E36 318i conversion to 325i???

[Sammo]

Afternoon,

Seeing as nobody is interested in buying my 318i I figured I might as well hang on to it. However if I am keeping hold then I really need to do something about the distinct lack of oooomph it has! How BMW got away with selling an estate car in 1999 with 115bhp is beyond me but sometimes it just feels dangerous.

Anyway I was thinking either a 325 or 328 engine would do the job but as this is a 4 cylinder car it's not as easy and just changing the engine and ECU over. Can anyone shed some light on what needs to be changed? Does the fact the car is one of the last E36's make any difference? It has ABS and traction control. Can this be kept?

Help would be appreciated

Cheers,

Sammo

[DanMateX]

you'll need part of the prop and exhaust

what year is your 36?

be worth keeping your gearbox and diff for shorter ratios and better accleleration

[Sammo]

It's a 1999 E36 318i Touring. It's an auto so the gearbox and diff will be going in the bin in favour of a manual setup.

[kevralpina]

It's much easier to do a 318 is conversion I have converted a couple of 318 tourings to is power totally transforms the car ideally get a complete. 318is coupe or compact ti then swap all the bits over literally plug and play and 143 by loads of torque better handling than a six

[bmw2101]

i have done 316-318 m42 and m44s in my compact, the engine loom is on a big multi plug, the engine part has the brain and everything so tis plug and play.

BUT make sure you get the right brain, EWS box, adn the chip out of the key or it wont start.

[Sammo]

Funnily enough I was looking at the 318is engine specs last night. It could be a much easier solution to this problem. Better have a look on eBay for engines.

[welshpug]

no more difficult to fit the 2.5 than a 1.8, get a complete donor and you'll have all the bits you need.

Don't discount the 2.8 either.

[Sammo]

I have been looking around for donor cars and they are still pretty strong money for 325/328 anyway. The only reason I am considering this is because I can't sell the car but at the same time can't keep driving it with the horrible engine that's in it.

[bmw2101]

you should be able to get a e36 m44 for £150 atm, thats with the loom etc, a 328 motor for around £300...

[joem83]

If you get the right 318is/ti you should get a free engine if it has a couple of nice parts on it.
The M42/M44 both get great mpg (35mpg @ 80) & are quick enough to be fun, M42 can take a *supercharger on standard management* & should see about 200bhp.

*From what I have read in the past.

Something like this = free/profit engine - at least £400 worth of nice parts to sell straight on.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-318-IS-COUPE-BLUE-M-SPORT-M3-/281468247152?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4188d09c70

That said, the sport bumpers will fit straight on a touring

[Sammo]

Oct 15, 2014 22:30:11 GMT joem83 said:

M42 can take a *supercharger on standard management* & should see about 200bhp.

I like the sound of this! Hmmm I may have to do a little more research.