how helpful is the pnw?

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  • MikeM
    E30 Addict
    • Feb 2009
    • 583

    #1

    how helpful is the pnw?

    So I am thinking of getting a new car in about a month or two but I haven't decided on which car. Options include going newer with something like an e36 m3, is300, wrx, gti 337 or something of that nature (in that order), or just getting another nice e30 (except not a convertible).

    My question is, would buying an e30 with intentions of swapping the engine be manageable if I don't have my own tools to do the conversion? I'm in college and driving an s52 e30 sounds awesome but I am interested to see what sort of assistance is available. I am under the impression that I could build a pretty cool e30 for about the same or less than I would spend on an e36 m3, is300, or wrx. Correct me if I'm wrong.

    Thanks
    1990 325i Coupe
    ///PNW e30 CREW
  • PNWDan
    E30 Fanatic
    • Feb 2011
    • 1326

    #2
    I think just swapping an m50/m52 into an e30 would give you the best for the price. If I were to do a s50/s52 swap, I would be going through the entire motor. That would raise the price considerably. There are e36 m3s decently priced out there. If you don't have tools or a place to work on cars, I wouldn't be considering swapping anything and or plan on having a swapped car for a daily driver.

    1987 Alpinweiß 325is

    Like the PNW E30 Local Crew Facebook page

    Comment

    • Den_k321
      E30 Fanatic
      • Oct 2010
      • 1248

      #3
      wrx and s52/50 clean e30 is awesome! == e36 m3's are made so we can take engines out to put into e30. =] ahhah

      1988 325is S50 in-progress.
      http://www.facebook.com/E30LocalCrew
      Few pictures:
      http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=255061

      Comment

      • Slidewayzz
        Wrencher
        • Dec 2011
        • 211

        #4
        Originally posted by PNWbimmer
        My question is, would buying an e30 with intentions of swapping the engine be manageable if I don't have my own tools to do the conversion? I'm in college and driving an s52 e30 sounds awesome but I am interested to see what sort of assistance is available. Correct me if I'm wrong.

        Thanks
        secret 5toes post?


        Buy my Eta
        http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=248238

        Comment

        • bmwm42
          R3V OG
          • Nov 2010
          • 6300

          #5
          pnw is dam helpfull and even if you dont have the tools the place there are plenty of people who are always down to lend a hand and turn a wrench
          Originally posted by bmwm42
          PNW vulture pm me for parts
          Strategic nw e30 command

          Comment

          • e30austin
            I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
            • Sep 2010
            • 15382

            #6
            Originally posted by bmwm42
            pnw is dam helpfull and even if you dont have the tools the place there are plenty of people who are always down to lend a hand and turn a wrench
            Word.


            Comment

            • thebutterson
              E30 Addict
              • Jan 2012
              • 463

              #7
              I've done an s52 swap into my 318ti which is halfway between an e30 and e36. My swap was a nightmare, and by the time I realized it, I had already bought too many parts and felt it was too late.

              The engine I bought ended up having a cracked head and rusty cylinder walls and needed a rebuild. This tacked on quite a bit of money to the swap that I wasn't planning on as well as pushing the length of the project out quite a bit.

              If an s52 powered e30 is your dream and you couldn't see yourself in anything other than an e30 for a long time, go for it. Otherwise, once you buy a good e30, a decent motor, all the necessary swap parts, the "while you're in there's", and the "gotta beef this up for the s52" parts you're in the range of buying an e36 m3 given what they go for these days. After you do all that, you have a car that won't be able to keep up on the track, so really consider what the criteria for a good car is for you, and use that to decide.

              However, there are quite a few people who score killer deals, and are really skilled at doing this kind of thing that make it a really economical choice for them. If you've never done it, and don't have connections, you probably don't fall into this category.

              Comment

              • LuckyHenriksen
                R3V Elite
                • Jun 2010
                • 4244

                #8
                I can complete your entire E30 build for you. Suspension, interior, drivetrain swap, etc. it is my favorite kind of project :)


                Bahama Beige E23 Project
                Bluebird Bus Conversion
                New Oregon Trail

                Comment

                • MikeM
                  E30 Addict
                  • Feb 2009
                  • 583

                  #9
                  haha I've seen all the shit 5toes gets and I am not on that level. I redid all the suspension on my current car with the help of a r3v member and that was pretty cool. Then just the other day I swapped out the vert top with Austin. So I know how the network is, I was just wondering about engine swaps and if that was even a possibility.

                  Originally posted by LuckyHenriksen
                  I can complete your entire E30 build for you. Suspension, interior, drivetrain swap, etc. it is my favorite kind of project :)
                  Lucky, I'm not sure how you and I haven't crossed paths yet...
                  1990 325i Coupe
                  ///PNW e30 CREW

                  Comment

                  • LuckyHenriksen
                    R3V Elite
                    • Jun 2010
                    • 4244

                    #10
                    You are welcome to stop by the shop sometime :)


                    Bahama Beige E23 Project
                    Bluebird Bus Conversion
                    New Oregon Trail

                    Comment

                    • bmwm42
                      R3V OG
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 6300

                      #11
                      The network is as big as you make it, you help others others help you we all specialize in different things some in all and there are plenty of us out there.
                      Originally posted by bmwm42
                      PNW vulture pm me for parts
                      Strategic nw e30 command

                      Comment

                      • DuxNW
                        Advanced Member
                        • Feb 2012
                        • 137

                        #12
                        Honestly, with the amount of documentation available on the 24v swap, if you have all the parts, it should be done in a weekend. I put an m52 in my car with 2 others, over a weekend, stripped the car friday, was driving it again sunday. And that was 5 years ago, when Plug n Play harnesses weren't really available.

                        Comment

                        • 5Toes
                          Banned
                          • May 2010
                          • 9836

                          #13
                          If you want to learn how to pull an engine, come out to Bremerton MOnday or Tuesday, and we will get it done!

                          Comment

                          • stamar
                            E30 Fanatic
                            • Apr 2011
                            • 1362

                            #14
                            It almost certainly is a better buy to get an e36 m3. particularly from the resale market.

                            if you were to swap in a s52, unless someone is doing it for free, you are spending a premium to make a frankenstein...

                            Comment

                            • LuckyHenriksen
                              R3V Elite
                              • Jun 2010
                              • 4244

                              #15
                              But a Frankenstein is so much more fun ;)


                              Bahama Beige E23 Project
                              Bluebird Bus Conversion
                              New Oregon Trail

                              Comment

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