» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 405,276 Views | | | | | | 05-24-2009, 10:21 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | Euro M3 Compact Hi Folks, after a lot of thinking about a swap, reading Jim's manual 100 times and looking on the internet it is finally going to happen. I was originally looking for a damaged 328i from Germany, but they are very expensive. In Great Brittain (United Kingdom) are the car prices very low and I found a really interesting 1997 M3 3.2 Evolution Saloon with 6-speed manual. The only problem is the steering wheel, it's at the right side of the vehicle, stupid people... But I was in love, the biggest engine in my favorit Compact, so I bought the M3 and took it home. This is a picture of my Compact; Here are some pictures of the M3, if the steering wheel was on the left... __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | 05-24-2009, 10:24 AM | #2 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | I allready took the engines out of the cars, placed the 4-cilinder on a palet and placed the M3 engine in my Compact. Here some pictures of the swap; But, all of the issues starts here, the wiring of the engine. The DME unit is on the other side and the wires are to short to place the DME in the original place. The engine wiring loom is to small for all the wires too. I don't know how yet, but I think it's possible. How did you guy's fix the 'Auxilliary Fan' problem, the connection to the fan is the same, but it doesn't work ? What do I need to change to get it work properly for a 6-cilinder ? Thanx mates, JeroenB3 __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | 05-25-2009, 07:41 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 245 | WOW! I must say your TI looks very nice! Excellent choice of wheels to compliment.. Was the M3 fully functional when you got it? | | | 05-25-2009, 07:51 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 | Nice! Euro S50 swap I'd like to see how it turns out for you! Hopefully the swap goes smoothly for you! Keep us updated! __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels and 99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | 05-25-2009, 08:03 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | Quote: Originally Posted by JeroenB3 But, all of the issues starts here, the wiring of the engine. The DME unit is on the other side and the wires are to short to place the DME in the original place. The engine wiring loom is to small for all the wires too. I don't know how yet, but I think it's possible. How did you guy's fix the 'Auxilliary Fan' problem, the connection to the fan is the same, but it doesn't work ? What do I need to change to get it work properly for a 6-cilinder ? Thanx mates, JeroenB3 | Hey Jeroen... nice looking Ti! looks like you hacked up a nice 4dr M3 to get it though, almost a pity.. As for your issues, your only option short of splicing longer wire onto everything is to get LHD engine harness from Ebay or a junkyard in your area. After the money it looks like you spent, that shouldn't be much of a problem. As for the aux fan, I just plugged mine into the same port. mine does not turn on until the temp gets above half anyways, which is vey rarely even without the engine driven fan.. but i do run a 80c thermostat with a 80/88c fan switch. Question though, how do you know it is not working if you can't wire up the engine to actually reach a temp to engage the fan???? The aux fan connection is part of the bodyharness IIRC, it will only turn on when the sensors tell the DME to tell the fan its needs to work. You'd need a running motor to find out if it works or not. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 05-25-2009, 09:23 AM | #6 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | Thanx guy's, I'll keep you up to date @ Philly, thank you for the information. Somebody told me the aux fan is different for 6-cilinders. The wiring in the M3 really is different from the Compact. But according to you it's just plug & play ? What's the normal thermostat temperature en switch, do I need to change it ? I also have to make the wiring for the extra coolant reservoir and the extra engine connection. Greets, Jeroen __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | 05-25-2009, 11:04 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | just get a LHD harness from a junkyard or Ebay man.... your asking for trouble otherwise, IMHO. Once you have the proper length wires, it should all plug and play without an issue. Its probably just a little confusing right now with everything being opposite to what it looks like. Too early to panic! The aux fan is different for the 6cyls, but i presume you have one from your M3... it should work no problem. I can't recall off the top of my head the normal temp thermostart... 88'c I believe??... the only reason I run the lower temp thermo and switch is because I deleted my engine driven fan. If you are still going to run the engine fan, I would not worry about it. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 05-26-2009, 02:53 AM | #8 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | Hi Philly, thanx again The engine harnass is fine, just the DME is on the other side, but that doesn't seem to be a big problem. The problem is the car harnass, my Ti is missing the following connections; Small 12 pin engine connector, Window washer resevoir sensor, Extra coolant resevoir sensor. I do have the M3 Aux. fan and the Ti has the same connection as the M3, but I understood the 6-cilinders have a different way of controlling it. The fusebox says the 6-cilinders and diesel versions use other fuses, it's not just for fun I suppose But it should work just fine, with the Ti connection? (2-speeds ?) __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | 05-26-2009, 05:55 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | My M3 Aux fan works just fine. No mods necessary. Make sure you install the front suspension from the M3 too.. __________________ 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 | | | 05-26-2009, 10:01 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rocky Hill, CT Posts: 1,065 | Feel free to send me the M3 chassis when you're done with the swap __________________ 1995 318TI base. 95 2.5L from 325IS. S50 cams+pistons, e36 M3 front brakes. H&R race springs F+R. Turner Motorsport front sway bars, M3 control arms. M Roadster rear sway bar. Racing Dynamics strut brace. e36 325i 5spd. 3.25lsd from e28 535is. M Roadster short shifter. Conforti chip. | | | 05-27-2009, 03:06 PM | #11 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | Hi, I'm not going to use the M3 frontsuspension, I don't know the condition and I've got a Coil over set for the Compact, which does'nt fit with the M3 suspension. What do you need the M3 chassis for, there is nothing M3 about it I allready sold the bumpers, mirrors, interior and door stripes, the chassis is the same as every other E36 Saloon. It does have the suspension and complete rear axle. __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | 05-27-2009, 05:48 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | Quote: Originally Posted by JeroenB3 Hi Philly, thanx again Small 12 pin engine connector, Window washer resevoir sensor, Extra coolant resevoir sensor. But it should work just fine, with the Ti connection? (2-speeds ?) | The TI does lack one of those "twistcap" connections... assuming yours is the same as mine. That should not pose a problem. Im sure you can do without the low windshield washer light Extra coolant resevoir? are your referring to the expansion tank?? As for the aux fan again, it will work just fine. Yesterday was hot here, and mine was kicking on and off all day long with no problems. And like I said, as long as you are going to run the engine fan as well... you'll have no issues in the cooling department. PS. if your front clip is still off your compact, now would be a good time to replace the thermostat and whatnot for piece of mind. Its slightly a PITA to do with everything in front of it, but takes 10 minutes without all that stuff in the way. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 05-28-2009, 12:07 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | Quote: Originally Posted by Philly Im sure you can do without the low windshield washer light | just pull the bulb I was wondering why the reservoir on the ti has a little indent in the side like something's supposed to fit in there | | | 05-28-2009, 01:49 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | 99% sure thats part of the body harness anyways now that I think about it. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 05-29-2009, 09:27 AM | #15 | Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 93 | Thanx Philly, I will change the thermostat immediately Do you know the function of the small 'twist cap', wich our Ti's don't have ? And yes, I did mean the expansion tank sensor, it will probably just give a warning too, like the windshield washer I bought a Z3 M differential, but it doesn't fit offcourse, the input flanche has 4 bolts in stead off 6 and the output flanche is 94mm where the Ti is 80mm. I do have some 3.2 M3 shafts, but I don't know if it will fit. I am getting grazy because of all the problems, why didn't I just bought an Z3 M Coupé __________________ S50B32, manual 6-speed, LSD, Z3 M rear axle, ///M sport package, 17" LTW's, Eibach Pro-Kit | | | | | 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 | | | |