S54 swap, 98 M3 sedan

[MParallel]

Nice.

Any reason to stay with the u-joint instead of cv-joint?

[gpeterson]

Nice.

Any reason to stay with the u-joint instead of cv-joint?

Yes - in the US I think only the 95 M3 had the cv and corresponding 6 bolt diff flange, my 98 had u-joint and 4 bolt diff from the factory.

[kevinwilly]

Yes - in the US I think only the 95 M3 had the cv and corresponding 6 bolt diff flange, my 98 had u-joint and 4 bolt diff from the factory.

The change was in late 96. One of my 97 sedans has a 6 bolt and the other has a 4 bolt.

[mitch500]

The change was in late 96. One of my 97 sedans has a 6 bolt and the other has a 4 bolt.

Yes, my 09/1996 m3 has a 6 bolt cv drive shaft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[m3j0n]

Love it!! Nice job!

[TH3 Shifty]

Sorry to bump this,

question, I'm about to install the accelerator pedal, but im going to modify the mount like you did, instead of pulling the carpet and welding it. How do you like the way you mounted yours, does it hold well, did you use 2 cut off bolts for the "round pegs" on the metal adaptor? Also I see bolt heads on the bottom but it appears to be flat screws on top, what exactly did you use to mount them together?

[gpeterson]

Sorry to bump this,

question, I'm about to install the accelerator pedal, but im going to modify the mount like you did, instead of pulling the carpet and welding it. How do you like the way you mounted yours, does it hold well, did you use 2 cut off bolts for the "round pegs" on the metal adaptor? Also I see bolt heads on the bottom but it appears to be flat screws on top, what exactly did you use to mount them together?

Sorry, just noticed this. The mount worked out well, the round pegs are steel stock I had on hand. I used flat head screws so that I could countersink them into the bracket, if they stuck up it would interfere with the pedal sliding on.

- - - Updated - - -

Unrelated note - I just switched from stock catted headers + section 1 with additional resonator to ebay headers + euro catted section 1. Still running section 2 mated to E36 M3 muffler. Car is much louder and has rasp - way too much for my taste. I'll be re-doing my section 2 & E36 muffler, will include resonators there to tone it down.

[TH3 Shifty]

oh thats OK. i kinda did it the way you did, i used cut off bolts welded to the plate, and secured them with nuts. it came out great, perfect alignment on it... thought about making some plates for others to use since its so simple.

[gpeterson]

Update - I'm thinking about selling the car and am not sure what this sort of thing goes for. I'll be wrapping up some loose ends first (E46 cluster, stereo, etc.)

I've seen a few sell in the mid-high teens, but they were more track oriented. Any thoughts?

Here is a recent photo after wash/clay/wax:

[DocWyte]

I've seen clean S52 M3/4/5's sell in the low teens. With an S54 swap? Gotta figure/hope you'd get more like high teens to 20. Hard to gauge the market, as the buyer won't be able to get a loan on the cost differential from book value from the bank.

We all know the level of swap you've done and the cost involved, question is how much of that can you recoup?

[blckstrm]

I've seen clean S52 M3/4/5's sell in the low teens. With an S54 swap? Gotta figure/hope you'd get more like high teens to 20. Hard to gauge the market, as the buyer won't be able to get a loan on the cost differential from book value from the bank.

We all know the level of swap you've done and the cost involved, question is how much of that can you recoup?

I'd also look at what similarly clean, street-oriented LS swapped cars go for as a data point.

[TostitoBandito]

I've seen clean S52 M3/4/5's sell in the low teens. With an S54 swap? Gotta figure/hope you'd get more like high teens to 20. Hard to gauge the market, as the buyer won't be able to get a loan on the cost differential from book value from the bank.

We all know the level of swap you've done and the cost involved, question is how much of that can you recoup?

Yeah, though the most optimistic ceiling is always going to be what a "decent" condition E46 M3 goes for. In the end almost anyone potentially interested in this car would rather have the entire E46 M3 and not just the engine+e36. It is a pretty car though.

This is why those of us lusting after S54 swaps aren't rational people.

[gpeterson]

I'd also look at what similarly clean, street-oriented LS swapped cars go for as a data point.

Hmm... I wonder how much this went for - https://www.panjo.com/buy/1997-bmw-e...areYourListing

[golgo13]

So nice. The fact that this car is CARB certified should net you 10-15% more in your final sale price.

I'll be doing this swap in the future for my car, going the smog legal route as well.

[gpeterson]

So nice. The fact that this car is CARB certified should net you 10-15% more in your final sale price.

I'll be doing this swap in the future for my car, going the smog legal route as well.

Thanks! I figured the car will be more appealing to someone in CA that wants to be legal.

[PITT M3 RR]

22K wouldn’t take less knowing the time and effort involved. There aren’t many cars that give the same experience

[M52 POWER!]

It was a while ago but a super clean S54 swapped E36 M3 went for $26k.

You're now the third person I know that S54 swapped and a year later is considering selling! You guys are killing me since I can't wait to finish my swap!!!

[MPWRCPE]

22K wouldn’t take less knowing the time and effort involved. There aren’t many cars that give the same experience

I'm going to have to agree with this Garry. Having built one myself I know the costs and time/work involved. $22K is cheap as far as I'm concerned.

[StarvinMarvin]

How do you like and how has the driveshaft held up? I've been looking to replace mine in an otherwise stock car, and came across that vendor while researching.

[Bimmerman535i]

Easy to armchair it, but I agree-- wouldn't sell for below $20k. I wouldn't want to sell mine for even that, and it doesn't clean up as nicely as yours does. I think $25k+ is reasonable, especially considering the cost shops out here charge for just the BAR legal swap ($20k or so), which don't have DSC, Cruise, AC, etc.

Gah, and yours is Alpine....making me rethink my refusal to S54 swap my alpine sedan. I haven't driven it in months because it's not as fun as the S54.

Having said that, you're going to have a hell of a time finding the right buyer, which will be a non-track addict (sedan, not coupe) and someone who appreciates the work and effort that went into the car.

[gpeterson]

How do you like and how has the driveshaft held up? I've been looking to replace mine in an otherwise stock car, and came across that vendor while researching.

It has been great, I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

[TH3 Shifty]

I gotta ask, why the want to sell? Or is it a need?

[gpeterson]

I gotta ask, why the want to sell? Or is it a need?

I had not thought about it until someone asked if I was interested. It has been a fun project that I think turned out great, but I'm always working on something and this one is just about done.

[lbennyboobool]

I had not thought about it until someone asked if I was interested. It has been a fun project that I think turned out great, but I'm always working on something and this one is just about done.

Once you put a for sale post up, message me. I'd be interested in it, but it's almost a shame to bring it to a state that has no emission guidelines

[TH3 Shifty]

I had not thought about it until someone asked if I was interested. It has been a fun project that I think turned out great, but I'm always working on something and this one is just about done.

i understand that completely... but for your car.. i wouldnt take less than 20K.. cause its been done RIGHT and done WELL.. plus its a white 4dr M3..

hope you still plan on working on the cluster for the rest of us.. really looking forward to doing that swap.