325e head swap

[masterman56]

I have decided to swap out my head to an 885 from a 325i
I have read a bunch of threads and posts, but none of them have a full detailed list of parts i need to do the swap.

I know so far, I need:
- 325i head
- 325i intake manifold
- 325i ECU
- 325i AFM
- 325i injecters
- do i need a 325i or 325e head gasket?

What else am I missing?

[jaysee]

you do relize it will be lower compression because the 885 uses a domed chamber and domed pistons?

[jaysee]

and i believe the head gaskets are the same, but if in doubt use the i same as the head

[Cabriolet]

the gaskets are the same. you arent gonna be able to run that head unless you get custom piston heads made. or a big turbo.
dont use victor rienz gaskets. i did last year and the headgasket started leaking after 50 miles.

[masterman56]

I was planning to turbo it, but for the parts wise, is that all i need?

I would change the pistons, but isnt that hard to do?

[Myster-E]

You will also need an 87 I or iS wiring harness for everything to work correctly like windows. Must be from an 87

[masterman56]

Would it be easier just to do a m50 swap instead?

[MR 325]

the gaskets are the same. you arent gonna be able to run that head unless you get custom piston heads made. or a big turbo.
dont use victor rienz gaskets. i did last year and the headgasket started leaking after 50 miles.

Please don't give out incorrect information. You can run that head and it will work well. With a port/polish and a cam it will pull just as hard or harder than a 325i. This is real life first hand experience, not internet hearsay.

[masterman56]

Please don't give out incorrect information. You can run that head and it will work well. With a port/polish and a cam it will pull just as hard or harder than a 325i. This is real life first hand experience, not internet hearsay.

So with out changing the heads the engine will run fine without a turbo?

I was thinking, Why do I need to change the wiring harness? All I am doing is changing the head, so everything should hook up fine right?

[kharv]

I think its because your accepting a different fuel managment system for the injectors on the 325i head. so you would need the wiring harness for the computer to connect

[MR 325]

Yes it will run fine NA. I would recommend adding a cam though.

You need the i wiring harness to work with all of the i sensors and ECU.

[masterman56]

Is the harness hard to swap out and replace? It sounds complicated haha

Isnt the 325e ECU plug in the same as the 325i?

[MR 325]

If it was the same we wouldn't be telling you to change it. Swapping an engine harness is easy.

[masterman56]

alright thanks guys, wish me luck

I was looking up on how to remove the harness.. and it looks complicated

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1202524&postcount=75

Do i really need to remove all those wires?

[CW325]

you should probably find an "i" cluster considering how much higher the revlimit will be with the new head