s50 swap: what car to start with?

[Standard Owl]

First off, let me say I don't know too much about e30s. If you have a question about e36s, I'm your guy, but as far as e30s go, I don't know all of the finer points.

I have an e36 m3 right now, but in the future I'm entertaining the option of doing the s50 swap into an e30. My question is, which would be the best e30 to start with? I'm thinking probably a late 325is, but I want to keep the cost down on the original car.

My goal is to do the whole thing for 10 grand. Is this possible? I would be doing all the labor myself. I don't mind looking for good deals on parts if that's what it takes, and in the end, I really want to have a nice e30 with an s50 in it, not a stripped out "FULL RAZE" beater. Also, I really really want to keep the AC. Is this hard to do? No AC might make me think again about doing the swap.

[BeirBrennerE30]

Get the best condition e30 that you can. At this point all the cars are so old that year to year condition doesnt make a difference, its all how they were maintained.

if 10k doesnt include the car then yes... if it doesnt then you may be in trouble. Just take your time get all the parts and you should be fine and have a relyable swap. You can keep all accessories that you want including ac pretty easily except the MPG meter.

[Standard Owl]

Get the best condition e30 that you can. At this point all the cars are so old that year to year condition doesnt make a difference, its all how they were maintained.

if 10k doesnt include the car then yes... if it doesnt then you may be in trouble. Just take your time get all the parts and you should be fine and have a relyable swap. You can keep all accessories that you want including ac pretty easily except the MPG meter.

10k includes the car. I was thinking a late 325is so that I would be able to use some of the parts already on the car, but looking at prices, something cheaper would be better in the long run.

I don't care about the MPG meter, I always thought something more useful should go there.

I've seen m3 motors and trans go for cheap. Does 4k for motor and trans seem unreasonable? I figure pick up the car for around 2, 4 for motor and trans, 1 or 2 for misc. parts, then have 2 grand for suspension and brakes and whatever else

[bostonbmw]

I got a S52/auto tranny with 90k for $1.500.You can get a ZF in good working condition for $500 on ebay. So far for the engine/tranny all the parts necessary for the conversion and some SS eBay headers I am at $3,200. That leaves a lot of wiggle room while staying under 10k. I think you can do it no problem your just going to have to wait for deals to pop up. Cheers Brian

[Standard Owl]

I got a S52/auto tranny with 90k for $1.500.You can get a ZF in good working condition for $500 on ebay. So far for the engine/tranny all the parts necessary for the conversion and some SS eBay headers I am at $3,200. That leaves a lot of wiggle room while staying under 10k. I think you can do it no problem your just going to have to wait for deals to pop up. Cheers Brian

thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.

I think I'm going to go with a 91 318is. I'm seeing some in good condition, for low money. Plus, they're newer. That's usually a plus.

I'm not super familiar with e30s, but don't 91 318s have the desirable bumpers etc.?

[windnsea00]

`89+ have plastic bumpers (minus cabrio). A 325is requires less modifications to make everything work correctly so you may want to think about that.

[B0ND]

I'm guessing you want the plastic bumpers, which means 89+, as already mentioned. You can probably find one with a clean body for cheap if you're willing to wait. There seem to be enough people that snap timing belts and don't want to deal with a new engine and will sell an otherwise good condition e30 for $1k or less.

I haven't done the swap or anything, but from my own research don't underestimate the odds and ends that go with the swap. Those things will nickel and dime you until you're looking at an $8-10k swap (drivetrain only).

[Van Westervelt]

ideal car would be an 5 spd 88-89 325/i/is. 88's came with metal bumpers, but plastics bolt right on and you can find a set for 400 easy. You can use the transmission from the e30 as well as the driveline and radiator. Money Savers. Near every 'is' also has a lsd in it. You will pay more for the 'is' models, and all you really get are a 13 button obc (which doesnt read correct after the swap), sport suspension (which after near 20 years is crap anyway), and sport seats (which you can find for 250-500 dep upon condition).

I started with an 88 325, and I have people ask me all the time what year my 325is is. Little do they know its now an m330is. :) I spent about 12k on my motor swap alone, but I am anal and got a lot of new parts.

[golde30]

89 325is is ideal. plastic bumpers, larger diff + LSD, no airbag equiptment. look at spending about $2-4K depending on condition.

s50 can use the stock 325is tranny also, so if you score an s50 for ~$2K, then you MITE be able to build the car for ~$10K

my e30 with the s50 being build as we speak, is in total probably around $15-20K now. HOWEVER i have done everything, suspension, interior, paint job the whole 9yards. my e30 started life as an '88 325is.

[golde30]

I haven't done the swap or anything, but from my own research don't underestimate the odds and ends that go with the swap. Those things will nickel and dime you until you're looking at an $8-10k swap (drivetrain only).

QFT! those small parts add up really quick.

[PiercedE30]

God, I don't want to know how much I have spent. I'm probably up there with golde30. But it will be OH SO worth it.

[Van Westervelt]

I just came back to add the bit about 88 and 89's not having to deal with the airbag bs. Also they are prewiried for ellipsoid headlights.

All in on my car s50, plastic bumpers, susp, 5 lug, m3 seats, and all my little ice stuff put me over 40k in.

Taking my running 88 325 to a running 88 with s50 I started as a budget swap and had everything I needed for just over 5k, plus the cost of the car. Then I realized that wasnt my style and went overboard as usual. :)

[PiercedE30]

You can never do anything simply. You GOTTA do it BIG!

[static]

first you have to decide what you will use the car for?
- daily?
- track?
- weekender?

keep in mind that e30s are more raw than e36, less sound insulation, etc.. so i currently have a love/hate relationship with my daily s50e30 with a straight-through custom exhaust on it. Love it in the morning, when i am rested; hate it at night when i am tired.
If i were to build a track e30, i think i'd go m42 + turbo for better weight balance/handling like a gentleman on bf.c forums recently did.
S50 torque is great for city/highway driving tho, just make sure you don't make it a magnaflow exhaust if it's daily - use stock heavy muffler from e36m3 (or a stromung) and dual pipe with stock cats.

Alex

[Stu]

M3 obviously is the best choice.

Next best is '88--> 325i. You can retain the radiator, overflow tank, trans, d/s, diff from that car. Then sell the stock motor to a spece30 racer.

I'd get an '83 european no-options 316 if I could, but those don't pop up too much around NC