E46 M62 4L V8 transplant

[JacquesCI]

Hi All out there

I have spent the last year rebuilding a e46 323ci. I must say that is was not nearly as cheap as I hoped it to be as I bought it from a bank repo auction and did not know half of the problems it had (Bought as a non runner). Well it looks great now but with the standard M52tuB25 motor the performance is not matching the looks of the vehicle and I would like to do something about that. I have read through hundreds of threads on different sites and it would seem that everyone has the same thing to say when the author start talking about installing a v8 motor in a e46 body.

I would like to right form the get go state that I am not interested in a e36 m3 which makes similar power nor would I like to install a turbo or super charger on the M52 motor as both of these options will cost the same if not more that transplanting a v8 motor into the car.

What I am looking for is someone with real experience and that has done a mod like this before or at least know how to do it. I am also looking for a accident damaged donor bmw 540i that is for sale or someone that can assist me with the needed parts.

I will post photos of the car a bit later.

 

[Pho3niX90]

Try to introduce yourself first.

Also, there are some sites that sell these v8 as I also want to take on a similar project, only downside though is that most people selling the engines separately sell them without the ecu or wiring, just engine.

Otherwise go on ebay and check what you can find, goodluck

 

[Nukleuz]

Turbo would be the cheapest option imo.

Good luck finding an engine. If you dont have a core to give them, you are in for a crap load...

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

For an Engine and parts, contact Werner at IPC. They only deal with OEM BMW Parts.

his details are -- 011 840 6960

Ask for Werner and if they don't have what you want, they will find it. Believe me.

 

[JacquesCI]

Thanks Pho3niX90

Sorry new to this sort of forum.

Short introduction
I have owned many standard bmw's from E30 up to e46's and have always had this idea of one day building the ultimate 3 series. Out of all of them I liked the e46 shape the most hence the reason why I bought this vehicle. I am from Pretoria east.

I have searched all of the web sites and came up with a few where the 540 motors is available, but as you said most of the time it is only the motor. For this reason I would rather go for a complete donor car either being sold as spares or that was in a accident as I will get most of the parts needed included in the sale.

I am also not sure if a 540 motor will bolt onto the 323 gearbox and if the motor will even fit in the engine bay.

I would really like to know what exactly I am letting myself in for before spending the money.

 

[Sankekur]

I have never done this before, and you would probably be hard pressed for find someone in SA that has. I will still give my comments though (do with them what you will)

Anything can be made to fit, if you have enough time or money. Right out of the box the M62 will not fit in the 3 series engine bay, the biggest reason is the subframe and sump. You will either need to modify the sump on the V8 (and fit a custom oil pump), go dry-sump, or move the subframe. You might also have to move things around/modify on top (I am not sure of the issues here)

You will need custom engine mounts and you will have to reinforce the front subframe to handle the bigger engine, you will also need to thing about the front suspension as well.

Best bet for an engine would be to go for a running second had e39 or e39 with the motor in decent nick and the body maybe needing some work (in other words a cheap 540i or 740i) this will ensure that you have everything that is needed, modules, keys, harasses etc. Also look for the earlier models that had the non-vanos M62, one less thing to get going right in the end and the non-vanos V8s tend to be a bit more reliable (you could also look at swapping over a M60, this will lower the initial cost for the donor car as well)

You will need a good understanding of the electronics and wiring of both cars if your intention is to get everything working as it should.

In terms of the gearbox, you current box won't fit the V8 without heavy modification, so you will need the gearbox specifically for a V8, if you go M62 I think you will be best off with the box off an e39 M5, if you go M60 you can use the box off an e34 530i (wide grille) manual (5 speed), the box off an e34 540i 6 speed (the 540iM, 72 where brought to SA) and the e39 M5 box will also work. For both you can also look for the gearbox off the e39 540i 6 speed. You could probably also get the auto box to work. You might also have widen the transmission tunnel as the gearboxes as pretty wide and not sure if they will fit in the e46 tunnel.


So you are letting yourself in for a whole load of trouble and money and it will probably take you a good couple of months to get the car on the road again, unless you get someone to do it for you, then you will probably get bankrupted.


It would probably be the same trouble to fit an S62, S65 or S85, it is just the price of the parts that will differ.........


Oh and welcome from another pta fanatic :=):

 

[moranor@axis]

the 323i gearbox will not take the torque from the v8 anyway so thats a dead end rather get a V8 box...

 

[Fordkoppie]

As Sankekur said - anything can be made to fit with enough money and patience. It has been done before.

.....Borrowed pics from Biofreak's thread......

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Note that this is a S62 engine, but the basic dimensions are the same.

 

[kilrone]

the v8 is a tight fit in the e46 but will fit if money is not an issue and you have really good fabrication skills you should be ok. i personally don't believe you can make it happen for the same money as force feeding what you have. i think your looking at twice the price and ten times the headaches. however i really hope you succeed.

 

[designa]

Back from the dead! Anyone has any info on this car? Soo sleeper.

As Sankekur said - anything can be made to fit with enough money and patience. It has been done before.

.....Borrowed pics from Biofreak's thread......

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Note that this is a S62 engine, but the basic dimensions are the same.

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