 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  09-01-2004, 11:54 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 |  M coupe/Z3 engine weights vs. M3 engine weight?
I can vaguely remember a post here (maybe by J!m) explaining the different HP and weight varieties between the 3.0L Z engine, the 3.2 M Coupe/roadster engine and the M3 engine. Anyone know their stuff and want to impress us?  Is the M coupe engine lighter as I remember? Why? I am musing lately about an engine swap and cannot recall someone swapping in a coupe engine. And then I wonder why seeing as how it is lighter (if I recall correctly). Here is a good rundown of HP per make of Z/M http://www.z3roadster.com/ __________________
My Former Rides
1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies
1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
|  |  | | 09-02-2004, 05:34 PM | #2 | | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 |
The only deviation on engine weight is the Z3 2.8 motor, which had an aluminum block, whereas the other cars 2.8s were cast iron blocks. This meant the Z3 2.8 motor weighs about the same as the 1.9 motor, and therefore an excellent choice for a conversion in the ti. (some accessories will be needed form a standard 2.8 to make it all work in the ti, but basically it's cool). Steve has done this swap I believe...
The M motors are all the same as far as weight goes (+- a couple pounds) as the M roadster (and I presume the M coupe`) use a different A/C compressor and mount casting then the standard M3 coupe` or M3 sedan. All these blocks are cast iron, like the normal 2.8. Battery location may have an impact on weight distribution in these cars, but strict engine weight is the same. | | | | | 09-02-2004, 07:16 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 |
Thanks- that's the info I was looking for. Unfortunately I was hoping it applied to the M series motors. Any info on the aluminum block 2.8 and durability/service issues? __________________
My Former Rides
1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies
1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
| | | | | 09-02-2004, 07:22 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 |
You know I just looked and the 2.8 puts out 193bhp- less than a DASC but I would imagine twice the price (maybe 1.5). IYO J!m what's the advantage of the 2.8? Further tunability? I saw a DASC ti dyno at 196hp last summer. Seems like if your gonna swap, swap big and do a 3.0 or 3.2. __________________
My Former Rides
1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies
1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
| | | | | 09-29-2004, 02:16 PM | #5 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: East Coast Posts: 89 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by 96cali You know I just looked and the 2.8 puts out 193bhp- less than a DASC but I would imagine twice the price (maybe 1.5). IYO J!m what's the advantage of the 2.8? Further tunability? I saw a DASC ti dyno at 196hp last summer. Seems like if your gonna swap, swap big and do a 3.0 or 3.2. | Exactly, I say if you have the money go for the Euro 3.2 motor. IF not get a 3.2 and add Cams, euro intake, and Euro HFM with headers. This will get you above the 300hp mark! If not just add a DASC to your m44 or M42 and call it a day. Motor swaps are not for the weak at heart as something will always come up. I have swapped my motor 3 times now, and nothing has ever went as planned. Although I feel like the latest swap of a 3.2 was a lot easier and well worth it to me as I got a brand new motor and tranny. And I know the car inside out after watching this thing being swapped. | | | | | 09-29-2004, 02:20 PM | #6 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: East Coast Posts: 89 |
One more thing, I think the weight difference between the M44 and the S52 can be made up with the use of a carbon fiber hood, and relocating the battery to the rear hatch as Ben Liaw did in his car at Rouge engineering. The Carbon fiber Hodd will save over 60lbs and the batter was around 50lbs. | | | | | 09-29-2004, 03:51 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by ClubSport332ti Motor swaps are not for the weak at heart as something will always come up. I have swapped my motor 3 times now, and nothing has ever went as planned. | That would be me. I think the only reason I'd swap motors is if my M44 died/got damaged. But if I'm not mistaken the stock Mcoupe/Mroadster motor in it's later years put out 315hp. See link in first post. BTW I've also heard the BMW official hp ratings are conservative. __________________
My Former Rides
1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies
1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
| | | | | 10-14-2004, 12:52 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 528 |
I got to drive the 2.8 L aluminum block Z3...I liked the way the engine felt. I had to drive for a while to get used to the Z handling as opposed to the ti, but after a while I think I got used to it. I want one of those engines in the ti. I don't need the top end of the 3.0 but the 2.8 felt (of course) stronger than the 1.9 m44. That engine was the m52? Any other issues with that engine? Anyone know a rough price range for buying an engine? | | | | | 10-14-2004, 08:21 PM | #9 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 20 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by gooten1 I got to drive the 2.8 L aluminum block Z3...I liked the way the engine felt. I had to drive for a while to get used to the Z handling as opposed to the ti, but after a while I think I got used to it. I want one of those engines in the ti. I don't need the top end of the 3.0 but the 2.8 felt (of course) stronger than the 1.9 m44. That engine was the m52? Any other issues with that engine? Anyone know a rough price range for buying an engine? | I just shelled out $3k for my M54 FYI... | | | | | 10-14-2004, 10:20 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 528 |
Hmm...'bout the same as the DASC. IIIInteresting. | | | | | 10-15-2004, 12:54 AM | #11 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 20 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by gooten1 Hmm...'bout the same as the DASC. IIIInteresting. | Indeed, I was originally just gonna drop a heavy m3 engine into her- but after a few emails and a few hours worth of chat with my local bimmer guru... he posed the idea of the m54 and mentioned he would love to see that in a lighter car. So, I broke out the check book and sent away for the motor  In any event, if anyone cares- I can provide some more in depth photos/write-ups of the M54 experiment. Or else, drop me a line at: volksgtimatt@hotmail.com CHEERS!  __________________
1997 MTechnic 318ti w/Cal Roof
Eibach Sportlines/Bilstein Sports, M3 Brakes, Hartge exhaust, staggered Contours, vaders | | | | | 10-27-2004, 02:04 PM | #12 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 38 |
Once again, J!m is awesome. How much roughly do you think the 5-liter swap would run? I might be interested. I was thinking about doing a SR-20DET conversion, which will be quite the task, but, I would consider the 5-liter swap for sure. I want to do something totally different, hence the reason for the SR-20. Granted, I am not a fan of Jap motors, but this is quite the tank of a 4 banger, especially with a T3/T4 hybrid turbo. But I thought it would be cool to have a completely modified TI like this, BUT, if I could keep it all BMW, that would be the way for me to go. Rough scale, what do you think a 5-liter swap would run me? I am so seriously interested J!m. __________________
1996 318ti. Polyurethane bushings, angel eyes, clear signals, BOMZ racing exhaust, reverse-glo guages, pioneer system, short shifter. | | | | | 10-28-2004, 01:31 AM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 528 |
Lets see the m54, mtec. I want to know what you had to go through to get one, how it went in, your opinion of it, everything. | | | | | 11-03-2004, 06:10 PM | #14 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 20 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by gooten1 Lets see the m54, mtec. I want to know what you had to go through to get one, how it went in, your opinion of it, everything. | I intend to do the swap in the next few weeks, and it is very likely I might just post a write-up on it all. It seems that the most difficult hurdle will prove to be installing the gas pedal potentiometer (since it is drive-by-wire), but we will cross that bridge when i get to it! __________________
1997 MTechnic 318ti w/Cal Roof
Eibach Sportlines/Bilstein Sports, M3 Brakes, Hartge exhaust, staggered Contours, vaders | | | | | 11-03-2004, 06:39 AM | #15 | | Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: lafayette, la Posts: 26 |
do not use a aluminium block that has been overheated. even slightly!!! the threads will pull out of the block. i have replaced several of these heads and had this problem repeatedly | | | | |
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