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Z3 M52 in 1991 318is (California BAR)

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    Z3 M52 in 1991 318is (California BAR)

    Just scored myself a very sound (mechanically)1997 z3 with an aluminum M52B28 (not TU), Zf 5 speed, and an LSD for $500 today.

    The goal is to have almost everything ready for a swap into my e30 as it's my daily and I want minimal downtime.

    ALSO the added struggle is that I'm in California and I absolutely need it to be smog legal. I have a buddy that used to work at the local REF center and he can assist me with making sure everything is there.

    I take it I should get it reffed as an e36? Due to requiring e36 exhaust manifolds? I want to keep it OBD2 as well.

    The three questions I have are:

    Can I use any of the z3 exhaust? RealOEM is being kinda weird in that regard, it's not giving me a part number for the z3. The end goal is to get it bar'd so I can't really modify much before the cat.

    The car has backfees but I will not be driving it, just going to part it out in my driveway. Anything special I have to do as far as salvaging it with BAR maybe asking where the engine came from?

    Wiring the engine harness to the chassis shouldn't be any different that a similar 325i swap right?


    Thanks a bunch guys!!
    91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

    #2
    Glad you bought that car as I was looking at it for a while. Use as much as you can from the donor car to keep numbers matching and keep things simple. I know an e36 exhaust would bolt into an e30 (and hang way low and look dumb, but pass the BAR test), unsure about a z3. I would imagine that headers to cats are basically identical to an e36 as the z3 is an e36. Off the top of my head, all youll need to get this working in your car is an e34 oil pan setup, offset solid mounted CABs (to allow stock e36 headers to clear) an electric pusher fan, a wiring harness thatll join chassis to powerplant and some motor mounts of your choosing (akg is the most recommended here) Do some digging around on the 24v swap subforum and check out this thread for some more info. You should find all the info you'll need as plenty of folks have done this swap in CA.

    and lmk when you start ripping apart your 318is as I may want some things :)
    1984 Delphin 318i 2 door

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by wworm View Post
      Glad you bought that car as I was looking at it for a while. Use as much as you can from the donor car to keep numbers matching and keep things simple. I know an e36 exhaust would bolt into an e30 (and hang way low and look dumb, but pass the BAR test), unsure about a z3. I would imagine that headers to cats are basically identical to an e36 as the z3 is an e36. Off the top of my head, all youll need to get this working in your car is an e34 oil pan setup, offset solid mounted CABs (to allow stock e36 headers to clear) an electric pusher fan, a wiring harness thatll join chassis to powerplant and some motor mounts of your choosing (akg is the most recommended here) Do some digging around on the 24v swap subforum and check out this thread for some more info. You should find all the info you'll need as plenty of folks have done this swap in CA.

      and lmk when you start ripping apart your 318is as I may want some things :)
      Funny that we were looking at the same car! Just out of curiousity, it's the one that's been epoxied and painted green right? I got to the PO's house and I was greeted by big metal teeth on the front of it - something that wasn't in the original craigslist post but funny nonetheless! (I'll post a pic of it tomorrow)

      My car is already pretty low so I'm not thrilled about that, maybe the z3 one might fit a little better. Definitely going to need some custom exhaust work done regardless.

      Already got the offset bushings so I'm already one more step ahead than I thought! Edit: thought solid as in the bushing not the arm, don't have the treehouse style so gotta add that to the list :(

      Thanks for your response btw, and you'll be the first person I'll talk to about offloading some of these 318is parts. :)
      Last edited by fastestbox; 03-14-2019, 08:51 PM.
      91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by fastestbox View Post
        Funny that we were looking at the same car! Just out of curiousity, it's the one that's been epoxied and painted green right? I got to the PO's house and I was greeted by big metal teeth on the front of it - something that wasn't in the original craigslist post but funny nonetheless! (I'll post a pic of it tomorrow)

        My car is already pretty low so I'm not thrilled about that, maybe the z3 one might fit a little better. Definitely going to need some custom exhaust work done regardless.

