Make this E36 Great Again!

[AndreBXP]

Hey guys! I'm not very active on here at all but you might recognize me from E46fanatics or my "DIY Android Tablet Stereo" video.

Long story short, my cousin is getting into the BMW game (on a veryyyy tight budget) so we bought a $650 E36 and some other goodies all while filming everything along the way. My mic was acting up yesterday, sorry about that, but I'll have it fixed for part 2.

If you like it, leave a thumbs up

https://youtu.be/KOGCFfUqKQY

[phishy]

Nice video, good luck with the 5spd swap. Looking forward to part 2!

[MisterM52]

Looking forward to part 2!

[IndyMan]

Nice Vid. I also look forward to the next installment.

[InertStatic]

How do you do a 5-speed swap "veryyyy tight budget" ?

[coastcanuck]

How do you do a 5-speed swap "veryyyy tight budget" ?

with a getrag instead of a ZF clearly.


Hope you don't shear off any gears guys!!

[somebody5788]

How do you do a 5-speed swap "veryyyy tight budget" ?

Well I've found the M trans for under $300 at several yards. They never broke so they are cheap.

[AlexxRyzhkov]

Nice, cheap bimmers are my favorite. Reminds of my $230 and $680 E36s

[coastcanuck]

Well I've found the M trans for under $300 at several yards. They never broke so they are cheap.

That sounds about right. I assume the Getrag could be had for less but doesn't seem worth it at all. One of the times you should spend more so you can spend less.

[somebody5788]

That sounds about right. I assume the Getrag could be had for less but doesn't seem worth it at all. One of the times you should spend more so you can spend less.

It's cheap enough that I considered buying one just to use for mocking up my turbo down pipe lol.

[AndreBXP]

Thanks for the kind words guys, hopefully next week part 2 will be up.

I'm not too worried about the gearbox; it looks clean and its a newer 250G. If it kicks the bucket a ZF will probably be plan B, but for now it'll get the job done.

Still have to find a driveshaft, shift linkage, clutch&flywheel, some hoses, and figure out why coolant isn't flowing.

Should be interesting...

[AndreBXP]

Looks like the motor is shot...Piston #3 is in many pieces and cylinders have coolant in them; I'm assuming a cracked head and/or block. Updates to follow as we figure out what to do next.

This simple project just turned into a massive one right at the onset of winter. We'll keep you posted.

[hotdish]

Looks like the motor is shot...Piston #3 is in many pieces and cylinders have coolant in them; I'm assuming a cracked head and/or block. Updates to follow as we figure out what to do next.

This simple project just turned into a massive one right at the onset of winter. We'll keep you posted.

Cracked heads are super common, happened to my m3 without the gasket blowing. I wonder if it was so badly cracked that the coolant hydro-locked the engine or if it was over-revved or something.

you're in deep now, just go full junkyard ls swap.

[somebody5788]

May as well do a full M3 drivetrain swap now.

[spyderg0d]

Might as well build a new car now before you have any real money tide up in it.... Smmhh

[AndreBXP]

Part 2 is up guys! Subscribe if you don't wanna miss anything.


We pulled the motor over the weekend and even though it was raining and snowing through the night we got it out. I hope y'all enjoy.





We're waiting on parts for part 3 but hopefully next weekend we'll have EP3 up.

[AndreBXP]

Part 3 is live.


This is an extended episode because we were really dying to get the new motor in. All hands were on deck so the filming suffered a bit, but we should be in the garage for the rest of the episodes .

[AndreBXP]

Part 4 is up!





This was a turning point in the build because we finally got the M54 to turn over. Now we know it works so we're just gonna keep on pushing on.


Hope y'all like it.

[E36328Coupe]

Part 2 is up guys! Subscribe if you don't wanna miss anything.


We pulled the motor over the weekend and even though it was raining and snowing through the night we got it out. I hope y'all enjoy.





We're waiting on parts for part 3 but hopefully next weekend we'll have EP3 up.

Once the bolts are undone with the rear on stands and front on the wheels on the floor there is enough tilt to take the engine and box out with the front left on the car

- - - Updated - - -

Loving this thread. I have a 1995 Manual 328 in Calypso with ZF, style 32s and LSD from the factory that I have been thinking of updating like this.

[AndreBXP]

Things are slowly but surely getting wrapped up in part 5 and we took advantage of some nice weather to get stuff done.





Hope y'all like it.

[AndreBXP]

Part 6 is up...Getting there slowly but surely.





Next episode the car will be running and driving! Hope y'all like it.