Gathering info for a S54 swap

I am gathering Information for this complex swap and I will be doing this withing a year or two all im missing is $$$$ and im currently saving for this. Well here is a list for what I have gathered.

S54 Engine Swap
- Engine $4,000.00
- VAC - S54 / S50B32 Euro / M54, Exhaust Air Valve Block Off Plate (for EGR delete)
- E46 M3 fuel pressure regulator
- ECU non smg
- Wiring harness
- ECU Tuning
- VAC 24v Conversion brake booster
- UUC Evo3 Shifter
- UUC clutch line
- E36 318i/325i clutch slave cylinder
- UUC's red E36 M3 transmission mounts with enforcer cups
- E36 M3 Transmission (zf)
- S54 Z3 Clutch
- E46 M3 Fuel pump
- VAC - S54 Performance Coated Rod Bearing Set
- Arrow Precision - S54 Con Rod, 139mm
- E30 M3 Interment cluster
- E36 M3 Mishimoto Radiator
- Stuart Performance Water pump
- E46 M3 Pedal
- E36 Engine arms mounts
- E28 Engine mounts

The suspension, Z3 steering rack and a 5-lug conversion will have already been taken care of.

if money is short, don't even consider an s54 swap. on top of the high engine cost, you are looking at over $1000 for just the harness to run the swap. that's not including the thousands you will spend on the parts.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

if money is short, don't even consider an s54 swap. on top of the high engine cost, you are looking at over $1000 for just the harness to run the swap. that's not including the thousands you will spend on the parts.

thats why im saving and researching im going to do this within a year or two depending on what i have saved

the harness will cost me 400 not a grand

Originally Posted by Titan_Omega

thats why im saving and researching im going to do this within a year or two depending on what i have saved

the harness will cost me 400 not a grand

how exactly do you plan to make an s54 to e30 harness for $400 ?

do you realize the harnesses can't just be cut and mated like a regular 24v swap ?

Originally Posted by fcsteve

how exactly do you plan to make an s54 to e30 harness for $400 ?

do you realize the harnesses can't just be cut and mated like a regular 24v swap ?

Yes that i know there is a gentleman who is helping me with the wiring on the S54 to E30. I already know this isnt an easy thing. And one of the hardest parts of the swap is the wiring.

What im needing isnt how hard is this swap but what parts am i missing. I am a vary patient man and am willing to learn all of the specifics of the swap i will be reading and rereading everything before i even swap the engine.

professional shops even have a hard time with the harness part of the swap, that's why the pre-modded harnesses cost over $1500. how much expierence does this "gentleman" have with s54 to e30 swaps ?

your list of parts looks relatively complete. it's the wiring/harness where most people get stopped.

Originally Posted by fcsteve

professional shops even have a hard time with the harness part of the swap, that's why the pre-modded harnesses cost over $1500. how much expierence does this "gentleman" have with s54 to e30 swaps ?

your list of parts looks relatively complete. it's the wiring/harness where most people get stopped.

ah okay cool thanks. And the one whos going to help me has done over 10 swaps S5X. He did a S54 swap into his E30 M3 so he knows his stuff. And i must correct myself the wiring harness I would get would cost me $500.00

If the wiring harness is this cheap, he should consider marketing it !

IIRC, the wiring harness needs to account for the EWS delete, drive-by-wire, and whatever else the E46 cluster entailed.

Why are you getting:
- VAC - S54 Performance Coated Rod Bearing Set
- Arrow Precision - S54 Con Rod, 139mm
- E30 M3 dash cluster?

Just a tip, when you are doing research, dont focus solely on the swap side of things. The S54 motor has quite a few issues in it self, the one that jumps to mind being the vanos bolts. Just google it and you will read about the catistrophic failure that can result.

I would advise against the S54 swap and go with the more common S50 swap but get a euro spec with the ITBs etc not the USA M50 spec one. they are a MUCH more bullet proof engine and produce very similar power levels for the same money spent.

Also, although i dont have direct experience with the drivebywire system in the S54, i have it in my V12 E34 and dislike it. If it wasnt for the space constraints i have for that particular conversion, i would retrofit a cable throttle. In your case however, this should be a much easier possibility, and well worth doing. some say an electric throttle has better responce, but i think a cable throttle is better personally, and just one less thing to go wrong on a swapped car. if you decide to keep the die by wire system, you will have to make a custom built pedal box to fit the sensor/servo setup from the doner E46

Getting back on track with the S54 swap though, if you get stuck you can join bimmersport.co.nz, there are several regular members with euro spec S50 and S54 E30 conversions.

I strongly agree with Ethrty as far as FBW is concerned.
I like it, because I can control it ! But if you do not have the software skills, rather go with a cable.
WOT is there when you want it & not when the ECU decides that you can have it