CJ's Engine Swap Thread

As most of you know, my 325i was wrecked in an accident and the frame is very bent. Since I am on a tight budget, I plan on buying another e36 with a bad engine and swapping mine into it, which should be cheaper (and more fun) than buying a working car. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go through with this, but this is my first time and I'll probably have a lot of questions, so I've made a thread for them.

Here are some questions that I have already:

First, does anybody have a link to a complete DIY for swapping the engine out? I will most likely be swapping it into another OBDI car, either a 318, or 325.

I'm hoping to swap my engine into a 5-speed, but my car has an auto. Are there any extra steps that I would have to take with this?

Would I need to swap out the cooling system if I put my engine into a 318?

Lastly, what kind of tools would I need to complete the swap? I have a lot of basic tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.), and I will probably be borrowing an engine lift. Is there anything special that I would need?

Thanks a lot in advance.

I'm hoping to swap my engine into a 5-speed, but my car has an auto. Are there any extra steps that I would have to take with this? Just don't try to hook up you automatic tranny computer to the new 5 speed.


Would I need to swap out the cooling system if I put my engine into a 318? Most definitely.


Lastly, what kind of tools would I need to complete the swap? I have a lot of basic tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.), and I will probably be borrowing an engine lift. Is there anything special that I would need? As far as I know since you're not going inside the engine you really only need a good socket set, torque wrench, breaker bar, box end wrenches, screw drivers, and an engine hoist (unless you are a gnarly beast of a man)

Edit, didn't notice you said the engine hoist was taken care of.

I <3 these threads.

I used a John Deer tractor when I pulled the motor out of my buddies Prelube lol.

First of all you better have a plan and stick too it.
If you do plan to do a 5spd do it and plan that out. When the engine is out is the time to do this. That is when you would install the transmission, clutch, pedal swap, slave cylinder and on and on.
Go to bimmerforums.com and the E36 section. Just look for auto to manual swap. It is about 150 pages and contains all the answers for this this swap.

OBDI is better since you are OBDI. Also yes you do keep your stock DME and have it reflashed by the dealer when you are all done. This is all contained in the swap thread.

Also you need help, this is not something you can do yourself when pulling the engine and such. Most of it you can do yourself but a good deal of it will require some help.

I suggest if you do this to mark the hood hardware and pull the hood off so you can get a lift in where you need it and take the transmissiion out with the engine.

Like I said all this and more is already covered with all the mistakes corrected in that other thread.

Hope this helps some...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=79886

Okay, thanks guys.

fun2drive: I'm not sure if I was clear, but what I meant was to put my engine into a car that already has a manual. I was just wondering if I would need to do anything because of that.

just unbolt the torqueconverter and put that clutch in!!! and flywheell...

I'm excited to see where this thread goes. I know it will probably be slow-going, since you're on such a tight budget, but it should be fun to watch as you accumulate parts, etc. Do you have a garage to do the work in?

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

I'm excited to see where this thread goes. I know it will probably be slow-going, since you're on such a tight budget, but it should be fun to watch as you accumulate parts, etc. Do you have a garage to do the work in?

Yeah, I'm lucky to have a double garage that will be housing the two cars during the swap

My parents find it easier to park their cars in front of the front door.

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to buy too many parts after getting a donor car, though. What kind of parts did you have in mind that I would need?

Put the car on jack-stands in the highest position that you can get them into before you start working. Trust me, your back will thank me.

Well, I have some more specific questions now that I know exactly the type of car I will be working on. It is a 1995 318is 5spd.

The car comes with the 3.45 differential according to THIS. Would I be better off swapping in the 3.91 LSD from my 325i, or would that be too high of a ratio?

Also, I'm still looking for a DIY that contains all of the information on taking out the engine. I want to know where all the hoses, wires, etc. are. Or would I not even have to worry about that since I will be putting the m50 in with the harness still attached?

your MPG will be better with the 3.45 I have about that ratio in my e30 and its fun
also im hoping that you realize the 5peed in the 318 isnt going to bolt to the m50... you need to source a good ZF trans (that should be easy enough) and you will need a flywheel and go ahead and buy a brand new clutch, pressure-plate and throwout bearing AND new slave cylinder

Originally Posted by noexceptions325

your MPG will be better with the 3.45 I have about that ratio in my e30 and its fun
also im hoping that you realize the 5peed in the 318 isnt going to bolt to the m50... you need to source a good ZF trans (that should be easy enough) and you will need a flywheel and go ahead and buy a brand new clutch, pressure-plate and throwout bearing AND new slave cylinder

I thought it was gonna work. Damn. I guess I'll have to fix the m42 in there until I have the money to buy all that stuff to drop in the m50.

