A "what if" engine swap: your opinions

[AdamF 88iS]

I would love to put an S38 into some earlier 5 or 7 series car; maybe even an E34 wagon. That would be pretty mean; I've always liked the wagons.

[uberpanzer]

Adam, there were e34 M5 wagons.....but super rare.

General e30 swap: P60 in a early style car(pre '87). Ditch the chrome bumpers for the BMP kit, and pray the cops don't want to see if I have a cat. If you don't know what motor that is, it was the power plant for the PTG V8 cars.

My 318iS swap: Change out for an e36 M42, put on a DASC and any other goodies I can cram on it (cams, gears, flywheel, etc). Port match everything, etc, etc. Get it breathing real good, but still have it plenty streetable. I'm really starting to like this car....

My M3: 2.6L S14 (ala Dinan). Although I guess this isn't really a swap, huh?

My e21: Take the M42 from my 318iS after above swap and turn it into an S42. If you don't know what that is, go do some research.....yes they do exsist.

My FI swap: M106 into a e24 chassis. BMW's OTHER turbo gas motor....watch out turbo e36 M3 people....the shark's coming for you!!!!

[AdamF 88iS]

Yea, I know, my friend had one. But like you said...super rare and it's more fun to do the swap anyhow.

[randomtask37]

old school 6 cyl m5 motor or big six (3.5)
for me i would almost rather have that then an m50/s50, you cant beat the torque ot a big 6
its the old school german tuner way, take the biggest engine and stuff it in the lightest chasis.

i really like that idea, but i might still end up going with the s50... or mabye s50 turbo

[James Crivellone]

M20B25 2.8L Stroker Motor, then Turbo

I am all about keeping the original motor, even though I have an ETA


all our dream swap, S38 Turbo

[65Matt]

On a non-pristine non-M3 run of the mill E30:
Aluminum headed Ford 5.0

Cheap, reliable as the sun, and (from what I can figure so far) weighs slightly more than a M20.

But I am starting to agree with the others. I'm starting to enjoy my new M20 2.5i so much that I don't think I want any more power (for now).

[UNHCLL]

it has been my experience that people who lack advanced driving skills are the ones who scream for more power.
I know plenty of guys who are perfectly happy with thier slightly less (chip exhaust) than stock cars and can beat S50'd E30's.

Sure at some point more power will be desired as thier skill level will have exceeded the cars capabilities... but just a motor swap for the hell of more power and because its cool.... i dont get it :roll:

[MattM20]

Hmm, "realistic".

A 2.8 aluminum block from a Z3, with a knife edged 3.2 crank, .50 oversized pistons, M3 cams and an OBDI conversion mated to a Dbilas multi-throttle setup. Lightweight flywheel of course, and a carbon fibre driveshaft for shits & giggles.

Less realistic, a Hayabusa motor stroked out to 2.0 litres. ~230 hp in a 120 pound package.

-Charlie

you know the all the later (not sure about the earlier ones) M52's and M54's have alluminum blocks. which includes 2.5L, 2.8L, and 3.0L

[BeirBrennerE30]

well... someday... after some big brakes, some suspension work and somemore driving school id like:

an obd1 s52 with a lil bit larger pistons, plenty of headwork and a multi throttle body intake, euro 6 speed tranny, light flywheel and all the other usual mods.... perhaps a turbo if the money holds out

for an e30 m3(aka my dream car that i will someday own: a built to the sky NA 2.5L s14

[Werksmini]

Adam, there were e34 M5 wagons.....but super rare.

Saw one at the Dealer the other day in purple, I was like sweet hey dad look at that. What, the silver car? LoL I just said yeaaaa.

Well realisticaly a turbo m20, that would be sweet, and somewhat realistic.

[lukasbmw]

I'm around...just don't feel like spending much time on the forums anymore.

I'd like a 2.8 aluminum block with a 3.0 crank, low compression pistons and boost.

OR

4.4 OBD1 BMW V8.

[CiLK WuRM]

I'd have a garage of engine swaps:

318is with S42
M325i with S50B32 Euro
M3 with S38 ported to 3.9

And a Sport Evolution with a DTM spec 2.5 (2.6?)

[gstuning]

The most practical engine swap in europe is a S38-E30 swap,
Not much more difficult then a M30 swap wich is just not hard at all,

S38 weighed as much as a euro S50B30 but is not as technologically advanced,

S38 engines aint that expsensive here, maybe $3,5k for engine,trans, and rest

The most realistic is a 3,5 M30 swap, real easy, very common, been done to death,
just as much torque as I have in my engine and more hp then a stock 325i, 328i, and with little modifications a new 330i,

Of course the all out HP kicker is the M102 3,4turbo, very easy to tune, mad amounts of torque and shitload of hp to follow, 1bar boost is about 400hp and 650nm torque

[Stu]

aluminum Z3 block
84mm bore 11:1 pistons
E30 turbo-diesel crank
Solid lifters, Schrick race cams
Oversized intakes
OBD-1 manifold with custom dual-throttle bodies
Euro HFM
Custom software (8500 redline)
17# injectors with bumped fuel pressure
E30 doghouse gearbox
8 pound fly
Motorsport 228 clutch
3.64 rear end.

[BMW BMXER]

You never specified if it had to be e30 :P

Im not swapping shit into my e30.

Small block Chevy Into my Blazer when I get it.