looking for 318ti 4 cyl engine

[613bmw]

hey everyone, first post. I just bought my first car and it is a red 1996 318ti with m sport package. i paid 5000, it has 206 000 km on it and it drove great.. for the first 2 weeks before the engine went. anyways i still love this car and although i am discouraged i want to get this baby going again. I dont have much money to work with so I really just want this thing running again i dont want to do performance upgrades right now. Even if i could get a 318 engine dropped in it with 200 000 km on it already that would be fine i just want my car back and running for cheap so if anybody has swapped their 318 engine for an m3 one and have one around... i would really appreciate it if you let me know. I cant spend a lot of money on this but any advice would be appreciated i really would like to have this done under $1500.

[613bmw]

oh and my car's engine right now is a 1.8. i found this http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107677 he lives about 3 hours away from me but i believe this is the 1.9 and i don't know how if that can even be put in my car (without spending a lot of money on labor and parts)

[spidertri]

He says the engine is the M42 which is the 1.8L, the M44 is the 1.9L.

[96cali]

Most likely being a '96 you have the M44 1.9L engine (don't think Canada was any different from the states in that regard but you may want to confirm). The M42 was '92-95, M44 1996-99 so you have 4 modelyears to use. Plus the M44 from a 1.9L Z3 would work too. With all those options you should probably try and look locally, you may even get a warranty from a Salvage yard.

I would also use a Craigslist searcher like Crazedlist. There is someone parting a 1.9 Z3 on the Cincinnati CL now.

[613bmw]

thanks a lot for the reply. you are right i do have the 1.9 m44 I dont know why I previously thought otherwise. Do you know if getting this engine swap done for under 1500 is realistic to hope for? i guess keep in mind i have a few friends who will do the labour for pretty cheap too...

[96cali]

Yes, quite possible. I have seen good motors go for $500-$800. A straight replacement would leave $ for replacing the clutch and other maint. while the engine is out.