Hey i am a newbie and have many questions ?

[mjc85]

I know that m42 is what my car has, the 318is, but what are the codes for other engines like the E30 M3 engine and the E36 M3 engine and the 325i engine ?

I also want to know some $$$ figures on cost of an E30 M3 engine, just an average estimation or a E36 M3 engine(i know because i am in Australia that prices will be different, but just what it would cost in USA). My car is a 1990 318is i will post some pics soon. it is stock but i plan to do a complete makeover soon as i have the funds. My plans include:

-M3 engine, either from E30 or E36 will depend on price difference.
-Some H&R springs or similar, my car came with bilstein sports suspension already :)
-Tinting windows dark
-New Paint and get all panels straightened, some small dings around the car
-Carbon Fibre sunroof as mine has some minor rust
-Maybe Carbon Fibre hood depending on cost and shipping cost (because i am in Australia)
-JimC chip

Some questions ?
If i upgrade to an M3 engine will either the E30 or E36 use same engine mounts ? or do i have to change them ? What else will needed to be done to make for the M3 engine swap ?

Will i need to upgrade brakes ? or are the stock 318is brakes adequate for the increase in power ?

Will the stock 318is Gearbox do the trick with a M3 engine in place ?

The E30 M3 engine is 4cyl am i correct ?
And E36 is 6cyl ?

If i was to buy a JimC chip for my m42, is it possible to have it reprogrammed for another engine such as E30 M3 engine ? instead of having to buy another chip, because it may be a while till i purchase the M3 engine and i would like something to try to help calm my need for power in the mean time.

My car already has a full new Alpine System that cost me about $2000 and i dont think i will bother with to many visual enhancements such as body kits just yet. I am more interested in flogging the ass off all ricers and fast and furious try hards :D

Sorry for all these noob questions but im new to BMW's and i do not know an awful lot about cars, but my 2 friends will be directing my engine swap and i will just be helping, they are both very knowledgeable :) So any help you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Glad to be a part of a community that is loaded with information.
Mitch :D

[CiLK WuRM]

Keep your current gearbox (getrag 265), the McHenry's have been known to say that it's the best for M3 engine conversions.

Go for an S50 (E36 M3 engine). S14's (E30 M3 engine) are too hard to get major power out of.

As you are in AU, you'll be getting a Euro spec M3 engine, with 6 throttles, etc. 286hp or 321hp, depending on whether you buy a B30 or B32.

The 325i engine is known as a M50 or M52, depending on the Vanos (either 1 or 2 cams variably timed)

Look up BM-Auto engineering. They had a full S50B32 converison with all the parts needed to sawp to an E30 for 17g AU.

[OldUser1]

Wow you do have a lot of questions, you might want to search for more information about the E36 swaps, as the topic has been beaten to death.
If you have a 1990 or 1991 318is, then your engine code would be M42. The other engine codes are: E30 M3 = S14, E36 M3 = S50, E30 325i = M20, E36 325i = M50.

If you do upgrade to a S50, the stock 318is brakes (same as e30 325i brakes) might be a little too small, but many people do keep them with the swap...others swap in a E36 5 lug setup.
And yes, the E30 M3 is a 4cyl, and the E36 M3 is a 6cyl.
As for reprogramming the JimC M42 chip for the S14, it would probably be easier to just buy the JimC chip made for the S14, because the computer chip adjusts timing, fuel curves and other various components of the engine.

-Kenyon

[mjc85]

Look up BM-Auto engineering. They had a full S50B32 converison with all the parts needed to sawp to an E30 for 17g AU.

OMG :shock: $17000 thats almost a years wages lmfao. Geez if thats what its going to cost then i would rather keep my car stock :(

Thanks for the info guys.

Mitch

[AdamF 88iS]

S14's (E30 M3 engine) are too hard to get major power out of.

Are you kidding? S14 responds very well to modification. If you get somebody who really knows what they are doing with them you can have a very strong motor.

[mjc85]

I dunno how much i will mod the motor, i would probably like to find one thats been rebuilt if possible, and pretty much leave it stock for insurance reasons. Insurance prices are Ludacris for people who are on their provisional licence like me :( . But how many RWHP is a stock S14 ? any1 know ?

[randomtask37]

Re: Hey i am a newbie and have many questions ?

Look up BM-Auto engineering. They had a full S50B32 converison with all the parts needed to sawp to an E30 for 17g AU.

that is OUTRAGOUSLY expensive.

people pull of m50 conversions for less than 1500 bucks and stu (Stu Mc) and his father built a monster s50 and swapped it for wayyyyyyyyy less than 17g's

u asked about motor mounts for swaps, well if u swap an m50 or s50... and i assume m52 or s52 also. (m/s52 are the latter e36 motors) then u must use different motor mounts from an early 5 series. **i cant remember the actual model but someone will chime in**

there are plent of e36 motor swap threads around on this forum, just go to the "search" on the bar at the top of the screen and search for "m50" and u should get plent of info :D

[CiLK WuRM]

S14's (E30 M3 engine) are too hard to get major power out of.

Are you kidding? S14 responds very well to modification. If you get somebody who really knows what they are doing with them you can have a very strong motor.

I know that Adam, but how many people to do you know with 300hp street S14's? I was implying that an M/S50 would be a better option for 300+ hp.