My e30 318is s52 swap thread

[MR 325]

what are you doing for exhaust? my advice is to adapt the complete stock exhaust with perhaps an aftermarket (not magnaflow) e36 catback, if you're looking for a decently civilized ride.

The stock 318 exhaust would be a bit small for his application.

[windsor318is]

i think he means the stock e36 exhaust, which i think im going to do, but i dont think its going to line up right since i have the av3 rear bumper, i need to find out what C//M did with his exhaust.

static, what did you use the 3.25 from, thats what i want 140km top speed. i think ill start the z3 diff shopping

[windsor318is]

ordered the ebay headers, AKG wiring adaptor, and e21 tranny mounts today, pics when they arrive. going to pick up a motor friday!

[static]

yes, i actually meant obd2 e36m3 stock exhaust. If you graft an e36 stromung in there the whole thing is gonna sound like pure sex and not as heavy as stock muffler to boot.
I realize that the pipes are not going to fit very well, but if you bring the car and the obd2 full exhaust to a competent muffler shop, they shouldn't have problems modifying it to fit nicely. Full custom SS exhaust is nice but very expensive and not really worth it from experience (at least not for NA). Modifying the OE one to fit well shouldn't be too much work for a professional.

have no idea where my diffs came from

[So Live]

Hey man, take it from me... 3.73 LSD with the ZF tranny out of the m3 is not a good combo if you drive on the highway very often. At 60mph im spinning 3k rpm. Which isnt bad if you never go over 60 but thats a joke. i top out at 130 with the 7krpm redline. Good luck and have fun!

[etxxz]

^^ he's right. i have a 4.10 on the getrag and its hurtfull to go on the highway. i was originally going 2.93lsd w/ the s52 but i think it'll be too long i'm gonna pull a 3.23lsd (stock in e36m3's) out of a 5-series and swap flanges and back cover (you need to)...318's have 3.46's no? i wonder if they'll hold up 'cuase that would be my preffered gear ratio

i just installed my new flywheel and clutch. engine might go in this weekend!! BTW windsor318, my engine came with a near new sach's clutch kit, has just as much beef as the brand new one i just slapped on there so if you want it i'll let it go mad cheap and you can take the luk flywheel which looks just as new for free. lmk its all garbage to me.

[Stu]

Windsor--I remember your 318is from the old forums (DTMpower I think). Goodluck with the swap, you'll love the 3.2. Like Jason says, squeeze the trigger at any RPM and pull like a freight train!

[windsor318is]

stu Mc i think i remember you as well, didnt you have the 316d badge? he he total stealth. stu i cant wait till its running.......

[windsor318is]

^^ he's right. i have a 4.10 on the getrag and its hurtfull to go on the highway. i was originally going 2.93lsd w/ the s52 but i think it'll be too long i'm gonna pull a 3.23lsd (stock in e36m3's) out of a 5-series and swap flanges and back cover (you need to)...318's have 3.46's no? i wonder if they'll hold up 'cuase that would be my preffered gear ratio

i just installed my new flywheel and clutch. engine might go in this weekend!! BTW windsor318, my engine came with a near new sach's clutch kit, has just as much beef as the brand new one i just slapped on there so if you want it i'll let it go mad cheap and you can take the luk flywheel which looks just as new for free. lmk its all garbage to me.

eh thanks man, if i need it ill let you know.

P.S. you people confuse me, now i have no idea what rear diff to get lol!!!

p.s.s. the truck i was borrowing backed out, now i have to wait till next friday to get it, only day its good for him. crap!, oh well time to ditch the m42, and start selling some parts.......

[etxxz]

eh thanks man, if i need it ill let you know.

