e21 mounts, e32 BB/ 535i MC. I still need wiring harness and making my transmission bracket. I running g260 and 3:73lsd wihich is already on the car. My muffler guy is gonna charge me $250 to setup me exhaust. So wen its done and said I'll have spent a hair under $4500 to do me s52 swap.

[Beej '86 325es]

Wow how did an s50 (US?) cost that much?

Easily :) Yes, S50B30US
This is my tally from a couple years ago...

S50 spendingItemPaidCylinder Head800Short Block700Pistons1000Wire Harness108Wire Adapter80Intake Manifold/TB214Exhaust Manifold125Water Hoses / misc.190506 ECU125Brake Booster80Brake Cylinder150Radiator640Cams10003.5 Euro HFM225Spec Clutch620Engine rebuild / labor2200E34 M50 Oil Pan260Cat-back Exhaust550OBDII cats225Vanos Gears100Gauge Cluster/trim60Eurosport Pullies175Knock Sensors60Hardware/Mounts 1217Cam Position Sensor46Backup chip140Hardware/Mounts 2175Alternator270PS Pump75Code Reader150Fuel Injectors160Hardware/Mounts 378Charcoal can / hose58Hardware/Mounts 375V.C. Powder Coat110Crank Sensor50Tranny Brace82Hardware/Mounts 4240Air Filter75Wideband O2400Starter160Battery150

EDIT: Lesson learned...don't paste in Excel tables.

[Adrian_Visser]

It's funny you post this. I just stumbled on an old spreadsheet today...

Swap: 12,400
Front suspension/brakes: 3,600
Misc: 1,700

Since then we've swapped everything to a new shell and I've done some other work totalling another 12,000-13,000.

So I've sunk around 30k into my car in the last 6 years...which is quite depressing.

Wow how did an s50 (US?) cost that much?

[Eric]

my swap cost a little over 10k :(

[Beej '86 325es]

It's funny you post this. I just stumbled on an old spreadsheet today...

Swap: 12,400
Front suspension/brakes: 3,600
Misc: 1,700

Since then we've swapped everything to a new shell and I've done some other work totalling another 12,000-13,000.

So I've sunk around 30k into my car in the last 6 years...which is quite depressing.

[N2MYE30]

$450 for M50NV with all accessories minus alt
$200 oil pan and stuff
$500 exhaust
~$300 blunt
$85 tranny brace
~$100 pnp
~$100 auto zone
~$100 pizza
-$350 for M20
-$core of cat

So I guess im about at $1500

[SkorcherX]

I am quickly approaching $1100 bucks. Will likely be around 1500 without exhaust work. 1987 325 5-speed.

$420 for motor, all accessories, plus an e36 steering rack.
$108 Ebay Headers
$180 5-Series oil pan, dipstick and pick up
$30 valve cover (mine was effed)
$200 or so, for gaskets coilpack boots, serpentine belts, motor mounts, etc.
$70 Single Mass flywheel
$65 plug and pins for re-wiring M50 harness

I have a few more nick-nacks to buy, fuel line, clutch, pressue plate, throw-out bearing, pilot bearing, shift linkage rebuild kit.

Then I need to have my flywheel machined and resurfaced. Plus the exhaust work... soooo its adding up pretty quick. Helps that the car was only $300. And I hope to salvage some of the old M20 stuff for around $100 or so.