frankenstien engine swap?

[StoneSV]

Hey bimmerfest,

I really want a E30 BMW coupe. I found a 1985 318i in really good condition on ebay for $500 bucks. The problem is that while it looks great inside and out it BURNS OIL IN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. The shop (who I depend on because I don't know a thing about mechanics) told be it would cost around $1,000-$1,600 to fix. This makes be think it may be cheaper to just put in a new engine. Am I right? Then I came across another ad on ebay for a 1984 325is that someone was building into a rally car. Price: $300-500 bucks. The engine on that car only has 30K miles on it and appears to be damn good shape. I was thinking maybe it would be possible to do a frankenstein engine transplant with the two cars. If any one could provide me with their guess as to how much that procedure like that might cost at The Shop I would be very appreciative. Thanks very very much.

-Matt

[Bruce]

Possible? Yes. It will cost you more than $1000-1600 to do a transplant. The 325s were beefed up a bit to handle the extra power the 325s had.

And that is not a Frankenstein car....an E30 with a E36 M3 Euro 3.2 is a Frankenstien car.

[StoneSV]

Haha, agreed. Now that you mention that extra beefiness with the 325, would it be a problem to put an (E30) 325 motor in a 1985 318i? (without having to alter the car in any way other than the direct engine swap.) That was kind of my original idea...

[Bruce]

The 318 has a smaller diff and tranny. You would benefit from using the whole drivertrain of the 325. But, it would make the most sense to find a good 325.