Swap Manual Q&A
 

I bought a 95 clubsport 318ti and going to sell my 97 ative 318ti for $4,900
here in san francisco bay area berkeley ca, was that a good idea i miss the zip off the line but i love the clubsport looks so maybe one day i will swap out the motor or should i leave it alone.

Swap Manual Q&A
 

Does this manual come with customer service, e.g. answering follow up detail questions by email, how this or that compare to a 2.8 swap, etc?

Alternative purchase
 

I saw your pix. I think I would rather just buy your car instead. :biggrin:

Good question.

As an owner of my manual, you would be offered not only e-mail support, but phone support as well. This has always been the case since I sold the first copy several years ago.

Of all the manuals I have sold, I have only had questions from two people. When I get this feedback, I try my best to incorporate these details into the new versions of the manual, because I'm not always available right away to help you out.

It is quite comprehensive at this point, but I will continue to improve it as best I can with my own experience as well as the experience of others who have done the swap to make the best swap resource as possible.

I am open to offers.

Hint: It will NOT be cheap...

Sounds good!

I should probably just buy one of these manuals. It seems inevitable...

No rush buddy!

You can save up a few bucks each month and get it in time for Christmas!

After the first of the year, it may remain the same price, and it may not. Paper and other consumeables are not getting asny cheaper, and I don't want to go with the lighter grade, less-bright paper, as it doesn't do the photos justice, and won't hold up as well to the greasy-handed shop environment. I think the text covers it well, but the photos really help when you can see exactly what I'm talking about.

As more pages go into this thing, more paper and toner is required as I'm sure you can imagine. I am OK with this for now, but I think if I exceed 80 pages (which will happen of I add just a few more detail photos) I may have to add a few bucks to the cost.

Still, compared to the other options out there, a real bargin for an engine swap manual, specific to our cars!

J!m... have you considered having your book printed by CafePress or some other similar company??

I have, and it doesn't make any sense.

As soon as I pick up another detail that will make the manual better, I insert it before the next copy is sold, and the manual is updated. I only have the latest version saved- I don't keep the archive of the old versions. The manual itself is also the place I keep all my swap data- I don't have other files with other information- it's all in there!

I should have kept a record of up-dates over the years, but unfortunately, I did not. It is almost twice as many pages now as it was in the first version. Back then, I had not yet done the rear sub-frame up-grade, or sorted out all the details with the front suspension up-grade. That is all in there now, but could be better illustrated through photos.

Therefore, I also plan to do a bit more photography on my car, to help illustrate these details, and I have also considered tearing into the wiring harness to see exactly how the dealer corrected the other minor electrical problems that were addressed on my car. The dealer has to do the EWS/ECU alignment, and if you tell them the other things in the manual that also need to be addressed (which depends on which engine you have), they can do it (usually), so for now, it is working fine.

I also know exactly how to by-pass the EWS system to eliminate the need for the dealer, but I will not publish that at this time so there is not a sudden rash of stolen E36's out there... Possibly later I will add this information, as I have to check what my liability might be with my attorney before I do.

I'd love to do a PDF version, as you can then jump to the section you want from the index (the manual is fully indexed, by the way) and you could get it as fast as you send PayPal, but there are so many boot-leg EVERYTHINGS on eBay, and I don't want all my years of hard work to go out the window.

By the way, with all the copies I have sold, I still have not scratched the surface of my initial costs to do this job... The sales numbers are not there to justify a conventional publishing house for this right now. I am not getting rich selling a manual every few months on average.

I have given some thought to a password-protected web site for swap manual owners to have access to the latest info, as well as be able to add additional info which could then make its way into the latest manual versions for others. Every copy of my manual is serialized, so this could be coupled to a password and bingo, I have a secure site with access traceability to swap manual owners only. Here's the rub: this all costs money, and it would not be fair to ask an owner of the manual to then cough-up more money to be a web member as well. I have to see if I can work around this somehow... Maybe a Yahoo Groups thing or something so there is no up-front costs. I don't know how well I can lock that down, however. I had also considered a non-secure section for those who have swapped without my manual, or did the Chevy V8 swap or whatever (they would not have access to the secure section) and a photo section- show off your swapped cars, and have a permanent photo record of all the swapped cars out there. Lots of possibilities...

