Am I crazy for trying to swap my DD when I use it as my DD

[20gmr]

Hey guys basically I wanna know your opinion on attempting to swap my only running car. I have a 99 m3 rollover for a parts car a buddy has an auto 95 325i parts car that runs still. I already have my oil pan setup from an e34. I also have an ix parts car available to me for the booster stuff.

I live with my gf so we could probly share her car for about a week. I was planning on taking a day and pulling the intake manifold and installing the ix booster that way when I go to actually attempt the swap it should t be much harder than replacing the engine.

Parts I still need: (feel free to add/ correct)
E34 throttle cable
Chip? Plan on going obd1 because of the parts car available to me
Oil pan gasket
Some kind of wiring adapter
Mmw coolant sensor
E28 m5 mounts?
Exhaust work that I personally can't do

I think the exhaust will be my biggest hang up.

Any thoughts words of advice or tips is appreciated. Really pumped to get this going!

[xwill112x]

Add two weeks and 1000$ extra to your budget

[Boostesi]

depending on you skill level, time allowance, and weed stash, you could def do it with whole parts cars like that. but nothing will go as planned, i promise its the nature of the beast

[jrdeamicis]

Don't do it. Unless you do it right the first time. And I mean RIGHT.

Because nothing is worse than having to take it back apart.

[JGood]

I did my swap in 4 days. I researched the project for 6 months and had everything ready to bolt in. In theory, it shouldn't have taken more then 1 day... but as others have said, nothing ever goes as planned.

At the end of the 4th day, when I finished it all up and went to turn the key, it wouldn't start. I spent nearly 2 weeks tracking down the issue, a corroded C101 pin that passed the continuity test on my multimeter, but wouldn't allow enough current to actually function.

So unless you're willing to not have a car for a few weeks, I wouldn't do the swap.

[mitchlevy7]

Add two weeks and 1000$ extra to your budget

listen to this.

i was in the same position, except i took my winter break when i had no school to do it. barley finished in time for school.

[MaxBell]

Basically it's a case of expect the best, prepare for the worst.

You COULD do it in a weekend. It may never run again.

[xwill112x]

You COULD do it in a weekend. It may never run again.

Thats what i'm looking at right now. Lol :-?

[N2MYE30]

It may never run again.

sad but true. I dailly mine but I also had a stash of cars for backup. Even if you do get goinig, there are some teething issues you will go thru. I wouldn't I were you.

[greyis89]

Worth it for me and its my only car. Everyone has said it well already. It's not somthing to just do and be done with it and drive. If it isn't one thing it's another so be prepared.

[hoveringuy]

My first swap: Drove home Friday Afternoon, had the motor out, tranny separated that evening. See my sig picture <-----

Saturday, had the tranny mated to the new engine and dropped the engine into the car. Made a few connections and had it started by 2pm. Had most major systems installed by that night, first drive.

Sunday. Spent most of the day fabbing pipes to connect OBD2 manifolds to e30 cats. Had to remove driveshaft to fix shifter rubbing on driveshaft damper.

Monday. Drove to work...

I had done the brake booster the previous weekend.

If you plan ahead it goes quick. Have a friend available and have a backup plan for everything. It can be done! This was also at a house I was renting where I only had basic tools and a 120v Mig welder, plus an engine stand and a hoist I borrowed.

[TimKninja]

I had planned to do mine in a week.

Took a month. And $1000 more then i wanted to spend.

Buy my car and you could have it running in a weekend ;)

[MR 325]

Buddy and I did his swap within a week. This was working after both of us were off work each day. Had all the parts ready to go and on the 7th day it was driving with no issues.

[giantkeeper]

I went at mine with no goal for completion. Took my time, did it right the first time. Spending time after work, and on the weekends mine was done in less than a month. That was with just me, and no help.

The swap itself takes no time. It's all of the motor prep and bay work to make sure it doesn't look and perform like dog turds that takes time.

Also, I daily my car and have since the day I got it running.

There are tons of variables to consider in a swap. Straight drop and swap to a full blown rebuild, and everything in between. There are also things you simply cannot plan for, so a realistic timeline and a pile of spare cash will be very much needed.

[Boostesi]

also if you go by the "dont fix what isnt broken" rule, you will save alot of time and money, when your buying/changing parts because there easy to change while the engine is out, that is where you get into money and time waiting for parts, because the parts that are next door always seem to be an extra 100+ than from the forum, ebay, or aftermarket. and the first few times you spend the extra money its no big deal, the 4th and 5th time your overpaying because your in a rush is when it starts to get annoying