Cost of an M30 swap??

[amcink]

Hello M30's
I would like to receive a best guestimate (if cost was not tracked) of an M30 swap. I've seen so many M30's on our locals pick and pull, therefore engine and transmission are available locally sense saving good amount of $$$. So, how much more should I need to budget for a complete swap?

[chadthestampede]

I spent around $2k for everything. YMMV.

[devon.818]

millions

[kronus]

we did one in the lemons car for about $350. Motor was 200 complete, mounts were fabricated ("free"), trans was 80 bucks from a junkyard, exhaust manifolds were 40 bucks from the yard with downpipes, we used a pep boys tailpipe twin-tip thing as an exhaust Y and thick-wall square steel tube as engine mounts. E36M shifter using stock e30 linkage mounted to early shift plate bolted to the trans tunnel (so like 20 bucks for parts). It hauls ass!

Realistically, that is a ghetto-ass lower bound and you have to get lucky.

[CorvallisBMW]

Aside from the engine, trans, motor mounts and exhaust work it's pretty inexpensive. The wiring harness is stock motronic 1.3, the shift linkage and driveshaft are stock. I bet you could do it for $1000.

[amcink]

$1000 seems very doable!!

[ttrousdell]

I prob spent 1800 after all was done but i regasketed the engine and found a kit for a good price. chances are to do what i did will be up around 2500.
motor, mounts, 5sd tranny, e28 radiator, proper driveshaft, harness, 533 flywheel, computer, headers to o2 bung-750
spec stage 1 e28 535i clutch kit -350
exhaust fab 160
block gasket set and head gasket set -400
tensinser and water pump, some seals for tranny..idk 100
paint, misc. shit 100

[Lurker27]

Expect close to $2000 unless you're dropping it straight in without giving a shit - "while I'm in there" adds up (and is a good idea tbh)

[csermonet47]

4k + for me. Not so bad when you sell your old engine and trans though.

:(

[amcink]

4k + for me. Not so bad when you sell your old engine and trans though.

:(

4K ouch. What happen? did you had some one else do it? if you did . How much was labor?

[1987E30project]

Change all the gaskets and seals, timing chain guides, tensioner. All of that without removing the head. It might add a few dollars but its worth it in the long run and its sooo much easier when the engine is out.

[csermonet47]

4K ouch. What happen? did you had some one else do it? if you did . How much was labor?

Unexpected head work and machine shop charges of around $750, unexpected exhaust work of $700, unexpected driveshaft costs coming to around $600. Didn't get all the money back in parting the donor car I bought. It was a learning experience for sure. So many little things that added up. I think it was worth it in the end though:

[Jean]

^ nice job!

OP - do it right, at least regasket it.

[ttrousdell]

^^ very clean engine. What car model/year did that m30 come out of. The TB sensor hook on yours is diffenet then my m30. Same kind of connector on my s38. Also found that my engine burns rich with the mustang injectors with the rest of the set up being completely stock. Id prob switch back if i had the stock injectors. Does yours burn rich?

[jim325]

I would estimate my spending at about 6k+ but I rebuilt the motor, added MS, and went turbo so take that price for what it's worth.

You could definetly do it for a lot less. I could have done it for about $800 replacing lot's of seals and getting all new hoses and such. I got a perfectly running donor car from an old boss for the price to tow it to my house(brake lines were leaking and a caliper was seized up).

Sometimes you just gotta get real lucky or be patient in your search for parts.