Japanese engine?

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  • cochran
    Member
    • Sep 2005
    • 78
    #1

    Japanese engine?

    Looking for opinions here:
    I live in Thailand, and choices of used cars here are very limited and VERY expensive. I'm looking for a BMW for a dd, and found one listed for sale: 87 318 is body, excellent condition in and out, but the engine is a Nissan SR 20 DE.

    I would prefer to keep it BMW, but looking to see if this is a reasonable swap. the car was originally 4 cyl 5 spd, and is still 4 cyl 5 spd. Other than the slew of "Its ricer shit! Run away!" comments that I'm sure to get, are there other pros / cons? I'm thinking that spares will be much easier to find (and cheaper) here in Asia if running a Japanese motor, but I'm most concerned about power from the SR20DE vs. the original motor, and durability of the engine and transmission.

    Let's hear it....
    Cochran
    '88 325iC - daily driver, work in progress
    Tags: None
    • shiboujin
      R3VLimited
      • Feb 2006
      • 2791
      #2
      SR20DET and be happy. It's fairly common in asia IIRC.

      Status: HG repair. 488wtq though!

        Comment

        • Farbin Kaiber
          Lil' Puppet
          • Jul 2007
          • 29502
          #3
          Tarbo that bish.

            Comment

            • Jean
              Moderator
              • Aug 2006
              • 18228
              #4
              There is no such thing as "87 318 is"
              Mtech1 v8 build thread - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=413205



              OEM v8 manual chip or dme - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho....php?p=4938827

                Comment

                • Farbin Kaiber
                  Lil' Puppet
                  • Jul 2007
                  • 29502
                  #5
                  In Thailand?

                    Comment

                    • Jean
                      Moderator
                      • Aug 2006
                      • 18228
                      #6
                      Wtf does it say "Location: South Carolina"
                      Mtech1 v8 build thread - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=413205



                      OEM v8 manual chip or dme - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho....php?p=4938827

                        Comment

                        • Farbin Kaiber
                          Lil' Puppet
                          • Jul 2007
                          • 29502
                          #7
                          Or, maybe it has a CA18det.

                            Comment

                            • cochran
                              Member
                              • Sep 2005
                              • 78
                              #8
                              Clarification

                              Jean, my home is in South Carolina, and that's where I was when I joined the forum. Since Jan 09, my employer has me working in Thailand, and I'll be here until at least 31 Dec 10, and I'm thinking of staying permanently.

                              I don't know if there was an 87 318 is ever sold here or anywhere else. At this point, its a For Sale ad and that's all I know. My problem is that I have no familiarity with the Japanese engines. I know the SR20De is a Nissan motor, and that there's a SR20DET variation with a turbocharger; I know they're popular swaps in the tuner world and can make serious power. What I don't know is if they're reliable, and what would the comparison of the NA Nissan motor be to the original 1.8 liter M10 or M42 that this car probably came with?

                              Can anyone direct me to another forum where I may find info on this motor?

                              If it turns out to be a solid engine, of course the next step is to check out the quality of the work on the conversion. If its all hacked to pieces, its not worth the trouble. I don't know what the engine management is or anything else at this point. Still early.
                              Cochran
                              '88 325iC - daily driver, work in progress

                                Comment

                                • funcrew
                                  E30 Fanatic
                                  • Jun 2007
                                  • 1223
                                  #9
                                  Unless you're parked at the Thailand Sonic drive-thru with your hood popped, what difference does it make whether there's a German engine installed or not? If it was swapped decently and runs well, drive the hell out of it.
                                  "If the sky were to fall tomorrow, the tall would die first."

                                  -Dr. Paul Forrester



                                  Do I LOOK like I need a psychological evaluation???

                                    Comment

                                    • surebimmer
                                      E30 Modder
                                      • Jan 2004
                                      • 978
                                      #10
                                      Google sr20det. There a popular swap into datsun 510's.

                                        Comment

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