Newbie to swaps needs a bit of info... any help appreciated :)

[quillbro]

So ive owned bmw's since i was.... 17... Im only 23 so thats not a long time. Bought a z3 as my first car... then a swapped 330ti, then a turbo e30 and now i have my current 88 325is. The problem is that the motor is very tired... and im starting to get little quirks out of it constantly. Its got 230k on it so im not surprised. Ive been looking at swaps in e30 for a few years now and Ive come to realize thats the only thing that can replenish zest into my tired car.

The funds are there...kinda. hahaha And from reading around i think i have a decent grasp on the components needed for the swap. Heres my list let me know what you guys think....

M50/52 w 525 oilpan
m3 cams
ZF trans
328/m3 driveshaft
OEM m3 clutch/flywheel
aftermarket wiring conversion like the THR one or making my own plug
delete AC/power steering
Ebay headers
Straight pipe 3" with whatever muffler i decide to go with
ECU (needs to be OBD1 i think right?)
possibly swap rear difs. Dont know what mine is... but its stock maybe 3.73?
Ive got an e30m3 steering rack id like to use but if its too much hassle and isnt a direct fit i'll get an e36 one.
Can i still use the stock radiator/fan components or do i need new ones?
New motor mounts/tranny mounts Polyurethane?
Can i keep my brake booster?
Heard i can also delete the charcoal canister.
Can i keep the same fuel pump?
Refurbished alternator, dont know which one i need.

In the end id like to just have motor and the windshield fluid resevour in the engine bay

Anyway i was just thinking about ditching my e30 and grabbing an e46 coupe but my car is a cali car and has very little rust id like to just get a new motor in there. Id like to do the whole thing for abour 3grand. I dont know if that too little or what but i think i can source the majority of parts i need from around the area.

I'll be doing the swap myself with extra hands from my brother. Ive never been too mechanically inclined... ive changed belts, fluids and brakes on my car but nothing major. I can probably get some help from a friend of mine too thats done an s50swap and five lug on his e30. I think with enough time and the proper amount of air tools I should be able to do it.


If any of you guys can help me out please let me know if im thinking something wrong. Thanks alot

-Evan

[Farbin Kaiber]

With the s50/52 cams you will also need the trays.

[smonkbmw]

M50/52 w 525 oilpan - with dipstick and pickup tube
m3 cams - yup, but youll need software also. not sure about cam trays etc. and if youre doing all that a 540MAF helps also, but also requires a change in maps on software. turner sells custom chips, just gotta tell them what youre running.
ZF trans - why? stock will work, unless its a automatic
328/m3 driveshaft - dont need it if youre using a stock getrag260
OEM m3 clutch/flywheel - yes on the clutch. you need to have the fly wheel machined though, verify on the 24valve thread
aftermarket wiring conversion like the THR one or making my own plug - yup
delete AC/power steering - keeping the ac is expensive. why delete the PS? itll still work.
Ebay headers - yup. or if on the cheap, stock OBD2 manifolds.
Straight pipe 3" with whatever muffler i decide to go with - do you not have emissions to worry about? if so, stock obd1/2 midpipes work fine. you can retrofit your car to work with e36 exhaust systems by adding the hangers in the rear. that way you can use stromung, uuc etc.
ECU (needs to be OBD1 i think right?) - red sticker 413.
possibly swap rear difs. Dont know what mine is... but its stock maybe 3.73? - 3.73lsd never hurts. better performance but rare and expensive a 3.91.
Ive got an e30m3 steering rack id like to use but if its too much hassle and isnt a direct fit i'll get an e36 one. - sure
Can i still use the stock radiator/fan components or do i need new ones? - yes and yes. spal flows better though.
New motor mounts/tranny mounts Polyurethane? - you will NEED the e36 motor mount arms and e28 m5 mounts. but there are other options in this department also.
Can i keep my brake booster? - nope. common way is the e21 booster with the "arm" shortened.
Heard i can also delete the charcoal canister. - not sure, never messed with it.
Can i keep the same fuel pump? - yes, but if you have that high of miles on the stock pump replace it.
Refurbished alternator, dont know which one i need. - if youre not getting one on you m50/52 then you need another m50/52 alternator. i recommend the 140amp but the standard will work also.

[quillbro]

M50/52 w 525 oilpan - with dipstick and pickup tube
m3 cams - yup, but youll need software also. not sure about cam trays etc. and if youre doing all that a 540MAF helps also, but also requires a change in maps on software. turner sells custom chips, just gotta tell them what youre running.

ZF trans - why? stock will work, unless its a automatic My manual is original and i have a lead on a ZF unit with only 26k miles. Id rather get something fresh while im doing everything else.

328/m3 driveshaft - dont need it if youre using a stock getrag260
OEM m3 clutch/flywheel - yes on the clutch. you need to have the fly wheel machined though, verify on the 24valve thread

aftermarket wiring conversion like the THR one or making my own plug - yup
delete AC/power steering - keeping the ac is expensive. why delete the PS? itll still work. I guess i could install PS just thought its another thing to break later on
Ebay headers - yup. or if on the cheap, stock OBD2 manifolds.

Straight pipe 3" with whatever muffler i decide to go with - do you not have emissions to worry about? if so, stock obd1/2 midpipes work fine. you can retrofit your car to work with e36 exhaust systems by adding the hangers in the rear. that way you can use stromung, uuc etc. I dont have to worry about emissions. So im gonna do a straight pipe. THat being said all that will be taken care of at a shop I'll just flip an exhaust at them and hopefully they'll do a good job

ECU (needs to be OBD1 i think right?) - red sticker 413.

possibly swap rear difs. Dont know what mine is... but its stock maybe 3.73? - 3.73lsd never hurts. better performance but rare and expensive a 3.91. Guess ill keep it and just replace the seals

Ive got an e30m3 steering rack id like to use but if its too much hassle and isnt a direct fit i'll get an e36 one. - sure

Can i still use the stock radiator/fan components or do i need new ones? - yes and yes. spal flows better though. Do you have a link for that one?
New motor mounts/tranny mounts Polyurethane? - you will NEED the e36 motor mount arms and e28 m5 mounts. but there are other options in this department also. So i need metal arms? Not just bushings? More info would be greatly appreciated.

Can i keep my brake booster? - nope. common way is the e21 booster with the "arm" shortened. I'll have to pick that up. Can you rebuild it before it goes in? Or does it not have wear issues?
Heard i can also delete the charcoal canister. - not sure, never messed with it.
Can i keep the same fuel pump? - yes, but if you have that high of miles on the stock pump replace it. Ill replace it

Refurbished alternator, dont know which one i need. - if youre not getting one on you m50/52 then you need another m50/52 alternator. i recommend the 140amp but the standard will work also.

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated.

[1990m3]

you can just come and take some notes on my car anytime you want. I can talk you through all the parts you need as well. I didn't really write anything down since i got it all off the net (in terms of what goes where), but I remember pretty much everything that had to be done. Plus, I'm local!

Give me a call Evan

Dave