318i to 6 Cylinder Swap (to those that have done it)

[DmcL]

i have never done a swap but might consider it with my current E36 at a later date. what i want to know is does everything go in/out with no issues? just take the engine and gearbox out and replace with different engine and box?

the car is a 96 with airbags and i assume immobiliser so how does this affect a swap? would the engine have to be post facelift or could i use a pre facelift (ie non vanos) engine?

dont think id do such work myself because i have no garage or a hoist or the room to have a car sitting around doing nothing for a month or so. if i did i know somewhere local that would be willing to do the work.

really looking to find out the bare essentials to get a 6 cylinder in and running, forget swapping diff's, brakes, etc.. just the bare necessities for a 6 cylinder to bolt into and run in an originally 4 cylinder car.

[pckl300]

As I have heard, there is something that must be done with the ECU, otherwise you can't start it with the same key. It will recognize the new engine and key mismatch and it won't work.

[black318i]

i have never done a swap but might consider it with my current E36 at a later date. what i want to know is does everything go in/out with no issues? just take the engine and gearbox out and replace with different engine and box?

the car is a 96 with airbags and i assume immobiliser so how does this affect a swap? would the engine have to be post facelift or could i use a pre facelift (ie non vanos) engine?

dont think id do such work myself because i have no garage or a hoist or the room to have a car sitting around doing nothing for a month or so. if i did i know somewhere local that would be willing to do the work.

really looking to find out the bare essentials to get a 6 cylinder in and running, forget swapping diff's, brakes, etc.. just the bare necessities for a 6 cylinder to bolt into and run in an originally 4 cylinder car.

If you are not doing the work yourself or have a hookup you might be better off selling your car and buying one with an I6.


As I have heard, there is something that must be done with the ECU, otherwise you can't start it with the same key. It will recognize the new engine and key mismatch and it won't work.

Yup. Search EWS.

[Hathaway]

FWIW the stock 318 trans bolts up to the 6cyl engines. When I did my auto->manual swap I used a 318 as the donor car.

Also, as already stated, if you dont plan on doing the work yourself it is a waste of money to do it. Parts alone for an engine swap can be rather high, and the labor costs are going to be extremely high. It would most likely be easier, cheaper, and take less time to sell your current car and buy a 6 cyl e36.

[PrezeS]

FWIW the stock 318 trans bolts up to the 6cyl engines. When I did my auto->manual swap I used a 318 as the donor car.

Also, as already stated, if you dont plan on doing the work yourself it is a waste of money to do it. Parts alone for an engine swap can be rather high, and the labor costs are going to be extremely high. It would most likely be easier, cheaper, and take less time to sell your current car and buy a 6 cyl e36.

^+1

[MsiaBimmer]

Normaly wat we did here is to buy a 326/328 halfcut and do the full conversion..

[DmcL]

herard the 318i box will mate up to the I6. dunno if i would do that or not tho.. long term with occasional abuse i dunno if the box would last too long.

i have a hookup for doing the work. could source an engine for anywhere between £150 and £500 (2.3, 2.5 or 2.8). all in it would cost me under £1200.

as for the EWS could i not just swap in the key and barrel from the donor car?

what im not sure on is the insurance.. here in the UK/Ireland we have to notify insurance and in theory the price should go up to what the price is for the car the engine came out of but its a bit sketchy from company to company. some require an engineers report. could always boost or sell and move up tho i do like this particular E36 more than the others i have owned.