I just recieved my copy today and this book is awsome! I was worried it may come in black and white but this booklet is in color! The documentation is very well layout. You guys should get it just for reference! Thanks again Jim!

Well, Jay, it's up to you.

At this point in time, the swapped ti is NOT a replacement for the M3, as a used M3 can be had for less than a used ti.

As I did, you have to do the swap for the love of the car, not to save a few bucks off the price of an M3, and CERTAINLY not to try and re-sell the car for a profit. That trick never works with most cars, and not these in particular.

So, I cannot answer your question for you. I can say that the $4,900.00 you get for your second ti will quickly be consumed doing a swap, and I'd like to add that I think it is a shame to convert a real ClubSport ti with so many 1996+ sport models out there. If my car was a 1995 ClubSport, I would not have done the swap- I would have waited and got a second car to swap...

Thanks for the praise, Thanh.

I do my best! If you see anything that needs to be adressed or made more clear, just let me know and I'll take care of it.

Best of luck with your project!

qft

i'll be buying the manual... soon.

-

since it's fairly comprehensive atp, would you ever consider doing a small groupbuy for custom-made manuals in hardcover? i'll lay it out for ya. i'd be down for a very limited first edition copy.

Every manual is unique in that they are all serialized to a single owner.

In other words, limited edition of one copy for each one.

Hardcover will be too expensive, particularly in such low quantities.

If I ever get it to the point where I feel it's "finished", perhaps then I could consider a final version suitable for publication. I keep adding more information as I collect it...

As I mentioned before, I have not sold all that many copies as it is, so I imagine I'd end up with 490 hard-cover books rotting in boxes in my basement in 20 years...

I'm a proud new owner of a 96 318ti and I am extremely interested in an M3 swap. Does this manual cover the actual labor? Does this manual work for a large number year models of the M3? Are there any other options as far as engines? Like a 323 or 325?
Thanks

323, 325, 328, and M3 are basicly the same labor. I'm doing my 328Ti swap right now and it's pretty stright foward.

Phamster nailed it.

The labor is the same for any six swap, just the fine details will be different (and not much).

If you decide to do the swap, try to find a 1996-99 M3 for a donor car, as they are all OBD-II and therefore more compatible with one another.

In any OBD-II swap, the dealer is required for the EWS/DME alignment- no way around that (legally)...

Also, if you are in some states (CA and ME I think and maybe others) the engine (if replaced) has to be newer or the same year as the car, older is illegal...

Thanks very much for the tips, I greatly appreciate it.I know I'll be back with more questions later. Once again, thanks

i'm doing an s50 into a 99/obd2, is this covered in your manual as well?

Hello Timpy, and thanks for the interest.

For your swap, I suggest converting to OBD-I in the car, as the engine and ECU you will use are both OBD-I.

This will make the swap easier for you as well. (No dealer needed)

The manual will be a huge help to you, and once you have it, I am available for technical assistance to you, as is every swap manual owner.

PS order before the first of the year, as I have to increase the price as I feared I might...

A quick note an apology to everyone wo has PM'd me in the lst few months.

For some reason, I have not ben getting e-mail notification that I have a new private message as I was getting in the past.

I will speak to Steve about this, but to be sure I get the message, please use jim[dot]leach[at]sulzer[dot]com if you don't hear back in a reasonable time frame from a PM to me.

Thanks, and sorry to those who have been waiting for my replies!!!

To everyone:

As I feared, I am going to raise my price slightly, beginning Saturday, January 5.

So, if you have been waiting, spend all that Christmas gift money you got and send payment by Friday!

The price increase is slight (Going up to $65.00 USD shipped- so still quite cheap) but I wanted to let everyone know the score, and have a chance to order.

I received one inquiry already, and thought I would give everyone a 'last chance' to order at last year's price.

Thanks to everyone who has already ordered, and Happy New Year!

332ti Suspension
 

Really quick question here. My 332Ti is currently on Ti specific H&R Sport springs and Bilsteins Sport shocks. This as you can imagine is not good. The rear end squats quite a bit. Can I get M-coupe suspension all around or just the rear? Will I then need M3 front suspension if being only able to use M-Coupe rear?

Thanks,
Eddie

I recommend the M3 front and M Coupe rear set up.

Use the Bilstein sport shocks/struts; the ti ones are too soft and adding to your rear end dive under acceleration.

