Project E46

netercol

New member
hi guys & gals,

i have this standing around, presently in storage at a buddy's yard.. after taking her out of her parking space and giving her a wash (first in about a year :mmm: ) ,i decided that the time has come for her to join the world again..(its 100% complete, except for an engine, was a 320d)

mags.jpg


so now the search begins, what do i slot in front? thought about a lexus v8, but fitting a toyota motor to a beemer just doesnt feel right.. :)

anybody know of a written off 540 perhaps?
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
I do know of a M70 with all the computer boxes....

As for the 540's... I know of 2 at autofever, but Lionel is going to ass rape you...
 

netercol

New member
eish, somehow dont think the m70 would fit, though it would be unique.. as for lionel, ill stand with my back to the wall .. :) where is autofever LZ?
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
Autofever is in Selby, JHB CBD.

The M70 is at electron scrapyard.

IF you want, you can go scrapyard trawling with me next saturday, I have 3 that i usually visit and go every second weekend :)
 

328ii

New member
Anything bigger would be better as

*** there is no replacement for displacement ***

so 540 or Lexus is good - it is your car, after all

what would you do for an dme/ecu..?

Excellent project - lexus will be interesting
 

netercol

New member
@ leonard, thanx mate, i might take you up on that, will let you know :)

@ 328ii , thats why i am hoping to find a written off 540i as a donor car, all the harnesses , ecu's ect. in a neat package then.

although i have come to realize with a bit of googling that the manual 540i was extremely scarce.. :bawling:
 

veridico

///Member
Get a V12, V8 is so common these days.

M70 engine actually fits in easier into the e46 than the M62. Your e46 can take an engine 6 cylinders deep, so the length isnt an issue. The M70 is a 60 degree V, where as the M62 is a 90 degree V, making the M62 a wider engine, and more of a mission to fit.
 

Gizmo

Banned
Install a 328i motor with a turbo, it will be by far the best Rand-per-kilowatt conversion you can do. Japan auto trading sell those 328i motors dime-a-dozen, find a tried/tested turbo setup on bimmerforums, build your own turbo motor and away you go.
 

Gizmo

Banned
Oh yeah, easier to swap in a 6cyl engine when the engine bay was designed for it in the first place. No custom fabrication needed keeps the costs down and you have a host of different 5 and 6spd boxes to choose from, that can't be said for any v8/v12 swaps...
 

netercol

New member
@ hellas, hmm would prefer not to have to overhaul the v8.. thanx anyways

@ gizmo , the 328 turbo is actually not a bad idea, did not even think of that.. yep the plot thickens, gonna look into that idea, thanx!
 

clutchplate

///Member
yeah, I second gizmo here.. 328 engine will be much better option, plus you can get nice HP out of it if you turbo it right.. M70 big mission, M62 even bigger mission.. + cost is not really justified..
 

Gizmo

Banned
Card Counter's 996hp E36 328i turbo from Bimmerforums...

Bmw e30 328i 24v Turbo 685hp/731nm
 
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