        Already got the offset bushings so I'm already one more step ahead than I thought! Edit: thought solid as in the bushing not the arm, don't have the treehouse style so gotta add that to the list :(

        Thanks for your response btw, and you'll be the first person I'll talk to about offloading some of these 318is parts. :)
        hahahah yes thats the one! and happy to help. This should be fun to follow. Good luck!
        1984 Delphin 318i 2 door

        Comment


          #5
          Wasnt that the same car I was looking at too? Sounds familiar.

          Im pretty sure the entire exhaust until the cat is the same, highly doubt the Z3 got anything special there.

          Treehouse racing CABs will help clear the downpipe, but you likely will need to "massage" the subframe, but many people have different ways of tackling this issue.

          If you're going OBD2 dont forget to get every piece of the SAI. Search ... "MrGreen" (I think thats his name) he did a OBD2 M52 conversion here in SoCal and got it OBD2 legal

          Have fun with that badboy. OBD1 intake, S50/S52 cams and a reflash and you're going to be happy as a clam
          Simon
          Current Cars:
          -1999 996.1 911 4/98 3.8L 6-Speed, 21st Century Beetle

          Make R3V Great Again -2020

          Comment


            #6
            Keep the underhood emissions label for the Z3. The BAR wants to know the engine was from a California certified car and not a federally certified car. It will make everything easier. I didn't have that info when I had my first appointment and it took a little leg work to get the info.

            Comment


              #7
              Z3 M52 in 1991 318is (California BAR)

              Bolting a e36 exhaust to a e30 is, well easier said then done. I personally couldn’t get it to work with my car and I have no clue how Dmitriy got his bolted up for BAR. 100% will need to get a BFH at the bare minimum/ start forcing crap to fit. More then likely remove the entire front sway bar from the car. Not going to be easy that’s forsure.


              Edit: Of course re install the sway bar after its BAR’d.



              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
              Last edited by KIRIEIW; 03-16-2019, 09:14 AM.


              1992 M tech 2 Convertible - S50 Swap
              1992 e34 Touring- S50 Swap
              1992 325i-S50 Swap (SOLD)

              1995 e36 M3 Mugello Red - S50 (SOLD)
              1991 325i Convertible Laguna Green (SOLD)
              1987 325i (SOLD);1992 M tech 2 Convertible (SOLD)
              1988 325i Convertible Alpine White (SOLD)
              1991
              Brilliantrot Convertible 80k Miles (SOLD)
              1992 325i Convertible Schwarz (SOLD)
              1992 318i Convertible Project-Finished (SOLD)

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                #8
                My exhaust is almost entirely E36. If you have a welder, a chop saw and you'll need to get some exhaust piping of the right diameter it can be done. It tucks up nicely under the car and doesn't rub on anything. The mid pipe and cat are untouched of course

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by 2mAn View Post
                  Im pretty sure the entire exhaust until the cat is the same, highly doubt the Z3 got anything special there.
                  I found the manifold and mid section on RealOEM and it seems to be different than an e36. I've searched all over and I can't find anyone that has used the z3 manifold. The m42/m44 manifold on the e30 and the z3 are the same, and I know that's 2 less pipes to deal with but maybe it may mean the m52 z3 manifold will fit alright?

                  Originally posted by 2mAn View Post
                  Treehouse racing CABs will help clear the downpipe, but you likely will need to "massage" the subframe, but many people have different ways of tackling this issue.

                  Have fun with that badboy. OBD1 intake, S50/S52 cams and a reflash and you're going to be happy as a clam
                  I'll have to pick up some of those CABs, will probably be able to sell my fresh poly garagistic offset lollipops to offset the cost.
                  And thank you! I'm super excited to finally have a car with torque again!

                  Originally posted by TheRob View Post
                  Keep the underhood emissions label for the Z3.
                  Even if, say I BAR it as an e36 swap rather than a Z3 for purely exhaust fit reasons?


                  Also another question! The z3 I bought has some backfees and I would like to junk it without having to deal with registering it or whatever. My local Pick N Pull seems to not buy cars unless they're under my name. Anyone have any insight? Should I just trailer it to a scrap yard or what? A surefire way to waive the fees and telling them I'm literally going to scrap it ASAP?
                  91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Even if, say I BAR it as an e36 swap rather than a Z3 for purely exhaust fit reasons?


