Swap cost from people who paid a shop to do work

[dude8383]

^LOL, you underestimate property values here my friend.

Expect to pay upwards of 500 a month for a 2 stall garage that'll permit you to wrench to your hearts desire. I've been down that road too.

[klodkrawler05]

Wow! guess thats what I get for not checking the PO's location first.

even still $500 is 6 months of rental space vs 30 hours of shop labor ;)

2 different stones to kill 1 bird.

[JRKOUPE]

ha.........rentals in bklyn????.....good luck.....

Is it only me....or do most folks underestimate the time and money it takes to do this job on your own?..properly.......tools, engine picker, etc etc....

[dude8383]

Wow! guess thats what I get for not checking the PO's location first.

even still $500 is 6 months of rental space vs 30 hours of shop labor ;)

2 different stones to kill 1 bird.

This is a time versus money equation. Not everyone values things the same way. Nor can you factor in skill here. It took me 9 months to build my first swap. That was mostly due to the fact that the car was 45 min away from me and I was only wrenching on the weekends.

I can do them within 3 weeks/20 days... if all of the parts are found in time.

There are many variables at play.

[dude8383]

ha.........rentals in bklyn????.....good luck.....

Is it only me....or do most folks underestimate the time and money it takes to do this job on your own?..properly.......tools, engine picker, etc etc....

wow... i didn't see your response as i was typing. same point i make haha!

[klodkrawler05]

This is a time versus money equation. Not everyone values things the same way. Nor can you factor in skill here. It took me 9 months to build my first swap. That was mostly due to the fact that the car was 45 min away from me and I was only wrenching on the weekends.

I can do them within 3 weeks/20 days... if all of the parts are found in time.

There are many variables at play.

I agree with you there.

Time always has to be valued for something, but if cars are something you enjoy working on then maybe you'd rather do it yourself was what I was trying to get across.

A hobby is something you do because you enjoy it, not because it makes you money, that's a job ;)

FWIW I have done this swap myself, just because I have a low post count here doesn't mean I do everywhere.

[JRKOUPE]

wow... i didn't see your response as i was typing. same point i make haha!

and I know your skill set...

I wonder how many of those that say "do it yourself.."...have actually?...

[F34R]

and I know your skill set...

I wonder how many of those that say "do it yourself.."...have actually?...

Everyone starts someplace, being a mechanic can be learned. The m50 is the easiest direct swap out there. Everything can be bought for the conversion. It is a simple bolt in swap. There is even harness adapters.
The best swaps are thought out and pieced together. Once everything is on the spot swap it over. Nothing worse than waiting on parts.

This is coming from a guy that started out at the bottom. I had no clue what to do on my first e30 with I was 15. I now have a refreshed M30 with my own in house m30 engine mounts. This forum is a goldmine for anyone that truly desires to build.

[dude8383]

For the amount of effort required to swap and m50 doesn't make sense. The M52 should be the starting point followed by the S50 and S52. You'll be wanting more in no time.

[JRKOUPE]

For the amount of effort required to swap and m50 doesn't make sense. The M52 should be the starting point followed by the S50 and S52. You'll be wanting more in no time.

yup...!!!!

[jrockbk]

Thanks for all the responses didn't see this thread getting so much attention till now and want to update on my swap situation but first... many valid points made by both sides of the fence here so here is a little more info about me and my situation...
I live in a dense part of Brooklyn in a brownstone apt I work everyday and have until yesterday had two cars to move side to side (no driveway) I have a parking garage space I rent sometimes but cannot work on car there it's against policy, I have some tools and skill at doing most wrenching but no air supply or cherry picker. I do have friends with some things but mostly they have too much going on to lend me there space....
looked into renting a garage but as noted above in nyc rentals aren't cheap even looked for art studio and warehouse spaces with freight elevators I could load car into, major $$$$ in nyc, but fairly cheap outside the city considered it as a long term option....
What I'm actually doing ( some BMW angle guided our souls together!), found a guy in Brooklyn with a s50 swapped e30 that sold me the car for way less than what I would have paid to do it to my car, and willing to help me work on both of my cars going forward!...
The catch is, the car was turbo setup that had turbo removed, so have to change head gasket (luckily has arp studs) buy and install headers and get welded to cat back, and wait for a new DME and MAF...
The silver lining is I get to (have my cake) keep my car (318is) all original and untampered for the purist and (eat it too) drive an s50 e30 that's in a clean ass red coupe that looks identical to mine...
So it all works out! But I love this thread!

I'm still spending $ so no total cost yet but will update that soon so you know what side of the fence I landed on

Good to know I don't smoke crack!

[ParsedOut]

The catch is, the car was turbo setup that had turbo removed, so have to change head gasket (luckily has arp studs) buy and install headers and get welded to cat back, and wait for a new DME and MAF.

WTF? Keep it turbo, all the hard work is done!

[jrockbk]

Currently at $4700 total cost and climbing for suspension upgrades

[MrSlacker]

Currently at $4700 total cost and climbing for suspension upgrades

Who is doing your swap?

[jrockbk]

Who is doing your swap?

Me..,to be fair it's a swapped car I bought that I'm sorting out, all the big stuff was done.