Originally Posted by noexceptions325

your MPG will be better with the 3.45 I have about that ratio in my e30 and its fun
also im hoping that you realize the 5peed in the 318 isnt going to bolt to the m50... you need to source a good ZF trans (that should be easy enough) and you will need a flywheel and go ahead and buy a brand new clutch, pressure-plate and throwout bearing AND new slave cylinder

I believe the trans will work, it just needs a different driveshaft...

Originally Posted by Moeman10

I believe the trans will work, it just needs a different driveshaft...

What kind of driveshaft? Will the one from my 325i work?

Does anybody know for sure if it is possible to use the m50 with the 318 transmission? I need to know soon, it's not to late to cancel my purchase of the car.

It will work, 325s and 318s both got the Getrag transmissions, it would be better if you could find aZF tranny from a 328 or M3, but the Getrag will hold you till you do some serious modding to the engine.

Originally Posted by miles_trail

It will work, 325s and 318s both got the Getrag transmissions, it would be better if you could find aZF tranny from a 328 or M3, but the Getrag will hold you till you do some serious modding to the engine.

OK, great. That's what I was hoping.

I also don't see why you would have to mess with the drive shaft since you're just bolting a new engine to the front of the tranny. I think maybe people were thinking you were changing an automatic car to manual, instead of just puting an engine out of an automatic into a car that's already got a manual tranny .

P.S. Is this thing going to be good to go by Bimmerfest East?. I wanna see it once it's done.

Originally Posted by miles_trail

I also don't see why you would have to mess with the drive shaft since you're just bolting a new engine to the front of the tranny. I think maybe people were thinking you were changing an automatic car to manual, instead of just puting an engine out of an automatic into a car that's already got a manual tranny .

Yeah, could be.

Originally Posted by miles_trail

P.S. Is this thing going to be good to go by Bimmerfest East?. I wanna see it once it's done.

I sure hope so. I want to get it done in less than a month. I really can't wait to get into another bimmer.

Yeah, the Getrag manual transmission came in the 318 and 325, so it should be totally compatible. And since you won't be changing the position of your transmission, you won't need a new drive shaft, either. Just bolt in the M50 and go. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty certain there won't be any compatibility issues with the tranny or drive shaft. The ZF tranny only came on 328s and M3s.

Regarding the differential ratios, the 3.91 LSD in your 325 will be crazy high with a manual transmission. You aren't going to like it at all. Keep the 3.45 (which is already pretty high) in the donor car. Keep in mind that M3s came with 3.15 and 3.23 diffs (although they do have more power).

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Yeah, the Getrag manual transmission came in the 318 and 325, so it should be totally compatible. And since you won't be changing the position of your transmission, you won't need a new drive shaft, either. Just bolt in the M50 and go. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty certain there won't be any compatibility issues with the tranny or drive shaft. The ZF tranny only came on 328s and M3s.

Regarding the differential ratios, the 3.91 LSD in your 325 will be crazy high with a manual transmission. You aren't going to like it at all. Keep the 3.45 (which is already pretty high) in the donor car. Keep in mind that M3s came with 3.15 and 3.23 diffs (although they do have more power).

Alright, cool. I wouldn't have the money for a new transmission, so that's definitely good news.

About the diff, I was thinking I might sell both of them and have enough money to buy an M3 LSD.

I have another question about the swap, though. What parts of the cooling system would need to be replaced. The thermostat and water pump, will still be attached to the m50, and I would need new radiator hoses, but would I definitely need to change the radiator? If I can save 150 or so by not buying a new radiator, that would really help get this project done quicker.

Also, I've heard that it is easier to take the engine out with the transmission still on it, but the bently manual says to take them out separately. Which way do you guys recommend?

Originally Posted by cj.surr

About the diff, I was thinking I might sell both of them and have enough money to buy an M3 LSD.

Not a bad idea at all. The only downside is that it will take longer to sell your current diffs and will slow the project down. You'll also need to make sure that whatever new diff you get has the correct flanges (six vs. four bolts).

Originally Posted by cj.surr

What parts of the cooling system would need to be replaced. The thermostat and water pump, will still be attached to the m50, and I would need new radiator hoses, but would I definitely need to change the radiator? If I can save 150 or so by not buying a new radiator, that would really help get this project done quicker.

You'll need a 6-cylinder radiator, core support, expansion tank, hoses, shroud, and fan (assuming you damaged all of that stuff in your accident). You definitely need to upgrade to 6-cylinder cooling system.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

You'll need a 6-cylinder radiator, core support, expansion tank, hoses, shroud, and fan (assuming you damaged all of that stuff in your accident). You definitely need to upgrade to 6-cylinder cooling system.

OK, most of that stuff is damaged, so I'll have to buy it. Except I was planning on doing a fan delete, so I won't have to buy a new fan. Also, I don't think there will be as much room in front of the engine, right? Will that all bolt on to the radiator support in the 318?