                    Well, the thing is, they're going to ask for proof it's a California emission certified engine its a very recent rule that's been put into place and honestly I can't say what the ref is going to do if you have e36 stuff under there. You could always call and ask a ref, they're very helpful. I know an OBD2 e36 has 4 oxygen sensors, one in each exhaust manifold and two post-converter. Real OEM shows the Z3 has one 02 pre-cat and one 02 post cat. This is where you'll have issues if you're running an e36 mid pipe. If you look at the Z3 emission label it should tell you the number of 02's so you can verify what is shown on realoem.

                    You could, go to the junkyard and pull and emission label from a 328i and hope he doesn't verify the vin that's on the back of the cylinder head(if it's even there, its was on my m50) which he might not because he probably doesn't know its there. If he does and he looks it up in his system and sees that it's been smogged as a Z3 its whole life you might have issues.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by TheRob View Post
                      I know an OBD2 e36 has 4 oxygen sensors, one in each exhaust manifold and two post-converter. Real OEM shows the Z3 has one 02 pre-cat and one 02 post cat.


                      Good info! I'll save the sticker for sure. Now I'm just left with the question of if the Z3 manifold fits. The 2 O2s instead of 4 sound great to me, which means one cheaper cat instead of 2 if the OEM proves to be bad.
                      Plus I'm not sure how I'd have to change the harness if I wanted to run 4.


                      Last questions and I don't want to clutter everything with another thread but:

                      Does the Z3 exhaust manifold fit an E30? Does the midpipe? Can't find ANY info on this.

                      Is the Z3 engine harness a good candidate for splicing to the C101 or should I grab an E36 harness?


                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
                      91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

                      Comment


                        #12
                        no idea about exhaust, looks like you're gonna be the pioneer with that info. As far as engine harness goes, it's probably the same considering a z3 is considered an e36. You probably already have checked, but realoem probably has that info
                        1984 Delphin 318i 2 door

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by wworm View Post
                          no idea about exhaust, looks like you're gonna be the pioneer with that info. As far as engine harness goes, it's probably the same considering a z3 is considered an e36. You probably already have checked, but realoem probably has that info

                          I guess I'll either learn it the hard way or find that it fits!

                          The engine mount arms are identical to an e36 and the front suspension seems to be exactly the same, so I don't see why the manifolds wouldn't be the same, yet they have different part numbers.

                          The Z3 M44 exhaust manifold is identical to the e30's, I know that has about zero correlation or weight but here's hoping!

                          I ended up chopping up the z3 harness in the process of getting the damn thing out (my first motor pull) so I ordered and received an e36 harness to eliminate some of the guess work.
                          91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

                          Comment


                            #14
                            BMW often assigns a different part number when a small detail changes. My bet is the Z3 M52 manifolds are a different part number because they come with M18x1.5 plug installed to seal off the O2 sensor bungs.


                            My '97 Z3 M52 manifolds look identical to the regular M52 manifolds and my Syncro Design Works downpipe fits up perfectly - it is just their regular part made for all M/S5x engines.


                            MJ



                            Originally posted by fastestbox View Post
                            I guess I'll either learn it the hard way or find that it fits!

                            The engine mount arms are identical to an e36 and the front suspension seems to be exactly the same, so I don't see why the manifolds wouldn't be the same, yet they have different part numbers.

                            The Z3 M44 exhaust manifold is identical to the e30's, I know that has about zero correlation or weight but here's hoping!

                            I ended up chopping up the z3 harness in the process of getting the damn thing out (my first motor pull) so I ordered and received an e36 harness to eliminate some of the guess work.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by mjweimer View Post
                              BMW often assigns a different part number when a small detail changes. My bet is the Z3 M52 manifolds are a different part number because they come with M18x1.5 plug installed to seal off the O2 sensor bungs.


                              My '97 Z3 M52 manifolds look identical to the regular M52 manifolds and my Syncro Design Works downpipe fits up perfectly - it is just their regular part made for all M/S5x engines.


                              MJ
                              That's great news!! I gave up hoping that someone would chime in as it seems like Z3 information is limited. Thank you!

                              This means it'll fit like the e36 ones, which means I probably need to get some Treehouse style FCABs then?
                              91 318iS - aluminum M52B28 + ZF320 + 3.15 Torsen

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