I actually use the Euro M3 front springs and M Roadster rear springs with Bilstein sport struts/shocks. Rear sway is from the M Coupe and front is the US M3 part...

Excellent. Thanks.

For the sake of saving money and making things easier on myself, could I just get the full Mcoupe setup though?

Does anyone know a ballpark estimate on the cost of the full swap?

Yes, that should work fine; certainly for the short term.

Spring rates may differ on the M coupe versus the M3 Sedan; check part number on realoem.com to confirm. (different number is a different rate)

No, as it depends on so many factors, including what you consider a "full swap"

Full swap to me is:

• rear subframe complete
• front suspension complete [these include M brakes in both front and rear of course]
• drive shaft
• transmission [plus M3 slave cylinder and clutch]
• full engine assembly with cooling changes etc. to meet the M3 spec. (all detailed in my manual of course)

Some corners can be cut here and there; however in my experience, this adds time, which is not free (unless you are unemployed). Such as the diff, which can be assembled from junkyard parts from several mdels of unknown origin and mileage. False economy when you assemble it and find out it has a bearing whine and has to be pulled apart again don't you think?

Where exactly you get your parts, and their condition has a greater impact on the final cost I find. If you get a complete, rear-ended (or t-boned) M3, this can reduce the cost for M3 drive train parts over individual purchase.

Similarly, for the M roadster (or coupe) rear sub frame if hit in the front and without an engine, the rear sub frame can be much cheaper this way versus buying parts. Be wary of side-hit roadsters as the sub frame can get twisted...

This is NOT a cheap swap. In fact, these days it is much cheaper to buy an E36 M3 and drive it, doing the needed maintanance and nothing more. Gut the interior out, along with sound deadening an have fun with it.

A ti swap IS NOT a "cheap M3"; quite the contrary I'm afraid...

Jim, how many hours do you think a shop should charge for a swap if you add in auto->manual as well?

Dependant on skill level, I would expect a shop to charge 40 hours for a full swap; possibly more if an auto to manual conversion is also done.

Ball park...

Hello everyone!

Yet another re-vamp of the manual has taken place over the last week.

I have added some info on the 6-speed options available out there as well as details concerning dealing with the secondary air pump (and still passing emisions).

The page count is now up to 87 pages!!! I may make 100 before I'm done...

I am holding the cost where it is too. I will continue to do so as long as posible. I have a new printer, so the per page cost is slightly less, but quality is the same.:wink:

So, step right up and order yours today! Even if you don't do a swap, it is a fun to read document, and there is a ton of useful information in there on the ti in particular.

Thanks, and have a safe holiday!

If anyone needs EWS alignment that does a swap near NJ, I might be able to help out...

info on how to order?

This tells you everything you need I think...

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12912

If you need more info (or want to see the car- I notice you are in CT) let me know.

damn obd2 :( any obd1 info in it?

i'm certainly down for a mini meet at some point. i'm dead center between waterbury and hartford off 84

There is OBD-I infor in there, but honestly, that is the easy way to do it (and the ONLY way it was done before I did mine).

I feel sorry for those who have done the OBD-I conversion (from OBD-II) who now have to go through emissions...

My Sister's house is in Enfield, and my Girlfriend is in Hamden. I work on Long Island during the week, so a meet in Hamden/Hartford/somewhere else might be a good idea for sure. The car is in Enfield right now (hybernating for the winter) but it is available for viewing, if you want to check my swap work...

There is a Ct BMWCCA meeting/dinner coming up, that my Girlfriend and I will be attending. If you are not a CCA member, join! Then sign up for the dinner. It is$30.00 and totally worth it! We went last year and I came home with a ride-on Z3 (for my niece) as a door prize... There are always tons of great stuf there!:wink: Let me know if interested, and I'll e-mail you the info.

i actually just joined. not sure when i'll be an official member or not. haven't heard anything. If i hear something, i'll let you know if i'll be going ot the banquet. kinda weird showing up knowing no body.

i'd like to go for a ride in the car more than anything... see if it's 'all that' and worth my $$$.

Weather is crappy, so it's probably not going to be any time soon.

Well...

Way back, about 6-8 years ago, I went for a ride in the 97 ti swapped (to OBD-I) by UUC.

After that ride, I was sold. No Downing Atlanta optin ever entered my mind again after that ride.

Your results may vary, but it sure is nice.

"There is no replcement for displacement" -Carol Shelby