S54 swap DME flashing - $100
S54 swap CAN interface board (for proper A/C & check engine light) - $275
e36 SAP sim/secondary air pump simulator: $75 - standard or $170 - plug & play
e36 post-cat O2 sims: $115 shipped, plug & play
Yup, in my head, my "swap" would consist of the S54 with new rod bearings and rebuilt vanos, reuse my current headers/exhaust, your CAN board with my existing cluster, Andrews harness, MZ3 harness, reuse my clutch/flywheel/5 speed/3.38 rear diff, MZ3 S54 motor mounts and a whole lotta labor....
'03 911 Turbo 6MT fun car
'18 Toyota Land Cruiser Daily driver/Ski Machine/Off Roader
'15 Cayenne Diesel Wife's DD
'17 KTM 690 "Adv" 2 wheeled Adventurer
Most of the E36 M3's aren't 4 doors. The E46 really doesn't weigh all that much more than the E36 as well. You can also stuff way more tire underneath it and it comes with 100 more horsepower.
That's not to say that we don't enjoy the E36 more than the E46. My point is only that you can literally buy a complete, running, E46 M3 for the amount of money it costs to swap an S54 into an E36...
'03 911 Turbo 6MT fun car
'18 Toyota Land Cruiser Daily driver/Ski Machine/Off Roader
'15 Cayenne Diesel Wife's DD
'17 KTM 690 "Adv" 2 wheeled Adventurer
TRM Coilovers 670F/895R | BBS LM | Corsa RSC36
None of us here are practical/sensible.
A decent E46 M3 is absolutely a better and more cost-effective starting point for track/performance mods than an E36 M3. However, I like the E36 body style better aesthetically and at this point I've got enough time and money invested in my E36 that I don't think I'm ever selling it. When I no longer daily drive it, it just turns into a track toy.
1999 M3/2/5 - Titanium Silver - Track/Weekend Toy
Yup. My E36 was decently track prepped while E46s were still 20k+ cars. By the time I decided to do an engine swap I already had a well sorted and safe car that just needed power.
I may go down the E46 rabbit hole someday, or just hack the fenders off, cage it, and buy a truck and trailer. I don't drive it around town much anymore.
"Fear disturbs your concentration" -Sabine Schmit
1995 BMW M3/2/5-- S54 + Mk60 DSC, California Smog Legal (Build Thread)
1998 BMW M3/4/5 Alpine/Modena, Z3 Rack, otherwise stock-- DD without burbles
2017 Chevy SS, Orange Blast Metallic, 6MT -- DD with burbles
I've been done the rabbit hole of swaps before. They always take more time and money than you anticipate. The S54 at least is BMW to BMW, so some stuff is relatively easy and largely OEM parts can be used, vs putting the LSx in my 944, where everything was custom
'03 911 Turbo 6MT fun car
'18 Toyota Land Cruiser Daily driver/Ski Machine/Off Roader
'15 Cayenne Diesel Wife's DD
'17 KTM 690 "Adv" 2 wheeled Adventurer
The reason I decided to swap in a s54 was that I wanted something to tinker on in the winter months (7 months)....
Also I wanted a little more power as the s52 was slow as hell.
On a side not though! Just ordered the swap harness from Andrew last night. Just need to get the bimmer world vanos accumulator Line so I can mount my AC comp.
Also ordered new shift linkage parts because mine we shot. I should be doing the detents this weekend, I’m a little nervous about it but I’m sure it will be fine.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by mitch500; 11-09-2017 at 06:21 PM.
()()===[][]===()()
Not to hijack your thread, it where does this plug go? It comes from the black box on the passenger side block
536DBF26-1179-484B-8865-6EF91E5FBF7F.jpg
98 Estoril ///M3 4/6
S54 swap CSL
All good man,
I think that one goes to your Mass air flow sensor. I had a longer connector that came off the black box and it seemed to me that it clipped right into the MAF.
Either that or one goes down to the oil pan for the oil temp sensor
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by mitch500; 11-10-2017 at 08:24 AM.
()()===[][]===()()
.
Last edited by mitch500; 11-10-2017 at 08:23 AM.
()()===[][]===()()
Bingo! Oil temp sensor!!
98 Estoril ///M3 4/6
S54 swap CSL
So I did a bit of work today. Mostly cleaning the engine bay and such as it was filthy!! Also clean up the ac compressor and power steering pump as they were caked in oil.
Also mounted the e36 m3 engine arms
As well cut and modified the vanos accumulator bracket. I can only get 1 bolt for the bracket to mount to the block as the angle of the accumulator is to much for the rigid Vanos Line. I might get a new hose made up at a shop in town.
And mounted the e36 m3 ac bracket
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
()()===[][]===()()
Removed the trans off my s52 today as I’ll be using the 5 speed for the swap. Was planning on using my dual mass flywheel and clutch but I think it’s shot. Clutch disc only measured 7mm and both flywheel and pressure plate like they have a lot of wear. Might be original for all I know. Car has 150k miles
What do you guys think? Perhaps I’ll try the eBay single mass fx stage 2 flywheel and clutch disc from grip force.... thoughts?
Flywheel
Clutch friction disc
Pressure plate
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
()()===[][]===()()
the best bang for the buck, seat of pants feel, was when i did the 14lb chromolly flywheel and stage 2 F1 clutch. the faster rev and acceleration is very noticeable. plus the entire package was $530, compared to a stock clutch replacement without flywheel is just as much.. i have 30k miles on the kit and not a single hiccup. i used the fluid combo that UUC recommends with their M5 clutch system and it cleared up a lot of the chatter
Last edited by TH3 Shifty; 11-12-2017 at 06:30 PM.
98 Estoril ///M3 4/6
S54 swap CSL
Last edited by mitch500; 11-12-2017 at 06:55 PM.
()()===[][]===()()
Bookmarks