Easist swap

[EricW]

Hello everybody,
I've been hiding in the background of the forum for some time now and I need to call upon your help. I just purchased a '91 318i with 103,000 miles about a week ago. I was (I'll explain the past tense) thrilled about it and was having a blast driving my m42 around. This is my first experience with BMWs and I was loving it. Until...
I was driving to PA from outside Baltimore to pick up my dad and show him the car when I noticed the engine was overheating badly. I threw it in neutral and shut off the engine but it was too late. The water pump failed and the block cracked before I could catch it. To say the least I was dismayed. I had just saved up enough to purchase the car and now the engine is shot.

My father said that he will front me the money for getting a new engine installed and I will just pay him back as I get the money. The chassis is great (no rust, no nothing) and I figure since I've got to replace the engine I might as well upgrade to a stronger one.

Now this is where you guys come in (hopefully)...

1. I've been looking at different swaps (m30, m5X, S5X) and I'm wondering what the most effective swap is regarding ease of installation and weight issues?

2. I have little experience with mechanics so I think I'll have to have a shop do it (assuming I can find one) even though I'm going to get fucked for the labor (though it is in PA so it won't be as bad as MD). Unless you guys think that I would be able to pull it off if I'm patient and informed enough.

3. How much will this run me (ballpark for whatever swap you're familiar with) and how many hours of labor do you think it will take?

I know I'm asking a lot. I appreciate any and all help. This just happened yesterday and I need it running in about or under a month.

Thanks again, you're my heroes :)

[EricW]

Oh, and would you suggest getting a used engine from someplace like www.bavengine.com? Or another source?

[speedhop]

1. I chose the m30 for its cost, stock reliability and massive torque curve for town driving. How many times a day are you going to hit 8k rpm?

2. Expect to get fucked for labor expenses for any swap. It was my first swap and I did fine (although I did have experienced helping hands).

3. I've spent almost $3500 on the swap. I could've saved in a few areas and spent more in some. I think it turned out rather reasonable.

If I were to do it again, I'm not sure I would. I would have probably gone turbo. But now I can go turbo with the m30. There is no replacement for displacement.

Furthermore, this topic has been beaten to death. Use the search function. Swap the engine of your choice after you figure out what you want and then search, the search again, the some more. Plan it all the way through. Ask questions along the way. There are plenty of knowledgeable people here. Most of all, don't believe everything you hear. Sometimes you'll have to make do with your own knowledge.

Good luck and start researching.

[flawdaboi407]

1. I chose the m30 for its cost, stock reliability and massive torque curve for town driving. How many times a day are you going to hit 8k rpm?

I chose this also.....im not done but its in the works. How many times im going to hit 8k? Shit, everyday all day if I could.

[RickSloan]

Also doing the M30 and i am just a few short steps away from being done. I did the whole swap for under 2 grand and i bought quiet a few new pieces. If you want to do it yourself do about twice as much reading first! Make sure your ducks are in a row or your going to be sitting on your thumbs....

and like already stated dont believe everything you read... things like drive shafts, fire walls, and shift linkage come up alot and for the most part finding a solid answer is damn near impossible. Ask those who have it done cause obviously they can tell you exactly what works!

Good luck with what ever you choose!

and your vert isn't green is it??? cause i actually was driving to Arlington Virginia yesterday and saw a green vert being towned...

where in PA also, cause if your local and need any help let me know.

[wagonizzle]

If you want the car up and running in a month, find a decent m42 and take it to your garage of choice. Seriously.

If you are having to borrow the money to get it back on the road, you need the cheapest, quickest and most reliable option. I would guess you can find and have installed a decent motor for around $1000. If you aren't changing anything from stock under the hood, the R&R should go very smoothly, keeping labor costs down. There may be other maintenance items you want to replace while the engine is out and they are easy to get to. Add a couple hundred bucks here. Done, with good gas mileage and still a decently powerful engine. You can check the forums, ebay, craigslist, make a WTB ad; there are engines out there.

If you go to a shop that will do an engine type swap for cheap (i.e. m42->m30 etc.), you will have problems. If you go to someone who will do it right, you will spend big money. In either case, having your 'project' car and your 'only' car being one on the same is not a good idea; ask me how I know.

If you really want to have a swap car, buy an e30 that needs work. Build up an engine and gather parts so you know what's going on. Driving a 1991 318i with parts from a bunch of other stuff that you don't know what it is and then breaking down in Bumblefuck and you can't begin to tell the parts counter guy or mechanic what you need will not be pleasant. Swap cars are awesome, but best left to those who are highly involved in the build, IMO. Good luck with your decision, and hope you get rolling again soon. :mrgreen:

[e30slut]

I would do the m50 swap. It's the lightest to the m42 and makes plenty more power. It will also be the most reliable. also the cheapest. also the most efficient when swapping into a 318. I have one for sale you can buy but i'm wondering if I want it or not.

Also with this swap you will have less issues. no custom motor mounts or anything like that. Just swap the booster and drop it in. (from what i've read)

[Funkmasta]

I would just replace the M42...

I can piece you together a pretty easy M30 swap (more or less plug and play) for about $2800.

[Alpina]

I would do the m50 swap. It's the lightest to the m42 and makes plenty more power. It will also be the most reliable. also the cheapest. also the most efficient when swapping into a 318. I have one for sale you can buy but i'm wondering if I want it or not.

Also with this swap you will have less issues. no custom motor mounts or anything like that. Just swap the booster and drop it in. (from what i've read)

I agree with this comment ,, take the M50 if you can

Very nice power delivery and good fuel consuption compared to M30 who is a thirsty bloke
very easy to swapp,, the M30 is a lot more job,,

i swapped a S38B38 and the choise was S5x or S38

i made a huge mistake,, the job was so expensive and so on ,, S5x bolts on and is very good also

[Funkmasta]

I agree with this comment ,, take the M50 if you can

Very nice power delivery and good fuel consuption compared to M30 who is a thirsty bloke
very easy to swapp,, the M30 is a lot more job,,

i swapped a S38B38 and the choise was S5x or S38

i made a huge mistake,, the job was so expensive and so on ,, S5x bolts on and is very good also

The S38 is a huuuuuge job compared to the M30!

M50 is not worth the price, IMO. Unless you want to go big, stick with the M42.

[twothrees]

What kind of mpg can you expect out of a M30 engined e30?

[Funkmasta]

What kind of mpg can you expect out of a M30 engined e30?

It depends on how heavy your foot is. :)

[twothrees]

It depends on how heavy your foot is. :)

Joe, when your not mashing the skinny pedal, but driving relatively sane(I'm assuming here), what kind of city/highway are you getting? The torque of the big six sounds so intoxicating but with gas prices around $4, I hate to drop to 15 mpg.

Thanks,

Doug

[Funkmasta]

I can't keep my foot out of it... :)

My average around town is about 16. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, but, I have been known to drive it pretty hard. These motors are dispensable, remember? :mrgreen:

When I first did the swap, and had my 14s on it, I got nearly 30 on the highway. If I cruise at 65 with my 16s, I will get 24-27 on the highway.