My 318is swap thread

[325issguy]

Hey everyone, just got my m52 swap running. Just wanted to show you all the progress. Last year, I bought a 87 325is with a m52 swapped in. Earlier this year one day when it was raining, a girl not paying attention rearended me on the interstate and totalled it.

Here was the car when I bought it....


And here is after the accident...

Out with the old....

In with the new....



So i started with this. A 1991 318is with around 180k on the clock, a little front end damage but not a bad buy for 1000, drove it back a few hours the first day.
Before....

After.....


I also installed all new rear end bushings, swapped in the 3.25 from my old car, and installed my bilsteins and IE3 springs.
Here are pictures after I set her down.



Quick dirty interior shot...

All in all the car drives great. I'm having some unknown problems with second gear which seems strange being it was the same trans that came out of my old car. Obviously it is far from done but it has came a long way from when I got it. Next is paint for the front end, skidplate, lowering the front, and rims.

[LivingLegend06]

Looks good.

sounds like you made pretty quick work of the swap too.

Why do you have that cheap looking cover on the MT2 wheel?

[Ryyy]

I was about to ask why you have your dash half painted, then I realized it was the windshield glare :P Anyways, clean swap. Thumbs up. How much did it take for the front end damage and the swap to be completed? Mine is in a similar state.

[325issguy]

The whole build took around a month. Not too bad considering it was my first car I have really worked on. I need to get the wheel recovered, as it is in sad shape. However, I still like it better than the airbag wheel.

[91 318is]

Nice man! How do you like the M52 compared to the M42? I love my M42, but always thought about a M52 swap.

Did you buy the car in VA I guess? Was this the one VADriven? There was a white 318is on there with light front end damage, he had a supersprint exhaust on it.

[JT325is]

nice and clean, awesome job

[Wh33lhop]

Great job man. :up: It's coming along great, keep it up.

[drumad]

I was going through the pictures and realized I've been there before aha.

Swaps looking good dude. Do mine? aha.

[325issguy]

I honestly love the m52 compared to the m42. The engine is everything that the m42 is, plus about twice the power. The car was bought in orange VA, had minor front end damage, but stock exhaust. I actually ended up using the m42 muffler from my cat back, sounds great.

I just started polishing the white that is on the car and it is turning out great. Once I get a white front end I think Il be dealing with a clean car.

[91 318is]

Nice man!

I've been thinking of a m52 swap in mine, but the m42 is a blast to drive!

Clean car either way

[DREWHALL]

I love it. What fan are you running?

[jrossowvue30]

Damn Crip, nice work. What are you doing with that M42?

[bimmer_E30]

Nice man!

I've been thinking of a m52 swap in mine, Clean car either way

Doo it, engine had enough torque and power to move my heavly ass old e36 real quick, feels so smooth and nice.

[Joe G]

what bumpers are on your old e30?

[325issguy]

My old car just had a plastic bumper swap.

Im just running the stock ac fan in front of the radiator from the 318is. We have had a few hot days already and it stays right below half unless Im sitting in traffic, then it goes to just above the half mark.

I think the reason that my rear end is creaking is because of those shitty IE rtabs, i had to pry just to get them to fit in the subframe correctly, they just seemed to fit badly. Il prolly drop it out and put in some different bushings over the summer, but not too worried about it right now.