Quick Question regarding a 328i

[meanEG]

So i was giving up on swapping my 87es, and i came a across what i think is a good deal. The good is that the numbers re coming up nicely, but the info is not. I was told that the engine is from a 93 328i. didnt they start making them in 94?

I am new here and was never a BMW nut, so i need a little bit of help. what do i need to look for to make sure i know exactly what i am buying (or not for that matter). if it is in fact a 94, should i stay away from it? I am not building a race car, just a good daily. i dont have to do any upgrades. I dont need to go any faster. I just dont know what i am buying, and i cant afford to buy another engine that is useless.

Thanks fella's

Josh

[wilholl]

328i did not come out until 1996
e36 model with M52 motor
if you have a 87es, you want on m20 motor, out of a any 325e, 1984-1987 years, I believe.

[meanEG]

yea thats what i was afraid of, so either it is a m50 form a 93 325i or god knows what. how can i tell the difference between the m52 and m50. i cant find anything from searching

Thanks

[justin_l_]

You can use the vin on the back of the head to at least see where the head came from, you can use the engine decoder in the e30tech 24v swap sticky to find out location of code and what it means.

[dirtbag30]

or a quick way to tell (if the po didnt swap valve covers) the oil cap on an m50 is nearest the firewall, and the m52 is near the near the vanos.

[meanEG]

or a quick way to tell (if the po didnt swap valve covers) the oil cap on an m50 is nearest the firewall, and the m52 is near the near the vanos.

thats what i am looking for. ill get pics of the engine soon. how does $400 sound for the complete swap with trans. still need the e34 pan set up

just dont know if it is a m50 or m52

couldnt see any threads comparing the options.

thoughts? yea or nay?

[dirtbag30]

400 is a really good price for m5x motor with trans.

if you have an m20, going through all the energy to swap an m50 for 20 more hp is kindof useless, unless you want to go forced induction, in that case why not just turbo your m20. but if you want to do it i say go for it! whether its an m50 or m52.

[dirtbag30]

and read this if you havnt yet, it has tons of info.

http://www.e30dohc.com/wiki/index.php?title=DOHC_Swap_Basics

[dirtbag30]

and if it was 94, it would be 325i/s and it would be an m50

[meanEG]

400 is a really good price for m5x motor with trans.

if you have an m20, going through all the energy to swap an m50 for 20 more hp is kindof useless, unless you want to go forced induction, in that case why not just turbo your m20. but if you want to do it i say go for it! whether its an m50 or m52.

the engine in it was locked up, i bought one form someone off of craigslist local to me and he fucked me. this one i just spent all this time replacing was almost locked up (had water in the cylinders from storing outside uncovered w/o intake) fucking asshole. so now i am out a shitload of time and $200 for a fucked up m20 eta.

i went through the wiki already. lots of good info. my mind changes hourly on this subject of swapping.

Anything to be concerned with if it is the m50 or m52?

[dirtbag30]

the engine in it was locked up, i bought one form someone off of craigslist local to me and he fucked me. this one i just spent all this time replacing was almost locked up (had water in the cylinders from storing outside uncovered w/o intake) fucking asshole. so now i am out a shitload of time and $200 for a fucked up m20 eta.

damn thats no good.

nothing really to be concerned about, just make sure to get it compression checked first, change things while the engine is out like the rear main seal, valve cover gasket, water pump, thermostat, do all maintenance things and take your time.