» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 429,836 Views | | | | | | | 06-11-2008, 12:25 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | zboot's 328ti Project - A couple years early So, I've bought a m52 2.8L from a 97 328is along with it's ECU and EWS module. Unfortunately, the keys to this vehicle are likely lost so I'll have to be towed to a dealer for realignment later (AAA Plus FTW). This all started with my engine going kaput on a trip to upstate NY to buy parts from Rendoll so I could finally fix up my rear end. I still made it up there and got those parts. Anyway, a swap was in the future of my car, just did not expect it to be so early. So, I realized today that there is a major component I did not have - namely a 6cyl exhaust. This is a problem because I'm pretty much broke for the next 3 weeks . . . there are options. . .but I don't like them and neither would you. I'm likely going to be bugging some of you guys with questions about stuff, so why don't I start now. I've found a complete 96' 328is exhaust system for $250 + shipping. We've not firmed up the deal, so there is slight wiggle room in negotiation on price or extras. Anyway, aside from the exhaust pieces themselves (cat + muffler), what else do I need from that car exhaust-wise? o2 sensors? connectors? Also, from talking to the guy w/ the exhaust, I'm going to have to shorten it. About how much should I expect to pay for someone to weld together the pieces I cut? (I may just end up doing this myself. . .) Now, I've got all the engine accessories + wiring harness and plan on using the 318ti radiator. Are there any other miscellaneous engine stuff that I may need or is the engine part just a bolt up and wire down? This weekend will mainly be taking apart the front end of the car, removing the tranny, disconnecting engine stuff, fixing my window regulator, fixing the cheapo m3 replica bumper cover, and attempting to fix up the nose panel. Pictures should be up of the initial stuff Sunday | | | 06-11-2008, 12:30 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | well what about a junk yard they may want a lot less for a 6 cyl exhaust from a bmw than the 250 plus shipping of a long exhaust. __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 06-11-2008, 01:11 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 | Regular e36 mufflers are HUGE and dustin and I had troubles trying to get his on his car due to size. Just Y pipe the exhaust into a 2.5" exhaust after the cats and into an autozone muffler. Yes you need the o2 sensors, all 4 of them. Get rid of the bracket that holds the m44 powersteering resevoir to the chassis. CUT IT OFF THE CAR! __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone 1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | 06-11-2008, 04:16 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | Quote: Originally Posted by Bluebimma Regular e36 mufflers are HUGE and dustin and I had troubles trying to get his on his car due to size. Get rid of the bracket that holds the m44 powersteering resevoir to the chassis. CUT IT OFF THE CAR! | I've got a dinan exhaust already on my ti - can i use that or will it be taking up too much space as well? About the PS resevoir, does the m52 has its own on the engine or would I be relocating the 318ti one elsewhere? Quote: Originally Posted by Philly i don't think id re-use the Ti radiator for starters... | I don't really have too much of a choice right now. In a couple months, I'd have enough cash that I could switch to a 6cyl if the 318ti one doesn't seem to be cutting it. | | | 06-11-2008, 02:57 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | i don't think id re-use the Ti radiator for starters... like blue said, get rid of the PS bracket and coilpack brackets before you put the new motor in... they won't get in the way of the motor, but make it a PITA when working around anything in that area. Im assuming the motor still has the headers attached, so those 2 o2 sensors will likely be intact and still there... you will need the post-cat o2 sensors, i found some good used ones on ebay for $50 shipped, and the motor should already have the connector for the engine side as part of wiring. if you didn't read the reply in my swap thread for your question, i say go have a gander at it. IMO, if your going to do it, do it right and go all the way. I wouldn't be taking shortcuts like running like 4cyl radiator and such. anyways though, congrats on the swap! its going to be fun i promise! - you'll probably have yours running before me ... lol __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 06-11-2008, 03:09 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | plenty of people have used the 318 radiator including tony and i think dustin. so not to huge of a worry there __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 06-11-2008, 01:00 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 | Yea, dustin and i both used the m44 radiator. I now have the 6cyl radiator installed. If you have a Dinan catback, you can have your midpipes fabbed up to that if you wanted. The ps bracket is where the 6cyl alternator will sit so it has to go no mater what. The 6cyl ps resevoir should sit right behind the alternator or something like that. I dont have PS so someone else needs to help you there. __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone 1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | 06-11-2008, 02:14 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 | what about selling the dinan exhaust to help fund for the 6cyl exhaust im sure someone here would pick it up __________________ -Josh Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz | | | 06-11-2008, 04:25 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | Still need some advice on the PS thing though I suppose worst case, I'll start to learn about all the stuff I'm missing or need when I'm putting the motor in. I'm feeling much better because while looking over a calendar and my monthly budget, I realized that I forgot to include a second paycheck for this month! So, I'm not quite as broke as I thought (or at least in a week, I won't be). So, perhaps I can still be on track to finish by July. | | | 06-11-2008, 04:49 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | the PS res mounts on the drivers side motor mount bracket, behind the alternator. What motor is Dustin running the M44 radiator with? I thought he had a DASC on his Ti and then bought the M3??? As far as the exhaust, you can just do a custom Y-pipe to your stocker like blue said. Thats what I did with my stromung, but I had to chop into the pretty stainless pipe by about 6-7 inches to make it work with the 6cyl centersection __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 06-18-2008, 02:01 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | Quote: Originally Posted by Philly the PS res mounts on the drivers side motor mount bracket, behind the alternator. | So I can use the 318ti PS res? | | | 06-18-2008, 05:00 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newcastle UK !BMW TECH! Posts: 110 | Possibly but it sits in a different place altogether so you would have to change the pipes anyway. Easier to get a complete setup off a 6 pot. Dont forget, you need the 6cyl high pressure power steering lines too! | | | 06-18-2008, 05:36 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | Quote: Originally Posted by M4YTY Possibly but it sits in a different place altogether so you would have to change the pipes anyway. Easier to get a complete setup off a 6 pot. Dont forget, you need the 6cyl high pressure power steering lines too! | I guess I'll learn what's needed as I go along. I'll need to find some pics of the PS res in a 328 so I have a better idea of what's going on. I may be running w/o power steering for a while. But hey, that works the muscles right? Though I may have figured it out. Looking at realoem, I see that there is a power steering bracket thing that is secured to the reservoir like a hose clamp. So, I'll probably just buy one of those and use the 318ti reservoir. | | | 06-18-2008, 09:33 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | The PS reseviors are the same I believe, they just are located in different places. Unbolt it from the frame (stock TI location) and it bolts back up to the drivers side motor mount under the intake. There are two holes there, you'll see them. If you can get ahold of all the ps lines from a 6-cyl, any 6-cyl you'll be golden, however I did use the 4-cyl lines when I did my 325ti swap. I wouldn't recomend it and I used 6-cyl lines on the 332ti. They are worlds cleaner. Let me know if you have questions, I've done this twice now.... pretty familiar.. Good Luck __________________ SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs | | | 06-12-2008, 12:53 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | Question: Are M3 front brakes ok if I stick to the stock rears? Also, would I need to upgrade brake lines? | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |