M30 or S52?

[MannyTranny]

A 5 lug swap is certainly unnecessary but the 4.10 or 3.73 diff would be too steep for many with stock diameter tires.

Gotcha, this may be a stupid question but how do I tell what ratio my diff is?

[Ether-D]

Hey Manny, It sounds to me like you have swap fever. You just need to spend like 8 hours reading about/watching youtubes of your swap options. Also, spend some time getting to know your car. Roll around under it for a while. While you're down there, look for a metal tag on your diff. It'll have some numbers on it. They will be something like 3.73xxxxx or 4.10xxxxx (or maybe it's xxxxx4.10). That tells you which diff you have. If the tag is gone, just rotate the driveshaft and count how many rotations it takes to make the wheels make 1 full revolution. Good luck with your decision.

[agent]

What's your budget?

[Ether-D]

What's your budget?

and this.

[MannyTranny]

Hey Manny, It sounds to me like you have swap fever. You just need to spend like 8 hours reading about/watching youtubes of your swap options. Also, spend some time getting to know your car. Roll around under it for a while. While you're down there, look for a metal tag on your diff. It'll have some numbers on it. They will be something like 3.73xxxxx or 4.10xxxxx (or maybe it's xxxxx4.10). That tells you which diff you have. If the tag is gone, just rotate the driveshaft and count how many rotations it takes to make the wheels make 1 full revolution. Good luck with your decision.

Haha yes sir I do, I'm itching to swap but it's not going to be for a while. I'm just looking into it so I can start planning everything out.

What's your budget?

Not 100% sure on that one but It'd probably be around 3-5 grand tops.

[agent]

Then you probably just crossed the S52 off your list.

[MannyTranny]

Then you probably just crossed the S52 off your list.

Lol damn it, well my dad has my old E36 M3 that I'm tempted to try to buy all the parts off him for a decent deal since I gave him a good deal.

[pandaboo911]

What? S52 can easily be done with 3 grand. You can pick them up for less than $1800!!

[MannyTranny]

What? S52 can easily be done with 3 grand. You can pick them up for less than $1800!!

Yeah but there's the tranny and all the other shit you need to make it work properly. I believe it could be done for 5ish grand but it wouldn't be the best condition parts. I've never done a swap though so i'm pretty much talking out of my ass.

[2mAn]

I enjoy the mpg that my 24v gets...

[Ether-D]

I've never done a swap though so i'm pretty much talking out of my ass.

You're kidding...

It's all good bro. We all had to start somewhere. Try to keep it realistic so you can get something done.

[MannyTranny]

You're kidding...

It's all good bro. We all had to start somewhere. Try to keep it realistic so you can get something done.

I mean, I’ve changed the tranny/clutch/flywheel on my old E34 but I know that’s nothing compared to an engine swap. Having said that, my uncle has been a mechanic for decades (worked for Porsche, an exotic car shop, and now works for Ford). My pops also drives open track with my uncle and is on his 4th engine so he’s pretty used to engine work. Plus they have tons of friends that would be more than willing to help me if need be but I want this to be a learning experience. I’m very confident I’ll be able to this done properly it’s just a matter of when I’ll do it, how long it will take, and how much of the job I can do by myself lol. We’ll see though, i’m just trying to get a good idea on what i’m getting myself into as well as the pros and cons of each engine swap. I’m not trying to come off as some little shit-head kid saying, “Well MY dad does THIS and I know THIS GUY” because that’s not at all what i’m saying, I’m just saying I have resources who are more than willing to give me some good advice throughout this journey.

[pandaboo911]

M30 or S52?

I did my swap for $4000. But that was when s52s were still $3200. I'm in into the swap about $7500 now and it's supercharged making 500whp.
For 5k you could easily swap in a fully rebuilt s52 with all new parts.

The going rate for a decent s52 with trans is about $1700-$2000. $1000 will get you the swap parts and a new clutch, possibly even a VANOS rebuild.

[agent]

I did my swap for $4000. But that was when s52s were still $3200.

Swap costs add up quickly, especially if/when you take care of the "while you're in there" items. I know I spent $800 multiple times over getting things refreshed and well-sorted when we did mine.

[MannyTranny]

I did my swap for $4000. But that was when s52s were still $3200. I'm in into the swap about $7500 now and it's supercharged making 500whp.
For 5k you could easily swap in a fully rebuilt s52 with all new parts.

The going rate for a decent s52 with trans is about $1700-$2000. $1000 will get you the swap parts and a new clutch, possibly even a VANOS rebuild.

Wow that's not bad at all, what else would I need besides the engine, tranny and mounts? Probably a new header/exhaust as well as all the other shit that hooks the engine up to the car?

Swap costs add up quickly, especially if/when you take care of the "while you're in there" items. I know I spent $800 multiple times over getting things refreshed and well-sorted when we did mine.

I can definitely see that, I too am the kind of person that will spend extra for the "while i'm in there" stuff.