Well, I recently picked up a free 318ti with a blown engine. The previous owner ran it without oil, and pretty much killed it.
It is a 96 318ti with the Active package. Has a sunroof and AC, M44 engine, automatic transmission.
Now, I have been trying to find a totaled BMW to grab an engine, manual transmission, and rear differential from. I recently found a 1993 BMW 318i & 318is for about $1000 total:
Both were hit by deer, but still apparently run fine.
I know these are ODB1 and have the M42 engine, while my BMW is ODB2 and has the M44 engine. I am not too worried about the electrical, I can handle that myself, but I do not like fabrication.
Would everything bolt right up if I were to swap a M42 with a manual transmission into my 96 318ti? And what drive shaft would I use?
Could be illegal to put an older motor in a newer car. Besides, the M44 would be way less work than retrofitting an M42. Keep looking for motors/cars, they aren't THAT expensive. I personally would just drop a 6 cyl in there since your gonna go through all the work anyway.
Nice grab on the free car...if you have the money.....do the 6 cyl swap...but if you truly want the 4 cyl..you could do the swap....everything should line up as far as the mounts go, OBD 1 just has fewer emissions.
I have a 98 with the M44, and I blew a head gasket in Nov, I just bought a 325 parts car and going to start on the M50 swap.
On another note, where in MN are you? I'm down in Mankato
__________________ 1998 M-tech 325ti; Hellrot: M50 Swap, Cold-Air Intake, Custom Magna-Flow Exhaust, Depo Housings w/55 Watt HID, Yellow Fogs,Tinted Windows (35%), M3 Front Spoiler Lip, Black Grills, X-Brace, 17" Drag DR-19 wrapped with Hankook VR-12s, Bilstein HD with M-Tec Springs
It looks like a M50 is cheaper than I thought, it looks like a running drivable 92-95 325i can be had for $2,000, and a non drivable 325i is even cheaper.
You guys do have a good point, if I am going to the trouble of an OBD1 swap, plus swapping over pretty much the entire drivetrain (Engine, Transmission, and differential), I might as well find a manual 325i parts car and use that.
I'm not sure if the diff from a 318 will fit, guess no one's posed that question.
You may look into salvage auctions in your area. A 2.8 Z3 would be a nice donor car. Otherwise a regular 5-speed 328 would ease the swap and is still pretty cheap.
__________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
A diff from a 318 will not work. The only ones that will work from a e36 is one from a ti or z3 as 96cali posted. You would be looking for an e30 diff. or older to fit in our cars. Also i picked up an OBD1 M50 full swap for 500 bucks. So im sure you could find one around that price.
A diff from a 318 will not work. The only ones that will work from a e36 is one from a ti or z3 as 96cali posted. You would be looking for an e30 diff. or older to fit in our cars. Also i picked up an OBD1 M50 full swap for 500 bucks. So im sure you could find one around that price.
Diff will work just needs some adjusting I've seen it done check out phamster swap! in this forum
Welcome to the site and you are lucky to have a free 318ti! I agree with the other members about swapping into a 6 instead of the 4. Same work and time for just a little more $. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a E36 M3 S52 engine.
__________________ Two is better than one! 96 Schwarz ll 668 318ti auto 98 Schwarz ll 668 318ti sport ///M manual My Ultimate Driving Machines
Phamster used a ti differential, not a non-ti differential. The mounting points, acutal design, and bolt holes are in totally different places. A non-ti chassis diff will not fit in a ti.