checking this s52 swapped e30 out, thoughts?

[dhcg86]

chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/3019815599.html

oil cap is in front (that's good right?)

MAF looks kinda weird and where is the radiator shroud?

is the coolant expansion tank in the right place?

why does the engine cover look a bit off?

thanks for any and all responses!

[10Toes]

Everything except the plastic coil cover looks right for it to be an S52. The price seems a little high for a unfinished swap and car, he also dosn't give any description of the interior or what transmission he used etc. It does say OBO.

[SwiftE30]

oil cap in front just means he kept the OBD2 valve cover. A lot of people do this simply because they dont want to swap it out or for various other reasons.

the MAF looks fine, its just not plugged in and at a weird angle.

A lot of people dont use the radiator fan shroud because there is such little clearance between the radiator and the fan.

coolant expansion tank is in the right place but that is not an e30 tank. at least i have never seen one like that on an e30.

the engine cover looks off because it is the OBD2 cover and he is using an OBD1 fuel rail which has different placement for coilpack wires This causes it to be a little bowed sitting over the coil pack wires. this is common.

As for the price, $5500 is a bit high. If it was in really great condition I would consider it, but it is in pretty rough shape. The suspension is really high for bilsteins, missing the grill, diving board bumpers, and most of all the engine looks like it was put together by a blind person.

Missing hoses on valve cover are my first concern. Different expansion tank, fuse box all crooked, etc etc.

definitely a good start for a swapped e30 project though.

his description is really vague and doesnt talk about the interior, trans, harness, ecu, at all. seems weird for someone selling a swapped car.

[dhcg86]

says engine came from 98 auto m3 and trans is stock.

what should I offer?

he also said the engine has been converted to obd 1

[SwiftE30]

so... stock g260 5speed?

you really need to get a bit more info from the guy about the swap. what driveline is he using, how did he brace the stock trans, what diff. but just going off of what i see i think i would go about $3000. it just doesnt seem worth anymore than that. it needs a lot of work.

[eurosport22]

thats an e30 expansion tank. its just the early style. it was on the passenger side shock tower on my car stock. all in all the car prb runs ok but looks a little haggard . i certainly would not throw 5500 at this thing. maybe like 4. im curious as to why the maf isnt hooked up be he is taking pics of the car running. it cant run well like that. and the thing that would scare me is all the shit below in the keywords. sounds like a scheister to me

[M-technik-3]

That is one messy swap. OBD I exhaust manifolds why? S52 had tubular ones vs the cast iron ones. Bring a mirror and a flashlight, look for chassis vin on the back of the head. Run it the numbers in realoem on your phone.

For me to 5500 it's gonna have to be in a lot better shape than that car.

[10Toes]

The VIN on the back of the head (it is a white sticker) should start with WBS if it is an S52.

[SwiftE30]

thats an e30 expansion tank. its just the early style. it was on the passenger side shock tower on my car stock. all in all the car prb runs ok but looks a little haggard . i certainly would not throw 5500 at this thing. maybe like 4. im curious as to why the maf isnt hooked up be he is taking pics of the car running. it cant run well like that. and the thing that would scare me is all the shit below in the keywords. sounds like a scheister to me

exactly what i thought. on top of the MAF not being plugged in, theres nothing hooked in to the big hole in the valve cover. when i had a small vacuum leak there, my car ran a lot rougher.

[dhcg86]

I need it to be able to drive to california...otherwise I will pass!

wish me luck gents, I see her on fri I think

[M-technik-3]

I say you don't bother going. If your really interested have some one local to the car look and report back.

[SwiftE30]

i say you don't bother going. If your really interested have some one local to the car look and report back.

+1

[mammoth_e30]

how is it even running in that pic? it has no air filter, the pipe at the front of the valve cover is for the oil separator and it looks like the engine harness isn't even hooked up sitting above the brake booster.

I would not drive that from IL to CA and not expect a problem.

[dhcg86]

im going to be in chicago anyhow, but yea she looks a bit rough.

any other questions I should ask? he just txtd me a bunch of pics; will post in a few hrs

[expelled]

yeah... idk about that. my biggest issue is just his dishonesty.. if he is on "bilstein suspension" he must've purchased a lift kit instead of lowering springs and billie sports..