P.S. you people confuse me, now i have no idea what rear diff to get lol!!!

p.s.s. the truck i was borrowing backed out, now i have to wait till next friday to get it, only day its good for him. crap!, oh well time to ditch the m42, and start selling some parts.......

start preppin your bay, look for parts, rent a pickup for $30/day man that's what i did to pick up my engine.

diff speaking: 3.23 comes stock in e36Me's and is what you should consider. 2.93 meh its long IMO, but good for highway use. I race a lot so its 3.23 for me, maybe 3.46 if i find that i can hold up since a 3.73 its Too Short.

check out this gear calculator and see what setup is best for you.
your gears:
4.21, 2.49, 1.66, 1.24, 1...R.3.89.

http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/revs.html

[1990m3]

start preppin your bay, look for parts, rent a pickup for $30/day man that's what i did to pick up my engine.

diff speaking: 3.23 comes stock in e36Me's and is what you should consider. 2.93 meh its long IMO, but good for highway use. I race a lot so its 3.23 for me, maybe 3.46 if i find that i can hold up since a 3.73 its Too Short.

check out this gear calculator and see what setup is best for you.
your gears:
4.21, 2.49, 1.66, 1.24, 1...R.3.89.
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/revs.html

3.46 is a nice ratio for the ZF trans. Lots of track e36 cars will run anywhere from a 3.46 - 3.73 depending on track. 3.64 is very popular for shorter tracks as well. I run a 3.46 which is pretty snappy on the street. If it's a street only car i suggest 3.25 or 3.15, if it's a track car go with the 3.46. My car pulls like a freight train in all gears on the track and I absolutely love my diff choice.

BTW - it was my daily driver for a while, got around 240 miles before each refill and that worked out to 20-21mpg. I think it would be closer to 23mpg with a 3.25. I also have a 318is and they have smaller gas tanks than 325's.

Good luck with the swap, it's a totally different car with the motor swap -- for the better i think!

[BigD]

3.46 is a nice ratio for the ZF trans. Lots of track e36 cars will run anywhere from a 3.46 - 3.73 depending on track.

I looked at the top speeds when making the choice. With a 3.46 your top speed is a bit over 230 km/h at 7 grand. For the tracks I frequent, that's not acceptable. My M5 hit over 220 on the backstraight on MoSport, the S52 E30 better do a hell of a lot better than that. (plus I have a pipe dream of shipping it over to Nordschleife) A 3.46 won't even take you to 100 km/h in 2nd. A 3.25 tops out at a bit over 250 km/h and hits 100 in 2nd.

My car started as an eta and I hated the 2.93. I then put in a 3.73 and it was interesting but the engine was really buzzy and I had to hunt for gears often. Hell, even with the eta engine, I was well into 5th on the front straight at Pacific Raceways. I then switched to a 3.25 and found it perfect (with the eta engine/getrag). I think it'll be the ideal ratio for the S52/ZF for track purposes. Plus if its legs are as long as everyone claims, then you'd want a taller diff to use the flexibility.

[1990m3]

I should be able to see a top speed of about 140 on short tracks, when I go to road america I'll consider swapping in a 3.15 or 3.25. My m3 hits about 140 at road america with it's little 4-banger, this swapped car gets more speed out of the straights, no doubt

[windsor318is]

start preppin your bay, look for parts, rent a pickup for $30/day man that's what i did to pick up my engine.

diff speaking: 3.23 comes stock in e36Me's and is what you should consider. 2.93 meh its long IMO, but good for highway use. I race a lot so its 3.23 for me, maybe 3.46 if i find that i can hold up since a 3.73 its Too Short.

check out this gear calculator and see what setup is best for you.
your gears:
4.21, 2.49, 1.66, 1.24, 1...R.3.89.
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/revs.html

the gears you gave me im assuming are for the zf tranny, and i thank you a million times for the chart, now i can figure out what i want....which by the calculations the 4.10 i have right now arent going to work lol! i think 3.15 or 3.23 will work wonders for what i want, but i need to know whats a direct bolt on into the e30, i recall someone saying z3 diffs are?

[etxxz]

^^ no prob, i got your back. z3's work, but they are expensive. e28 3.23's just need to have the flanges swapped but i've been hearing a lot about how the internals can be swapped on a bunch of casings (on bimmerforums)

i might drop my engine today :D